Birds Scatter, Blossoms Fall: A Complete History of the Niu-Li Factional Struggle

Using a chronological framework, this book offers a comprehensive account of the Niu-Li factional struggle in the middle and late Tang dynasty. Drawing on historical sources from past and present, as well as Tang and Song literary works, it details the rise and fall in official fortunes of important historical figures including Niu Sengru, Li Deyu, Li Zongmin, Li Shangyin, Yuan Zhen, and Bai Juyi. It also examines the political climate of the middle and late Tang, clears up historical misconceptions, and restores the truth. The book closely analyzes the distinctive origins and development of the Niu-Li struggle under the middle and late Tang system of eunuchs installing emperors, and explains why it merits further study. Drawing on sources in the Old and New Books of Tang and the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, the work emphasizes historical research and restores the middle and late Tang to its original appearance. It also sheds light on aspects of Tang history unfamiliar to the general public. The style is serious and formal, while remaining literary and accessible.