Tales of the Pre-Qin Kingdoms

This is a sweeping historical epic spanning the origins of ancient Huaxia, chronicling three thousand years of pre-Qin history, from ancient myths and the rites and music of the Three Dynasties to the hegemonic struggles of the Spring and Autumn period, the contending states of the Warring States period, the unification of Qin, and the fall of the empire. Across 105 chapters, it follows civilization's course from the murk of myth and the awakening of human intelligence to the order of rites and music, the pursuit of strength through reform, and the unification of the realm, laying out in full the path of Huaxia civilization from its beginnings to its eventual form.

A thousand years of chaos were about more than clashing swords and the rise and fall of kings and lords. At civilization's dawn, the ancestors opened up the primordial wilderness and established the Nine Provinces, leaving behind the haze of divine authority and founding a human order. In the Spring and Autumn era, when rites collapsed and music fell into disarray, rival hegemonies arose and worthy ministers made their mark. The noble character of the virtuous endured, sustaining the moral foundations of Huaxia for millennia. In the blood-soaked chaos of the Warring States, reforms and innovations emerged one after another, while the Hundred Schools of Thought contended. Commoners rose to prominence and strategists wielded their wits, ushering in a brilliant age of ideas and talent.

The Qin swept across the Six Kingdoms, established systems, standardized writing and measurements, and opened postal routes. Its unified empire secured the foundations of Huaxia, yet rose and fell with astonishing speed, writing a bleak final chapter in the saga of imperial ambition. Moving beyond the narrow focus on political intrigue and warfare, this book also portrays everyday life: farming and village markets, artisans' crafts, the integrity of scholars, folk customs and music, and the medicine and livelihoods of ordinary people, restoring the human warmth left out of the history books.

Built on official history, brought to life through storytelling, and guided by the thread of civilization, this work captures the rise and fall of heroes, the evolution of institutions, the clash of ideas, and the many faces of the people. Read one volume to journey through the entire pre-Qin era and understand the foundations, spirit, and origins of Huaxia civilization.