Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou States

蔡元放 / Feng MenglongSep 2025

Rating 4.1
Word count
680K words
Chapters
111
ISBN
9787540337469

Tags

Eastern Philosophy Rise and FallPower GamesGroup BiographyTurbulent EraSpring and Autumn

Summary

Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou States is a classical historical novel adapted by Cai Yuanfang of the Qing dynasty from Feng Menglong's New Chronicles of the States. It spans from 770 BC, when King Ping of Zhou moved the capital east to Luoyi, to 221 BC, when Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, fully portraying five centuries of conflict among the Eastern Zhou states. Centered on the rise and fall of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period and the Seven Warring States, it links countless classic events and figures: Duke Zhuang of Zheng meeting his mother underground, Duke Huan of Qi's hegemony, Duke Wen of Jin's promise, Lin Xiangru returning the jade intact, and Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin. It depicts great battles such as Chengpu and Changping and portrays wise men like Yan Ying, Confucius, and Shang Yang, conveying the idea that the just cause gains support.

Editor's review

This historical romance, adapted by Cai Yuanfang from Feng Menglong’s Xin Lieguo Zhi, strings more than five hundred years of Eastern Zhou strife into a continuous narrative panorama. Its value lies not in precise textual scholarship but in using historical fact as the skeleton and literary art as the flesh, bringing figures like Duke Huan of Qi, Duke Wen of Jin, Lin Xiangru, and Jing Ke out of the allusions to act with personality and circumstance. The book’s highlight is its structure: with the rise and fall of the Five Hegemons and Seven Warring States as the main thread, battles like Chengpu and Changping interweave with the stratagems of Yan Ying, Shang Yang, and others, so readers can see both the big picture and the human heart. It suits being read volume by volume over a longer period, or used as a first-level entry into the historical outline of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, to be cross-checked against histories.

