Romance of the Eastern Zhou States

Author: (Ming) Feng Menglong / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The Story of the Warring States is a historical fiction novel. The Story of the Warring States depicts the history from the end of the Western Zhou Dynasty (789 BC) to the unification of the six states by Qin (221 BC), covering more than 500 years of stories during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. The content is quite rich and complex. The history narrated in The Story of the Warring States is precisely such an era, with all the stories unfolding against this backdrop. The facts described in the book are drawn from four historical works: The Strategies of the Warring States, Zuo Zhuan, Guoyu, and Records of the Grand Historian. These scattered historical stories and biographies are woven together in chronological order, forming a well-structured historical romance.
Before the Qin and Han dynasties, some historians, for certain ideological reasons, sometimes omitted the narration and evaluation of historical events, hiding their meanings in the text. Without a keen insight, it is difficult to notice, let alone understand. The popular aspect of this book lies in making the hidden meanings clear, so that everyone can see through them at a glance. All kinds of right and wrong, virtue and vice, loyalty and treachery, wisdom and folly are laid bare under the open sky. This is the author's intention in writing the book and their contribution to future generations.
Like other historical works, The Story of the Warring States takes the rise and fall of nations as its theme, exploring the causal relationships between the rise and decline of fate and the success or failure of human affairs. Through the rise and fall of characters' destinies, the author vividly tells people that whether a nation can focus on morality and appoint capable individuals is the fundamental basis for judging its future. He who gains the people gains the world. Morality is the elucidation of the will of heaven, and the will of heaven is the will of the people. When the people's hearts are united, the government thrives; when the people's hearts are divided, the government declines. This humanistic perspective holds progressive significance.
Over the five hundred years described in the book, heroes emerged one after another, like stars in the sky. Centuries later, though many such figures appeared, the people and events of this period stood out the most in history, becoming the most prominent and most typical prototypes. It was almost the source of later theories on success and failure, and a benchmark for future generations' actions and behavior. Through rich and vivid plots, the novel praises the virtuous people, the kings and lords who reward and punish fairly, and the loyal ministers and generals who are brave and wise. It also admires the heroic figures who act bravely and wisely for justice. In sharp contrast to these positive characters, the novel also portrays the foolish, cruel, and licentious emperors and feudal lords, as well as the greedy, treacherous, and cunning court sycophants. The author's attitude of exposing and condemning them is naturally integrated into the progression of the plot.