Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Author: Chen Shou
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-09-01
Features: The Records of the Three Kingdoms is known as one of the "Four Histories," alongside The Records of the Grand Historian, The Book of Han, and The Book of the Later Han. Author Chen Shou was renowned in his time for his historical insight and narrative skills, earning the title of "a talented historian." The Records of the Three Kingdoms has its own unique characteristics among the Twenty-Four Histories—it is neither a comprehensive history like The Records of the Grand Historian, nor a dynastic history like The Book of Han. Instead, it parallelly narrates the historical facts of the three rival states of Wei, Shu, and Wu during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Although titled a "Record," the book only contains annals and biographies, without the section typically designated as "Records." This edition is based on the annotations by Pei Songzhi. From a modern perspective, Pei's annotations are not merely supplementary to Chen's work but can be considered a "twin gem" alongside Chen's text, both reflecting the 60-year history of the three states. Together, they form a complete and substantial masterpiece chronicling this glorious period of ancient Chinese history.
This book combines popular accessibility with academic rigor. Its text is based on the 1959 annotated edition of The Records of the Three Kingdoms published by Zhonghua Book Company, with reference to various old and new editions, including the Qing Dynasty's Wuying Hall woodblock print from the fourth year of the Qianlong reign, the Jinling Book Bureau movable-type print from the sixth year of the Tongzhi reign, and the Jiangnan Book Bureau woodblock print from the thirteenth year of the Guangxu reign, among others. The selected illustrations adhere to the principle of historical fidelity, striving to include images rich in cultural and historical value. These are paired with corresponding textual sections from The Records of the Three Kingdoms, serving to complement the text, verify historical accounts, and create a harmonious integration of words and images. The content covers all aspects of the era, including politics, economy, culture, military, diplomacy, and customs, offering high cultural and historical value. It authentically reflects the original state of the Three Kingdoms period, enabling readers to gain a vivid and intuitive understanding of its rich cultural heritage.