Zizhi Tongjian (Essence) in Four Volumes--Chinese Classics Popular Library

"Tongjian" is a chronological general history compiled by Sima Guang based on a large number of historical materials with the full cooperation of his assistants Liu Xun, Fan Zuyu, Liu Shu and others. It records a history of 1,362 years starting from the 23rd year of King Weilie of the Zhou Dynasty (403 BC) to the 6th year of Xiande reign of Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou Dynasty (959). The book depicts the historical development from the Warring States Period to the Five Dynasties, and explores the reasons for the rise and fall of the unified dynasties such as Qin, Han, Jin, Sui, and Tang, as well as the Seven Heroes of the Warring States Period, the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu, Wu, the Five Hus and Sixteen Kingdoms, the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. It vividly depicts the emperors, generals, and ministers' way of governing the country and dealing with people, as well as their joys and sorrows of life and death in the whirlpool of history. To this day, "Zizhi Tongjian" is still a must-read book for understanding and studying Chinese history.