Where to Find and Download Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel PDF - The Novel that Shaped Chinese Culture and History
Three Kingdoms A Historical Novel Pdf Download
Are you looking for a way to download one of the most famous and influential novels in Chinese history? If so, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about Three Kingdoms, a historical novel that depicts the turbulent era of the late Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 CE). We will also show you how to download a pdf version of this masterpiece for free.
Three Kingdoms A Historical Novel Pdf Download
What is Three Kingdoms?
Three Kingdoms is a historical novel written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, during the Ming dynasty. It is based on historical records, dramas, poems, and legends that narrate the events and characters of the Three Kingdoms period. The novel consists of 120 chapters and over 800,000 words. It is widely regarded as one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, along with Journey to the West, Romance of the Western Chamber, and Dream of the Red Chamber.
A brief summary of the novel
The novel begins with a famous opening sentence: "The empire, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide. Thus it has ever been." It then introduces the main plot: the decline and fall of the Han dynasty, which had ruled China for over 400 years, and the rise and fall of three rival states: Wei, Shu, and Wu. The novel follows the lives and deeds of hundreds of historical and fictional characters, who are involved in wars, intrigues, alliances, betrayals, romances, and heroism. The novel ends with the reunification of China under the Jin dynasty in 280 CE.
The historical background of the novel
The novel is set in one of the most chaotic and fascinating periods in Chinese history. The Han dynasty, which had reached its peak under Emperor Wu (141-87 BCE), began to decline due to corruption, eunuch power, peasant rebellions, and natural disasters. In 184 CE, a large-scale uprising known as the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out across China, led by a Taoist sect that claimed to have a divine mandate to overthrow the Han. Although the rebellion was suppressed by loyal generals such as He Jin and Cao Cao, it weakened the central authority and paved the way for regional warlords to rise and compete for power.
In 189 CE, Emperor Ling died and was succeeded by his young son Emperor Shao. He Jin, who was the regent and brother-in-law of Emperor Ling, plotted to eliminate the eunuchs who controlled the court. However, he was assassinated by them before he could carry out his plan. This triggered a coup d'etat by Dong Zhuo, a powerful warlord who seized control of the capital Luoyang and deposed Emperor Shao in favor of his puppet Emperor Xian. Dong Zhuo was a tyrant who oppressed the people and indulged in cruelty and extravagance. He also moved the capital to Chang'an and burned Luoyang to the ground.
In 190 CE, a coalition of warlords from various regions formed to oppose Dong Zhuo. They were led by Yuan Shao, a descendant of a noble family and a former ally of He Jin. The coalition fought against Dong Zhuo's forces in several battles, but failed to achieve a decisive victory due to internal conflicts and lack of coordination. Dong Zhuo was eventually killed by his adopted son Lu Bu, a formidable warrior who coveted his power and his concubine Diao Chan. Lu Bu then allied with Yuan Shu, another warlord who claimed to be the rightful emperor. However, he was soon betrayed by Yuan Shu and attacked by Cao Cao, who had emerged as the dominant force in northern China.
Cao Cao was a brilliant strategist and politician who had served as a minister under Emperor Xian. He had rescued the emperor from Dong Zhuo's clutches and established himself as the de facto ruler of the Han empire. He had also defeated many rival warlords such as Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Zhang Xiu, and Liu Biao, and expanded his territory to cover most of northern and central China. He was ambitious and ruthless, but also capable and benevolent. He promoted talented people regardless of their background and implemented reforms to improve the economy and the military. He also patronized culture and arts, and wrote many poems and essays.
In 208 CE, Cao Cao launched a massive campaign to conquer southern China, which was divided into two kingdoms: Wu and Shu. Wu was founded by Sun Quan, the youngest son of Sun Jian, a warlord who had fought against Dong Zhuo and died in battle. Sun Quan inherited his father's domain in the lower Yangtze region and consolidated his power with the help of his advisers Zhou Yu and Lu Su, and his generals Huang Gai and Gan Ning. He was a courageous and charismatic leader who valued loyalty and friendship. He also fostered maritime trade and naval warfare, and developed a prosperous and cultured society.
Shu was founded by Liu Bei, a distant relative of the Han imperial family who had wandered from place to place in search of a base. He had fought against Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shu, Cao Cao, and Liu Biao, but failed to secure a stable territory. He was accompanied by his sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who were renowned for their bravery and loyalty. He also befriended Zhuge Liang, a reclusive genius who became his chief adviser and strategist. He was a benevolent and virtuous ruler who cared for the people and upheld justice. He also dreamed of restoring the Han dynasty and ending the chaos.
Cao Cao's invasion of southern China led to the famous Battle of Red Cliffs, where he faced the combined forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei. The battle was a decisive victory for the allies, who used fire ships and clever tactics to destroy Cao Cao's fleet and army. Cao Cao retreated to northern China with heavy losses, while Sun Quan and Liu Bei divided the south between them. The battle marked the end of Cao Cao's ambition to unify China under his rule, and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era.
