Romance of the Later Han (Illustrated Edition)

Author: Cai Dongfan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2007-01-01
Features: During the Han Dynasty, historians were divided into two periods, known as the Former and Later Han, or Eastern and Western Han. This is because the Han Dynasty spanned four hundred years, during which Wang Mang usurped the throne and reigned for eighteen years. Therefore, the period before Wang Mang's coup was called the Former Han, while the period after was called the Later Han. The Former Han was based in Shaanxi, hence "Western Han," while the Later Han was based in Luoyang, hence "Eastern Han."
"The Romance of the Former Han" () begins with Qin Shi Huang and ends with Wang Mang's coup. This series picks up where the previous one left off, starting with Wang Mang and concluding with the Three Kingdoms period. "The Romance of the Former Han" includes the Qin Dynasty, while "The Romance of the Later Han" covers the Three Kingdoms, forming a complementary structure.
If one were to discuss the rise and fall of the Later Han, it would be even more complex than that of the Former Han: Wang Mang's coup stemmed from the influence of Empress Yuan. The harm caused by imperial relatives reached this extent. Emperor Guangwu's restoration emphasized learning from past mistakes and took personal control, rigorously preventing imperial relatives from interfering in politics. Emperor Ming shared his father's traits, and Emperor Zhang's early reign was commendable. However, after Emperor Hedi, the state's affairs deteriorated daily. The struggle between imperial relatives and eunuchs eventually led to their mutual destruction, with power falling into the hands of regional governors. Amid fierce competition and a "survival of the fittest," the Three Kingdoms emerged.
In summary, the era from Emperor Guangwu to Emperor Zhang was one of imperial rule, while the period from Emperor Hedi to Emperor Huandi was one of alternating dominance by imperial relatives and eunuchs. During Emperor Xian's reign, numerous upheavals occurred—first, a period of factional strife, then a time of conflict among regional powers, and finally, a period of competition among the Three Kingdoms.
Written under the guiding philosophy of "Saving the Nation Through Romances," Cai Dongfan's series of historical novels, including this work, depict the history from Emperor Guangwu's restoration to the Three Kingdoms' turmoil. This is a monumental romance that uses official history as its backbone and anecdotes as its weft, with a unique format that includes self-criticisms and annotations. The entire work is written in an engaging, natural, and accessible style.