A Newly Written Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is an epic literary masterpiece. Its full title is The Popular Romance of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, and it is also known as The Romance of the Records of the Three Kingdoms. Luo Guanzhong skillfully combined Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms with Pei Songzhi's commentary, then added the Three Kingdoms tales and legends widely circulated among the people, giving rise to this outstanding historical novel. Alongside Journey to the West, Water Margin, and Dream of the Red Chamber, it shines among the stars of classical Chinese literature and is celebrated as one of the Four Great Classical Novels. Since its creation, Romance of the Three Kingdoms has gone through numerous revisions and editions. Mao Zonggang's revision from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties is particularly notable and was hailed as the "First Book of Genius." This work was not only the first chaptered novel in the history of Chinese literature, but also pioneered historical romance novels and became a model of the literati's long-form fiction. It is counted among both the Four Great Classical Novels and the Six Great Classical Novels. Its five major sections cover the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Dong Zhuo's Rebellion, the warlords' contest for supremacy, the Three Kingdoms' tripartite division, and the reunification of the realm under Jin. It vividly depicts nearly a century of upheaval and the historical transition from the late Eastern Han to the early Western Jin. Through detailed depictions of warfare, Romance of the Three Kingdoms reveals the changing social conflicts and contradictions of the Three Kingdoms era and portrays a series of brave and fearless heroes. Using its characters as a vehicle, the work vividly dramatizes the fundamental values of traditional Chinese culture, such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, trust, and courage. It deeply reflects the people's support for wise rulers, their yearning for peace, their hatred of tyrants, and their opposition to turmoil. The story of the Oath of the Peach Garden, in particular, vividly reveals the deep bond and steadfast loyalty between Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.