SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Yellow Turban Rebellion

  • The rise of Liu Bei [Three Kingdoms]

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    Juan

    In the grand tapestry of the Three Kingdoms, where warlords vied for supremacy, Liu Bei’s rise stands out as one of the most legendary journeys. Unlike Cao Cao, who inherited a powerful bureaucratic and military network, or Sun Quan, who succeeded his father and brother’s established domain, Liu Bei climbed from the very bottom…

  • The Tyrant’s Ascent [Three Kingdoms]

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    Juan

    By the late Eastern Han dynasty, decades of political corruption, eunuch dominance, and economic hardship had pushed society to the brink. The Yellow Turban Rebellion (184 CE) – though ultimately suppressed – shattered the illusion of central authority. In its wake, provincial governors and commandery administrators, originally appointed to maintain order, seized military power…

  • Cao Cao’s Tuntian System [Three Kingdoms]

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    Juan

    In the chaotic aftermath of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, warlords across China struggled not only to conquer territory but simply to feed their troops. Amid this crisis, Cao Cao – guided by visionary advisors like Zao Zhi and Han Hao – launched a revolutionary policy in 196 CE: the Tuntian (military-agricultural colony) system.

  • Could Dong Zhuo prevent the rise of warlords? A historical analysis [Three Kingdoms]

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    Rob

    The early stages of the Three Kingdoms period were marked by intense political upheaval and military conflict, largely triggered by the actions – or misdeeds – of Dong Zhuo, a powerful warlord who rose to prominence after suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Possessing the largest army and commanding numerous renowned generals, Dong Zhuo held…

  • The hidden politics behind Sun Ce’s execution of Xu Gong [Three Kingdoms]

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    Juan

    The assassination of Sun Ce, the “Little Conqueror” of Jiangdong, is often attributed to a simple act of vengeance: his killing of Xu Gong, the former Administrator of Wu Commandery, led to retaliation by Xu’s loyal retainers.

  • Why did Sun Ce execute Yu Ji? [Three Kingdoms]

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    Juan

    The execution of Yu Ji, the so-called “living immortal” of Jiangdong, by the young warlord Sun Ce stands as one of the most enigmatic and symbolically rich episodes in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. While the novel dramatizes the event with supernatural overtones—ghostly apparitions, cursed mirrors, and divine retribution—the historical roots reveal a more…

  • Unraveling Liu Bei’s true identity [Three Kingdoms]

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    Rob

    Popular narratives—especially in Romance of the Three Kingdoms—paint Liu Bei as a humble, impoverished descendant of the Han imperial house who sold straw mats and sandals before rising to found Shu Han. Yet close examination of historical clues and logical inconsistencies reveals a more complex reality. Was Liu Bei truly a penniless commoner? Or…

  • Was Liu Bei’s imperial lineage fabricated? [Three Kingdoms]

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    Rob

    The question of whether Liu Bei’s claim to Han imperial descent was genuine has intrigued skeptics for centuries. While popular culture sometimes casts doubt on his royal status—suggesting it was a convenient fabrication—both historical evidence and sociopolitical logic strongly support its authenticity.

  • Liao Hua’s odyssey back to Shu State [Three Kingdoms]

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    Juan

    Though Romance of the Three Kingdoms introduces Liao Hua in Chapter 27 as a former Yellow Turban bandit, historical records paint a starkly different—and far more distinguished—portrait.