Learn idioms of eloquence, trickery, and deceit—all inspired by the Battle of Red Cliffs
Over 1,800 years ago, a remarkable victory of the few over the many left a lasting mark on Chinese history and culture. The Battle of Red Cliffs, fought near the southern bank of the Yangtze River in present-day Hubei province, ultimately paved the way for the Three Kingdoms stalemate. It has been closely studied by historians and military strategists for centuries as a classic example of the weak defeating the strong, and has also inspired countless poems and literary works. The most popular depiction of the battle—featuring vivid characters, cunning strategies, dramatic plot twists, and an intricate interplay of fate and human nature—appears in the 14th-century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (《三国演义》) by Luo Guanzhong (罗贯中).
Related Articles
