the general understanding of a historical period derives from itsfictional
depiction rather than its historical records. While we will turn to the
Romance of the Three Kingdomsas an example of Ming dynasty attitudes
about the martial arts inChapter 8 , in this chapter our account will follow
only the historical records.
The arch villain of thefictional account, Cao Cao ( 155 – 220 ), was a
tremendously successful general and ruler. Cao and his sons were also
illustration 7.Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu. FromSanguozhi Tongsu Yanyi,
1591.
The Northern and Southern Dynasties 77