Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties

Author: Chu Renhuo (Qing)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-08-01
Features: Romance of the Sui and Tang is a popular historical legend novel loved by the masses. Romance of the Sui and Tang takes the history of the Sui and Tang dynasties as its main thread, extensively collecting numerous historical legends and tales that were widely circulated at the time. More directly, it is based on Luo Guanzhong’s Chronicles of the Sui and Tang, Qi Dongye’s The Glorious History of Emperor Yang of Sui, and Yuan Yuling’s Remnants of the Sui History, among other romance novels, and recombines, refines, and rewrites them into a grand-scale historical legend novel with a vast cast of characters, encompassing the rise and fall of the Sui and Tang dynasties.
The historical story told in Romance of the Sui and Tang begins with Emperor Wen of Sui conquering Chen, and ends with Emperor Xuanzong of Tang suppressing the An Lushan Rebellion, returning from Shu to Chang’an, and dying in the Western Palace. From the perspective of the book’s structure, it primarily narrates three aspects of stories:
1. The heroic legends of the heroes who gathered to rebel against the Sui dynasty and establish the Tang dynasty, such as Qin Qiong, Xu Maogong, Cheng Yaojin, Li Jing, Yu Shigong, and Luo Cheng.
2. The palace intrigues of Emperor Yangdi of the Sui dynasty, who murdered his father and usurped the throne, leading to the downfall of the Sui dynasty through his debauchery.
3. The martial and cultural achievements of Emperor Taizong of Tang, who recruited heroes who rebelled against the Sui dynasty, seized power through the Xuanwu Gate massacre, and established the golden age of the Tang dynasty (interwoven with Wu Zetian’s declaration of a new era and her ascension to the throne), as well as the tragic outcome of the An Lushan Rebellion caused by Emperor Xuanzong’s infatuation with Yang Guifei.
Romance of the Sui and Tang provides a concise reflection of the complex and diverse social life of the Sui and Tang dynasties over more than 170 years. It portrays and praises numerous characters, including heroes, righteous men, wise rulers, loyal ministers, brave generals, and virtuous women. It particularly emphasizes the chivalrous actions of the grass-root heroes who rebelled against tyranny, vividly describes the debauchery of Emperor Yangdi’s palace and the romantic relationship between Emperor Xuanzong and his empress, and exposes and satirizes the extravagant, licentious, and corrupt lives of feudal emperors.
The narrative is vivid, the language is fluent, the plot is intricate, and the characters are distinct. For example, Qin Qiong’s destitute and fallen state, Dou Xianniang’s "marriage on horseback," and especially the vivid portrayal of the heroic group in Wazhang, such as the "worldly demon" Cheng Yaojin, the chivalrous and righteous Qin Shubao, the vengeful Shan Xiongxin, the wise Xu Maogong, and the rough but straightforward Yu Shigong—all are depicted with and lifelike personalities.