Romance of the Former Han (2)
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Summary
This book is one of the series of full-length historical novels written by Cai Dongfan in the Republican era under the guiding idea of "using historical fiction to save the nation." It covers the period from the contending warlords at the end of the Qin dynasty and Liu Bang's founding of the Han to Wang Mang's usurpation. Readers who love history should not miss it. It is a monumental work of historical fiction that takes the official histories as its warp and anecdotes as its weft, with a distinctive format and the author's own commentary and annotations. The writing is warm and natural, accessible and easy to understand. Both plot and style are excellent, making it highly readable. The work values authenticity: through the techniques of historical fiction it gives history a strong narrative drive and faithfully recreates the sweeping history of the Qin and Western Han dynasties, portraying one grand epic after another of heroes and their times.
Editor's review
Former Han Romance (2) continues Cai Dongfan's characteristic approach of "taking the official histories as the warp and anecdotes as the weft," turning the history from the turmoil at the end of the Qin through the early Western Han into a story with a beginning and an end, with characters and conflicts. What deserves the most attention in this volume is the author's self-commentary and annotations: beyond the main narrative, interlinear comments and notes constantly point to the sources of historical material and distinguish true from false reports, so readers can follow the plot and also see how the author selects and weighs material. The writing retains the warmth of Republican-era vernacular; it does not aim at abstruse textual research, yet at key points it highlights lessons of rise and fall, making it suitable for those who read history as a "series." When reading, one may treat it as a bridge into the Records of the Grand Historian and the Book of Han: first be drawn in by the story, then go back and check the official histories, and the harvest will be more solid. One caveat: for narrative continuity, historical fiction includes embellishment and dramatization, so it should not be cited item by item as a rigorous historical work.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- General readers who enjoy historical stories and hope to enter the context of Qin-Han history easily
- Chinese-language readers interested in Republican-era historical fiction and the self-commentary and annotation style
- Chinese and history teachers who need classroom supplementary materials and want to use stories to spark students' interest
- Readers who have finished volume one of Former Han Romance and want to continue following the plot
Not a good fit for
- Historical researchers who need rigorous academic citation and take textual research as the sole standard
- Readers who prefer purely literary fiction and lack patience for a factual framework and annotation style
- Young children; the book involves power struggles and war narratives and requires adult guidance
Reading tips
- Read through in chapter order first; when you encounter annotations, skip them for now, and after finishing a section go back to the author's comments to appreciate the intent behind the selections.
- Prepare a simple character-relationship chart and record as you read the Liu Bang group, Xiang Yu's former followers, and figures connected to the Lü clan, to avoid confusing the threads.
- After every few chapters, check the corresponding sections of the Records of the Grand Historian and the Book of Han to feel the difference in detail between the romance and the official histories.
- If using it for teaching, select one chapter and have students read the main text first, then the self-commentary, and discuss how the author judges the credibility of sources.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 自序
- 第九回 充屯长中途施诡计 杀将尉大泽揭叛旗
- 第十回 违谏议陈胜称王 善招抚武臣独立
- 第十一回 降真龙光韬泗水 斩大蛇夜走丰乡
- 第十二回 戕县令刘邦发迹 杀郡守项梁举兵
- 第十三回 说燕将厮卒救王 入赵宫叛臣弑主
- 第十四回 失兵机陈王毙命 免子祸婴母垂言
- 第十五回 从范增访立楚王孙 信赵高冤杀李丞相
- 第十六回 驻定陶项梁败死 屯安阳宋义丧生
FAQ
Can this book be read as official history?
Not entirely. It uses the official histories as a skeleton but employs the techniques of historical fiction to develop the plot and mixes in anecdotes and the author's judgments. It is suitable as an introductory work for understanding Qin-Han history; if citing historical facts, one should still return to the Records of the Grand Historian, the Book of Han, and other original sources for verification.
Can I read volume two directly without having read volume one?
You can, but it is advisable to first understand the basic context of the contending warlords at the end of the Qin and Liu Bang's founding of the Han. Volume two continues the figures and events of the previous book; starting directly may leave you unfamiliar with some names and situations, so reading volume one first or looking at a timeline of major events will make it smoother.
Do the self-commentary and annotations affect the reading rhythm?
It depends on how you read. On a first reading you can skip the annotations to keep the story continuous; on a second reading, returning to them lets you appreciate the author's intent in distinguishing sources and judging figures. Treating the annotations as asides in a dialogue with the author actually adds layers to the reading.
Is it suitable for middle school students as extracurricular reading?
It is suitable for middle school students with some historical background, especially those interested in Qin-Han stories. The book involves power struggles, war, and political conflict, so teachers or parents should provide appropriate guidance and remind students to distinguish fictional narrative from recorded historical fact.
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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.
