The Romance of Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang, courtesy name Kongming, was a statesman and military strategist of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period. Calm and unassuming yet full of fervor, he was resourceful and renowned far and wide. As a military strategist, his methods for training and commanding troops and his Eight Trigrams Formation earned high regard among military thinkers throughout history. As Shu Han’s chancellor, he upheld ritual, kept officials in check, and exercised power with care, making him an outstanding statesman. As the embodiment of wisdom, Zhuge Liang has long been praised and remembered.

Many remarkable figures emerged at the end of the Han dynasty, and Zhuge Liang was one of the foremost among them. This book begins with his birth and marriage and follows him through his death at Wuzhang Plains. Taking Zhuge Liang’s life as its central thread, it recreates in sweeping detail the turbulent history of the Three Kingdoms, when rival heroes rose up and wars raged across the land. To present history as it truly was and portray Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, Zhou Yu, and other historical figures as they really were, the book offers a balanced explanation of many aspects that have been mythologized. Concise yet profound, polished and powerful, and rich in storytelling, this book feels like a journey through an ocean of wisdom, where readers can continually nourish their minds and gain invaluable lessons.