Tang and Song Heroes Legend Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties

Author: Chu Renhuo and Shi Ren He (ed.)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties is a 100-capter novel that combines the dual nature of heroic legend and historical romance. Chu Renhuo drew heavily from folklore, legends, and stories about the Sui-Tang period, including the "Eighteen Revolted Clans" rebellion during the late Sui Dynasty, as well as the Ming Dynasty works The Sui-Tang Chronicle, The Love Story of Emperor Yang of Sui, and The Remnants of the Sui History, while also incorporating materials from Tang and Song Dynasty legends. He rewrote and expanded these into a 700,000-character epic titled The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, becoming the culmination of storytelling about the Sui-Tang era. The narrative begins with the Sui Emperor's conquest of the Chen Dynasty and concludes with the return of Emperor Minghuang after the An Lushan Rebellion. The main content is divided into three parts: first, the late Sui court stories centered around Emperor Yang and Zhu Guier; second, the tales of "heroic figures of chaos" like Qin Qiong, Shan Xiongxin, and Cheng Yaojin rebelling against the Sui; and third, the Tang court stories during and after the An Lushan Rebellion, centered around Emperor Minghuang and Yang Guifei. The novel weaves a subplot of the two lifetimes of Emperor Yang and Yang Guifei, blending complex historical events and anecdotes into a vast yet loosely structured narrative. Artistically, it successfully portrays the ensemble of grass-root heroes like Qin Qiong, Shan Xiongxin, and Cheng Yaojin. These characters are both legendary and lifelike, with distinct personalities. The descriptions of characters are vivid, delicate, and lifelike, while the language is colloquial and clear. However, the achievements of different parts of The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties are uneven. The sections depicting the rebellion against the Sui artfully recreate the historical reality of the late Sui Dynasty, reflecting the background of the peasant wars. This part is rich in life and contains many brilliant scenes. However, the Tang Dynasty sections are somewhat weak in artistic execution, with some uneven editing, redundancy, and abrupt transitions. Additionally, the novel has limitations in both thought and art, such as excessive didacticism in feudal ethics and morals.