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1
The Battle of Lake Changjin: The Turning Point of the Korean War 长津湖战役：朝鲜战争的拐点
Discover the true story of the Battle of Lake Changjin, a desperate clash of wills and faith. We salute the great soldiers. Those faces hidden beneath the ice, those who died under the bombs: they deserve to be remembered! More than seventy years ago, the Langlin Mountains were rugged and buried beneath heavy snow. The wind howled into people's ears, as loud as an exploding shell. Many lay in the snow. The charge sounded, but they could no longer move. Snowflakes settled on their eyelashes, and
709Reads9.6Score—Shelves
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2
A History of Chinese Warfare: Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods 中国战争史之春秋战国
[History + Military + Warfare + Strategy] On the battlefield, split-second decisions to kill or spare can determine a nation's fate. From Duke Huan of Qi's hegemony under the banner of “revering the king and repelling the barbarians,” to the rise of Qin's fierce army after Shang Yang's reforms; from the gleam of blades in the Wu-Yue conflict to the strategists' cunning schemes and verbal battles with scholars, every detail is steeped in the turmoil and bloodshed unique to the Spring and Autumn a
144Reads9.2Score—Shelves
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3
The Secret Histories of the Four Great Beauties 四大美人秘史
The Secret History of the Four Great Beauties is a vivid, legendary novel about four famous beauties of ancient China: Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Diao Chan, and Yang Guifei. Skillfully blending history and legend, fact and fiction, this work uses delicate prose and rich storytelling to reveal the important roles these four beauties played in their respective eras and the influence they had. During the Spring and Autumn period, Xi Shi used her beauty to beguile King Fuchai of Wu under a plan devised b
191Reads9.2Score—Shelves
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4
One Book Is All You Need to Read Chinese History 中国历史读这本就够了
Discover the truth of history through clear, accessible writing. A Comprehensive Guide to Chinese History is the magnum opus of the renowned historian Lü Simian. Organized chronologically, it covers politics, economics, culture, society, and much more. In this sweeping historical work, Lü Simian brings a series of vivid scenes to life with engaging prose and a rigorous historical perspective: from ancient legends of the world's creation to the gradual formation of ritual and musical civilization
71Reads8.3Score—Shelves
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5
King of the Battlefield: The Decisive Edge in the Age of Cold Weapons 战场之王 冷兵器时代的决胜关键
Although guns and cannons rule the modern battlefield, cold weapons are once again catching people's attention thanks to their irreplaceable advantages. They are the true veterans, embodying humanity's deep-seated yearning for iron and blood! The appeal of weapons goes beyond killing. It lies in the stories of blood and tears hidden behind the killing, and in every warrior who stands on the battlefield with a sword or knife in hand! History is no fairy tale. Where will the stories of cold weapon
23Reads8.1Score—Shelves
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6
The Truth the Japanese Army Tried to Hide: The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru 被日军掩盖的真相：里斯本丸沉没事件
[Lisbon Maru, Japan, World War II, prisoners of war, shipwreck, war] The Truth Hidden by the Japanese Military: The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru centers on a humanitarian disaster during World War II, bringing to light a chapter of history long buried. In October 1942, the Japanese cargo ship Lisbon Maru was carrying around 1,800 British prisoners of war from Hong Kong to Japan when it was torpedoed by an American submarine near the Zhoushan Islands. As the ship slowly sank, the Japanese military
64Reads9.2Score—Shelves
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7
History of the Song: Annals of Emperor Taizu 宋史·太祖本纪
He may have been the best “actor” among the founding emperors in Chinese history. In 960 CE, a carefully orchestrated “forced enthronement” at Chenqiao Station propelled Zhao Kuangyin from a general of the Later Zhou into the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty. Over drinks, he stripped the founding generals of their military power; amid the shadows of an axe and candlelight, the mystery surrounding his bizarre death remains unsolved to this day. Some call him a wise ruler who ended the chaos o
130Reads8.3Score—Shelves
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8
The Scandalous Tales of the Four Great Beauties 四大美人艳史演义
Uncovering the untold stories of the Four Beauties [History + biographies + the Four Beauties + unofficial anecdotes] Xi Shi, whose beauty could topple a kingdom as she washed silk, was caught in the turmoil of a chaotic age. Yang Yuhuan’s glance could captivate an entire city, but her passionate love became a shackle of fate. Wang Zhaojun left the frontier with a mournful song, bringing a brief peace between the Han and the Xiongnu. Diao Chan ingeniously set a chain of schemes in motion, turnin
