"Laughing and Talking about the Glorious Sui and Tang Dynasties" (eBook/Audiobook)

Book Title : A Lighthearted Discussion of the Flourishing Sui and Tang Dynasties
Author : Dr. Zhang Tianliang

Book format : PDF
Book pages : 690
File size : 56.1MB

Book Introduction

**Note: This is an electronic product (not a physical book), and refunds are not available once sold.**

The "Laughing and Talking about History" series is a large-scale history lecture series presented by Zhang Tianliang, covering all the important figures and major events from the "Records of the Grand Historian" to the "History of Ming".

"The Ming Dynasty" is the third installment in the series, detailing the history from the death of Emperor Wu of Han to the end of the An Lushan Rebellion, and summarizing the entire series at the end.

About the Author

Dr. Zhang Tianliang is a highly accomplished scholar with expertise in both the humanities and sciences, as well as Chinese and Western learning. He possesses profound insights into many affairs in ancient and modern China and contemporary international affairs.

He is currently an associate professor in the Department of Humanities and Sciences at Fei Tian University and the host of the YouTube political commentary channel, "Dawn."

Dr. Zhang has also served as a visiting professor at George Mason University, a senior writer for The Epoch Times, a senior commentator for NTD Television, and a guest commentator for Voice of America and Radio Free Asia.

【Dawn】Premiered in April 2019, and as of April 2022, it has 380,000 subscribers and more than 100 million views.

Dr. Zhang Tianliang's major works include:

In 2003, he published the full-length documentary novel "Leaving the Dust";

In 2006, the DVD "A Casual Talk on Party Culture," which he helped plan and present, was distributed to tens of millions of people in mainland China.

In 2009, he published a collection of political essays entitled "China's Path of Peaceful Transition";

In 2010, he wrote and produced the film "Chance Encounter";

From 2011 to 2020, we co-produced a large-scale historical series called "Laughing and Talking about the Times" with NTDTV. The series consists of 192 episodes and about 1.5 million words, covering important figures and events from the pre-Qin period to the end of the Ming Dynasty.

In 2015, he co-authored "Unprecedented Evil Persecution" with scholars including the former Vice-President of the European Parliament;

In 2020, I taught "History of Chinese Civilization" at the City of Hope, where I systematically explained the three spiritual pillars that shaped Chinese civilization and clarified many misleading concepts.

sequence

The Chinese have always valued history. This isn't solely due to our long history. Many ancient peoples exist in the world; some, like the ancient Persians and Jews, have thrived even today, while others have vanished into the dust of ruins. But only the Chinese have left behind a continuous five-thousand-year-old historical record. Even though we were once conquered by foreign powers, our culture remained unbroken, and our history was passed down through generations—a true miracle in the history of human civilization.

Our ancestor was the Yellow Emperor, and Cangjie, who invented writing, was the Yellow Emperor's historian. This seems to suggest that one of the purposes of the Chinese invention of writing was to record history. Unlike many Western masterpieces that fabricate characters or stories out of thin air, Chinese literary creations mostly have historical prototypes. Even *Journey to the West*, considered a pinnacle of mythological fiction, is based on the journey of the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, and the "Preface to the Sacred Teachings" in the 100th chapter of *Journey to the West* was personally written by Emperor Taizong of Tang. *Water Margin* originated from *The Remnants of the Xuanhe Era of the Great Song Dynasty*, and historical novels such as *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* and *Romance of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms* are even more derived from official history.

The emperor appointed historians to faithfully record major events daily, including natural disasters, wars, economic developments, and diplomacy. Archives preserved documents related to imperial edicts, literature, official systems, technology, and water conservancy. After the fall of a dynasty, scholars from the next dynasty would compile and edit the previous dynasty's documents, creating a comprehensive historical record.

Official histories. In addition, various books in the form of "veritable records", "chronicles", annals, miscellaneous histories, local chronicles, etc., also circulated, forming China's vast and profound historical archive, which is also China's encyclopedia.

Chinese people read history for various reasons, but the inherent enjoyment of history is undeniable. Sima Qian, the founder of the Twenty-Four Histories, vividly portrayed a wide range of figures, from the mighty Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Han Xin, Xiang Yu, and Liu Bang—heroes who dominated the land—to the humblest thieves and commoners. Stories like the Orphan of Zhao, the story of Goujian's perseverance, the return of the jade to Zhao, Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin, and the Farewell of the Hegemon-King to his Concubine have become recurring themes in literature and art. These real-life stories are often more captivating than novels or plays.

Sima Guang unearthed wisdom for governing the country from history, summarized the rise and fall of previous dynasties, and advised the emperor to practice benevolent governance. Therefore, he was given the name "Zizhi Tongjian" by Emperor Shenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty.

The CCP also seeks to utilize history. Qi Benyu gained Mao Zedong's favor with his work, "Studying History for the Revolution," and joined the Central Cultural Revolution Group, becoming a prominent figure. Because the CCP intends to use Marxist historical materialism to frame Chinese history, it therefore...

