author
active 40 Ye Zhao
An early Chinese historian and writer from the Eastern Han period, he is best known for Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue, a lively account of the rivalry between the ancient states of Wu and Yue. Though little is known about his life, his work helped preserve legendary and historical material from one of China’s most dramatic eras.
1 Audiobook
吳越春秋
by active 40 Ye Zhao
About the author
He is generally identified as an Eastern Han scholar from Shanyin in Kuaiji, in present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang. Traditional accounts describe him as a historian and man of letters, and modern reference works often place his life roughly between the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, though the exact dates are uncertain.
His lasting reputation comes from Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue (Wu Yue Chun Qiu), a historical work on the struggles between the states of Wu and Yue in the Spring and Autumn period. The book blends history, anecdote, speeches, and legend, which makes it valuable not only as a source for early Chinese history but also as an engaging piece of narrative writing.
Because records about him are sparse, the work itself remains the clearest window into his legacy. Readers still return to it for its memorable stories, its portrait of political rivalry and strategy, and its place in the long tradition of Chinese historical writing.