The Right Way to Bring Historical Figures to Life

From Pangu’s first flash of the axe that split heaven and earth to the last rays of sunset over the final dynasty, so many people throughout China’s long history deserve to be remembered. This book begins with ancient legends of Pangu, Youchao, Ziyi, Suiren, and the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. It journeys through the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, spans the Qin, Han, Tang, and Song, and continues through the Ming and Qing, telling the stories of remarkable figures from different eras. Here you’ll find the grand ambitions of emperors and ministers, the joys and sorrows of famous scholars and imperial consorts, political machinations at court, and the carefree elegance of recluses roaming the martial world. Through laughter, tears, praise, and scorn, the characters of five thousand years step onto the stage. Told in a new way, serious history can be surprisingly entertaining. One book to understand five thousand years of Chinese history.