Liu Bang

Name: Liu Bang
ISBN: 9787201150109

李飞Tianjin People's Publishing House · ChinaNov 2022

2.3

Word count: 128K words
Chapters: 63
ISBN: 9787201150109

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Summary

Liu Bang, founder of the great Han dynasty, was controversial throughout his life and full of legend. This book strips away the harsh judgments and whitewashing of history to bring you close to the real "rogue emperor." It will take you step by step from the late Qin to the Han dynasty, vividly presenting scene after scene of Liu Bang's history—from an idle village chief of Sishui Pavilion, to a fugitive outlaw and a grassroots hero who raised the standard of revolt, to a man who widely befriended people on all sides, commanded troops independently, knew how to use people well, and devised military strategy, founding the great Han Empire and ultimately becoming a famous commoner-son-of-heaven in Chinese history—re-presenting in full panorama a classic game of wisdom and the lust for power.

Editor's review

With meticulous combing of historical sources and delicate character portrayal, Liu Bang restores for readers the complex features of the first commoner emperor in Chinese history. The author, Li Fei, does not cling to the traditional narrative of emperors and generals but places Liu Bang within the turbulent social transformations of the late Qin and early Han, focusing on the interaction between his character traits and the historical circumstances. The book offers accessible yet penetrating discussion of the rise of Liu Bang's "commoner generals and ministers" group, the strategic rivalry of the Chu-Han contention, and even the exploration of early Han statecraft. What is especially valuable is that while affirming Liu Bang's strategic wisdom and breadth of mind as an outstanding statesman, the author does not shy away from the philistinism, suspicion, and political maneuvering in his character; this three-dimensional presentation frees the figure from stereotype. The value of reading this book lies not only in understanding the founding of the Han dynasty but also in glimpsing, through the central figure of Liu Bang, the grand historical processes of restructuring power, social mobility, and political-cultural transformation. For readers who wish to go beyond simple judgments of good and evil and deeply understand the logic of historical figures' actions and the constraints of their times, this is a fine work combining readability and thoughtfulness.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a strong interest in Qin-Han history and the Chu-Han contention
Managers or history enthusiasts hoping to deepen their understanding of leadership, political strategy, and human complexity
Readers who prefer to view great era changes through the fate of key figures
Readers seeking to go beyond traditional historical views and analyze historical figures in multiple dimensions

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking purely entertaining historical stories with highly dramatic plots
Readers expecting a strictly academic, thesis-style reading experience

Reading tips

Recommended to read alongside background material on late Qin society to better understand the era that gave rise to Liu Bang.
Pay special attention to the book's analysis of Liu Bang's relationships with key figures such as Xiang Yu and Han Xin, and appreciate his way of using and managing people.
While reading, consider how "the times make the hero" and "the hero makes the times" are embodied in Liu Bang.

About the publisher

Tianjin People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1950

Tianjin People's Publishing House publishes across such fields as classic works, foreign literature, architecture, social culture and social sciences, with 749 relevant titles in the collection. In the areas of classics and scholarship, works such as Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua and Fei Xiaotong's From the Soil and Fertility and Reproduction reflect a sustained attention to social culture and classic texts of thought. Architectural books are represented by Liang Sicheng's Annotated Yingzao Fashi and A History of Chinese Architecture, showing an emphasis on architectural heritage and building traditions. In foreign literature, translations of Sholokhov's And Quiet Flows the Don and Tolstoy's War and Peace and The Death of Ivan Ilyich, through the work of translators such as Li Gang and Yu Dawei, form a substantial series of translated works. Overall, the press combines classic texts, scholarly works and fine translations, with a publishing character oriented toward humanistic depth and the dissemination of knowledge.

