The Empire's Collapse: A Detailed History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (Two-Volume Set)

Name: The Empire's Collapse: A Detailed History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (Two-Volume Set)
Author: Li Yiding

帝国的崩裂：细说五代十国史（全二册）

by Li Yiding (李奕定)

Status: Completed
Length: 240k Words
Genre: Historical
Updated: 4y ago
Source: Fanqie

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Synopsis

The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period was an era of great division in Chinese history. At the end of the Tang dynasty, rebellions erupted across the land, and regional military governors set themselves up as kings, while the Central Plains were racked by constant unrest. During this half-century of chaos, the realm was splintered, laws and social norms fell into disarray, rulers came and went in rapid succession, and morality collapsed. Arrogant, battle-hardened generals proclaimed themselves kings and emperors; fathers and sons killed one another in an endless cycle; scholars sold themselves for wealth and status. The people suffered terribly, reduced to lives of misery. Yet this dark age also offered a warning that would help reunify China, laying the groundwork for the flourishing civil governance and highly developed political culture of the Zhao Song dynasty.

This book is an accessible introduction to the history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. Beginning with Huang Chao's uprising, the author recounts in turn the rise and fall of the five Central Plains dynasties: Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou. The book also covers the founding of the many rival regimes in the south, including Former Shu, Wu, and Southern Tang, as well as the rise of the Khitans in the north. It concludes with the death of Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou, Chai Rong, and Zhao Kuangyin's founding of the Song dynasty after being invested with the Yellow Robe. Taking the emperors who founded dynasties, along with their advisers and generals, as its key figures, and military campaigns, major events, and the rise and fall of dynasties as its narrative threads, the author also depicts how the Central Plains dynasties responded to and acted against the rival regimes. With its clear structure and carefully connected threads, the book paints a vivid picture of an age of chaos in which “heroes rose in every direction to vie for dominion over the land.”

Other names

The Empire's Collapse: A Detailed History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms帝国的崩裂：细说五代十国史Alternate title on Fanqie

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22Chapters

248Reads

9.0Score

43Listens

29.1kReads · all time

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Reader comments 14

Translated by Google Translate

The history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms is another representative of the chaotic times in ancient China. It was precisely because of the chaos that heroes emerged in large numbers across the land of China. There is no shortage of heroes Chai Rong, Zhao Kuangyin and others. However, such troubled times lasted for decades, bringing unprecedented disasters to the people, and the adverse impact on the land of China was far greater than the other good meanings it carried. Fortunately, the Song Dynasty unified the Central Plains on the basis of the later Zhou Dynasty, and brought the fragmented land of China together again, allowing the simple people to gradually enter the light from darkness.
8 likes1y ago
It basically follows the history of the Five Dynasties, but has a lot of little stories.
5 likes3y ago
I have always felt that the history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms was too confusing, and I was always unclear about each country and the relevant people. I happened to have this book, which I could listen to. After listening to it twice, it became much clearer. And I really like the author's writing style, which is like ancient Chinese and modern Chinese, easy to understand and full of literary talent.
4 likes1y ago
This book is very rich in content. The author tells the history of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms in an easy-to-understand way, which gave me a deeper understanding of that period. I especially hate those people who do whatever it takes to become kings and emperors. Their selfishness and cruelty have brought endless suffering to the people. However, this book also made me understand that the development of history is regular, and we should learn lessons from history and strive to pursue peace and prosperity.
4 likes2y ago
It's okay, but it still feels quite short. I haven't finished watching it yet. I wonder if there will be a sequel.
1 like2y ago
It is true and objective. It tells the complicated and chaotic history of China in the late 9th century and the first half of the 10th century in a very clear context. It shows the author's research on history and I highly recommend it.
1 like2y ago
Just watch it and that's it, haha
1 like3y ago
No, why do you think half of it has been taken off the shelves?
11mo ago
Good-looking, concise and vivid
1y ago
The narrative is vivid and well organized.
1y ago

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