The Years of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

In Chinese history, there is a period of troubled times that has been seriously ignored but is extremely real - the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. It is sandwiched between the prosperous Tang Dynasty and the Northern Song Dynasty. In just seventy-two years, dynasties in the Central Plains changed like a revolving door. Emperors changed clothes as frequently as they did. Revolts by military generals became the norm, and the displacement of the people was a daily routine. There is no long-term peace and stability here, no benevolence, justice and morality, only survival, intrigue, fighting and struggle. But the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms are by no means a history of chaos and brutality. It was the endgame after the collapse of the Tang Empire. It was the inevitable outcome of the vassals becoming more powerful and military generals taking power. It was the turbulent era when Shatuo's cavalry traveled across the Central Plains and the Khitan rose up in the northern frontier. It was also a critical period when the southern countries stayed safe and defended their territory, their economy and culture quietly rose, and the Chinese cultural heritage was not cut off. Here are the capricious, ruthless and pragmatic hero Zhu Wen, Li Cunxu, the God of War, who came to the world but quickly fell into decline, Shi Jingtang, who ceded territory and became a vassal and caused trouble for thousands of years, Qian Liu, who protected the country and the people and benefited the people, Li Yu, who had unparalleled literary talent but a tragic fate, and Chai Rong, the first hero of the Five Dynasties, who was only one step away from unifying the world. Some people fight against each other for the throne, some fight to survive in troubled times, some protect one side for the common people, and some work hard for unification. With popular humor, sharp and transparent writing style, this book will help you to clear up the fog of history and restore a real, vivid and flesh-and-blood Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. No facial expressions, no jokes, no distortions, it writes about human nature in troubled times, explains the rules of power, understands the underlying logic of the rise and fall of dynasties, and understands the forgotten but indispensable period of Chinese history between the Tang and Song Dynasties.