Ming History Romance (Illustrated Edition)

Author: Cai Dongfan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Cai Dongfan's "Popular Historical Romances of China" spans from the Qin and Han dynasties to the Republic of China, comprising over 1,000 chapters and more than 5 million words, covering nearly 2,200 years of history. Based on reliable historical records with supplementary anecdotes, the work is meticulously researched, presents balanced perspectives, and is rich in content, well-structured, and written in elegant language. It includes self-reviews and annotations, combining intellectual depth with engaging storytelling, truly a classic in popular historical literature. Since its publication, the book has been widely acclaimed and loved. In the mid-1930s, Mao Zedong once sent a telegraph to Li Kekun, ordering two copies of this book to help educate officials in Yan'an about Chinese history. It was often placed on the bedside of his bed, and the renowned historian Zai Degeng believed that while the book may have some shortcomings as a historical source, its content is sufficiently rich, and its narrative is systematic. The famous novelist Erhu River thought that the book is only mediocre in literary terms but serves as an entry point to understanding national history, and it is unique in its kind. Throughout Chinese history, the imperial line has been passed down by the Han ethnic group, though there were times when minority groups invaded the Central Plains. Yet, these invasions were often fleeting, waxing and waning, coming and going. The Xiongnu, Khitan, and Jurchen cavalry, though formidable, ultimately failed to unify China. The origins of the Mongols trace back to the Shiwei tribal division of the Tang Dynasty, which lived in northern China and made a living by hunting, eventually forming their own tribes. Initially, they were under the rule of the Jin Dynasty, but with the rise of Genghis Khan, they unified the Mongol tribes and grew in power. The Mongol cavalry then launched westward campaigns into Europe, soon turning south to conquer the Jin and invade the Song dynasties. The fall of the Southern Song marked the end of the vast Central Plains, which were now under the control of the Mongol khans. For eighty-nine years, they ruled China, a feat unprecedented in history! Yet, the Mongols were ruthless and harsh to the people, exhausting the nation and sparking numerous uprisings. Among them emerged Zhu Yuanzhang, who single-handedly overthrew the Yuan Dynasty. Some attributed it to fate, while others believed it was due to human effort. I, too, am baffled, so I can only stick to historical facts and present the rise and fall of the Mongols in a work titled "Romance of the Yuan Dynasty."