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Author: Mao Guimin et al
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The Twenty-Five Histories is a monumental work in Chinese history, known to few but rarely read in detail. This is mainly because these classic texts are vast, ancient, and written in challenging language, intimidating many. Now, we present it to you in the form of stories. The authors strictly adhere to historical facts, narrating vividly and concisely, making it accessible for young readers to reference and enjoy the charm of Chinese classical literature. Subtly, they improve their understanding, benefiting throughout their lives. The Twenty-Five Histories is a treasured classic of Chinese historiography, a collection of biographical histories meticulously compiled by renowned historians across generations. Each history primarily focuses on biographies, recording the lives of individuals and the development of historical events. The Twenty-Five Histories was decreed as the "orthodox histories" by Emperor Qianlong, and Mao Zedong studied it extensively, leaving the most annotations. Records of the Grand Historian is a heroic history unparalleled in ancient times. From scholars and officials to commoners, soldiers, merchants, and even petty thieves—all could be the protagonists, with no room for the mediocre. The Book of Han and The Later Book of Han are grand and dynamic, with sweeping narratives that inspire awe. Commoners could become emperors, and the saying "He can be replaced" stirred the hearts of readers. From the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the late Eastern Han Dynasty to the conquest of Wu by Emperor Wu of Jin, the three decades of turmoil in the Three Kingdoms period were marked by, where loyalty, treachery, wisdom, and folly all took the stage, echoing the last days of the heroic era. The Jin Dynasty was a time of unrestrained individuality, from the elite scholars to the common folk. With their deep emotions and unyielding spirit, they expressed joy, sorrow, anger, and frustration freely, their brilliance shining through even amidst chaos. This book is divided into three volumes, each containing five histories. The first volume includes Records of the Grand Historian, The Book of Han, The Later Book of Han, Records of the Three Kingdoms, and The Book of Jin. The second volume covers The Book of Song, The Book of Southern Qi, The Book of Liang, The Book of Chen, The Book of Wei, The Book of Northern Qi, The Book of Zhou, The Book of Sui, The Book of Southern History, The Book of Northern History, The Old Book of Tang, The New Book of Tang, The Old Book of the Five Dynasties, and The New Book of the Five Dynasties. The third volume includes The Book of Song, The Book of Liao, The Book of Jin, The Book of Yuan, The Book of Ming, and The Draft Book of Qing. It compiles the most renowned and enduring chapters, written in an accessible, story-like format. Each volume contains dozens of relatively independent stories, while also maintaining historical continuity. This allows readers from diverse backgrounds and professions to effortlessly explore China's 4,000-year history in their limited leisure time, gaining endless wisdom and enriching their life experiences through the vast and profound lessons of history.