80Reads8.7Score—Shelves
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9
The Journey to Win Your Heart 撷君行
Time’s wheels roll ever onward into the mid-Tang era. On this land shrouded by evil spirits, the people suffer while no one comes to their aid. Only Sun A Shi, the Medicine King, leads his disciples in searching for the secret to driving the evil spirits away. Three couples among the Medicine King’s disciples, Jiang Ze and Jiegeng, Gancao and Guizhi, and Doukou and Didi, hold fast to their faith in battle and never give up in the face of hardship. Like dancers, they weave love and hate into a ma
48Reads—Score—Shelves
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10
Stardust Falls into a Long Dream 星霜入长梦
Set in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. The main storyline follows the little-known Red Turban Army’s northern expedition against Goryeo and the rival warlords vying for power at the end of the Yuan dynasty, alongside a fictional character who navigates the shifting alliances between the lords. The story also touches on ancient legends of immortal cultivators and tales from the Classic of Mountains and Seas that date back to antiquity. See how the protagonist makes his way through a troub
14Reads—Score—Shelves
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11
Zeng Guofan's Methods of Scholarship 曾国藩治学方法
This book explores three dimensions: self-cultivation, managing affairs, and reading. Its discussion of self-cultivation advocates integrating “resolve, insight, and perseverance,” building a foundation for body and mind through meditation and a regular routine. Its approach to managing affairs reveals, through practical examples such as running a household and leading an army, the unity of hands-on action and institutional innovation. Its discussion of reading emphasizes “mastering one field” a
333Reads9.0Score164Shelves
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12
Lanzhou History and Culture: Ethnic Migration 兰州历史文化：民族移民
Lanzhou is the political, economic, and cultural center of Gansu Province. Situated where the Qinghai-Tibet, Inner Mongolia, and Loess Plateaus meet, it lies midway between north and south and guards a vital east-west passage. The Yellow River runs through the city, and the landscape rises and falls along its banks. Its long history and splendid culture have shaped Lanzhou’s distinctive heritage, bringing together ethnic, Yellow River, and Silk Road cultures. This cultural fabric has not only fo
2Reads8.2Score—Shelves
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13
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Longnan 陇南非物质文化遗产
The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Longnan provides a comprehensive overview of the city's intangible cultural heritage and discusses the categories, characteristics, forms of expression, and conservation value of its national-, provincial-, municipal-, and county-level heritage. It looks back on and ahead to Longnan's efforts to protect its intangible cultural heritage, and proposes corresponding approaches and strategies. This book is a valuable reference work, both as a source of information
—Reads8.0Score—Shelves
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The Complete Tale of Yue Fei: Two-Volume Set (Treasury of Chinese Classics: Illustrated Edition) 说岳全传：全2册（中国古典小说藏本：插图本）
The Complete Story of Yue Fei, whose full title is The Expanded and Revised Account of Loyalty and Righteousness: The Complete Story of Yue Fei, consists of eighty chapters. The book mainly uses the events of Yue Fei's life recorded in official histories as its narrative framework, while drawing on folk tales, storytelling performances, and theatrical works about Yue Fei. It invents many plotlines and details, making the novel more vivid, colorful, and compelling than other works on similar subj
57Reads9.3Score—Shelves
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15
Dreaming Back to the Red Chamber 梦回红楼
Dreaming of the Dream of the Red Chamber
1Reads—Score—Shelves
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16
Dreaming Back to the Red Chamber: Turning the Tide and Restoring the Rongguo Mansion 梦回红楼之扭转乾坤重振荣国府
You don’t have to read Dream of the Red Chamber to enjoy this story. The Rongguo Mansion is confiscated, its glory fades away, leaving only a sigh of regret. How will Jia Baoyu, a fallen young master, reform himself, turn the tide, and rewrite the ending of Dream of the Red Chamber? The Twelve Beauties of Jinling, surrounded by beauties, which path lies ahead? Lin Zhe, a young master from a wealthy family in Republican-era China, suddenly faces a family calamity. The only thing his father dies p
10Reads—Score—Shelves
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The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties: Complete, Edited Edition 隋唐演义-精编完整版
An epic tale of heroes rising amid chaos. Qin Qiong sells his horse, revealing a hero at the end of his rope; Cheng Yaojin robs the imperial tribute convoy, showing off his street smarts; and Li Shimin's Xuanwu Gate Incident reshapes the course of history. Blending the official historical record with folk storytelling, it weaves a legendary tale steeped in history and the spirit of the jianghu.
