The saga of the Three Kingdoms—which recounts the dramatic story of the civil wars (ca. 180–220 CE) that divided the old Han Empire into the Shu, Wei, and Wu states—remains as popular as ever in China, having served as the basis of not only traditional operas and ballads, but also, in more recent years, of movies, television dramas, and video games. Translated into English for the first time here, the Sanguozhi pinghua (thirteenth century CE) provides a complete and fast-paced narrative account of the events of the period, from the beginning of the civil wars to the demise of the Three Kingdoms and the short-lived reunification of the realm by the Jin dynasty. Shorter, clearer, and more accessible to Western audiences than Luo Guanzhong’s later, greatly expanded Romance (Sanguo yanyi)—and beautifully rendered in this edition by two modern-day masters of the art of Chinese literary translation—the Records of the Three Kingdoms in Plain Language provides an ideal introduction to one of the foundational Chinese epic traditions. Tables of major Chinese dynasties and reigns, a guide to understanding formal Chinese naming conventions, a glossary of Chinese names and terms, and reproductions of some woodcuts from the original edition of the text are included.

Records of the Three Kingdoms in Plain Language

This exciting new translation with footnotes is more readable than past versions and will appeal to modern readers. The Three Kingdoms is an epic Chinese novel written over six centuries ago. It recounts in vivid historical detail the turbulent years at the close of the Han Dynasty, when China broke into three competing kingdoms and over half the population were either killed or driven from their homes. Part myth, part fact, readers will experience the loyalty and treachery, the brotherhood and rivalry of China's legendary heroes and villains during the most tumultuous period in Chinese history. Considered the greatest work in classic Chinese literature, The Three Kingdoms is read by millions throughout Asia today. Seen not just as a great work of art, many Chinese view it as a guide to success in life and business as well as a work that offers great moral clarity—while many foreigners read it to gain insights into Chinese society and culture. From the saga of The Three Kingdoms, readers will learn how great warriors motivate their troops and enhance their influence, while disguising their weaknesses and turning the strengths of others against them. This first volume in a trilogy introduces Liu Bei and his sworn brothers-in-arms Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, whose allegiance is sorely tested in a society that is in flux where each group is fighting for its survival against the other.

Three Kingdoms, Volume 1: The Sacred Oath

This exciting new translation of the Chinese classic is designed to delight modern readers. The Three Kingdoms is an epic Chinese novel written over six centuries ago. It recounts in vivid historical detail the turbulent years at the close of the Han Dynasty when China broke into three competing kingdoms and over half the population was killed or driven from their homes. readers will experience the loyalty and treachery, the brotherhood and rivalry of China's legendary heroes and villains during the most tumultuous period in Chinese history. Part myth, part reality, The Three Kingdoms is considered the most significant work in classic Chinese literature. Many Chinese people view it not only as a work of art but also as a moral guide to success in life and business. Foreigners often read it to gain insights into Chinese society and culture. From the saga of The Three Kingdoms, readers will learn how great warriors motivated their troops and enhanced their influence while disguising their weaknesses and turning the strengths of others against them. Complete with footnotes and a detailed character list, this readable new edition is sure to thrill today's readers from all over the world. This second volume introduces Liu Bei's greatest ally, his advisor Zhuge Lian--a master strategist whose inventiveness allowed Liu Bei to claim many victories in the never-ending battle for dominance during the Warring States period in Chinese history.

The Three Kingdoms, Volume 2: The Sleeping Dragon

This exciting new translation of the Chinese classic is designed to delight modern readers. The Three Kingdoms is an epic Chinese novel written over six centuries ago. It recounts in vivid historical detail the turbulent years at the close of the Han Dynasty when China broke into three competing kingdoms and over half the population was killed or driven from their homes. readers will experience the loyalty and treachery, the brotherhood and rivalry of China's legendary heroes and villains during the most tumultuous period in Chinese history. Part myth, part reality, The Three Kingdoms is considered the most significant work in classic Chinese literature. Many Chinese people view it not only as a work of art but also as a moral guide to success in life and business. Foreigners often read it to gain insights into Chinese society and culture. From the saga of The Three Kingdoms, readers will learn how great warriors motivated their troops and enhanced their influence while disguising their weaknesses and turning the strengths of others against them. Complete with footnotes and a detailed character list, this readable new edition is sure to thrill today's readers from all over the world. Full of dramatic twists and turns, this third volume offers an exciting conclusion to the tale of Liu Bei, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu.

The Three Kingdoms, Volume 3: Welcome The Tiger

"The turn of the third century CE—known as the Jian’an era or Three Kingdoms period—holds double significance for the Chinese cultural tradition. Its writings laid the foundation of classical poetry and literary criticism. Its historical personages and events have also inspired works of poetry, fiction, drama, film, and art throughout Chinese history, including Internet fantasy literature today. There is a vast body of secondary literature on these two subjects individually, but very little on their interface.The image of the Jian’an era, with its feasting, drinking, heroism, and literary panache, as well as intense male friendship, was to return time and again in the romanticized narrative of the Three Kingdoms. How did Jian’an bifurcate into two distinct nostalgias, one of which was the first paradigmatic embodiment of wen (literary graces, cultural patterning), and the other of wu (heroic martial virtue)? How did these largely segregated nostalgias negotiate with one another? And how is the predominantly male world of the Three Kingdoms appropriated by young women in contemporary China? The Halberd at Red Cliff investigates how these associations were closely related in their complex origins and then came to be divergent in their later metamorphoses."