The most traditional values ​​that teach people to be virtuous and the glorious achievements have been discarded, and Chinese history education has become a collection of peasant rebellions. Historical dramas also often exaggerate the wickedness of people's hearts and their cunning and scheming. This is not the true history of China.

How to explore the true face of history and what its significance is for our society today? These questions are too abstract to answer in a brief manner, and once they are elaborated, they become lengthy and tedious, and they are closely related to people's beliefs and value systems.

As this book is about to go to press, I would like to express my special thanks to all my family, friends and colleagues who have provided help, suggestions, opinions and encouragement.

Due to my own limitations, omissions and errors are inevitable in this book. In presenting historical facts, I have tried my best to follow the records of serious historical materials such as the *Records of the Grand Historian* and the *Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government*. As for the viewpoints, they are merely one person's opinion. Criticism and suggestions from readers are welcome.

Zhang Tianliang

October 16, 2013, at Fei Tian University, USA

Table of contents

This series consists of 45 episodes, totaling approximately 400,000 words. A brief summary of each episode is as follows:

The first set will inevitably be divided.

The fall of both the Han and Western Han dynasties was related to the maternal relatives of the emperor, followed by the Three Kingdoms period. Shortly after the Western Jin dynasty unified China, the invasion of non-Han peoples and the migration of the elite southwards plunged China into an era of great division.

Episode 2: The Battle of Fei River

In the north, the Five Barbarian Invasions ravaged China; in the south, the Eastern Jin Dynasty maintained its precarious existence. After unifying the north, Fu Jian of the Former Qin Dynasty clashed with the Eastern Jin at the Battle of Fei River. The Eastern Jin government faced three major problems.

Episode 3: North-South Standoff

In 439 AD, Tuoba Tao, a Xianbei, unified the north and established the Northern Wei Dynasty; in 420 AD, the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the south was also usurped by Liu Yu. The Northern and Southern Dynasties period began.

Episode 4: Suppressing Buddhism and Promoting Buddhism

After Buddhism was introduced to China, it developed rapidly during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty suppressed Buddhism, while Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty promoted it. Bodhidharma came to China and founded the Chan (Zen) school of Buddhism.

Episode 5: The Hou Jing Rebellion

Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei adopted a Sinicization policy, which triggered the "Rebellion of the Six Garrisons" and led to the division of Northern Wei. Hou Jing took the opportunity to rebel repeatedly, causing immense suffering and cultural devastation in the south.

Episode 6: Northern Zhou Destroys Qi

The Eastern and Western Wei dynasties were respectively usurped by Gao Yang and Yuwen Jue, who established the Northern Qi and Northern Zhou dynasties. However, the powerful Northern Qi was destroyed by the Northern Zhou in a very short time.

Episode 7: Death and the Demise of the Kingdom

Emperor Yuwen Yong of the Northern Zhou Dynasty destroyed the Northern Qi Dynasty, unifying the north. He then died suddenly from an illness. Emperor Xuan of the Northern Zhou Dynasty was licentious and tyrannical, and power fell into the hands of his maternal relative, Yang Jian.

Episode 8: The Founding of the Sui Dynasty

Yang Jian, born with unusual features, seized military and political power and usurped the throne, establishing the Sui Dynasty. An overview of the Turks. A brief introduction to Changsun Sheng, the first diplomat of the Sui Dynasty.

Episode 9: Rebuilding Unification

Emperor Wen of Sui pacified the Turks; then he broke through the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, defeated the Southern Chen dynasty, ended 400 years of war, and reunified China.

Episode 10: The Reign of Kaihuang

Emperor Wen of Sui initiated the selection of officials through the imperial examination system, built granaries, and constructed the Daxing City, ushering in a peaceful and prosperous era. This marked the evolution of China's official selection system.

Episode 11: Prince Jin's Struggle for the Throne

Empress Dugu interfered in politics, conspiring with the powerful minister Yang Su to depose Prime Minister Gao Jiong and reduce him to a commoner, while supporting her second son Yang Guang, who had always coveted the position of crown prince.

Episode 12: The Mystery of Father Murder

Yang Jian deposed Crown Prince Yang Yong, and his second son Yang Guang succeeded him. His third son Yang Jun died of illness, and his fourth son Yang Xiu was deposed. Yang Guang then killed Yang Jian and Yang Yong and ascended the throne as emperor.

Episode 13: Extravagance and Desire

Emperor Yang of Sui built the Eastern Capital, opened the Grand Canal, and constructed palaces, causing four or five out of ten workers to die from exhaustion. He also built water palaces and dragon boats and toured the country excessively.

Episode 14: Extravagant Spending

Emperor Yang of Sui's extravagant travels exceeded the expenditure of a large-scale war. He built the Guanfeng Palace, a mobile castle, and engaged in frivolous displays of power and wealth, leading to the people's poverty and the depletion of the treasury.