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Reading tips

  1. Read the table of contents first to sort out the states and timeline, then read in two stages: the Five Hegemons, then the Seven Warring States.
  2. When characters come thick and fast, jot down their state and relationships to avoid forgetting earlier material.
  3. Compare major battles like Chengpu and Changping with the Zuo Zhuan or a general history to see how the romance differs from the histories.
  4. After each volume, write a three-to-five-line summary and assign events to their states to build your own outline.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 叙
  3. 《列国志》序
  4. 第一回 周宣王闻谣轻杀 杜大夫化厉鸣冤
  5. 第二回 褒人赎罪献美女 幽王烽火戏诸侯
  6. 第三回 犬戎主大闹镐京 周平王东迁洛邑
  7. 第四回 秦文公郊天应梦 郑庄公掘地见母
  8. 第五回 宠虢公周郑交质 助卫逆鲁宋兴兵
  9. 第六回 卫石碏大义灭亲 郑庄公假命伐宋
  10. 第七回 公孙阏争车射考叔 公子翚献谄贼隐公
  11. 第八回 立新君华督行赂 败戎兵郑忽辞婚
  12. 第九回 齐侯送文姜婚鲁 祝聃射周王中肩
  13. 第十回 楚熊通僭号称王 郑祭足被胁立庶
  14. 第十一回 宋庄公贪赂构兵 郑祭足杀婿逐主
  15. 第十二回 卫宣公筑台纳媳 高渠弥乘间易君
  16. 第十三回 鲁桓公夫妇如齐 郑子亹君臣为戮
  17. 第十四回 卫侯朔抗王入国 齐襄公出猎遇鬼
  18. 第十五回 雍大夫计杀无知 鲁庄公乾时大战
  19. 第十六回 释槛囚鲍叔荐仲 战长勺曹刿败齐
  20. 第十七回 宋国纳赂诛长万 楚王杯酒虏息妫
  21. 第十八回 曹沫手剑劫齐侯 桓公举火爵宁戚
  22. 第十九回 擒傅瑕厉公复国 杀子颓惠王反正
  23. 第二十回 晋献公违卜立骊姬 楚成王平乱相子文
  24. 第二十一回 管夷吾智辨俞儿 齐桓公兵定孤竹
  25. 第二十二回 公子友两定鲁君 齐皇子独对委蛇
  26. 第二十三回 卫懿公好鹤亡国 齐桓公兴兵伐楚
  27. 第二十四回 盟召陵礼款楚大夫 会葵丘义戴周天子
  28. 第二十五回 智荀息假途灭虢 穷百里饲牛拜相
  29. 第二十六回 歌扊扅百里认妻 获陈宝穆公证梦
  30. 第二十七回 骊姬巧计杀申生 献公临终嘱荀息
  31. 第二十八回 里克两弑孤主 穆公一平晋乱
  32. 第二十九回 晋惠公大诛群臣 管夷吾病榻论相
  33. 第三十回 秦晋大战龙门山 穆姬登台要大赦
  34. 第三十一回 晋惠公怒杀庆郑 介子推割股啖君
  35. 第三十二回 晏蛾儿踰墙殉节 群公子大闹朝堂
  36. 第三十三回 宋公伐齐纳子昭 楚人伏兵劫盟主
  37. 第三十四回 宋襄公假仁失众 齐姜氏乘醉遣夫
  38. 第三十五回 晋重耳周游列国 秦怀嬴重婚公子
  39. 第三十六回 晋吕郤夜焚公宫 秦穆公再平晋乱
  40. 第三十七回 介子推守志焚绵上 太叔带怙宠入宫中
  41. 第三十八回 周襄王避乱居郑 晋文公守信降原
  42. 第三十九回 柳下惠授词却敌 晋文公伐卫破曹
  43. 第四十回 先轸诡谋激子玉 晋楚城濮大交兵
  44. 第四十一回 连谷城子玉自杀 践土坛晋侯主盟
  45. 第四十二回 周襄王河阳受觐 卫元咺公馆对狱
  46. 第四十三回 智宁俞假酖复卫 老烛武缒城说秦
  47. 第四十四回 叔詹据鼎抗晋侯 弦高假命犒秦军
  48. 第四十五回 晋襄公墨缞败秦 先元帅免胄殉翟
  49. 第四十六回 楚商臣宫中弑父 秦穆公殽谷封尸
  50. 第四十七回 弄玉吹箫双跨凤 赵盾背秦立灵公
  51. 第四十八回 刺先克五将乱晋 召士会寿余诒秦
  52. 第四十九回 公子鲍厚施买国 齐懿公竹池遇变
  53. 第五十回 东门遂援立子倭 赵宣子桃园强谏
  54. 第五十一回 责赵盾董狐直笔 诛斗椒绝缨大会
  55. 第五十二回 公子宋尝鼋构逆 陈灵公衵服戏朝
  56. 第五十三回 楚庄王纳谏复陈 晋景公出师救郑
  57. 第五十四回 荀林父纵属亡师 孟侏儒托优悟主
  58. 第五十五回 华元登床劫子反 老人结草亢杜回
  59. 第五十六回 萧夫人登台笑客 逢丑父易服免君
  60. 第五十七回 娶夏姬巫臣逃晋 围下宫程婴匿孤
  61. 第五十八回 说秦伯魏相迎医 报魏锜养叔献艺
  62. 第五十九回 宠胥童晋国大乱 诛岸贾赵氏复兴
  63. 第六十回 智武子分军肆敌 偪阳城三将斗力
  64. 第六十一回 晋悼公驾楚会萧鱼 孙林父因歌逐献公
  65. 第六十二回 诸侯同心围齐国 晋臣合计逐栾盈
  66. 第六十三回 老祁奚力救羊舌 小范鞅智劫魏舒
  67. 第六十四回 曲沃城栾盈灭族 且于门杞梁死战
  68. 第六十五回 弑齐光崔庆专权 纳卫衎宁喜擅政
  69. 第六十六回 杀宁喜子鱄出奔 戮崔杼庆封独相
  70. 第六十七回 卢蒲癸计逐庆封 楚灵王大合诸侯
  71. 第六十八回 贺虒祁师旷辨新声 散家财陈氏买齐国
  72. 第六十九回 楚灵王挟诈灭陈蔡 晏平仲巧辩服荆蛮
  73. 第七十回 杀三兄楚平王即位 劫齐鲁晋昭公寻盟
  74. 第七十一回 晏平仲二桃杀三士 楚平王娶媳逐世子
  75. 第七十二回 棠公尚捐躯奔父难 伍子胥微服过昭关
  76. 第七十三回 伍员吹箫乞吴市 专诸进炙刺王僚
  77. 第七十四回 囊瓦惧谤诛无极 要离贪名刺庆忌
  78. 第七十五回 孙武子演阵斩美姬 蔡昭侯纳质乞吴师
  79. 第七十六回 楚昭王弃郢西奔 伍子胥掘墓鞭尸
  80. 第七十七回 泣秦庭申包胥借兵 退吴师楚昭王返国
  81. 第七十八回 会夹谷孔子却齐 堕三都闻人伏法
  82. 第七十九回 归女乐黎弥阻孔子 栖会稽文种通宰嚭
  83. 第八十回 夫差违谏释越 句践竭力事吴
  84. 第八十一回 美人计吴宫宠西施 言语科子贡说列国
  85. 第八十二回 杀子胥夫差争歃 纳蒯瞆子路结缨
  86. 第八十三回 诛芈胜叶公定楚 灭夫差越王称霸
  87. 第八十四回 智伯决水灌晋阳 豫让击衣报襄子
  88. 第八十五回 乐羊子怒餟中山羹 西门豹乔送河伯妇
  89. 第八十六回 吴起杀妻求将 驺忌鼓琴取相
  90. 第八十七回 说秦君卫鞅变法辞鬼谷孙膑下山
  91. 第八十八回 孙膑佯狂脱祸 庞涓兵败桂陵
  92. 第八十九回 马陵道万弩射庞涓 咸阳市五牛分商鞅
  93. 第九十回 苏秦合从相六国 张仪被激往秦邦
  94. 第九十一回 学让国燕哙召兵 伪献地张仪欺楚
  95. 第九十二回 赛举鼎秦武王绝踁 莽赴会楚怀王陷秦
  96. 第九十三回 赵主父饿死沙丘宫 孟尝君偷过函谷关
  97. 第九十四回 冯谖弹铗客孟尝 齐王纠兵伐桀宋
  98. 第九十五回 说四国乐毅灭齐 驱火牛田单破燕
  99. 第九十六回 蔺相如两屈秦王 马服君单解韩围
  100. 第九十七回 死范睢计逃秦国 假张禄廷辱魏使
  101. 第九十八回 质平原秦王索魏齐 败长平白起坑赵卒
  102. 第九十九回 武安君含冤死杜邮 吕不韦巧计归异人
  103. 第一百回 鲁仲连不肯帝秦 信陵君窃符救赵
  104. 第一百一回 秦王灭周迁九鼎 廉颇败燕杀二将
  105. 第一百二回 华阴道信陵败蒙骜 胡卢河庞煖斩剧辛
  106. 第一百三回 李国舅争权除黄歇 樊於期传檄讨秦王
  107. 第一百四回 甘罗童年取高位 嫪毐伪腐乱秦宫
  108. 第一百五回 茅焦解衣谏秦王 李牧坚壁却桓齮
  109. 第一百六回 王敖反间杀李牧 田光刎颈荐荆轲
  110. 第一百七回 献地图荆轲闹秦庭 论兵法王翦代李信
  111. 第一百八回 兼六国混一舆图 号始皇建立郡县

