The Three Kingdoms Drama (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Zhang Guixiang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-12-01
Features: The author devoted ten years of effort to writing this book, taking a macro perspective while focusing on the details, recreating this period of history and adding a gem to the Chinese historical archive. With a broad historical vision, the author examines these three tumultuous centuries, closely linking the evolution of the Northern and Southern Song dynasties with the histories of the Liao, Jin, and Western Xia dynasties, proposing the concept of the "Greater Three Kingdoms." This understanding not only restores the rightful historical status of the Liao, Western Xia, and Jin dynasties but also greatly benefits the more authentic, objective, and comprehensive portrayal of the rise and fall of the Northern and Southern Song dynasties. Additionally, the book comprehensively reflects the politics, military affairs, and behind-the-scenes court struggles of the time while also introducing aspects of the economy and culture, addressing certain shortcomings found in narrow-focused historical works like The Romance of the Eastern Zhou States.
To express the breadth of vision and depth of thought in this book, let us borrow a line from the Tang Dynasty historian Liu Zhiji in praising Records of the Grand Historian: "Vast territories, long years." In Chinese history, from the 10th century onwards, the Liao, Northern Song, and Western Xia formed a triumvirate, followed by the Jin, Southern Song, and Western Xia in successive confrontations. Finally, the Yuan Dynasty conquered the Jin, Western Xia, and Southern Song, with the three realms uniting under the Yuan in 1279, achieving unprecedented unification in China. These three hundred years were another period of the "Greater Three Kingdoms," characterized by a longer duration, broader territories, more complex conflicts, and fiercer struggles than the Wei, Shu, and Wu of the late Eastern Han Dynasty.
This book is a highly literary work in a new genre of history. Targeted at officials and aimed at enlightening governance and intellect, it follows the theme of promoting and developing Chinese civilization, recreating the complex process by which the Liao, Western Xia, and Jin dynasties embraced Chinese civilization and became key figures in Chinese history alongside the Song dynasties. It celebrates the great development of Chinese civilization and the grand integration of the Chinese nation, composing a brilliant chapter in the history of Chinese civilization.
The book's new framework of the "Greater Three Kingdoms," its vivid narrative style, its inclusive perspectives, and its rich content that blend politics, economy, military affairs, and culture are uniquely distinctive and refreshing, setting it apart from the ordinary. To learn about the rise and fall of these three hundred years, read The Grand Chronicle of the Greater Three Kingdoms!