The World of 'Records of the Three Kingdoms': The Three Kingdoms Period of Later Han Dynasty' is one of the Chinese history series written by Professor Jin Wenjing and published by Kodansha in Japan. It was later translated into Chinese by Guangxi Normal University Press and Taiwan Commercial Press. Although this series is not a serious academic work, the authors are all top scholars in the field of Japanese Oriental history research, and Professor Jin Wenjing is the only scholar who mainly studies Chinese classical literature. The book conducts in-depth research on the Three Kingdoms period, emphasizing its importance in Chinese history and comparing it with "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", demonstrating the author's profound understanding of literature and history. Professor Jin Wenjing is a Korean scholar whose unique perspective gives the study of the Three Kingdoms period in the book an East Asian perspective, with a particular focus on the relationship between the Three Kingdoms and neighboring ethnic groups. The book not only narrates the political events of the Three Kingdoms period, but also covers ideas, literature, and surrounding relationships, reflecting the author's emphasis on historical continuity and influence.

1、 The Three Kingdoms period in the historical extension line

Jin Wenjing proposed in "The World of the Three Kingdoms" that the Three Kingdoms period was an important starting point in Chinese history, and its historical significance was not only related to the changes in politics, literature, art, and culture, but also closely related to the progress of writing materials. He referred to the transformation of writing materials as the "information revolution" and believed that this led to the Three Kingdoms period becoming a watershed between ancient and medieval times. Jin Wenjing's historical periodization was influenced by the Kyoto School's Naito Hunan, but he supplemented Naito's theory from a material perspective, emphasizing the influence of the Eastern Han Dynasty on the Three Kingdoms. He proposed that the historical significance of the Three Kingdoms period needs to be viewed in conjunction with the Han Dynasty, and explored the issue of the unification of the Three Kingdoms, believing that it is related to the profound influence of the Han Empire. Jin Wenjing also discussed the rewriting of historical memories from the Three Kingdoms period in later generations, as well as the influence of the Three Kingdoms on East Asian culture, including the dissemination of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" in Japan. His viewpoint showcases the unique perspective of Korean scholars and provides in-depth exploration of the history of the Three Kingdoms period.

2、 The Three Kingdoms world beyond the Three Kingdoms

The Records of the Three Kingdoms was initially divided into three parts: the Book of Wei, the Book of Wu, and the Book of Shu, which were later merged into one volume. In his book "The World of the Three Kingdoms," author Jin Wenjing emphasizes the perspective of Eastern Wu, exploring its diplomatic strategies such as forced surrender, intelligence exploitation, and the impact of political alliances on the political situation of the Three Kingdoms. The book also analyzes the influence of families, regions, and scholar official communities that transcend the boundaries of political power on the unification of the Three Kingdoms, pointing out the consensus of the scholar official class on the legitimacy of the Han Dynasty, as well as the network of relationships with famous scholars in the Wei state. Jin Wenjing believed that during the Three Kingdoms period, there were not only the Wei, Shu, and Wu regimes, but also discussions on ethnic groups such as the Yue and Qiang, Sun Quan's maritime policies, and relations with Liaodong and Goguryeo. The book also discusses the relationship between the Three Kingdoms and other world regimes such as Goguryeo, Wa State, Vietnam, and the Guishuang Dynasty, as well as the significance of tribute to the legitimacy of the dynasty.

3、 The Cultural and Literary World of the Three Kingdoms

Jin Wenjing delved into the culture and literature of the Three Kingdoms period in his book "The World of the Three Kingdoms", particularly analyzing various fields such as religion, science, medicine, calendar, architecture, and art in chapters seven and eight. He utilized a wealth of materials, including historical collections, excavated documents, cultural relics, and archaeological sites. In terms of religion, Jin Wenjing pointed out the particularity of the spread of Buddhism in Wu state, such as Sun Quan's appointment of Zhi Qian as a doctor and Sun Jin's massacre of Buddhists, which may be the earliest Buddhist extermination event in China. He also discussed the decline of ancient beliefs, such as the popularization of thin burials and the fear of the unknown death and the idea of immediate gratification in literary works. Jin Wenjing also analyzed the "sigh of worry about life" in Wei and Jin literature, as well as the despair of the afterlife world. In addition, he also explored the relationship between literary works and historical contexts, such as the connection between "The Song of Drumming" and military propaganda strategies, as well as the prototypes of stories in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". Jin Wenjing's research is not limited to literature, but covers a wider range of cultural phenomena, providing a new perspective for understanding the culture and literature of the Three Kingdoms period.

4、 Conclusion

The pun in the title of "The World of the Three Kingdoms" reflects the complexity of the Three Kingdoms culture. The book explores the world composed of China and surrounding regimes during the Three Kingdoms period, as well as the historical world composed of politics, war, culture, and other factors, through a combination of historical and cultural writing. Jin Wenjing emphasized that the interaction between China and its neighboring countries is the evolution of world history research. The book not only focuses on military and politics, but also attaches importance to comprehensive history such as academic thought, literature and art, material culture, etc. The word 'world' in the book title has a dual meaning of time and space, reflecting the author's comprehensive examination of the historical world. Although some of the arguments in the book are open to debate, overall it presents a grand perspective and novel viewpoints, which have learning and research value.