FAQ

If I haven’t read the original Dongzhou Lieguo Zhi, will this be hard going? Not too hard. The book is narrated in chapter-style vernacular, the plot is continuous, and though many characters appear, the main events have clear beginnings and ends. At first the state names and character relationships may feel dense; read alongside the table of contents and a simple timeline, and after the first few chapters the pace will feel much smoother.
How is this book related to the Shiji and the Zuo Zhuan? The book uses historical fact as its skeleton, drawing on historical records and folk legends of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, which Feng Menglong and then Cai Yuanfang worked into a romance novel. It can serve as a story-based introduction to history, but it cannot replace the histories; for key events, check the original sources.
Is it suitable for children? Children of upper primary age and above who are interested in history can read it, but the book contains many descriptions of warfare, power struggles, and cruel punishments, so younger readers need a parent to select or read along. If the goal is to accumulate allusions, start with chapters on Duke Zhuang of Zheng, Duke Huan of Qi, and Duke Wen of Jin.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

蔡元放 Author

Cai Yuanfang is the author closely associated with the historical novel Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms within the tradition of Ming and Qing fiction editing and commentary. Public information about his life is limited: his birth and death years, native place and official career are all unknown. He was not the original creator of the work; building on earlier dramatizations of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States stories by Feng Menglong and others, he revised, expanded and annotated the text, making this historical romance more complete. Fifteen related works are held in the collection, including the upper and lower volumes of Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms in various editions and an illustrated collector's edition, showing the wide circulation of his editorial work. Drawing on the Zuo Commentary, Discourses of the States and Records of the Grand Historian, the book narrates the rivalries of the feudal states and the words and deeds of historical figures, combining the informative value of a history reader with the readability of classical fiction. Cai Yuanfang's commentary stresses historical accuracy and moral instruction in concise language, and has had a lasting influence on the popular understanding of this period.

Feng Menglong Author · Chinese · 1574–1646

Feng Menglong (1574–1646), courtesy name Youlong and style name Mohan Zhai Zhuren, was a native of Changzhou in Suzhou Prefecture (present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu). A Ming dynasty writer and dramatist, he devoted his life to collecting and editing popular literature. He compiled Yushi Mingyan, Jingshi Tongyan, and Xingshi Hengyan, known collectively as the "Three Words," which became representative anthologies of vernacular short stories. He also compiled Qingshi and Gujin Tangui, revised Xin Lieguo Zhi and Pingyao Zhuan, and served as magistrate of Shouning County in Fujian. His works draw on urban life and folk legends, employ lively vernacular language, and focus on human nature and social manners, exerting a lasting influence on later vernacular fiction and drama. The library holds 200 of his works, spanning classical literature and social fiction.