Ancient Chinese Historical Figures and Stories: Pre-Qin Figures and Stories (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Ma Yanhua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: The pre-Qin period in Chinese history generally refers to the era from ancient times to the unification of China by Qin Shi Huang. Since the Shang Dynasty was the first to develop Chinese characters, the history before the Shang lacks written records, mostly consisting of legends or speculations. For example, the alliance of the Yellow Emperor and the Flame Emperor to defeat the Chiyou tribe in the south, forming the Huaxia nation; the merit-based succession system of Yao and Shun; and Yu the Great's dedication to flood control, passing by his own home three times without entering. However, traditional Chinese history textbooks treat the "Xia Dynasty" as a historical dynasty, and we have followed this practice by defining the pre-Qin period as spanning from the Xia Dynasty to the Qin Dynasty, covering the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties (21st century BC to 221 BC), with a duration of approximately two thousand years. The pre-Qin period was a turbulent time of significant changes in China's social system. Especially during the late Zhou Dynasty's Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Five Hegemons vied for power, and the Seven States annexed each other, with the rule of the Zhou already in name only. To compete for the position of unifying the empire, the feudal lords strove to strengthen their national strength, actively engaged in diplomacy, and welcomed talented individuals, creating a relatively relaxed political environment. This period became a time of flourishing academic freedom in Chinese history, marked by and . A large number of figures profoundly influenced traditional Chinese culture emerged, such as Confucius and Mencius, the founders of Confucianism; Laozi and Zhuangzi, the founders of Taoism; Xunzi and Han Feizi, the founders of Legalism; the military strategist Sun Tzu; and the great poet Qu Yuan. They left behind many well-known and widely circulated stories, such as "Chicken Crowing and Dog Thievery," "Roasting the Elms and Tasting the Gall," "Returning the Jade to Zhao," and "Harmony Between the Premier and the General." Due to space constraints, we have selected only those historical figures who are relatively famous and whose stories are highly readable. Most of the character stories are adapted from official historical records, but some well-known folk tales that were not recorded in history, such as "Mengmu's Three Relocations," have also been included. This volume is part of the series 《Ancient Chinese Historical Figure Stories》. To ensure historical completeness for readers, we have also included famous legendary figures from ancient times, such as "Nuwa Mending the Sky," "Pangu Creating the World," "Yan Huang Fighting Chiyou," and "Yu the Great Controlling the Floods."