Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties

Author: Chu Renuo (Qing) / Zhao Naizeng (Annotations)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties is a popular historical romance novel enjoyed by the masses. The novel takes the history of the Sui and Tang dynasties as its main thread, extensively collecting numerous historical legends and folk tales that were prevalent at the time. More directly, it draws upon Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Sui and Tang (Su Tang Zhi Zhuan), Qi Dongye's The Seductive History of Emperor Yang of Sui, and Yuan Yuling's Remnants of the Sui History (Su Shi Yu Wen), among other romance novels, to comprehensively reprocess, rewrite, and polish them into a grand-scale historical romance novel featuring a vast cast of characters and 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's conquest of the Chen Dynasty and ends with Emperor Xuanzong of Tang suppressing the An Lushan Rebellion, his return from Shu to Chang'an, and his death in the Western Palace. Structurally, the novel primarily narrates three aspects of stories:
1. The heroic legends of the heroes who rebelled against the Sui Dynasty and established the Tang Dynasty, such as Qin Qiong, Xu Maogong, Cheng Yaojin, Li Jing, Yuchi Gong, and Luo Cheng.
2. The palace intrigues of Emperor Yang of Sui, who murdered his father to seize power and brought ruin to the empire through his debauchery.
3. The martial and cultural achievements of Emperor Taizong of Tang, who recruited heroes who rebelled against the Sui, seized power through the Xuanwu Gate massacre, and founded 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 Emperor Xuanzong's love for Yang Guifei, which led to the An Lushan Rebellion.
Romance of the Sui and Tang provides a concise reflection of the complex and vibrant 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 acts of the grassroot heroes who rebelled against tyranny, vividly depicts the debauchery of Emperor Yang of Sui's palace life and the romantic relationship between Emperor Xuanzong and his empress, and exposes and satirizes the extravagant and corrupt lifestyles of feudal emperors.
The novel is narrated vividly, with fluent language, intricate plots, and, well-defined characters. For example, Qin Qiong's destitute and fallen state, Dou Xianniang's "marriage at the horseback," and especially the vivid portrayal of the heroic group in Wazhang (Wazhang Fortress), such as the "worldly demon" Cheng Yaojin, the chivalrous and righteous Qin Shubao, the vengeful Shan Xiongxin, the witty Xu Maogong, and the rough but straightforward Yuchi Gong—all are depicted with distinct personalities and lifelike charm.