Biography of Liu Bowen

Name: Biography of Liu Bowen
ISBN: 9787512520769

欧阳絮国文出版社 · ChinaApr 2026

3.7

Word count: 59K words
Chapters: 39
ISBN: 9787512520769

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Summary

A scholar of broad learning at the turn of the Yuan and Ming dynasties, Liu Bowen had a deep command of the classics and histories, military strategy, and astronomy. At the decisive moment of Zhu Yuanzhang's rise, he came out of retirement and laid out for him the "Eighteen Current Affairs Strategies," a plan for unifying the realm that helped lay a firm foundation for the founding of the Ming. This book traces the whole of Liu Bowen's life, vividly revealing the ideals and choices of a scholar-official in a time of turmoil, and the wisdom and helplessness behind his role as "emperor's teacher," offering readers the survival philosophy of this strategist, statesman, and thinker—holding fast to his true self amid ideals while adapting nimbly through strategy in a chaotic age.

Editor's review

Set against the turmoil of the Yuan–Ming transition, this book follows Liu Bowen's path from a scholar of broad learning to "emperor's teacher." Its value lies not in retelling strange anecdotes but in restoring strategic plans such as the "Eighteen Current Affairs Strategies" to their concrete historical context, showing how a scholar-official chose between coming out of retirement and holding fast to his principles. With vivid narrative, the author balances a grounding in the classics and histories with knowledge of military strategy and astronomy, so that the figure rises above the folk legend of uncanny foresight and reveals the ideals, helplessness, and flexibility behind his strategies. Readers will see a typical example of how traditional scholars handled the tension between ideals and reality in a chaotic age, and gain a more concrete understanding of the strategic planning behind the founding of the early Ming. Suitable for readers interested in Ming history, ancient strategic culture, and the spiritual world of scholars; can be read in segments during commutes or in the evening, and followed up with early Ming historical sources for comparison.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in early Ming history and the strategy of Zhu Yuanzhang's group
Readers who enjoy understanding ancient scholars' choices through biography
Readers who want to understand Liu Bowen's strategic thought rather than folk legend
Writers and content creators in need of historical figure material

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting purely academic textual research or extensive citation of primary sources
Readers who prefer light, dramatized narratives of palace intrigue
Readers completely unfamiliar with the late Yuan–early Ming background who are unwilling to do preparatory reading

Reading tips

Start with the table of contents to grasp the stages of Liu Bowen's life, then read through by stage, avoiding memorizing only anecdotes.
When reading chapters on the "Eighteen Current Affairs Strategies," take simple notes against the process of early Ming unification.
After each section, summarize his ideals and choices in one or two sentences to connect the book's main thread.

About the publisher

国文出版社 China · Founded in 1984

Founded in 1984, Guowen Publishing House focuses on works in philosophy, economics, politics, history, and literature, and also publishes calligraphy, art, and photography titles as well as social science works from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Judging from the 40 titles in the database, the press has built a presence in biography, applied psychology, popular science, and philosophy. Representative books include Elon Musk: Rocket Revolution, The Power of Ritual, The Collapse of Silence, The Cost of Altruism, and When We Talk About the Ocean. Its authors include Eric Berger, Michael Norton, and David Edmonds, combining translated works with domestic writing. Biography and psychology-oriented inspirational titles stand out, while popular science and philosophy books emphasize readability, giving the list an interdisciplinary, general-readership orientation. Public information is limited, so the above focuses on the publishing directions reflected in the database.

版权信息
前言
第一章龙潜溪边，俊才初露锋芒
文武兼备，传奇家风代代传
一考成名，少年才子露头角
拜师郑复初，英才更进一层天
第二章游学四方，从小书生成长为智囊
游少微山，奇遇不断长见识
考中进士，初入仕途却遭压制
隐居山林，悟道修身待时机
平定盗贼，遭谴责愤怒辞官
第三章乱世风云，初露锋芒展智谋
乱世英雄起四方，刘伯温静待明主
君臣初相识，慧眼识真龙定大局
出山辅佐，献上《时务十八策》
第四章鄱阳湖大战，一计定乾坤
龙湾之战，献策应对陈友谅
洪都之战，朱军以弱胜强
鄱阳湖大战，朱元璋终取胜利
平江之战，协助朱元璋灭张士诚
第五章运筹帷幄，描绘大明蓝图
灭元建明，平江战后定山河
劝君买善，安邦定国记
《烧饼歌》奇谈，神秘预言引轰动
第六章秉公论相，治国安邦显英明
立军卫法，肃朝纲之威
不徇私情，秉公论相显贤名
兴水利之业，谋苍生福祉
第七章晚年遭遇，权谋倾轧的宿命
功高盖主，贤臣遭猜忌
含恨而终，宦海沉浮病骨衰
后主追赐，刘伯温身后荣光
第八章明星陨落，后世传颂刘伯温
家族兴衰，风云变幻中的风骨气节
文学成就，智慧与才情的结晶
后世评价，史笔下的多面华章
附录一家族世系
附录二明初重要历史人物介绍
附录三刘伯温重要事件与时间线

FAQ

Is this book an academic monograph or a popular biography?

From the description, the book focuses on Liu Bowen's life with vivid narrative, making it a historical biography for general readers that also covers background knowledge in the classics and histories, military strategy, and astronomy. It is not an academic monograph centered on textual research; it is better suited to readers who want to understand the history and scholars' choices at the turn of the Yuan and Ming through a personal story.

Can I understand it without knowing late Yuan–early Ming history?

You can follow the main thread. The book unfolds around key moments such as Liu Bowen's emergence and strategic planning, with clear character lines. But if you are completely unfamiliar with Zhu Yuanzhang's rise and the rival forces of the late Yuan, it is advisable to skim a relevant historical overview first for smoother reading.

Does the book touch on the uncanny foresight of folk legend?

The description emphasizes revealing the wisdom and helplessness behind the "emperor's teacher" role and presenting his survival philosophy of holding fast to his true self while adapting nimbly; the focus is on human choices in historical context rather than dramatizing folk-legend foresight. Readers can take it as a book for understanding Liu Bowen as strategist and statesman.

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About the author

欧阳絮 Author

Ouyang Xu is a Chinese author known mainly for biographies of historical figures. Public information about the author is limited, and no clear records of birth and death dates, nationality, or educational background are available. Five of the author's works are held in the collection: Biography of Liu Bowen, Zhuge Liang, Biography of Qin Shi Huang, The Twenty-One Emperors of the Tang Dynasty, and Li Si, Chancellor of the Qin Dynasty. All fall under the categories of general biography and historical reading. The subjects suggest a focus on influential political figures and rulers in Chinese history, including founding ministers, chancellors, the founder of a unified dynasty, and several Tang monarchs, spanning from the Qin and Han periods to the Ming dynasty. The writing tends toward popular biographical narrative, using the subject's life as a thread to connect the historical background, in a plain and accessible style suited to readers seeking a systematic understanding of historical figures. Because public information about the author is scarce, the specific historical sources and writing process behind the works are difficult to describe in detail, but the steady publication of these five titles has helped the author build a readership in popular historical writing.