Romance of the Three Kingdoms Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
An illustration from a Ming dynasty printed edition of the novel from 1591, collection of the Peking University.
Author	Luo Guanzhong
Original title	三國演義
Country	China
Language	Chinese
Subject	Ancient China
Genre	History, war
Publication date	14th century
Media type	Print
ISBN	978-7-119-00590-4
LC Class	PL2690.S3 E53 1995

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of China. It was written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century. This amazing story is still super popular today, especially in East Asia. It tells a thrilling tale of heroes, battles, and clever plans from ancient China.

What is the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?
Why is this Story Important Today?
Images for kids
See also

What is the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?

This book is a historical novel. It means it's a story based on real history, but with added drama and exciting details. The story takes place in China, a very long time ago, between the years 169 and 280 AD. This period is known as the Three Kingdoms period.

A Time of Trouble

Imagine a time when a huge empire, the Han dynasty, was falling apart. Many powerful warlords and generals started fighting each other. Everyone wanted to be the ruler of all China. This led to a long period of war and chaos.

The Three Main Kingdoms

Eventually, three main kingdoms became the strongest. They were:

Cao Wei: Led by the powerful and cunning Cao Cao.
Shu Han: Led by the kind and noble Liu Bei.
Eastern Wu: Led by the young and brave Sun Quan.

The novel tells the stories of these kingdoms and the many people involved in their struggles.

The Peach Garden Oath

One of the most famous parts of the story is the "Peach Garden Oath." Three heroes, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, became sworn brothers. They promised to fight together and help each other, no matter what. This promise of loyalty is a big theme in the book.

Famous Heroes and Villains

The book is full of unforgettable characters.

Liu Bei is seen as a good and fair leader. He wants to bring peace back to China.
Guan Yu is incredibly brave and loyal. He is known for his long beard and his powerful weapon.
Zhang Fei is a fierce warrior with a loud voice and a hot temper.
Cao Cao is a brilliant military leader, but some see him as a ruthless villain.
Zhuge Liang is a super smart strategist. He helps Liu Bei with his clever plans and predictions.

Epic Battles and Clever Plans

The novel describes many huge battles and amazing strategies. One of the most famous is the Battle of Red Cliffs. In this battle, the smaller forces of Liu Bei and Sun Quan worked together to defeat Cao Cao's much larger army. It shows how smart thinking can win against great odds.

The Art of Strategy

The characters in the book often use clever tricks and plans to win. Zhuge Liang is especially famous for his "empty fort strategy" and his ability to predict the weather. These stories teach about leadership, teamwork, and thinking ahead.

Why is this Story Important Today?

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is more than just an old book. It has shaped Chinese culture for centuries.

Lessons for Life: People still learn about loyalty, bravery, and wisdom from its characters.
Popular Culture: The story is so famous that it has been made into countless movies, TV shows, video games, and comic books. Many people around the world enjoy these adaptations.
Influence on Language: Many Chinese sayings and idioms come from this novel.

It's a timeless tale that continues to entertain and inspire people of all ages.

Images for kids

Three Heroes of Three Kingdoms, silk painting by Sekkan Sakurai (1715–1790), depicting Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.
Liu Bei recruiting Zhuge Liang, from Visiting the Thatched Hut Three Times, a Ming dynasty painting by Dai Jin (1388–1462).
Traditional site of the Red Cliffs.
Shadow puppets in the Sichuan Provincial Museum depicting Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.
An artist's impression of Zhuge Liang.
A translated version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms in Javanese, from early 20th-century Indonesia
The cover of a 1928 Thai language appendix of the novel titled History of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, with notes by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, from the Royal Society of Thailand. Romance of the Three Kingdoms has been described as having "a tremendous impact on the Thai worldview".