Paper on Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Paper on Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong - Essay ExampleWar breaks out because of questions regarding the authenticity of succession. As a consequence China subdivides into three major branches with Cao Cao reigning in the north, cheerfulness Quan impression in the south, and Liu Bei controlling the west sector of China. The Romance of Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong is a classic historical novel dealing with the big businessman struggles within the Han dynasty which inevitably precipitate its collapse. An intricately woven book compound historical accurate events merged with creative fiction, this book centers on themes such as brotherhood, art of fight and pietism. This novel also weaves in elements of Confucianism whose doctrines are based principally on The Mandate of heaven. The Mandate of Heaven marks the transition from the Shang dynasty (1766-1122 BCE) to the Zhou dynasty (1122-256 BCE) violation of the macrocosmic concepts through corruption, immortality, and misrul e led to Shangs deposition from power by the Zhou Dynasty, Heaven reserved the right to interpose in the microcosm especially when discord threatens. political corruption made the emperor, also called the son of heaven unfit to rule therefore, the Mandate of Heaven can be legally transferred to another who was better and morally qualified. The Mandate of Heaven encapsulates the main principles of principles of Confucianism ren (benevolence), xiao (filial piety), and li(propriety and convention), which secured harmony and residue with the macrocosms (nature and heaven) and the microcosm (mans affairs). It is through application of the principle of the Mandate of Heaven that the Han dynasty is overthrown. Zhang Jiao was the catalyst in the Yellow Turban disintegration in 184 A.D. Jiao began the revolution to undermine and collapse the Han Dynasty due to social injustices experienced by citizens. Daoism constitutes a broad part of the novel since its ideals and teachings are pract iced by the characters of The Romance of Three Kingdoms. Daoism is a pacific religion which stands for order and harmony with nature and with man. This concept is mirrored in the affirmation that that state of being in accord with nature is (being) in accord with Dao. There exist compatibility, coexistence and harmony with opposite natures and this relation is called symmetric dualism. Zhuge Liang is an educated Taoist scholar who personifies some of the principles of Daoism. Dao which is divine and everlasting means the way of nature and the institution thus one sees the bond between the universe and man. Zhuge acts as an emissary, diplomat and successful martial strategist to Sun Quan. Zhuge Liang, as a Daoist peacekeeper, pacifies several warlords in the South, at the same time, he spearheads the Shu Han forces on expeditions to strengthen the Han empire. He never dies on the battle field but succumbs to tubercolosis. Zhuge Liangs strategies always triumphs as he continually foils the plans of his adversaries. The Romance of Three Kingdoms incorporates tenets from another Chinese classical text, The Art of War written by Sun Tzu, a notable Chinese general who explains the importance of the war to the state and gives pithy advice on martial techniques on how to maneuver ones army to secure victory. The Battle of Xiaoting, the Battle of Red Cliffs and the Battle of Wuzhang Plains are renowned collisions in the novel in which various arts of war are implemented. Lu Bu observes that Cao Cao knows something of the art of war (Guanzhong 90). In the Art of War, moral