A Brief History of China's Emperors: The Art of Imperial Rule

This book traces the paths to power taken by emperors throughout China's dynasties, revealing the conflicts and transformations between different eras. Though Chinese emperors called themselves the Son of Heaven and were hailed as rulers who would live for ten thousand years, few lived long, and many died young. Some ascended the throne at just a few years old and sat there for decades, leaving a profound impact. They spent their whole lives as emperors, and history itself became a history of emperors. Yet being born into the imperial family was not necessarily a blessing. Every change of dynasty brought a bloodbath within the palace. This book offers brief introductions to emperors at several pivotal moments in history, for readers to enjoy over a cup of tea, or simply for a bit of amusement.