Aristocratic Clans of the Wei and Jin Dynasties

There are no dynasties that last a thousand years, but some great families endure for a thousand. Dynasties rise and fall, while the great clans stand firm. History is the story of emperors and their ministers, but it is also the story of aristocratic clans and noble lineages. This book recounts the rise and fall of the great clans of the Wei and Jin periods, tracing the long struggle for power between the throne and the clans. It focuses on the rise, success, and decline of such prominent families as the Sima of Henei, the Wang of Langya, the Chen, Xun, and Zhong of Yingchuan, the Cao and Xiahou of Qiao, and the Yang of Hongnong. Their stories encompass strategy, political intrigues, historical truths, the passage of time, human nature, blood and tears, endurance, and struggle.