Three Kingdoms, A Historical Novel: Complete and UnabridgedThree Kingdoms tells the story of the fateful last reign of the Han dynasty (206 b.c.-a.d. 220), when the Chinese empire was divided into three warring kingdoms. This decisive period in Chinese history became a subject of intense and continuing interest to historians, poets, and dramatists. Writing some 1,200 years later, the Ming author Luo Guanzhong drew on this rich literary heritage to fashion a sophisticated, compelling narrative that has become the Chinese national epic. Luo's novel offers a startling and unsparing view of how power is wielded, how diplomacy is conducted, and how wars are planned and fought; it has influenced the ways the Chinese think about power, diplomacy, and war even to this day. As important for Chinese culture as the Homeric epics have been for the West, this Ming dynasty masterpiece continues to be widely influential in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, and remains a great work of world literature. The University of California Press is pleased to make the complete and unabridged translation available again. |
Contents
A HISTORICAL NOVEL | 541 |
ABOUT THREE KINGDOMS | 937 |
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS IN THREE KINGDOMS | 987 |
CHRONOLOGY OF MAIN EVENTS IN THREE KINGDOMS | 993 |
NOTES TO THREE KINGDOMS | 1003 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
attack battle brother camp Cao Cao Cao Pi Cao Rui Cao Shuang Cao Zhen Cao's Chang'an chapter Chen Chengdu commanders court defeat Deng Ai Dong Zhuo dynasty Emperor Xian enemy forces Gorge Guan Xing Guan's Guo Huai Hanzhong Heaven honor Huan Huang Zhong imperial Jian Jiang Wei Jing Jingzhou killed king Kongming Kongming's Liao Hua Liu Bei Liu Feng Liu Xuande Lord Guan Lü Meng Lu Xun Luoyang Majesty Mao introductory note Meng Huo military Ming northern novel ordered prime minister Qishan hills replied River Riverlands Riverlands troops ruler Second Emperor sent Shu-Han Sima Shi Sima Yi Sima Zhao soldiers southern Southland summoned Sun Quan surrender sword thousand Three Kingdoms Wang Ping Wei Yan Xiahou Ba Xiang Xuande Xuande's Yuan Shao Zhang Bao Zhang Fei Zhang Yi Zhao Zilong Zhong Hui Zhou Yu Zhuge Liang ZZTJ