877Reads9.6Score—Shelves
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18
Secret Records Behind the Red Walls: A Complete History of China's Unofficial Past, Unabridged 红墙秘录：中国野史大全（无删节完整版）
This complete collection is like a secret key unlocking the hidden chambers of China's imperial past, guiding readers into shadowy corners that official histories leave shrouded in secrecy. From the ancient legends of Unofficial History of the Xia and Shang to the imperial passions and court intrigues of The History of the Imperial Harem in the Song Dynasty, The History of the Imperial Harem in the Ming Dynasty, and Unofficial History of the Yuan Dynasty; from the extravagant excesses of The Ero
1.7kReads9.3Score313Shelves
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19
Party Struggles Throughout Chinese History 中国历代党争
Chinese Factional Struggles Through the Ages is a history of power struggles between factions, between factions and imperial authority, and between individuals. Using strategy as its thread and history as its fabric, it recounts a host of tangled stories. Covering three thousand years of factional strife, from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods through the Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the book details major events, rises and falls, triumphs and humiliations, and
222Reads7.7Score100Shelves
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20
Two Thousand Years of Chinese History 中华二千年史
A History of China Through Two Thousand Years was first published in 1934 as one of the University Series, then republished by Zhonghua Book Company in 1956. Written by Deng Zhicheng, it primarily recounts Chinese history from the Qin and Han periods through the Ming and Qing dynasties, while also presenting the author’s historical thought and commentary.
90Reads8.8Score—Shelves
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21
The Tale of Empress Dowager Cixi 慈禧太后演义
This book offers a detailed account of Cixi’s life, from her birth and entry into the imperial palace to her rule from behind the curtain, her decades wielding power over the Qing dynasty, and her death. It is not only literary and highly readable, but also of some value as a reference for historical research.
17Reads9.4Score—Shelves
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22
Tales of the Sixteen Reigns of the Ming Court 明宫十六朝演义
The Romance of the Sixteen Reigns of the Ming Court delves into the imperial palace, recounting the love and enmity between emperors and their consorts, while ranging widely across history to survey the twists and turns of feudal dynasties. Understand this series, and you will understand the court; understand the court, and you will understand history; understand history, and the realities of the world will become clear to you.
78Reads9.4Score—Shelves
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23
The Complete Collection of Courtly Tales Through the Ages 历代宫廷演义全集
Xu Xiaotian brings the secret histories of the Ming, Qing, and Tang courts to life in the style of a novel: the bloodshed of the Nine Princes’ struggle for the throne, Wu Zetian’s political schemes, and the tragic final days of the Chongzhen Emperor... The book has the solid historical foundations of a meticulously researched account, enlivened with the colorful flesh and blood of historical fiction. More vivid than official histories, yet more rigorous than tales of the past, it is an ancient v
126Reads9.5Score—Shelves
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24
Ten Treatises on Refined Objects: The World of Meaning Behind the Literati's Belongings 清物十志：文人之物的意义世界
People today tend to think of objects associated with the literati as elegant and natural. In fact, each one was born of a long and arduous process of refinement. This book explores ten objects from the lives of literati, describing how, through poetry, prose, painting, and everyday use, they gradually cleansed away the "turbid air" of rank and worldly convention that had clung to them, restoring each object's clear, pure, and natural form.
