Romance of the Three Kingdoms Collection
Have you ever had your mind set on reading something, but given up after a few pages because the content was too difficult? If so, you’re certainly not alone. Many people, including native Chinese speakers, run into the same problem when approaching the Romance of The Three Kingdoms (三国演义). The original classical Chinese text of this book can be challenging even to Chinese people, and that doesn’t even touch on the complexity and length of the narrative, which often requires maps and charts to be appreciated fully.
That being said, the importance and relevance of this book cannot be understated. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ impact on Chinese literature and culture has remained rock-steady for hundreds of years. Widely regarded as one of the Four Classic Chinese Novels (四大名著), this epic novelization of the history of the Three Kingdoms Period, written by Luo Guanzhong (罗贯中) in the 14th century, is a pillar of Chinese literature comparable to Homer’s Odyssey in its significance. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, with its epic tale spanning over 120 chapters and 800,000 words, recounts the fragmentation of the Han dynasty and the ensuing struggle for power. To this day, it continues to captivate readers with its story of brotherhood, betrayal, political struggle and war strategy, boasting countless adaptations ranging from Chinese opera to video games.
Our collection, “Three Kingdoms,” details the most compelling and important moments from this piece of Chinese literary history. It offers an entertaining and enjoyable way to experience this epic drama while enhancing your vocabulary and reading skills. Over the course of the series, you’ll be introduced to the blood-brothers Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, the cunning Cao Cao, and brilliant Zhuge Liang; names that are instantly recognizable to Chinese people.
The “Three Kingdoms” collection so far:
Now that you know the scale and significance of this novel as it pertains to Chinese culture, we invite you to learn the story of these heroes and villains whose deeds have resonated so deeply with Chinese people. “Three Kingdoms” was written with Chinese learning in mind, abridging the story, decreasing the number of named characters, and gradually increasing in difficulty. Every lesson is accompanied by a recording by a native speaker, built-in dictionary, translations, pinyin, etc. Due to the length of the source material, we’ve split it into the following courses:
“The story of the peach garden trio is universally known in China and is often alluded to as a symbol of fraternal loyalty. This story tells how three legendary figures from the period, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, met and became sworn brothers.”
Level: Intermediate
Chapters: 6
“A brutal warlord named Dong Zhuo seizes power in the later years of the once-glorious Han Dynasty. Cao Cao and Gao Yun are desperate to kill Dong Zhuo and save the country from his tyrannical rule. Will they succeed in their quest?”
Level: Intermediate
Chapters: 16
“Xuzhou is an important meeting point between north and south China. The city is surrounded by mountains and water, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. In ancient times, it was also a major hub for river transport. In this story involving Cao Cao, Lü Bu, and Liu Bei, who will win the prize of Xuzhou?”
Level: Intermediate
Chapters: 30
“The Three Kingdoms period was a chaotic period in Chinese history, and many heroic figures emerged in this period. Drinking wine under the plum tree reminds us of Cao Cao and Liu Bei; the three questions and three demands on the mountain remind us of Cao Cao and Guan Yu. Through the stories of these heroes, we can learn about one of the most bloody, but also one of the most interesting and romantic periods in China’s long history.”
Level: Intermediate
Chapters: 32
“The Battle of Guandu is one of the Three Great Battles of the Three Kingdoms period and one of the most famous victories against the odds in Chinese history. This is the story of how the two commanders of the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, met, got to know each other, and eventually ended up fighting each other.”
Level: Intermediate
Chapters: 6
“During the Three Kingdoms period, the death of Jiangdong’s ruler throws the kingdom into chaos. There is a fight for the throne of Jiangdong. Can the 17-year-old successor, Sun Ce, prevail?”
Level: Intermediate
Chapters: 18
“Liu Bei takes Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun and joins Liu Biao in Jingzhou. However, 10 years later, Liu Bei is still yet to realize his ambitions. One day when he is feeling depressed, he meets the reclusive Xu Yuanzhi in the street. Soon after, Cao Cao sends his troops south and fights with Liu Bei in Xinye. However, with the help of Xu Yuanzhi, Liu Bei defeats Cao Cao’s army against the odds. Cao Cao is impressed with Xu Yuanzhi and plots to steal him away. A major battle is now approaching, but what will Liu Bei do without Xu Yuanzhi? A new character who makes history will also appear. Who is he?”
Level: Upper Intermediate
Chapters: 20
“Cao Cao’s 500,000 strong army arrives at Jingzhou, hoping to get Liu Bei to surrender. Liu Bei intends to form an alliance with the master of Jiangdong, Sun Quan, to resist Cao Cao. But will Sun Quan agree to the alliance?”
Level: Upper Intermediate
Chapters: 19
“When Cao Cao’s 800,000-strong army attack, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang work together to resist Cao Cao. Can Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang defeat Cao Cao’s powerful army?”
Level: Upper Intermediate
Chapters: 18
“Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu gradually advance, forcing Cao Cao’s troops, who are not adept at naval warfare, to retreat. How will the Battle of Red Cliffs end? Can Cao Cao find a way out of his predicament?”
Level: Upper Intermediate
Chapters: 19
Dive into the Romance!
We invite you to read the dramatic and truly revolutionary work that is the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Along the way, you’ll brush shoulders with legendary heroes, witness battles of massive proportions, and see the result of cunning strategy whose effects resonated for hundreds of years!
Want to know more about the key events of Romance of the Three Kingdoms? Check out “Everything you need to know about Romance of the Three Kingdoms.”
