Romance of the Later Han

Author: Cai Dongfan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Cai Dongfan's "Popular Historical Romances of China" spans from the Qin and Han dynasties to the Republic of China, comprising over 1,000 chapters and more than 5 million words, covering nearly 2,200 years of history. Based on reliable historical records, supplemented by folk histories, the work is meticulously researched, presents balanced perspectives, and is rich in content, well-structured, and written in elegant and concise language. It includes self-commentary and annotations, combining intellectual depth with engaging storytelling, making it a classic in popular historical literature. Since its publication, the series has been widely acclaimed and beloved. In the mid-1930s, Mao Zedong once sent a telegraph to Li Keqiang to purchase two copies of this book to help educate officials in Yan'an about Chinese history. It was often placed on the bedside of his bed. The renowned historian Zai Degeng believed that while the book may have some shortcomings as a historical source, its content is sufficiently rich, and its narrative is systematic. The famous novelist Erhu River thought that the literary quality of the book is merely average, but it serves as an entry point to understanding the nation's history, and it is unique in its kind. During the Han Dynasty, historians divided it into two periods—the Former Han and the Later Han, also known as the Eastern and Western Han—because the Han Dynasty spanned four hundred years, interrupted by Wang Mang's coup, which lasted for eighteen years. Therefore, the period before Wang Mang's coup was called the Former Han, and the period after was called the Later Han. The "Romance of the Former Han" has 100 chapters, starting from Qin Shi Huang and ending with Wang Mang's coup. This series picks up where the former left off, beginning with Wang Mang and concluding with the Three Kingdoms period. The "Romance of the Former Han" includes the Qin Dynasty, while the "Romance of the Later Han" includes the Three Kingdoms, forming a complementary structure with a beginning and an end. However, it is also a unique creation in its own right. When it comes to the rise and fall of the Later Han, it is even more complex than the Former Han: Wang Mang's coup stemmed from the influence of the Empress Dowager Yuan, and the harm caused by relatives of the imperial family reached this extent. Emperor Guangwu's restoration of the Han Dynasty was marked by lessons from the past and a firm grip on power, with strict measures to prevent relatives of the imperial family from interfering in politics. Emperor Ming shared his father's qualities, and Emperor Zhang's early reign was commendable. However, after Emperor Hedi, the state affairs deteriorated daily, with a struggle for power between the imperial family and eunuchs, ultimately leading to the decline of the central government and the rise of regional governors. The war for dominance among warlords and the survival of the fittest gave rise to the Three Kingdoms. In summary, the period from Emperor Guangwu to Emperor Zhang was one of autocratic rule by the emperor; from Emperor Hedi to Emperor Huandi, it was a time of alternating dominance by the imperial family and eunuchs; and during Emperor Xian's reign, there were numerous upheavals—first a period of factional strife, then a time of regional conflicts, and finally the era of the Three Kingdoms vying for supremacy.