The　self-excited　attractors　and　hidden　attractors　in　a　memcapacitive　system　which　has　three　elements　are　studied　in　this　paper.　The　critical　parameter　of　stable　and　unstable　states　is　calculated　by　identifying　the　eigenvalues　of　Jacobian　matrix.　Besides,　complex　dynamical　behaviors　are　investigated　in　the　system,　such　as　coexisting　attractors,　hidden　attractors,　coexisting　bifurcation　modes,　intermittent　chaos,　and　multistability.　From　the　theoretical　analyses　and　numerical　simulations,　it　is　found　that　there　are　four　different　kinds　of　transient　transition　behaviors　in　the　memcapacitive　system.　Finally,　field　programmable　gate　array　(FPGA)　is　used　to　implement　the　proposed　chaotic　system.　©　2020　Chinese　Physical　Society　and　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.