Stories from the Twenty-Five Histories (Illustrated Version)

Author: Zang Hanzhi et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-10-20
Features: The Twenty-Five Histories is a valuable classic of Chinese historiography, a collection of annalistic histories meticulously compiled by renowned historians of various dynasties. Each history primarily focuses on biographies, recording the life stories and historical developments of individuals and events. The Twenty-Five Histories was decreed as the "orthodox histories" by Emperor Qianlong, and Mao Zedong studied it extensively, leaving numerous annotations. The Records of the Grand Historian is a timeless epic of heroes. Among its protagonists are scholars, officials, commoners, soldiers, merchants, and even petty thieves, but no mediocre person appears. The Book of Han and The Later Book of Han are grand and dynamic, with a sense of urgency and unstoppable momentum. Commoners can become emperors, and the saying "He can be replaced" inspires admiration. From the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the late Eastern Han Dynasty to the conquest of Wu by Emperor Wu of Jin, the nearly century-long Three Kingdoms period was marked by swordplay, political maneuvering, and the rise and fall of loyal and treacherous, wise and foolish figures, echoing the last notes of the heroic era. The Jin Dynasty was an era of unrestrained individuality from top to bottom. Eloquent scholars expressed their emotions freely, engaging in philosophical debates without restraint, yet amidst war and chaos, their elegance and timeless charm remained undiminished. This book is divided into three volumes, each containing five histories. The first volume includes The Records of the Grand Historian, The Book of Han, The Later Book of Han, The Records of the Three Kingdoms, and The Book of Jin. The second volume includes The Book of Song, The Book of Southern Qi, The Book of Liang, The Book of Chen, The Book of Wei, The Book of Northern Qi, The Book of Zhou, The Book of Sui, The Book of Southern History, The Book of Northern History, The Old Book of Tang, The New Book of Tang, The Old Book of the Five Dynasties, and The New Book of the Five Dynasties. The third volume includes The Book of Song, The Book of Liao, The Book of Jin, The Book of Yuan, The Book of Ming, and The Draft of the Book of Qing. It compiles the most renowned and widely celebrated chapters, written in an accessible and engaging narrative style. Each volume contains dozens of relatively independent stories, while also striving to maintain historical continuity. This allows readers from diverse backgrounds and professions to easily explore the four thousand years of China's historical vicissitudes in their limited leisure time, gaining endless wisdom and enriching their life experiences through profound and extensive historical insights.