The An Lushan Rebellion
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Summary
In 755, a war that would last seven to eight years began. From imperial fissures to total collapse, who nursed the poison and reaped the consequences? Who plunged the Tang into the abyss? Who withstood internal strife and external threats, fighting on through hardship? Bloodshed and grief, risk and rivalry, desire and fate—long after the smoke cleared, the aftershocks of war continued to ripple through Tang society.
This book offers a fresh perspective on the causes and consequences of the An Lushan Rebellion, and on the rise and fall of the Tang empire.
Editor's review
Rather than simply listing events, the book takes the An Lushan Rebellion—a major historical turning point—as its axis and probes the inner workings of how the High Tang plunged so abruptly into decline. The author not only reconstructs the course of the war and the fates of its figures in detail, but also extends his inquiry to institutional flaws, social tensions, ethnic relations, economic structures, and other dimensions, revealing the deep historical inevitability behind the upheaval. The narrative attends to vivid concrete detail (Xuanzong's state of mind, the choices of generals, the experiences of ordinary people) while maintaining a calm insight into the larger historical tide, avoiding emotional judgment.
What is especially valuable is that the book's analysis and use of historical sources reflect professional historical scholarship, while the prose remains fluent and never obscure for the sake of academic display. For readers who wish to go beyond simplistic narratives of "beautiful women as the root of ruin" or "treacherous ministers ruining the state" and truly understand the complexity of the Tang's decline from prosperity, this book offers a solid and rich path to understanding. It is not only a retracing of past events but also a reflection on enduring questions of power, institutions, and cultural resilience.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a strong interest in Tang history, especially the key transition from the High Tang to the mid- and late Tang
- Serious history enthusiasts who wish to go beyond popular romances and understand the An Lushan Rebellion from political, military, economic, and social angles
- Readers who appreciate academic popular history that is well sourced, deeply analyzed, and fluently written
- Readers interested in how individual fates intertwine with the tide of an era in major historical events
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking only light, entertaining historical stories or palace gossip
- Readers expecting highly fictionalized, dramatized plot adaptations
Reading tips
- While reading, consult a map of the Tang dynasty to gain a more intuitive spatial grasp of the war's geographical progress and the spheres of influence of the various forces.
- The book involves many historical figures and official titles; if you are not very familiar with Tang history, it may help to note key names and offices to keep the threads clear.
- After finishing the book, consider the profound impact of the An Lushan Rebellion on the course of later Chinese history, and the classic dilemma of central-local relations in ancient China that it reflects.
About the publisher
Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. is a publisher known for its literature and history titles, with 2,065 books in the collection. Its publishing covers foreign literature, contemporary Chinese prose and essays, history, folk literature, and cultural books. Its list ranges from Sima Qian's complete edition of the Records of the Grand Historian to foreign classics such as The Book of Disquiet, All Quiet on the Western Front, Snow Country, The Stranger, and Jean-Christophe, as well as modern Chinese works including Teahouse and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk. Its authors and translators include Yasunari Kawabata, Fernando Pessoa, Erich Maria Remarque, Jin Xinyi, Zhou Miao, and Chen Chao. Public information is limited, but its catalogue reflects a balance between Chinese and foreign literary classics and historical and cultural works.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 引子
- 山雨欲来
- 投机与冒险：安禄山崛起
- 帝国的裂缝：张九龄罢相
- 口蜜腹剑：李林甫误国
- 弄巧成拙：杨国忠逼反
- 姑息养奸：唐玄宗自食其果
- 龙争虎斗
- 烽烟四起：仓促防御战
- 长安沦陷：国破山河在
- 内忧外患：艰难的抗战
- 生死较量：安禄山遇弑后的战局
- 光复两京：战乱并未结束
- 棋逢对手：李光弼与史思明的交手
- 最后决战：官军收复河南、河北
- 余波未平
- 人口：帝国的根基
- 河北：肘腋之患
- 外援：不是免费的午餐
- 边防：危机重重
- 宦官：病灶的癌变
- 藩镇：甩不掉的尾巴
- 余响
- 主要参考书目
- 安史之乱大事记
FAQ
What are the main features of this book compared with books on the same subject?
Is the book's portrayal of key figures such as Yang Guifei and An Lushan objective?
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About the author
Shi Yuntao's public biographical information is limited, and no systematic account of his life has yet been made available. His four works in the library nonetheless show that his writing centers on the ground between historical narrative and literary appreciation. The An Lushan Rebellion and Emperor Li Shimin of the High Tang reflect his interest in major historical events and imperial figures, presenting the rise and fall of dynasties within the flow of historical fact. History in Tang Poetry: War, Dynasty, and Songs of Rise and Fall and Poetry on the Silk Road: Tang Poets' Journeys along the Silk Road combine Tang poetry with history and geography, reading war memory, Silk Road travel, and the changes of the age through verse. Aimed at general readers, his books are both informative and accessible and are often classed as history writing, classic works, literary appreciation, and biography, giving him a certain influence in popular history writing and the popularization of classical poetry.