The main characters and factions of the novel
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Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu and the mastermind behind many of its victories. He is renowned for his wisdom, foresight, loyalty, and inventions. He is also known for his use of deception, trickery, and psychological warfare.
Lü Bu, the strongest warrior of his time and a formidable adversary to anyone who crossed his path. He is also notorious for his treachery, arrogance, and lust. He betrayed and killed his adoptive fathers Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo, and coveted their concubines. He was eventually captured and executed by Cao Cao.
Diao Chan, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China and a key figure in the plot to overthrow Dong Zhuo. She was a singer and dancer who used her charms to seduce both Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu, and incited them to turn against each other.
Guan Yu, one of Liu Bei's sworn brothers and a loyal general of Shu. He is revered for his martial prowess, righteousness, loyalty, and generosity. He is also known for his long beard and his weapon, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade. He was killed by Sun Quan's forces after he refused to surrender.
Zhou Yu, the chief commander of Wu and a rival of Zhuge Liang. He was a handsome and talented leader who excelled in both civil and military affairs. He was also a friend and adviser of Sun Quan. He died of illness after being outwitted by Zhuge Liang several times.
Why should you read Three Kingdoms?
Three Kingdoms is not only a historical novel but also a literary and cultural treasure. It has many reasons why you should read it, such as:
The literary and cultural significance of the novel
Three Kingdoms is one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, along with Journey to the West, Water Margin, and Dream of the Red Chamber. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece of storytelling that combines history, legend, romance, drama, philosophy, and morality. It has influenced countless works of literature, art, film, television, games, comics, and animation in China and beyond. It has also shaped the values and ideals of Chinese people for generations.
The themes and messages of the novel
Three Kingdoms explores various themes and messages that are relevant to human nature and society. Some of them are:
The rise and fall of empires: The novel shows how the Han dynasty collapsed due to internal corruption and external threats, and how three kingdoms emerged from its ashes. It also shows how each kingdom had its own strengths and weaknesses, achievements and failures, glories and tragedies.
The loyalty and betrayal of friends: The novel depicts how friendship can be a powerful bond that transcends blood ties and political interests. It also depicts how friendship can be tested by temptation, ambition, jealousy, or misunderstanding.
The heroism and villainy of people: The novel portrays how people can be heroes or villains depending on their actions and motives. It also portrays how people can be complex and contradictory, capable of both good and evil.
The wisdom and folly of strategies: The novel illustrates how strategies can be crucial to winning or losing wars or battles. It also illustrates how strategies can be brilliant or foolish depending on their execution and outcome.
The fate and choice of individuals: The novel reflects how individuals can be influenced by fate or destiny that determines their roles or outcomes in history. It also reflects how individuals can make choices that affect their lives or others' lives for better or worse.
The entertainment and educational value of the novel
Three Kingdoms is not only a serious work of literature but also an entertaining work of fiction. It has many aspects that make it enjoyable and informative to read, such as:
```html and turns that keep the reader engaged and curious. It has many scenes of action, suspense, romance, comedy, tragedy, and drama that appeal to different emotions and tastes.
The distinctive characters: The novel has a rich and diverse cast of characters that are memorable and distinctive. Each character has his or her own personality, appearance, background, motivation, strength, weakness, and fate. The reader can relate to some characters, admire some characters, despise some characters, or sympathize with some characters.
The intricate intrigues: The novel has a complex and intricate web of intrigues that involve politics, diplomacy, espionage, deception, manipulation, and betrayal. The novel shows how the characters use their wits, skills, resources, and allies to achieve their goals or overcome their enemies. The novel also shows how the intrigues can backfire or have unintended consequences.
The spectacular battles: The novel has a large number of battles that are spectacular and thrilling. The battles range from small skirmishes to large-scale wars, from land battles to naval battles, from conventional battles to unconventional battles. The novel depicts how the battles are planned, fought, won, or lost. The novel also depicts how the battles affect the lives of the combatants and civilians.
The informative details: The novel has a lot of details that are informative and educational. The novel provides historical and cultural information about the Three Kingdoms period and its context. The novel also provides literary and artistic information about the sources and influences of the novel and its adaptations. The novel also provides practical and philosophical information about various aspects of life such as warfare, governance, morality, loyalty, friendship, love, fate, and choice.
How can you download Three Kingdoms?
If you are interested in reading Three Kingdoms for yourself, you may wonder how you can download a pdf version of this novel for free. Here are some tips and precautions for downloading Three Kingdoms:
The different versions and translations of the novel
Three Kingdoms has been translated into many languages and dialects over the centuries. However, not all translations are equal in quality or accuracy. Some translations may be more faithful to the original text than others. Some translations may be more readable or understandable than others. Some translations may be more complete or abridged than others.
One of the most widely used and acclaimed translations of Three Kingdoms is the one by Moss Roberts. He translated the novel into English in two versions: an unabridged version that contains all 120 chapters of the original text; and an abridged version that contains 90 chapters selected by him. Both versions are published by the University of California Press and are available in paperback or ebook formats.