版权信息
前言
第一章低微身世浪荡性，志存高远结四方
生逢乱世，沛县出名的美少年
自古风流出少年，英雄也曾贪酒色
英才自有容人量，五湖四海皆朋友
战国四公子信陵君，刘邦心目中的偶像
吕公识人有术，刘邦喜得娇妻
第二章咸阳街头遇天子，惊人一语开启跌宕人生
咸阳街头遇天子，从此开启跌宕人生
解散劳役奔山林，亭长成了通缉犯
斩白蛇异象初现，结发妻子远寻夫
城中百姓杀县令，迎接刘邦为沛公
高阳酒徒胜儒生，刘邦看人只务实
全国反秦揭竿起，杜撰身世揽民心
志同道合的张良，恬不知耻的雍齿
先锋作战的项梁，胸怀大志的项羽
项梁，遮风挡雨的墙、限制飞翔的笼
第三章大丈夫能屈能伸，破关中、取民心、全身而退
楚怀王偷鸡不成反蚀米，刘邦、项羽圆满收官
刘邦妙计险胜杨熊，赵高妙人错杀猛将
张良心忧韩王拒沛公，韩信成了及时雨
秦朝各郡纷纷投降，刘邦队伍迅速壮大
智取关中收民心，刘邦先胜一局
英雄也被财色动，忠心赤胆进忠言
向关中父老“约法三章”，秦国故民感激涕零
曹无伤惧项王成奸细，项伯探张良巧救沛公
张良樊哙舍命保汉王，鸿门宴上巧脱身
项羽火烧咸阳城，刘邦成为巴蜀汉王
张良连夜走戏上，项伯陈平倒戈汉王
张良妙计烧栈道，霸王吃了定心丸
韩信跑了萧何追，急得刘邦团团转
第四章三杰相佐，披荆斩棘楚汉相争称霸业
文有萧何，武有韩信，暗自扩张势力
项羽迁杀义帝，汉王借机联盟
轻取彭城，霸心不复，骄兵遭痛打
项羽咄咄逼人，汉王大义灭亲
张良巧设离间计，瓦解项羽和英布联盟
反间计项羽失范增，一步步逼霸王失左膀右臂
刘邦肚里能撑船，郦食其高瞻远瞩献奇策
刘邦疑心初起，韩信受封齐王，功高盖主
乌江悲歌，刘邦大胜，汉军旌旗飘飘
第五章初登大宝疑心起，皇帝也有头疼病
昔日兄弟今日君臣，刘邦看不惯你们太无礼
论功行赏起争议，分封将相遇难题
娄敬分析天下局势，刘邦决心建都长安
匈奴攻打，韩王信降，刘邦犯了头疼病
大赦天下造福百姓，一心发展生产
杀臧荼除利几，汉王容不下异性诸侯
功高盖主太猖狂，吕后设计斩杀韩信
第六章纷杂内幕话宫闱，千古帝王管得好前朝却管不好后宫
刘邦独宠美戚姬，废嫡立庶引争议
权力至上情也浅，刘邦决心杀樊哙
英布谋反众将急，重病带兵讨反贼
吕后专权，刘氏江山姓了吕
萧何去世，曹参实施无为而治
太后去世齐王反，拥立刘恒汉室定
第七章逐鹿英雄成霸业，千古功过任评说
大智若愚，大巧若拙，刘邦成事非巧合
天下英才辈出，刘邦不是英才，却善用英才
张良为什么离开刘邦？众说纷纭难评说
兔死狗烹,鸟尽弓藏，刘邦难道不心痛？
贤惠吕雉变阴狠吕后，刘邦，你就没错吗？

FAQ

Is the book's narrative style more academic or more popular?

The style is accessible popular history writing. The author grounds the work in historical sources but presents it with fluent narrative, balancing historical accuracy with readability, suitable for both introductory and more advanced general readers.

Is the book's evaluation of Liu Bang favorable or unfavorable?

The author adopts a relatively objective, three-dimensional evaluative perspective. The book systematically sets out Liu Bang's political and military brilliance and historical contributions as founding monarch, while also analyzing the complexity of his personality and the controversial nature of certain political methods, aiming to present a complete and authentic historical figure.

What is the main difference between this book and other Liu Bang biographies on the market?

The book focuses on examining the figure within grand structural historical transformation, not only telling a personal rise story but emphasizing the analysis of the social forces and institutional creations behind it. Compared with works that focus on power-strategy stories or legendary dramatization, this book stands out for its greater historical depth and structural thinking.

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About the author

李飞 Author

Li Fei is an author with a broad range of works; public information is limited and biographical details remain unclear. Judging from the 50 titles held in the collection, his writing spans several fields. In history, he has produced popular history books such as The Fir and the Empire: Forest Revolutions in Early Modern China and the "Casual History Officer" series. In medicine, his works include Experimental Guide to Chinese Materia Medica Processing and Compatibility Methods of Formulas (English Edition). In management, he has written Li Fei's 9 Lessons on Logical Marketing. He has also written popular science such as Exploring the Moon with Robot Li, as well as works on cultural heritage studies. Overall, Li Fei's works combine academic, practical and popular elements, addressing both specialist and general readers and showing an interdisciplinary, multi-genre approach to writing.