Historical Romance of the Former Han (11)

Cai DongfanJul 2024

4.3

Word count: 43K words
Chapters: 9

Summary

This book is one of the series of long historical novels written by Cai Dongfan in the Republican period under the guiding idea of "using historical romance to serve the nation." It tells the history from the contention of rival forces in the late Qin, through Liu Bang's founding of the Han, to Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han. Readers who love history should not miss it. This book is a grand romance of a special kind, taking the official histories as its warp and anecdotes as its weft, with the author's own comments and annotations. The writing is cordial and natural, plain and easy to understand. Both plot and style are excellent, and it is highly readable. The work values authenticity; with the technique of the historical romance it gives history a strong narrative drive, truly recreating the magnificent history of the Qin and Western Han dynasties and portraying one sweeping epic after another of heroes and their times.

Editor's review

As the eleventh volume in the Pre-Han Romance series, this book continues to trace, in romance form, the long sweep of history from the contending forces of the late Qin to Wang Mang's usurpation. Cai Dongfan insists that "every event must have its basis," while weaving anecdotes and judgments into the narrative, so that the political ups and downs and the advances and retreats of figures in the Western Han read with clear layers. Placed late in the series, this volume often touches on key matters such as the decline of the Han house and the alternation of consort clans and powerful ministers; the narrative tension is strong, and the author's lament over rise and fall, gain and loss comes through more clearly. The self-commentary and self-annotation are like a patient expositor at one's side, supplying background and distinguishing true from false at any moment, especially friendly to readers unfamiliar with the official histories. The language is cordial and natural, suited to reading a chapter at a time in spare moments, and also suited to serving as a popular reader for sorting out the history of the late Western Han. Read alongside the earlier volumes, the threads of the characters will be more complete.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who have read earlier volumes and want to continue following late Western Han history
History enthusiasts who enjoy the chapter-by-chapter romance form and value narrative continuity
General readers who want to learn through annotations how to distinguish historical sources from anecdotes
People who need popular material on Western Han history for storytelling or writing

Not a good fit for

Professional readers seeking rigorous historical argumentation and analysis of primary sources
Readers with low tolerance for chapter-style narrative and classical-flavored vernacular
Readers who want only a single figure's biography and do not wish to follow a full dynastic panorama

Reading tips

Read one chapter at a time, and after each chapter sort out the main figures and changes in the court situation.
Mark annotations when you encounter them; after reading a passage of main text, look back to understand the author's intent.
Read alongside a chronology of late Western Han history to reduce confusion over relationships among figures.
After finishing the volume, look back at the series table of contents and place this volume's events within the whole work.

版权信息
自序
第七十七回悔前愆痛下轮台诏授顾命嘱遵负扆图
第七十八回六龄幼女竟主中宫廿载使臣重还故国
第七十九回识诈书终惩逆党效刺客得毙番王
第八十回迎外藩新主入都废昏君太后登殿
第八十一回谒祖庙骖乘生嫌嘱女医入宫进毒
第八十二回孝妇伸冤于公造福淫妪失德霍氏横行
第八十三回泄逆谋杀尽后族矫君命歼厥渠魁

FAQ

What does this volume mainly cover?

This volume belongs to the later part of the Pre-Han Romance series and continues the historical narrative from the late Qin to Wang Mang's usurpation, focusing on the evolution of the court situation and the fates of figures in the late Western Han. The specific chapters are as given in the book; readers may regard it as a linking part of the long series.

Are Cai Dongfan's annotations worth reading closely?

Yes. The annotations often explain the sources of historical materials, distinguish true anecdotes from false, and express the author's judgments on figures and events. Close reading of the annotations helps readers understand the relationship between romance and official history, and also appreciate the praise-and-blame style of traditional historical commentary.

Is it suitable for middle school students?

It is fairly suitable for middle school students who are interested in history and have some patience in reading. The language is plain and the story strong, but figures and events are dense; reading alongside a history textbook or chronology is recommended, and annotations may be skipped at first and read closely on a second pass.

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About the author

Cai Dongfan Author · China · 1877–1945

Cai Dongfan (1877–1945) was a native of Xiaoshan, Zhejiang, and a modern Chinese writer of historical romances. Beginning in 1916, he spent ten years completing the 11-volume, 1,040-chapter Popular Romances of Successive Dynasties, which recounts the rise and fall of dynasties in an accessible style; he also wrote Romances of Empress Dowager Cixi. Drawing on historical sources and adapting them into simple classical Chinese and the chapter-based vernacular form, his works balance historical fact with narrative interest, allowing ordinary readers to follow the broad course of a dynasty through its chapter headings. The collection holds 381 of his works, including dynastic romances on the Jin, Ming, Tang, Later Han and Republican periods, as well as series such as the Six Histories and the Popular Romances of Successive Dynasties, commonly classified as history reading and classical literature. Regarded as a representative figure in Chinese historical romance writing, Cai Dongfan's series have had a lasting influence in popularizing historical knowledge and continuing the romance tradition, and remain accessible introductions to Chinese history for readers today.