LuoGuanzhongTranslatcdfromtheChlncscwithNotesandanAfterwordbyMOSSROBERTSForewordbyJOHNS.SERVICE"Theempire，longdivided，mustunite;longunited，mustdivide.Thusithascvcrbeen."WiththischaracterizationoftheincvitablecycleofChinesehistory，themonumentaltaleThreeKingdomsbegins.AsimportantforChinesecultureastheHomericepicshavebcenfortheWest，thisMingdynastymasterpiececontinuestobereadandlovedthroughoutChinaaswellasinJapan，Korca，andVietnam.Thenoveloffersastartlingandunsparingviewofhowpoweriswiclded，howdiplomacyisconducted，andhowwarsareplannedandfought;ithasinfiucncedthewaysthatChinesethinkaboutpowcr，diplomacy，andwareventothisday.ThreeKingdomsportraysafatefulmomentatthcendoftheHandynasty（206B.C.-A.D.220）whenthefutureoftheChineseempirelayinthebalance.Writingmorcthanamillenniumlater，LuoGuanzhongdrewonoftcn-toldtalesofthisturbulentperiodtofashionasophisticatcd，compellingnarrative，whosecharactersdisplayvividindividualityandepicgrandeur.ThestorybeginswhentheemperorfearinguprisingsbypeasantrebelsknownaatheYellowScarves，scndsanurgentappealtotheprovincesforpopularsupport.Inresponse，threeyoungmen-thcaristocraticLiuXuande，thefugitiveLordGuan，andthepig-butcherZhangFei-meettopledgeetemalbrotherhoodandfealtytotheirbeleagueredgovernment.FromthesceventscomesachainofcauseandconsequencethatleadsultimatelytothecollapseoftheHan.MossRobertssnewtranslationprovidesforthefirsttimeanauthoritative，annotatedEnglish-languageversionofthisgreatandenduringworkofworldliterature.ACentennialBookLuoGuanzhong（1330？-1400？）wasanovelistanddramatistwhoplayedanimportantroleinthedevclopmentofChincscpopularfiction.MossRobcrtsisProfcssorofChincseatNewYorkUnivcrsity.HehaspublishcdanahridgtedtranslationofThreeKingdoms（Pantheon1976）andisthctranslatorofChinescFairyTalesandFantasies（Pantheon1979）.JohnS.Scrvicc，thesonofanAmcricanmissionary，wasborninChinaandwasaForfignScrviceoffieerthercfrom1933to1945.HeisaFellowatthcCenterfurChincseStudiesattheUnivcrsityufCalifornia，Berkeley，andisanauthor