Another popular translation of Three Kingdoms is the one by C.H. Brewitt-Taylor. He translated the novel into English in 1925 and revised it in 1959. His translation is based on a Ming dynasty edition of the novel that contains 120 chapters plus 40 additional chapters attributed to Luo Guanzhong's successors. His translation is published by Tuttle Publishing and is available in paperback or ebook formats.
The best sources and websites to download the novel
There are many sources and websites that offer free pdf downloads of Three Kingdoms. However, not all sources and websites are reliable or safe. Some sources and websites may have low-quality or incomplete pdf files that may contain errors or omissions. Some sources and websites may have malicious or illegal pdf files that may contain viruses or malware that may harm your device or data.
```html and other public domain works. It has a large collection of ebooks in various formats and languages that can be downloaded for free. It also has a search function that allows you to find ebooks by title, author, subject, or keyword. To download Three Kingdoms from Project Gutenberg, you can follow these steps:
Go to the Project Gutenberg website at https://www.gutenberg.org/.
Type "Three Kingdoms" in the search box and click "Go".
Select the ebook that matches your preferred version and translation of the novel. For example, if you want to read the unabridged version translated by Moss Roberts, you can select "Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel: Complete and Unabridged by Guanzhong Luo".
Choose the format that suits your device and preference. For example, if you want to download a pdf file, you can select "PDF".
Click on the download link and save the file to your device.
Another good source to download Three Kingdoms is Internet Archive . Internet Archive is a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, music, websites, and more. It has a vast collection of ebooks in various formats and languages that can be downloaded or borrowed for free. It also has a search function that allows you to find ebooks by title, author, subject, or keyword. To download Three Kingdoms from Internet Archive, you can follow these steps:
Go to the Internet Archive website at https://archive.org/.
Type "Three Kingdoms" in the search box and click "Search".
Select the ebook that matches your preferred version and translation of the novel. For example, if you want to read the abridged version translated by C.H. Brewitt-Taylor, you can select "Romance of the three kingdoms".
Choose the format that suits your device and preference. For example, if you want to download a pdf file, you can select "PDF".
Click on the download link and save the file to your device.
The tips and precautions for downloading the novel
While downloading Three Kingdoms from reputable sources such as Project Gutenberg or Internet Archive is generally safe and easy, there are some tips and precautions that you should follow to ensure a smooth and secure experience. Some of them are:
Check the quality and completeness of the pdf file before downloading it. You can preview the file online or read some reviews or comments from other users who have downloaded it.
Check the size and format of the pdf file before downloading it. You should make sure that the file is compatible with your device and software, and that it does not take up too much space or bandwidth.
Check the legality and ethics of downloading the pdf file before downloading it. You should make sure that the file is in the public domain or has a license that allows free distribution. You should also respect the rights and wishes of the author and publisher of the novel.
Use a reliable and secure internet connection and device when downloading the pdf file. You should avoid using public or unsecured networks or devices that may expose your data or device to hackers or malware.
Use a reputable and trustworthy source and website when downloading the pdf file. You should avoid using sources or websites that may contain low-quality or malicious files that may harm your device or data.
Conclusion
```html the turbulent era of the Three Kingdoms period in China. It is a literary and cultural treasure that has many reasons why you should read it, such as its literary and cultural significance, its themes and messages, and its entertainment and educational value. It is also a novel that can be downloaded for free from various sources and websites, such as Project Gutenberg and Internet Archive. However, you should also follow some tips and precautions to ensure a smooth and secure downloading experience. We hope that this article has inspired you to read Three Kingdoms and enjoy its rich and fascinating content.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Three Kingdoms and their answers:
Who wrote Three Kingdoms?
The authorship of Three Kingdoms is traditionally attributed to Luo Guanzhong, a 14th-century writer who lived during the Ming dynasty. However, some scholars have questioned or challenged this attribution, and suggested that the novel may have been written by multiple authors or editors over time.
When was Three Kingdoms written?
The exact date of writing of Three Kingdoms is unknown, but it is generally believed that the novel was written in the late 14th or early 15th century, during the Ming dynasty. The novel is based on historical records, dramas, poems, and legends that date back to the 3rd century or earlier.
What is the original title of Three Kingdoms?
The original title of Three Kingdoms is Sanguozhi Yanyi (三國志演義), which literally means "The Romance of the Records of the Three Kingdoms". The word "romance" here refers to a genre of literature that combines history and fiction, not to a love story. The word "records" here refers to a historical work by Chen Shou (233-297), which is the primary source of the novel.
How many chapters are there in Three Kingdoms?
The standard version of Three Kingdoms has 120 chapters. However, there are also other versions that have more or fewer chapters. For example, there is a Ming dynasty edition that has 160 chapters, which includes 40 additional chapters attributed to Luo Guanzhong's successors. There is also an abridged version by Moss Roberts that has 90 chapters.
How many characters are there in Three Kingdoms?
There are over 1,000 characters in Three Kingdoms, both historical and fictional. Some of the most prominent characters are Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, Zhuge Liang, Lü Bu, Diao Chan, Guan Yu, Zhou Yu, and many others.
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