Romance of the three kingdoms is a historical fiction and has been enjoyed by many generations of Chinese and their neighbors. It's main attraction is the highly-developed strategic rationalization of the various factions in their struggle for political supremacy. The motives, strategies, actions and consequences of the main characters were all highly developed and credible because they were adapted from real historical personages.
The setting is that of the fall of the Han Dynasty beginning circa 180 AD and through the break-up of the Han Dynasty empire of China into various warlord regimes and finally into three kingdoms (Wei, Shu-Han, and Wu) before eventually reunited in 280 AD under the Jin dynasty, a period of almost one hundred years spanning two generations of people.
There were five major phases: (i) the fall of the Han dynastic regime due to stagnation, exhaustion and decay of the ruling class; the trigger was a mass rebellion by starving peasants known as the yellow turban rebellion; after many years of peace the ruling classes has become corrupt, fractious and out of touch.
Then (ii) the disintegration of central government control and struggle for supremacy among the regional governors. These guys were all former colleagues in government and many had known each other for generations especially among the high officials (nepotism was common). The situation is not unlike that of the Amercian Civil War or the English Civil War where opposing generals know each other and may even be friends.
(iii) the re-consolidation of government and control but by three contending regimes based in different locations instead of a unified government. Up to this point, the Han emperor was still the recognized head of state although powerless and held hostage by one of the regimes (the future state of Wei). The Han emperor was eventually forced to abdicate and one after another, the three regimes declare themselves emperor and hence the three kingdoms formally.
(iv) one of the regimes (Shu-Han)claimed direct lineage to the founder of the Han dynasty (a side-branch of the family tree) and was determined to eradicate the other two to reunify the country under a new Han. During this phase, many of the first generation heroes died either in battle, in sickness or executed, etc. They have been on hard campaigning for many decades.
(v) one of the original three kingdoms, Wei, now lead by sons brought up with silver spoons was usurped by a general (Sima Yi) who establish the Jin dynasty. This new regime brought vigor to their enterprises and eventually defeated the other two regimes who were lead by monarchs brought up as spoiled brats in the palace from young.
This TV serial is very well made and followed closely the main threads of the novel. The initial period were very similar to feudal Europe where nobility-commoner class distinctions were jealously guarded by the established families. As the struggle became more desperate, talents rather than high birth became more relevant. The first warlords who understood this was Cao Cao, Sun Jian and Liu Bei and hence it was no surprise that these three guys became the founder of the three kingdoms.
The string of supremos in the novel were He Jin, Grand Marshal of the Han dynasty. He probably got his position from being the brother of the Han Queen. He was assassinated by the eunuchs.
The next was Dong Zhuo who was a frontier commander (imagine Attila the Hun serving as mercenary general of the Roman Empire). He was a subordinate of He Jin. His unruly control of the Court after He Jin's death caused the collapse of central government.
Then came Yuan Shao who was from a very established family (many of his clan ancestors served as Han prime ministers). He was a subordinate of He Jin. He was not very capable and alienated many of his talented subordinates. One disgruntled eventually betrayed him to Cao Cao.
Then came Cao Cao, who controlled the Han Court as prime minister. He is the first real hero (or great villain) of the story. He is the Napoleon of his age and almost conquered all the other regimes with great skill until the battle of the red cliff which was his retreat from Moscow. He never suffered a waterloo.
After Cao Cao, there were three supremos: Liu Bei (or more correctly Zhuge Liang), Sun Quan and Cao Pi (son of Cao Cao. These three were in a sort of dynamic equilibrium (meaning mutual hostilities and campaigns). After the early death of Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang was Regent cum Prime Minister of Shu Han, effectively ruler in substance.
Finally, came Sima Yi who seize control of Wei and his son Sima Zhao who reunited the three kingdoms.
Get the DVD editions with English subtitles. Note that the stories are, like the novel,not simplified for lay readers. It requires some study and there were lectures clarifying various angles in the stories. For me, I found it extremely rewarding, especially for audiences/readers who enjoy military strategies, espionage and political intrigues.
