The Original Three Kingdoms

What is Three Kingdoms?

Three Kingdoms, or Romance of the Three Kingdoms, is the most famous and popular novel in Asia, yet in Western countries it is almost unheard of. This epic story written in the 15th century is principally about war and politics, however it is the characters and their astounding deeds that has and will always captivate its billions of readers.

Did the things in the story really occur in history?

For the most part, yes. Three Kingdoms has always been considered a 7 parts fact, 3 parts fiction novel based on actual events in 2nd and 3rd century China. It follows battle after battle as the heroic leaders and warriors of the time struggle for control of the most populous nation on earth.

Who wrote Three Kingdoms?

Luo Guanzhong, the Yuan-Ming Dynasty author, based his novel on Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms in combination with folk stories of his time. He added legends about the ancient characters, and ideas of his own. Mao Zonggang edited Three Kingdoms in the 17th century, creating today's mainstream version.

How popular is Three Kingdoms?

It is almost impossible to find a Chinese person who does not know Three Kingdoms, for most families have their own copy. For hundreds of years statuettes have been common in homes and workplaces, and millions throughout Asia even worship its historic characters for the blessings of their wisdom or protection. Three Kingdoms is possibly the second most popular book in the world, following the Holy Bible.

Where is Three Kingdoms nowadays?

The novel was made into a popular Chinese TV show in the 1990's, and is the subject of the upcoming films Resurrection of the Dragon, and Red Cliffs which is set to be released with the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Art depicting Three Kingdoms characters is abundant and new works are created daily. Quotes from the novel have been used in educative books, and the original has been translated into a myriad of languages.