Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties (Volume 1 and 2) Tang and Song Heroes Legend

Author: Chu Renhuo (Qing Dynasty), annotated and edited by Shi Renhe
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1998-12-01
Features: The Romance of Sui and Tang is a 100-capter novel that combines both heroic legends and historical tales. Chu Renhuo drew heavily from folklore, legends, and stories about the Sui and Tang dynasties, including the "Eighteen Revolted Clans" during the late Sui Dynasty, as well as the Ming Dynasty works The Sui and Tang Chronicle, The Love Story of Emperor Yang of Sui, and Remnants of the Sui History. He also incorporated materials from Tang and Song Dynasty legends, weaving them into a 700,000-character epic titled The Romance of Sui and Tang, becoming the ultimate compendium of tales about the Sui and Tang periods. The narrative begins with the Sui Emperor's conquest of the Chen Dynasty and concludes with the return of Emperor Minghuang after the An Lushan Rebellion. The main content is divided into three parts:
1. The late Sui court stories centered around Emperor Yang and Zhu Guier.
2. The tales of "heroic figures in chaos," such as Qin Qiong, Shan Xiongxin, and Cheng Yaojin, who rebelled against the Sui Dynasty.
3. The Tang court stories during and after the An Lushan Rebellion, centered around Emperor Minghuang and Yang Guifei.
The novel weaves a subplot of the intertwined destinies of Emperor Yang and Zhu Guier, as well as Emperor Minghuang and Yang Guifei, into a vast yet loosely structured narrative. Artistically, it successfully portrays the ensemble of grass-root heroes like Qin Qiong, Shan Xiongxin, and Cheng Yaojin. These characters are both legendary and lifelike, with vivid, detailed, and realistic descriptions. The language is straightforward and accessible.
However, the achievements of different parts of The Romance of Sui and Tang are uneven. The sections depicting the rebellion against the Sui Dynasty artfully recreate the historical reality of the late Sui period, reflecting the background of the peasant wars. This part is rich in life-like scenes and contains many brilliant passages. In contrast, the Tang sections lack vigor in some areas, with uneven editing, unnecessary verbosity, and abrupt transitions. Additionally, the novel has limitations in both thought and art, such as excessive didacticism in feudal ethics and morals.