4 0 English version of 4 Keo on ROWANGE oF THE THREE
ten. kra. yen i by C. Hi, Browitt-'Taylor, later of the Martime Cus.
tone serv of China. Volume 1 with Map. Published by Kelly and Walsh Ltd, The San Kuo is the most highly esteemed. book of Chinese fiction, In the opinion of some the Liao Chai takes a higher place on account of tts doerttadene of is cals but the Sen Kuo isthe un King of Chinese fiction. Tt is a historical novel written by Lo Kuan chung in the Yuan dynasty. (1260- 1341) and overs the period from 108 to 265 A result of the fierce wars, story, China was divided into the three' kingdoms of Wei, Wu and Shu; hence the name of the book, Like the tale of the thousand and one nights it,'was written for an Orientel people who have time to read and enjoy a good story adequarely toll. This imposing volume {is Book 10 by 6 inches, contains 638. pages and is only Volume 1 of the tale. The author well says his preface "The San Kuo is an Eastern book adapted for the storyteller". Perhaps. it would be as correct to ray adapted. from. th story-teller, for it is almost certain. that the writer gathered his terial from the tales told in teashops and at street comers by the "story-tellers of his day as the same class still repeat the stories ours. He imitates Sir Walter Scott who collected the legends he heard from old people around' the open hearth of the farm houses of Seo and and wove these tales into hi Waverley, Ivanhoe and Rob Roy.
As there were three kingdoms, Wei in the North, Wu in Gentral and Sin In West China 0 there are three heroes where names are household words. Liu Pei, the rig! ful heir to the throne. "He is the Bonnie Prince Charlie' of the tale trid is almost as unfortunate as his Wester rival in' romance. Kwan.
the knight without fear and without reprongh, another Chevalier Bayard and Chang Fei, the rough but fearless soldier who serves his master with the fidelity of a faithful dog, These are the Three Musketeers of Chinese ite tory. The scone' of their taking the oath in the Peach Garden is 4 favourite subject with Chinese painters and. is often to. be seen fon the illustrated calendars sold on the streets in Shanghai. The oath given on page 6 and reads "We three, Liv Pie, ASieun Vu and Chany Fei, though of different. families, swear brotherhood and promise mu: tual help to one end. We ask not the same day of birth but we sock to die together. If we turn aside from righteousness or forget kind-lines may heaven and man smite us." Equally famous is Lie Pei's Counsellor and Genevatisemg, Chie Ko-liang. Wo is the bean ideal of 2 Chinese statesman. Never bat ed, he was able to call magic to his'ald so that the wind or mist same at his contmand. We also "oxen of wood and mechanical horses" which some have tried to identify with the plebeian whesibar. low, but chariots were in common use' in China ages. before "this createst of strategists was born.
The opposing states had an qual array of talent headed by the eat, outstanding figure of Tsao Teao." He is the type of the bold; anserupulous, traitor-statesman and warrior, He is the antithesis of Kwan Vu and is es uniformly sue fearful as his rival ig unfortunate, wan Yue has been apotheosized a the god of war but Tsao Teuo is immortalized in the proverb "Speake of Teao Teao and Teao Tsao here." "Yet heaven overrules, the destinies of men and though Kwan Vu dies under the hand of Taao Teao yet the kingdom built up by the traitor crumbles under his son and Kwan Yn is the darling of history rile Froe Tane is but 9 fol) to 'This, in a nutshell, is the Chinese philosophy of ite,' Evil may, and does, triumph in the battle of Jifo but in the end the race is not to the swift nor Git battle to the strong. The fuerdon in ever to the just and {he memory of the wicked shal <The story of Sun Tse andthe Taoist Vu Chi is really a study in psych@ogy. It is told on pages 305-7-of this book, un Tec was king of Wu; a but passionate warrior.
lo fretting under a forced inity, resulting from a wound, notice' that chis people were paying extraordinary honour to a Taoist priest. He summoned the priest and to test his powers ordered him to produce rain before noon or die, The Taoist built an altar and before the sun reached the meridian there was a fierce downpour of rain, Exasperated, the King declared that such a wizard was a menace to the state and ordered his execution. 'The nobles, the people and, finally, the Queen 'Mother pleaded' for the life of the innocent' man but the headstrong ruler would have him killed. During the night came a great storm of wind and rain and in the morning the body of the slain priest had disappeared. Sun Tse ordered the execution of the guards but as he did xo he saw Vu Chi walking towards him as -though he were still alive, He drew his sword and rushed forward to kill him but fell fainting to the ground. The Queen Mother begged that sacrifices be offered at the Jade-pire monastery and in deference to her wishes he accompanied her to the temple. As he lit the incense smoke curled upwards in the form qf m Taoist priest. The king spat abuse and went out of the building but, as he parsed through the door, again he met Vu Chi looking at him with angry eyes. "Do you see that wizard?" he cried to those around. They saw nothing and in his weath he hurled his javelin at the wraith, The weapon struck one of his guards and, when they raised the man, they yaw that it was the soldier who had acted ax exeeutioner. In his rage Sun tse ordered the temple to be set on fire but amongst the fiery smoke he saw the "ghost of the priest mocking him. On hig return home his mother commented on his haggard appearance. He called for a mirror but when he looked into it he saw, not his own face, but that of the man he had murdered. He struck it and shrieked and the half healed wound reopened. He now knew that he must die and calmly giving his farewell charge to his servante turned his face to the wal? jand died.
Now this story recalls irresistibly what the scriptures say of Herod [after the wrighter of John the Baptist. the "'Tetrarch he id: therefore do these powers work in him." John was dead to all the world but frightened Chinese writer imitates the uncanny intuition of the writer of the gospel and shows how conscience tormented this pagan king for his cruel murder of the innocent priest. There are many such vivid tales the book. The translator hes written them in such terse English that the savour of the of not lost. The publishers, too, have turned out a handsome volume and itis to be hoped that many. to whom the angina? is a sealed look read those stirring tales of out China in their new dress,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.