Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties

Author: Chu Renhuo [Qing] / Lü Jin / Xiaoping (ed.)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Romance of the Sui and Tang (one hundred chapters) is a masterpiece of historical fiction set in the Sui and Tang dynasties, as well as the finest historical romance novel of the Qing dynasty. The overall structure of the book follows history as the backbone, with the lives and events of individuals as the threads, centered around the "two lifetimes of marriage" between Emperor Yang of Sui, Zhu Gui'er, Emperor Minghuang of Tang, and Yang Yuhuan as the grand framework. It begins with Emperor Wen of Sui's campaign against the Chen dynasty and ends with Emperor Minghuang's return from Sichuan to the capital and his death, chronicling over 170 years of Sui and Tang history. The book primarily covers three aspects:
1. Stories of the Sui imperial court: Focusing on the romantic and decadent tales of Emperor Yang and Zhu Gui'er, it depicts the extravagance and luxury of the Sui court at its height. It portrays Emperor Yang as a tyrannical and licentious ruler who murdered his father, poisoned his brother, seized the throne, ruled for thirteen years, constructed the palace of Luoyang, selected beautiful women, dug the Grand Canal, traveled to Jiangdu, and built the Great Wall, all of which exhausted the state's resources and plunged the people into hardship. This section is rich in vivid detail and captures the spirit of the era, objectively reflecting the social background of the Sui peasant wars.
2. Stories of the Tang imperial court: Centered around the romantic escapades of Emperor Minghuang and Yang Yuhuan, it showcases the opulence and debauchery of the Tang court. It also depicts the ruthless power struggles, including Li Shimin's fratricide, Empresses Wu and Wei's assassination of their husbands, and their insatiable pursuit of power. This section, however, lacks depth and fails to match the brilliance of the Sui-era narratives.
3. Tales of heroic outlaws: Stories of figures like Qin Qiong, Shan Xiongxin, Cheng Yaojin, Wang Boda, and Mulan are interspersed among the first seventy chapters. They recount their rebellions against the Sui dynasty and their legendary exploits under Li Shimin, praising their chivalry and bravery. These tales are often set between the political upheavals of the Sui and Tang dynasties, written in a bold and vivid style, with many compelling moments.
In the narrative, there is sympathy for the sixteen courtesans of the imperial harem after the fall of the Sui dynasty, who were scattered into the world, as well as lament for Qin Qiong's heroic misfortunes. Though these elements draw from older texts, they are deeply intertwined with the author's own feelings of "fall from grace" and "hardship."