Episode 15: Aggressive and Warlike Desires

Emperor Yang of Sui launched southern campaigns against Vietnam and Taiwan, established diplomatic relations with Malaysia, Cambodia, and Japan, conquered the Tuyuhun in the west, and campaigned against the Khitan in the east. His expedition against Goguryeo ended in a disastrous defeat.

Episode 16: War Breaks Out

During Emperor Yang of Sui's second campaign against Goguryeo, Yang Xuangan rebelled. Xuangan ignored Li Mi's advice, was defeated, and killed. Emperor Yang then massacred the rebels, implicating tens of thousands.

Episode 17: Heroes of Wagang

Popular uprisings broke out, and Zhai Rang occupied Wagang Village. Li Mi came to join him. Zhang Xutuo, a famous general of the Sui Dynasty, was killed in battle. Li Mi killed Zhai Rang and seized leadership.

Episode 18: Uprising in Taiyuan

Emperor Yang of Sui was besieged by the Turks in Yanmen Commandery, and Li Yuan was appointed as the governor of Taiyuan. At the urging of Li Shimin, Li Yuan raised an army in Taiyuan.

Episode 19: The Jiangdu Coup

Li Shimin devised a brilliant plan to seize Chang'an. Xiao Guo, a bodyguard of Emperor Yang of Sui, yearned for his homeland and launched a rebellion, resulting in the emperor's death.

Episode 20: The Battle for Central Plains

Li Yuan declared himself emperor in Chang'an, establishing the Tang Dynasty. Li Mi was defeated by Wang Shichong and surrendered to the Tang Dynasty. Yuwen Huaji declared himself emperor. Wang Shichong declared himself emperor.

Episode 21: General Tian Ce

The world was in chaos, and many people declared themselves kings or emperors. Li Shimin defeated Xue Ju. Li Gui was killed. Li Mi rebelled against the Tang Dynasty and was killed. Li Shimin destroyed Liu Wuzhou.

Episode 22: Unparalleled Wisdom and Courage

Li Shimin defeated Wang Shichong with his Xuanjia Army, and then defeated and captured Dou Jiande. Wang Shichong surrendered and was killed. China was unified once again.

Episode 23: Emperor Taizong Ascends the Throne

Jiancheng and Yuanji, jealous of Li Shimin's military achievements and prestige, plotted to kill him multiple times. The Xuanwu Gate Incident occurred. Jiancheng and Yuanji were killed, and Li Yuan abdicated.

Episode 24: The Great Battle Against the Turks

Emperor Taizong had just ascended the throne when the Turks invaded. Taizong single-handedly repelled the enemy. Four years later, the famous general Li Jing led three thousand cavalry in a night raid on Yinshan Mountain and annihilated the Eastern Turks in one fell swoop.

Episode 25: All Nations Pay Tribute

The Tang Dynasty conquered Tuyuhun and Gaochang, pacified Yanqi and Kucha, and established a new Khan for the Western Turks. The "Road to the Heavenly Khan" was opened. Princess Wencheng entered Tibet.

Episode 26: Journey to the West in Search of the Dharma

In the third year of the Zhenguan era, Xuanzang set off from Chang'an to India to seek Buddhist scriptures. After returning to China, he translated Buddhist texts and dictated the "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions." Wang Xuanze was known for "single-handedly conquering a country."

Episode 27: The Reign of Zhenguan

Emperor Taizong was benevolent and frugal, diligent in governing and caring for the people. He compiled classics and history, established schools, relaxed laws, and emphasized governance and checks and balances, thus creating the prosperous reign of Zhenguan.

Episode 28: A Model for All Time

Emperor Taizong was always humble, sought out wise men and accepted advice, remained cautious from beginning to end, and was good at recognizing and employing people. He had a wealth of talented people and became a model of a wise ruler.

Episode 29: The Heroes of Lingyan

Brief introductions of the meritorious officials of Lingyan Pavilion, including Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Li Jing, Xu Shiji, and Wei Zheng, who served Emperor Xuanzong.

Episode 30: A Shocking Turn of Events in the Palace

With the support of Hou Junji and others, Crown Prince Chengqian rebelled, resulting in his deposition and the execution of Hou Junji. Prince Li Zhi of Jin was then made Crown Prince, with the temple name Gaozong.

Episode 31: Map of the Tang Dynasty

After Emperor Gaozong ascended the throne, the renowned general Su Dingfang destroyed the Eastern and Western Turks, Baekje, and pacified Tibet, while Xue Rengui pacified the Tianshan Mountains with three arrows, and the Tang Dynasty reached its zenith.

Episode 32: The Deposed Empress

After Emperor Taizong's death, Wu Zetian became a nun at Ganye Temple, but was later summoned back to the palace. She cruelly murdered Empress Wang and Consort Xiao, and was then made empress.