Emperor Guangwu the Great
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Summary
Editor's review
In content, it traces in detail Liu Xiu's entire course from a commoner in Nanyang to raising troops at Chongling, through the great Battle of Kunyang and the founding of his base in Hebei, to finally establishing his capital at Luoyang and restoring the Han house. The author devotes particular attention to his strategy of "governing by the soft way" and also touches on historical controversies such as the "land measurement incident." Commendably, when narrating major historical events, the author balances macro background with micro detail; the portrayal of Liu Xiu's relationship with his elder brother Liu Yan, for instance, offers vivid insight into his early character.
Yet the book is limited in depth. Its analysis of Liu Xiu's political thought, institutional innovations, and inheritance of Western Han politics remains superficial and fails to penetrate the texture of history fully. Some scenes carry a flavor of literary imagination; while this enhances readability, the sourcing of historical fact is not clearly marked, a point readers should note.
Overall, the book offers general history enthusiasts a plain and accessible entry into Liu Xiu and his era. Its strengths lie in clear structure and fluent narrative, condensing complex historical processes into a coherent story. Readers expecting rigorous academic analysis or iconoclastic new interpretations may be dissatisfied; but those seeking an initial acquaintance with the career of this emperor—"the best at using men, the best at waging war, the best at governing"—will find it a smooth read.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Non-specialist readers interested in the founding history of the Eastern Han
- History enthusiasts who enjoy reading life stories of emperors and generals
- General readers who wish to learn about Liu Xiu in an accessible way
- Readers looking for a historical biography as leisure reading
Not a good fit for
- Professional historians seeking deep academic analysis or cutting-edge historical perspectives
- Readers expecting rigorous textual research based entirely on primary sources
Reading tips
- Read alongside the "Annals of Emperor Guangwu" in the *Book of the Later Han* to distinguish historical fact from literary embellishment
- Pay attention to the arc of Liu Xiu's character, from cautious and self-effacing to resolute and decisive
- While reading, consider the metaphorical significance of the "governing by the soft way" concept in contemporary management
About the publisher
International Culture Publishing Corporation is a publisher known for introducing foreign literature and world classics, with about 283 relevant titles in the database. Its representative books include Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther, Hesse's Siddhartha, Jiménez's Platero and I, and Gibran's The Prophet, as well as cultural readings such as Zhu Guangqian's Twelve Letters to Youth and Common Talk on Classics. In psychology, it offers the nine-volume Collector's Edition of C. G. Jung's Works, covering social psychology and applied psychology. Its author resources include Goethe, Hesse, Jiménez, Jung, and Zhu Guangqian, along with Chinese authors involved in translation and compilation. Its publishing focus is on foreign literature, classic works, psychology, and culture, serving both academic and general readers. Public information is limited, and the above is based mainly on the books in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 序章 三位一体的帝王
