The Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties: A History of China, Part Two plunges you into an age of brilliance, power, and heartbreak. From the rise of Empress Wu Zetian—who defied tradition to rule as China’s only female emperor—to the golden reign of Emperor Xuanzong, the Tang world glowed with poetry, beauty, and ambition. Yet glory turned fragile: the love of Yang Guifei and the ambitions of her kin helped ignite the An Lushan Rebellion, a catastrophe that shattered the empire. Amid the chaos, generals like Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi fought to restore order while loyalty and trust crumbled. Battles against Tibet and the Abbasid Caliphate stretched the empire’s might even as inner decay deepened. From splendor to ruin, this book traces how power, passion, and betrayal shaped one of China’s most dazzling and tragic dynasties.
I'm Hui Wang, an author exploring history, warfare, business, and tech. With degrees in Software Engineering and Business, plus certifications from Apple, Google, and psychology studies at Yale, I combine research, logic, and storytelling to make complex ideas clear and compelling. My writing helps readers make sense of how the world really works—and why it matters.View all by Hui Wang
