Secret History of the Five Dynasties
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Summary
Traditional Chinese thought and culture have a long history, marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness, and literary quality. Early intellectual forms are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist, and Hundred Schools thought, feng shui and metaphysical learning, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers—all are profound and extensive. This "Essence of Classical Chinese Culture: Original Texts" series preserves the appearance of the original works and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers may cultivate their temperament and quietly come to appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.
Editor's review
Under the title Romance of the Secret History of the Five Dynasties, this book draws on Luo Guanzhong's tradition of historical romance narrative, presenting the regime changes and the rise and fall of figures from the late Tang and Five Dynasties through the early Song in an accessible chapter-novel form. Its value lies in supplementing the brevity of official histories with literary technique, allowing readers to sense, as the story unfolds, how loyalty, power strategy, and fate intertwined in an age of turmoil. The book's causal exposition of dynastic rise and fall and its characterization preserve the traditional romance's underlying aim of "taking history as a mirror," while the language is relatively plain and accessible, making it suitable as an introductory reading for understanding Five Dynasties history. It should be read as historical romance rather than strict historiography; by attending to narrative rhythm and character relationships and by reading it alongside official histories, readers can appreciate the tension between literary imagination and historical fact. For readers who enjoy the traditional chapter-novel form and want an easy entry into the world of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, this book offers a friendly point of entry.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- History enthusiasts interested in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms who wish to enter the subject through story
- General readers who enjoy traditional chapter-novel historical romance and continuous narrative
- Students of literature and history who need case studies of ancient regime change and the success or failure of historical figures
- Younger readers who wish to encounter the narrative tradition of Chinese classical learning through light reading
Not a good fit for
- Research-oriented readers who require strict historical verification and judge content by the standards of official history
- Readers who prefer modern academic analytical frameworks and are unaccustomed to the rhythm of chapter-novel narrative
- Readers with little interest in ancient warfare and power struggles who read only contemporary subjects
Reading tips
- Begin with the table of contents and opening chapters to clarify the main line of regime change, then proceed chapter by chapter to avoid confusion over character relationships.
- Prepare a simple chronological table of the Five Dynasties and consult it at key events to strengthen your sense of historical context.
- When you encounter something that does not match your impression of official history, mark it and later check the relevant historical entries, keeping comparative reading notes.
- If time is limited, prioritize chapters dealing with the rise and fall of major regimes and the fate of core figures, then read the rest.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 第一回孙待诏史记世系
- 第二回唐天子开科取士
- 第三回赤墙村黄巢出身
- 第四回黄巢藏梅寺起手
- 第五回黄巢杀入长安城
- 第六回郑畋大战朱全忠
- 第七回敬思奉旨宣晋王
- 第八回晋王起兵入中原
- 第九回克用箭服周德威
- 第十回安景思牧羊打虎
- 第十一回李晋王阅兵试箭
- 第十二回存孝打破石岭关
- 第十三回李晋王河中会兵
- 第十四回鸦馆楼朱温赌带
- 第十五回存孝生擒孟绝海
- 第十六回周德威力救存孝
- 第十七回李存孝力杀四将
- 第十八回存孝火烧永丰仓
- 第十九回德威遣将灭黄巢
- 第二十回灭巢山黄巢自刎
- 第二十一回程敬思接驾还朝
- 第二十二回存孝力服王彦章
- 第二十三回朱温火烧上源驿
- 第二十四回田令孜弄权封爵
- 第二十五回晋王勘问田令孜
- 第二十六回朱温掣剑挟王铎
- 第二十七回刘知远大战梁兵
- 第二十八回李晋王同台解围
- 第二十九回朱温计逼五侯反
- 第三十回存孝活捉邓天王
- 第三十一回存孝病挟高思继
- 第三十二回五牛挣死李存孝
- 第三十三回晋王痛哭勇南公
- 第三十四回梁兵劫夺勇南柩
- 第三十五回唐昭宗迁驾汴梁
- 第三十六回晋王起兵伐朱温
- 第三十七回鸡宝山存孝显圣
- 第三十八回彦章智杀高思继
- 第三十九回建唐智擒傅道昭
- 第四十回赵霸入汴诓军粮
- 第四十一回君臣三弑椒兰殿
- 第四十二回五龙逼死王彦章
- 第四十三回李嗣源据守大梁
- 第四十四回唐明宗焚香祝圣
- 第四十五回潞王夺位登天下
- 第四十六回石敬瑭反下三关
- 第四十七回废帝遣将追公主
- 第四十八回契丹遣兵助敬瑭
- 第四十九回桑维翰献策取城
- 第五十回石敬瑭长安即位
- 第五十一回晋兵智困王延政
- 第五十二回刘知远奉命出师
- 第五十三回文宝赚关杀戴礼
- 第五十四回孙飞虎拒铁笼山
- 第五十五回史弘肇擒孙飞虎
- 第五十六回立齐王重贵为帝
- 第五十七回幼主称臣降契丹
- 第五十八回汉主谋杀史弘肇
- 第五十九回郭威为众加黄袍
- 第六十回周世宗禅位宋祖
FAQ
Is this book a strict historical work?
No. It belongs to the tradition of historical romance, unfolding the story of the Five Dynasties in a literary manner and emphasizing readability and human fate rather than item-by-item historical verification. Readers may use it as an introductory work for understanding the background of the era; for rigorous historical facts, they should consult official histories or academic works alongside it.
Can I understand it without any background in Five Dynasties history?
Yes. The narrative is relatively coherent and the language accessible, making it suitable for readers with no prior knowledge. However, the Five Dynasties involved many regimes and frequent changes of figures, so it is advisable to note the major regimes and key figures as you read, or first skim the table of contents to grasp the general outline before reading the main text in detail; this will make the reading experience smoother.
Do I need to consult other materials while reading this book?
It is advisable. Prepare a concise chronological table or historical map of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms to help locate events in time and place. If you encounter something inconsistent with your impression of official history, consult the relevant historical entries for comparison; this allows you to enjoy the story while distinguishing literary elaboration from historical fact.
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About the author
Luo Guanzhong
Author · China · 1330–1400
Luo Guanzhong, whose given name was Ben and whose courtesy name was Guanzhong, styled himself Huhai Sanren, was a novelist of the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, born around 1330 and died around 1400, a native of Taiyuan (some say Dongyuan, present-day Dongping in Shandong). Public records of his life are limited, and what later generations know of him is mostly tied to his works. His best-known achievement is the creation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms (also known as Popular Romance of the Three Kingdoms), which, with its broad historical vision and vivid narrative, shaped numerous characters and exerted a profound influence on later historical romance fiction. He is also traditionally credited with works such as Chronicles of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Romance of the Late Tang and Five Dynasties, and The Three Sui Quash the Demons' Revolt, and a zaju play, The Dragon and Tiger Meet of Emperor Taizu of Song, survives. His subjects are mostly drawn from history and legend, and his style combines the rigor of historical writing with the expansive narration of fiction.