13Reads8.8Score—Shelves
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25
The Meaning of the White Tiger 白虎通义
The Baihutong, also known as the White Tiger Discussions or the White Tiger Treatise on Virtue, is a collection of proceedings from an officially convened meeting on Confucian studies during the Eastern Han dynasty, as well as an imperially sanctioned work interpreting the Confucian classics. It holds an exceptionally important place in the history of Confucian thought and Han political thought. In 79 CE, the fourth year of Emperor Zhang of Han’s Jianchu era, the emperor personally convened a la
24Reads8.6Score—Shelves
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The Saga of Wagang Stronghold 瓦岗寨演义
The Tale of Wagang Stronghold is set amid the chaos of the late Sui dynasty and vividly recounts how the heroes of Wagang rise up to resist tyranny. The story follows bold outlaws such as Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong, Shan Xiongxin, and Xu Maogong, chronicling their legendary exploits: gathering at Wagang, seizing the imperial tribute, rebelling in Shandong, and joining forces with eighteen rebel kings to fight the Sui court. The book features both bloody battles amid flashing blades and clashes of w
718Reads9.5Score—Shelves
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27
Shanghai: Half the History of Republican China, A Look at the City's Gangland Bosses 一座上海滩，半部民国史：细数上海滩黑帮大佬
In the warlord-ridden Republic of China-era Shanghai, the one with the hardest fists calls the shots. A world of luxury and excess, with heroes rising amid the chaos and all kinds of “talent” emerging. Let's take a look at the underworld bosses of the time: Sister A Gui, a female crime lord who amassed a fortune, had no patience for men's bad tempers. If you keep mistresses outside the home, I'll have affairs inside it. Huang Jinrong, the Green Gang's crime boss, was lecherous and unscrupulous.
515Reads9.3Score—Shelves
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28
Monster Codes: Journey to the West 妖怪密码：西游记
How many demons are there in Journey to the West? The White Bone Spirit, Tiger Vanguard, the Red-Rumped Macaque, Red Boy... Only after enduring the Eighty-One Tribulations can one look upon the world's fortunes with a smile. What are their true forms? What becomes of them? Is there a connection between demons and natural phenomena? Here, I'll reveal the answers to all these questions, one by one.
168Reads9.3Score—Shelves
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The Three Kingdoms: History So Addictive, You Can’t Put It Down 一读就上瘾的三国史
The Three Kingdoms era was marked by endless warfare and rival warlords, and is now familiar to everyone thanks to Romance of the Three Kingdoms. But the novel isn't history, and some of the famous stories we all know never actually happened! Did Zhuge Liang really borrow arrows with straw boats? Why is Zhang He known as “the Three Kingdoms strength tester”? How did Fei Yi live a life worthy of the title “master of pacing”? Did Cao Zhi really love his sister-in-law? Why is Cao Cao's life said to
1.1kReads9.5Score107Shelves
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30
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance: Zhou Chronicle, Modern Chinese Edition 资治通鉴·周纪（白话版）
Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government is a monumental chronological history of ancient China, compiled by Sima Guang during the Northern Song dynasty. It covers 1,362 years of history, from the Warring States period to the Five Dynasties. This book presents the “Zhou Annals” as a standalone work, translated in full into clear, modern language for contemporary readers. This edition covers all five volumes of the “Zhou Annals,” from the twenty-third year of King Weilie of Zhou (403 BCE) to the
13Reads8.6Score—Shelves
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31
The Song Dynasty, Told with a Twist 趣说大宋王朝