The Halberd at Red Cliff

This self-published translation, which reads like an action novel, brings new excitement to reading this great story. This is a series of 3 books completing the entire book translated from the Chinese to read like an exciting novel. Romance of the Three Kingdoms is an epic classic of literature, considered to be one of the most exciting books of all time. The origin of the book goes back over 2,000 years to the Warring States period in Chinese history. People now and long ago experience the unexpected in their daily life. The uncertainties and frustrations of human nature, written here with exquisite expression will leave the reader with profound insights. Book 1, The Sacred Oath, introduces the main characters. The many decisions, actions and techniques used become a string of adventure tales to overcome the many challenges they are to confront. The best and worst qualities of human nature find expression in the quest for power and survival. New characters are continually introduced which create unexpected consequences and twists to every tale. The first three sentences are one of the world's most famous expressions of wisdom. The sentences also set a theme, which weaves like a thread throughout the entire book. "Unity succeeds division and division follows unity. One is bound to be replaced by the other after a long span of time. This is the way with things in the world."

Romance of the Three Kingdoms - Book 1

This publication is the long-awaited complement to Michael Loewe's acclaimed Biographical Dictionary of the Qin, Former Han and Xin Periods (2000). With more than 8,000 entries, based upon historical records and surviving inscriptions, the comprehensive Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23-220 AD) now provides information on men and women of the Chinese world who lived at the time of Later (or Eastern) Han, from Liu Xiu, founding Emperor Guangwu (reg. 24-57), to the celebrated warlord Cao Cao (155-220) at the end of the dynasty. The entries, including surnames, personal names, styles and dates, are accompanied by maps, genealogical tables and indexes, with lists of books and special accounts of women. These features, together with the convenient surveys of the history and the administrative structure of the dynasty, will make Rafe de Crespigny's work an indispensable tool for any further serious study of a significant but comparatively neglected period of imperial China.

A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23-220 AD)

Ancient China was shaped by the three kingdoms of Wei, Shun and Wu. Reading about ancient history will help you realize the cultures and traditions of a nation. If you are familiar with such information, you will begin to understand how countries run and what you should or shouldn't be doing when you get the chance to visit China. What's your favorite fact about ancient times?

The Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu and Wu - Ancient History Books for Kids | Children's Ancient History

This book is the first volume of Romance of the Three Kingdoms translated from original text (traditional Chinese) into Simplified Chinese with Pinyin and comes with free audio files and English definition for all the words used in this book. The link and password to download the audio files are on the last page of the book. The Word List is in Volume 3. Romance of the Three Kingdoms (simplified Chinese: 三国演义; pinyin: Sānguó Yǎnyì) is a 14th-century historical novel attributed to Luo Guanzhong. It is set in the turbulent years towards the end of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, starting in 169 AD and ending with the reunification of the land in 280 AD. The story – part historical, part legend, and part mythical – romanticises and dramatises the lives of feudal lords and their retainers, who tried to replace the dwindling Han dynasty or restore it. While the novel follows hundreds of characters, the focus is mainly on the three power blocs that emerged from the remnants of the Han dynasty, and would eventually form the three states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The novel deals with the plots, personal and military battles, intrigues, and struggles of these states to achieve dominance for a period of almost 100 years. Romance of the Three Kingdoms is acclaimed as one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature; it has a total of 800,000 words and nearly a thousand dramatic characters (mostly historical) in 120 chapters. We have compiled the entire text into 3 volumes: Volume 1 – Chapters 1 to 52 Volume 2 – Chapters 53 to 102 Volume 3 – Chapters 103 to 120 and Word List For more information, please visit www.allmusing.net

Romance of the Three Kingdoms Vol 1

Excerpt from Illustrated Natural History of the Three Kingdoms, Vol. 1: Containing Scientific and Popular Descriptions of Man, Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Reptiles, Insects, &C In the carrying out, and completion of this design, the Publisher proposes to illustrate the leading zoological groups of the various branches; particularly such as are remarkable for their usefulness to man, or Curious from the singularity of their structure Or external beauty. The illustrations proposed to be given are so numerous, that 'it will be impossible to procure all of them from livmg Speci mens; but the greatest care will be used in selecting, from the most appoved sources, the plates, which can be confi dently relied on, for accuracy, ' both of delineation and coloring. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Illustrated Natural History of the Three Kingdoms, Vol. 1

The Three Kingdoms, a pivotal period in ancient Chinese history, encompassed the era from the late second century to the early third century AD. This turbulent time saw the fragmentation of the Han Dynasty into three major factions, each vying for dominance: Wei, Shu, and Wu. Fueled by political intrigue, military conquests, and the legendary exploits of key figures like Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan, this epic struggle has been immortalized in the classic Chinese novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Today, the Three Kingdoms era remains a source of fascination, inspiring countless adaptations in literature, film, and gaming, making it a perennial subject of interest for both historians and pop culture enthusiasts alike.