information, so that they can judge for themselves.
However, we encourage the readers to do a few things before reading the novel. First, take a look at the small and big maps of ancient China. Being familiar to the maps is important for appreciating the many military campaigns in the book. Second, you can warm up by reading the outlines of Chinese history from mythology to Three Kingdoms. This section of about 60 pages will acquaint you to the old society and its customs and thoughts.
After that, readers can choose either to read the lecture of Dr. Rafe de Crespigny about Three Kingdoms, or begin to read the book. The lecture of Dr. Rafe de Crespigny (about 30 pages) is the most informative writing about
Having finished the book, readers can enjoy the many other writings about
With all these writings, we believe you will come to understand and appreciate the first masterpiece.
The online
? Christopher G. Parent, Ellen Xue, Kathryn Goodell, Jonathan P. Voth, Ma Teng, Oliver Pierce, Corey Quilliam, Brian Swift, Richard Yip, and Nuttasit Boonplang for your shaping the directions and other contributions;
? George Koo, Rafe de Crespigny, Li Ung Bing, Yan Zhang, Peter Konieczny, Bu Ching, Timothy Chiang, and Ryan Youngsaye for your writing contributions.
? Joseph Whiteside, Yin Yang, Khue Nguyen, Budihardjo Budi, Gloria Wu, Kyle Ishida, CJ Sephiro, Shou Tsurugi, Steven Prabowo, and Roy Padgett for your research, editing, design, and information supports;
? Sangdo Ha and the 'World of Computer' radio program for sending free the book on floppy disks to readers around the world, who do not have Internet access.
This online
Second, we have the zip files available for you to download the whole book to your hard drive. There are readers in the countries where Internet connection is expensive. Reading offline is therefore a good option. A zip file will simplify your download to one instead of 140+ files. We want to thank the copyright holders who have given permission for us to publish the zip format online.
Third, in design, we further reduce the amount of graphics for shorter download time. Those who wish to see the pictures of Three Kingdoms can go to the 'Links' section, where there are many links to other web sites with beautiful graphics from video games and movies.
Fourth, in respond to some of your complaints about reading such a huge book on screen, we have designed the web page so that you can change the font color and background color to your preference. You can also quickly change the font to gray and the background to black by hitting the 'Night' button. Our poll shows this setting is very pleasant when you read the book in the dim light or no light at all. The color setting feature can only be used with web browsers that support Java: Netscape Navigator 4.0 or higher, Microsoft Explorer 4.0 or higher.
And fifth, we add a sound version of the book. You now can have a computer voice read the book for you. Some of the friends told us when they were children, they listened to
Magna Media ABC LLC makes the online
Snow N. Snow
Outlines of Early Chinese History
1. Origin of the Culture (Antiquity)
The inhabitants of China are known to the world as Chinese. They speak of themselves as the 'people of Han.' As Han is name of a dynasty, it hardly denote the origin of the culture. Many theories, based more or less upon religious myths, have been advanced to show whence the first inhabitants of China came; but their correctness must necessarily await further scientific discoveries. All accounts, however, agree that the basin of the Yellow River was the cradle of the Chinese culture, and that their ancestors were a nomadic people who, some five or six thousand years ago, migrated from the north-western part of Asia and finally settled in the northern-central part of what is now China.
They soon learned how to till the ground and produce grain. As time went on, the settlers formed themselves into tribes ruled by chieftains. Wars with the aborigines and among the different tribes were frequent. The result was that the original inhabitants were driven off in all directions, and the most powerful chieftain became the acknowledged head. As to how long this state of affairs had continued to exist, history is silent. What we do know of this period is founded largely upon the law of evolution, which is common to all cultures.
2. Mythological Era (5000-2200 BC)
2.1. Age of the Three Divine Rulers
Given the first rank among the chieftains is Fuxi, or 'Conqueror of Animals.' He taught his subjects how to catch animals and fish with nets and to rear domestic animals for food. He is also the originator of the writing system which, with their improvements and modifications of ages, has been handed down to us in the form of the modern Chinese characters.
Before Fuxi, there lived in the pre-historic times a ruler, called Sui Jen, 'Producer of Fire.' As the name implies, he is believed to have been the man who brought down fire from heaven for the first time and employed it in the preparation of food. Before his time the people lived like wild beasts and ate their food raw.
Some 1300 years after Fuxi, the throne fell to Shennong, or 'God of Agriculture,' who taught the people the art agriculture and the use of herbs as medicine.
The three foregoing rulers are commonly spoken of by historians as
