Preface

Following the trail as depicted in the image, on the other end of the network is Brother Liu. During our conversation, I learned of Brother Liu's passion for books, which is not only a personal interest but also related to his profession. Although he has not been on the front lines of teaching at the university, he has become an expert in this field through years of reading and exploring different versions of books, leveraging his position. Moreover, his love and understanding of the culture of the Three Kingdoms is enough to earn the respect of ordinary people. By chance, we hit it off, which led to the initial concept for the work "Biographies of the Six Prominent Families of the Three Kingdoms" m.hetushu.com

It must be acknowledged that this book is not a serious academic work, but rather resembles a popular history book aimed at enthusiasts of the Three Kingdoms. However, to underestimate the effort that Liu has put into it would be utterly unfair. From the bibliography, we can see how much dedication Liu has invested in this work; his diligence in verifying and cross-checking historical events is commendable. It can be said that this book is far more rigorous and reliable than some sensationalized stories. It is likely that it is precisely because of these merits that Tsinghua University Press decided to publish it for a wide readership

Text / Long Feixiang

May all who read Brother Liu's writings benefit

In many previous works themed around the Three Kingdoms, the perspective has mostly focused on specific and story-rich figures such as Cao Cao, Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, and Zhou Yu. However, the families behind these individuals have often been overlooked. Yet, we know that during the late Eastern Han and early Three Kingdoms period, prominent aristocratic families began to emerge. No matter how remarkable a figure may be, they did not simply descend from the heavens. Their success in careers and achievements, while influenced by their own exceptional qualities, cannot diminish the significant support and operational role played by their families behind the scenes. Therefore, Brother Liu approaches this point by placing each notable figure within the context of their entire family background, providing us with a fresh perspective and experience.

The Three Kingdoms has always been a popular subject among the people. For thousands of years, numerous specialized works and stories on this topic have been produced in abundance, creating a remarkable body of literature. Even so, the Three Kingdoms theme continues to serve as a treasure trove, providing an endless supply of spiritual nourishment to the masses. There are various scholarly works and illustrated books on the Three Kingdoms from esteemed authors, and more recently, Mr. Yi Zhongtian's new interpretations, all of which evoke strong reactions from readers. The reason is simple: the stories of the Three Kingdoms are truly captivating. The initial decision to choose this topic undoubtedly took this into consideration.

I am deeply gratified to hear that Brother Liu's "Biographies of the Six Prominent Families of the Three Kingdoms" is about to be published

My acquaintance with Liu was forged through written correspondence. At that time, I was engaged in cultural work at a magazine, and one day I received a high-quality submission via email, which focused on the study of Japanese detective novels. In addition to its critical insights, the article also conducted an in-depth examination of the various editions published by major Japanese publishing houses, which I found particularly impressive. Anyone who enjoys reading, especially those fond of foreign literature, understands how crucial it is to identify a good edition among the many different versions offered by various publishers. The differences in the translator's writing skills, the publishing house's capabilities, and the level of importance they place on the work make it quite challenging for readers to find a high-quality translation. The author's demonstrated knowledge in this area was truly eye-opening.

Brother Liu's book "Biographies of the Six Prominent Families of the Three Kingdoms" is quite different from previous works on the theme of the Three Kingdoms