The Significance of the Ending Poem of Romance of the Three Kingdoms

The end of the book echoes the opening, summarizing the changes of the Three Kingdoms in the post-Han Dynasty with an ancient style. The last four sentences are general comments, saying: Things never end, and days never end. Three feet is a dream, and later generations complain.

If readers have a little knowledge of China's traditional novels, this pattern of starting with a poem and ending with a poem is a routine. This style has two meanings that need to be discussed. One is in form, which can be called "the combination of rhyme and white"; The second is the content, which can be called "echo points".

The combination of rhyme and prose is the literary convention of China's traditional novels and dramas. The formation of this custom has a specific cultural background. China's traditional literature takes poetry as its religion and value, while novels and dramas are often not elegant, and they are the last stream of literati, just talking about it after dinner. In the history of China literature, disputes between authors often occur in a few novels, because many literati are often ashamed to sign their names or use pseudonyms when writing novels when they are frustrated. But in comparison, the vast number of poems or ancient prose works, except folk songs, are mostly famous works. Officials and literati are proud of their work in poetry and prose, which is true and credible. This style is the embodiment of literati's accomplishment. Moreover, since the Tang Dynasty, poetry has also been the main style of selecting talents.

Literati failed in the imperial examination, and their careers were frustrated. They used stories to express their feelings and write their ambitions, but they fell into the ranks of novelists, but they were not reconciled. Therefore, in the narrative of stories, poems and rhymes are often mixed together to show their true colors and talents. Of course, in China's traditional novels and dramas, poetic rhyme often plays a role in condensing narrative expressions such as plot, theme and character temperament.

On the one hand, the opening words and ending poems of The Romance of The Three Kingdoms really show the author's talent, and his literary talent is first-class. On the other hand, it also expresses the theme of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which representatively reflects the unique temperament of China culture.