Romance of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

After forty years teaching from the lectern, whenever the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period came up, I would be completely at a loss. So I resolved to organize its history. It was meant to be a history book, but I also mixed in some unofficial accounts, so I might as well call it a novel. After ten years of honing my craft, I created this long historical novel, modeled on Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Between the Tang and Song dynasties lay a dark and treacherous ravine called the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. Over the course of 53 years, five dynasties arose in the Central Plains, while ten kingdoms emerged beyond them. To present the history of every kingdom in full, this book is organized by kingdom: the stories are interconnected, yet each stands on its own.

As a teacher, my aim with this book is to provide a writing model, improve literary expression, and pass on a brilliant civilization. This is a grand historical spectacle, complete with singing, recitation, acting, stagecraft, and dazzling effects, offering you a vivid feast for the eyes and ears, rich with eloquence. It is a sumptuous banquet, prepared with official histories as the main ingredients, unofficial accounts as accompaniments, literature as the broth, and humor as the seasoning. May you truly savor the fragrance of books.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.