The Grandson's Chronicle

Author: Han Jingting
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: The Grand Biography of Sun Tzu blends historical depth with poetic expression, artfully recreating the tumultuous era of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in China around 2,000 years ago, when the military sage Sun Wu created The Art of War, one of the most brilliant treasures in the history of human military wisdom. The book delves into the intellectual background and driving forces behind the creation of The Art of War. It vividly portrays the dramatic and awe-inspiring life of the military sage Sun Wu, showcasing his strategic brilliance and noble character. It also opens a mysterious and profound gallery of Spring and Autumn figures: the renowned statesman Wu Zixu, who devoted ten years to avenging his family's honor and served two generations of Wu kings with tireless dedication; the ambitious king Heli of Wu, who usurped his brother's throne and sought to dominate the states; the wrathful and suspicious king Fuchai of Wu, who was ambitious but incompetent and obsessed with beauty, ultimately becoming a king of a fallen state; the determined king Goujian of Yue, who (lit. "sweat under the scorching sun") and worked tirelessly for ten years to avenge his state's defeat; the Chu minister Shen Baoxu, who knelt and cried for seven days and nights at the Qin court to seek aid; the legendary women Yi Luo and Bo Nu, whose tragic lives were marked by near-death experiences; and the love entanglement between the beauty Xi Shi and king Fuchai of Wu. Each historical figure, long buried in the annals of time, comes to life vividly on the page.
Author Han Jingting, hailed as a literary genius, is also a master painter. The 19 ink-and-color illustrations he created to accompany the book are grand in scale and full of dynamic brushwork, adding a brilliant touch to the novel's text—a true masterpiece. This work, crafted by the renowned writer Han Jingting, known as a "literary genius," is a masterpiece of grand scale, showcasing the historical panorama of the Spring and Autumn period. With historical depth infused with poetic expression and poetic narrative rooted in historical fact, the style is both majestic and delicate, awe-inspiring and unconventional. It not only artfully presents the classic charm of The Art of War but also highlights the noble character of the military sage Sun Wu. The book brings kings, beauties, generals, outcasts, and fierce warriors to life, each vividly portrayed as if they could leap off the page. Especially remarkable are the depictions of strategy and war, which are rich in detail and far beyond the ordinary.