- 第一章 彬彬儒生扯旗造反
- 第一节“九世皇孙”的早年经历
- 一、出生神话及少年时代
- 二、太学的学习与生活
- 三、深藏内心的抱负
- 第二节 新莽代汉与反莽斗争
- 一、王莽其人其事
- 二、失败的托古改制
- 三、绿林、赤眉起义军
- 四、谶文令他终下决心结约反莽
- 第二章 从舂陵起兵到昆阳大战
- 第一节 起兵初始的胜利、失败与再胜利
- 一、实现同农民义军的联合
- 二、两次胜利与一次惨败
- 三、深结下江兵，大捷沘水滨
- 第二节 以弱胜强的昆阳之战
- 一、大战前的形势
- 二、大战序幕——十三骑突围求救
- 三、内外合势大破莽军
- 第三章 踏上独立发展的新征程
- 第一节 奉命北渡镇慰州郡
- 一、谢罪韬晦，渡过难关
- 二、“复见汉官威仪”
- 三、争取任命，冲出牢笼
- 第二节 平灭王郎政权
- 一、接纳贤才，义拒刘林
- 二、突然冒出的真命天子
- 三、传檄讨王，政治联姻
- 四、规复邯郸城，追斩死王郎
- 第三节 拒绝征命贰于更始
- 一、萧王之封及铜马帝之称
- 二、削平各路武力，实现河北割据
- 第四章 登帝位与定国都
- 第一节 终于圆了皇帝梦
- 一、西进关中北击尤来
- 二、群臣劝进，鄗南践位
- 第二节 确定洛阳为国都
- 一、赤眉军攻占长安
- 二、洛阳守将朱鲔归降
- 三、置百官、封功臣与火德尚赤
- 第五章 初步平定天下
- 第一节 收降赤眉义军
- 一、西进军的活动及以冯代邓的决定
- 二、赤眉投降被赞“犹有三善”
- 三、冯异治关中，号为咸阳王
- 第二节 悉平山东群雄
- 一、进剿南部各武力集团
- 二、征战东线诸割据势力（上）
- 三、征战东线诸割据势力（下）
- 四、讨伐北方叛逆的战争
- 第六章 最终实现大一统
- 第一节 平定陇右隗嚣政权
- 一、以周文王自居的隗嚣其人
- 二、不甘臣服决心反刘
- 三、争战陇右，隗嚣拒降
- 四、战事曲折，隗氏终亡
- 第二节 巴蜀大地归汉
- 一、公孙述自称成家天子
- 二、西帝、东帝之争
- 三、公孙帝国覆灭
- 四、统一余音：卢芳降汉及其反复
- 第七章 以柔道治天下
- 第一节 堕武事守文德
- 一、由“厌武”而“偃武”
- 二、礼贤敬贤：柔道治国的一个重要方面
- 三、兴学讲经，儒君儒臣
- 四、躬行俭约，以化臣下
- 第二节 明慎政体直柔为治
- 一、宽刑轻法赦免囚徒
- 二、简政减租，重铸五铢
- 三、释放奴婢以人为贵
- 四、任用能者，改良吏治
- 第八章 强化中央集权统治
- 第一节 皇帝总揽权纲
- 一、制御功臣，不任吏职
- 二、进用文吏，事归台阁
- 三、加强控制，罢郡国兵
- 四、抑制权贵与外戚
- 第二节 经济领域强化统治的举措——度田
- 一、度田由起与帝城帝乡现象
- 二、如何评估度田事件
- 第九章 经略周边协和万邦
- 第一节 错综复杂的北方边事
- 一、以内附为主的汉与匈奴关系
- 二、对西域的“自在”政策
- 三、与乌桓、鲜卑错综而基本友善的关系
- 第二节 东方夷人与西方羌人
- 一、东夷各国“万里朝献”
- 二、汉羌关系：有战有和，以和为主
- 第三节 平抚南边各族
- 一、文武并用，略定南蛮
- 二、悉平西南诸夷
- 第十章 相对平稳的晚际岁月
- 第一节 光武朝第一冤案——马援事件
- 一、偏听则暗，威施死人
- 二、冤案真相，残酷现实
- 第二节 “宣布图谶于天下”
- 一、遵依谶文，泰山封禅
- 二、外贬桓谭，不用郑、尹
- 第三节 一代英主驾崩南宫
- 一、自谦无德，明智之举
- 二、夙愿实现，死可瞑目
- 三、摒弃偏见，盖棺再论
- 终章 两汉接替与儒生皇帝
- 刘秀生平大事编年
- 后记
FAQ
How different is this book from the accounts in the *Book of Han* and the *Book of the Later Han*?
What is the background of author Liao Zhu? What is the writing style like?
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About the author
Liao Zhu is an author about whom limited public information is available; only one work is currently held in the collection, the biographical title Emperor Guangwu of the Han. Under the common classification, the book falls into general biography, and its subject centers on Liu Xiu, the founding emperor of the Eastern Han, presenting the life of a historical figure as its main thread. Because the author's real name, nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background cannot be verified, this introduction should not speculate extensively about personal experience. Judging from the available work, Liao Zhu's writing tends toward accessible historical narrative, attempting to present the political changes and personal fortunes of Emperor Guangwu's reign within a framework of historical fact. Writing of this kind generally requires familiarity with the relevant sources and attention to both narrative pace and characterization. For general readers, such a biography may serve as an introductory work for understanding the early Eastern Han; for researchers, it can be regarded as a popular narrative aimed at a broad audience. Further details about Liao Zhu's other writings and scholarly background await additional public information.