The emperor's art of statecraft in a single cup of wine, the fateful legend of the “fragrant boy's birth,” a prophetic monk who foretold that “the inspector would become emperor,” and the schemes and ambitions behind a yellow imperial robe... The founding of the Song dynasty was far more fascinating than the history books suggest! Discover Zhao Kuangyin's rise from street urchin to founding emperor: his “forced” ascension at Chenqiao Station, the mysterious prophecy at Xiangyang Temple, the lig
7.7kReads9.5Score365Shelves
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Tales of Treacherous Ministers: The Five Fiends and Six Bandits of the Northern Song 奸臣传之北宋五鬼六贼
[A roll call of treacherous ministers, with a touch of spicy humor and theatrical satire!] The Biography of Treacherous Ministers: The Five Ghosts and Six Bandits of the Northern Song is like a blacklist of history's ultimate “villain club”! No need to transmigrate to the Song dynasty. You can “watch remotely” as these self-serving, scheming power brokers stir up trouble. Wang Qinruo, Ding Wei, Chen Pengnian, Liu Chenggui, and Lin Te, along with Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Wang Fu, Liang Shicheng, Zhu
12Reads8.4Score—Shelves
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This Tang Dynasty Is a Little Chilly 这个唐朝有点冷
[Lesser-known Figures + History for Fun] Don't imagine the Tang dynasty as just officials and scholars leaning on railings along Chang'an's avenues to compose poetry, a noble consort gently waving a fan, and Emperor Taizong solemnly surveying the realm. This book opens the “refrigerator door” of history to show how the celebrated figures presented so seriously in official records may actually have been jokesters, master wisecrackers, and purveyors of astonishing twists. Come along, and you'll di
21Reads9.2Score—Shelves
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The Illustrated Tale of the Swordsman Yongzheng, Volumes 1 and 2 雍正剑侠图（上下册）
Tong Lin takes up his midnight-and-noon chicken-claw mandarin-duck axes and roams the martial world, rising from a farmer's son to become Yongzheng's personal bodyguard. The Blood-Dropper secret service is recruiting online, while a band of sword heroes prepares for a final showdown on Penglai Island.
801Reads9.5Score101Shelves
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35
The Complete Story of Tang 说唐全传
Centered on the gathering of heroes at Wagang Stronghold, the story spans the period from Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou’s conquest of Northern Qi and Emperor Wen of Sui’s pacification of Southern Chen, to Li Yuan of Tang’s defeat of the rival warlords and Li Shimin’s ascension to the throne. It mainly recounts how the heroes of Wagang joined forces to rebel against the Sui and help establish the Tang dynasty, recreating the turbulent age of the eighteen rebel kings and sixty-four bands of rebels.
15Reads9.4Score—Shelves
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Wu Zetian's Four Great Mystery Cases 武则天四大奇案
[Historical Mystery + Four Great Cases + Ancient-Era Deduction] From strange cases in the countryside to courtly intrigue, Di Renjie carefully unravels the truth at every turn. Newly appointed magistrate of Changping County, Di Renjie is immediately faced with a bizarre murder: a merchant from Huzhou is found mysteriously dead at an inn in Liulidun. The local headman, Hu De, abuses his power, but the identity of the real culprit raises even more questions. Disguised as an ordinary traveler, Di R
483Reads9.5Score—Shelves
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After the College Entrance Exam, I Used My Foresight to Become a Tycoon 回到高考后，利用先知成富豪
By a twist of fate, Chen Feiyu returns to the day after his class reunion, held after the college entrance exam. Using his information advantage, he makes up for past regrets. From the start, he sets his sights on the Brazil World Cup to earn his first fortune, then uses his expertise and memories to grow his money in the stock market. He also keeps in touch with his high school crush and his senior from university, wins the hearts of both beauties, and becomes a winner in life!
2.4kReads—Score126Shelves
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