(The 2010 version was produced to make the stories more transparent for modern and lay audiences but unfortunately included modern exaggerated action sequences).
The setting is that of the fall of the Han Dynasty beginning circa 180 AD and through the break-up of the Han Dynasty empire of China into various warlord regimes and finally into three kingdoms (Wei, Shu-Han, and Wu) before eventually reunited in 280 AD under the Jin dynasty, a period of almost one hundred years spanning two generations of people.
There were five major phases: (i) the fall of the Han dynastic regime due to stagnation, exhaustion and decay of the ruling class; the trigger was a mass rebellion by starving peasants known as the yellow turban rebellion; after many years of peace the ruling classes has become corrupt, fractious and out of touch.
Then (ii) the disintegration of central government control and struggle for supremacy among the regional governors. These guys were all former colleagues in government and many had known each other for generations especially among the high officials (nepotism was common). The situation is not unlike that of the Amercian Civil War or the English Civil War where opposing generals know each other and may even be friends.
(iii) the re-consolidation of government and control but by three contending regimes based in different locations instead of a unified government. Up to this point, the Han emperor was still the recognized head of state although powerless and held hostage by one of the regimes (the future state of Wei). The Han emperor was eventually forced to abdicate and one after another, the three regimes declare themselves emperor and hence the three kingdoms formally.
(iv) one of the regimes (Shu-Han)claimed direct lineage to the founder of the Han dynasty (a side-branch of the family tree) and was determined to eradicate the other two to reunify the country under a new Han. During this phase, many of the first generation heroes died either in battle, in sickness or executed, etc. They have been on hard campaigning for many decades.
(v) one of the original three kingdoms, Wei, now lead by sons brought up with silver spoons was usurped by a general (Sima Yi) who establish the Jin dynasty. This new regime brought vigor to their enterprises and eventually defeated the other two regimes who were lead by monarchs brought up as spoiled brats in the palace from young.
This TV serial is very well made and followed closely the main threads of the novel. The initial period were very similar to feudal Europe where nobility-commoner class distinctions were jealously guarded by the established families. As the struggle became more desperate, talents rather than high birth became more relevant. The first warlords who understood this was Cao Cao, Sun Jian and Liu Bei and hence it was no surprise that these three guys became the founder of the three kingdoms.
The string of supremos in the novel were He Jin, Grand Marshal of the Han dynasty. He probably got his position from being the brother of the Han Queen. He was assassinated by the eunuchs.
The next was Dong Zhuo who was a frontier commander (imagine Attila the Hun serving as mercenary general of the Roman Empire). He was a subordinate of He Jin. His unruly control of the Court after He Jin's death caused the collapse of central government.
Then came Yuan Shao who was from a very established family (many of his clan ancestors served as Han prime ministers). He was a subordinate of He Jin. He was not very capable and alienated many of his talented subordinates. One disgruntled eventually betrayed him to Cao Cao.
Then came Cao Cao, who controlled the Han Court as prime minister. He is the first real hero (or great villain) of the story. He is the Napoleon of his age and almost conquered all the other regimes with great skill until the battle of the red cliff which was his retreat from Moscow. He never suffered a waterloo.
After Cao Cao, there were three supremos: Liu Bei (or more correctly Zhuge Liang), Sun Quan and Cao Pi (son of Cao Cao. These three were in a sort of dynamic equilibrium (meaning mutual hostilities and campaigns). After the early death of Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang was Regent cum Prime Minister of Shu Han, effectively ruler in substance.
Finally, came Sima Yi who seize control of Wei and his son Sima Zhao who reunited the three kingdoms.
Get the DVD editions with English subtitles. Note that the stories are, like the novel,not simplified for lay readers. It requires some study and there were lectures clarifying various angles in the stories. For me, I found it extremely rewarding, especially for audiences/readers who enjoy military strategies, espionage and political intrigues.
(The 2010 version was produced to make the stories more transparent for modern and lay audiences but unfortunately included modern exaggerated action sequences).