During the Qing dynasty, Chu Renhuo adapted The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties from books such as The Erotic History of Emperor Yang of Sui and Anecdotes from the Sui Dynasty, as well as folk legends. Zheng Zhenduo praised it, writing, “It had a tremendous influence on later novels. The first half of Chu Renhuo's The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties was entirely borrowed from The Erotic History. The description and structure of Dream of the Red Chamber also clearly drew inspiration from The Erotic History. It is indeed a monumental work, constructed so seamlessly that not a drop can leak through.”
With the refrain, “All splendor is built on the people's resentment; all grandeur is smeared with blood,” the novel vividly portrays the licentious, extravagant, and unrestrained life of Yang Guang, Emperor Yang of Sui, which ultimately brought his dynasty to ruin and left him disgraced.
The novel draws primarily on official histories and Song-dynasty anecdotal tales, shaping and expanding them into a coherent narrative. It neither departs from historical fact nor allows itself to be bound by it. Its plot is clear, its descriptions fine-grained, and its prose fresh and natural. It has the flow of storytelling without the vulgarity, and the elegance of literary prose without the obscurity, achieving a high level of artistry.
Yang Guang, Emperor Yang of Sui, is a famous ruler whose reign ran against the tide of history. The book focuses on exposing and condemning the decadent lifestyle that defined his life. Clever and talented from birth, Yang Guang was nevertheless sinister and greedy by nature. First he plotted to seize the crown prince's position. Then, while his father, Emperor Yang Jian, lay gravely ill, he made advances toward his stepmother, Lady Xuanhua, angering Yang Jian to death and clearing the way to the throne. Thus began his life as a debauched and indulgent emperor. After ascending the throne, Emperor Yang gave himself over to luxury and excess, disregarding both the nation's interests and the people's welfare in pursuit of his own pleasures. He first designated Luoyang as the eastern capital, launching massive construction projects to build Three Mountains, Five Lakes, and Sixteen Palaces, and selecting the most beautiful women from across the realm.
This book depicts Yang Guang's character and experience in detail, allowing me to see a real and multi-faceted Yang Guang. Although he is the king of a subjugated country, the description of him in the book is not limited to this, and also shows his intelligence and political methods. I like this way of writing that fully presents the characters, which gives me a deeper understanding of historical figures. Moreover, the writing style of this book is also very good and worth reading.
Duowei described the circumstances of the accident