Romance of the Three Kingdoms - Illustrated Edition

Author: Luo Guanzhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, eunuchs held absolute power, and the warlords vied for dominance in the Central Plains. Through a series of intense struggles in politics, strategy, military force, and human hearts, as predicted by Zhuge Liang the, the situation eventually evolved into a three-way division: Shu, established by Liu Bei, the descendant of the Eastern Han Dynasty; Wu, ruled by Sun Quan, the hegemon of the Jiangdong region; and Wei, founded by Cao Cao, who claimed the title of "Son of Heaven" to command the. However, the struggle did not cease. The three factions—Wei, Shu, and Wu—continued to preserve their strength while attempting to eliminate the other two to unify the realm. Heroes emerged in the chaos, but ultimately, they were washed away by the waves of time, leaving behind only the heroic deeds that were worth singing and lamenting for posterity. Romance of the Three Kingdoms is an outstanding historical novel created based on the historical facts and folk legends of the Three Kingdoms period. Its content is rich and varied, offering readers profound and diverse insights. The story begins with Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's sworn brotherhood in the Peach Garden during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, describing the major historical events of the late Eastern Han and the Three Kingdoms period over nearly a century, as well as numerous heroic figures who shook the world. Through vivid and moving stories, the author reveals the darkness and corruption within the feudal ruling class, condemning the cruelty and vileness of the rulers.
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, warlords fought in chaos. The so-called "Eighteen Routes of Allies" conquered Dong Zhuo under the banner of "supporting the imperial family and saving the people," but in reality, they engaged in intrigue and deceit, each harboring their own ambitions to become king. This book is an illustrated edition of "The Four Great Classical Novels of China," depicting more than a hundred years of history from Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty to Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty. With a grand and sweeping brushstroke, it portrays the rise and fall, the struggles for dominance, and the survival and demise of the three states—Wei, Shu, and Wu—making it a model of historical romance. Among ancient Chinese novels, if one were to choose the most popular and well-known work, it would likely be Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Indeed, from any perspective, this historical romance, compiled by scholars based on historical facts and folk legends, is the most influential long novel among all works.