The Tang lost its prize, and the warlords fought to claim it. The prosperous Tang, once flourishing in its golden age, had been reduced to a heap of ruins and ashes in history's blaze. The glamour of rainbow-colored robes and feathered garments had become a painful memory. The realm was in uproar. Who would claim the prize? Only those with strong troops and sturdy horses could do so.
The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period is often seen as the dull, uninteresting aftermath of the late Tang, nowhere near as compelling as the Three Kingdoms, despite following a similar historical trajectory. Every era in history is tragic and heroic, and each has its own distinctive appeal: love and hatred, blades and fire, desperate cries. The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms had all of these, too. Drawing on the tangled historical records of works such as the Old Book of Tang, the New Book of Tang, the Old History of the Five Dynasties, the New History of the Five Dynasties, the History of the Song, the History of the Liao, and the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, this book seeks to analyze and debate the evidence, searching for the historical truth closest to the era itself.
Three peerless figures of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms: among emperors, Chai Rong; among ministers, Feng Dao; and among poets, Li Yu. Chai Rong was the key figure in ending the warfare that had raged since the late Tang. He simply did not have enough time; otherwise, he would surely have become an emperor for the ages, like Emperor Taizong of Tang. Feng Dao rose from the turmoil of the age to become a chancellor, earning the respect of the realm. His way of navigating the world remains highly valuable to people today. Li Yu's tragic life and his poems, every one written in blood and tears, touch the softest part of every heart. Chai Rong, Feng Dao, and Li Yu wrote the most dazzling chapters of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, but the era's remarkable figures numbered in the hundreds and thousands. The iron-blooded Zhu Wen, the dashing Li Cunxu, the benevolent Guo Wei, the cunning Wang Jian, the frenzied Liu Yan, the ambitious yet inept Li Jing, and countless ministers and generals all brought their own tragic and joyful lives together to create the magnificent historical drama of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. Its brilliance grips the heart, and amid its passion and heroism, people of later generations can glimpse the truth of human nature.
I particularly like the descriptions of characters such as Chai Rong, Feng Dao, and Li Yu in the book. Their stories are so exciting! As the book says, "Every historical era is tragic and has its own unique charm." I think the charm of this book is that it allows me to see the passion and romance of that era, and it also makes me feel the reality of human nature. For example, Huang Chao mentioned in the book "gathers together to become thieves, and swarms everywhere." His uprising was really a helpless act of the common people under double raids. This book is worth reading!
I like to read relevant historical books about the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and the Five Hus and Sixteen Kingdoms. The more I read, the more extensive historical knowledge I learn from them and realize. In my opinion, reading history can improve your eyesight. The lessons of history are profound. The same applies to comparing it with the current society, so that you can better communicate with others and think better in the future. There are many heroes and losers in history. We should all take a good look at ourselves.
The original intention of reading this book was to understand the chaotic history between the Tang and Song Dynasties. Although the late Tang Dynasty was chaotic, the historical context written by the author was very clear, which is one of the reasons for the praise. Secondly, the text is humorous and suitable for my taste.
Well written, very exciting
Be concise, clear, objective, and respect historical facts!
The emperors in the history of the Five Dynasties changed frequently, and there were many events in the transition period between the old and the new. Being able to sort it out will be of great benefit to ordinary history lovers.
Very good, I have gained a lot of knowledge!
Respect historical facts and cite many historical materials.
Looking at history from another angle, there are new arguments and a new understanding of Zhu and Wen
Very good very good