历史演义，是指以史实为基础，加入一定的艺术虚构，以章回体的形式，用通俗的语言，讲述王朝兴废、朝代更替等历史事件的小说。历史演义由宋代的讲史话本发展而来，这一名称大致出现于元末明初。罗贯中将陈寿的《三国志》通俗化为《三国演义》，影响巨大，由此出现了很多效仿作品，如《列国志传》《东西晋演义》《南北史演义》《大宋中兴通俗演义》和《隋唐演义》等。这些历史演义故事性强，行文通俗，深受民众的喜爱。
Historical romance refers to the novel based on historical facts, added with a certain artistic fiction, taking Zhanghui Style (type of traditional Chinese novels with captions for each chapter) and plain language to narrate success and supersession of dynasties, vicissitudes of dynasties and other historical events. Historical romance was developed from historical script for story-telling in the Song Dynasty and it approximately appeared at the turning of Yuan and Ming Dynasties. Luo Guanzhong popularized Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms into Romance of the Three Kingdoms, causing a huge impact; afterwards, many emulated works appeared, such as Romance of the Spring and Autumn Period, Romance of the Eastern and Western Jin Dynasties, Romance of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Popular Romance of the Song Dynasty, Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, etc. Being narrative and plain in language, these historical romances are very popular with the people.
Historical romance refers to the novel based on historical facts, added with a certain artistic fiction, taking Zhanghui Style (type of traditional Chinese novels with captions for each chapter) and plain language to narrate success and supersession of dynasties, vicissitudes of dynasties and other historical events. Historical romance was developed from historical script for story-telling in the Song Dynasty and it approximately appeared at the turning of Yuan and Ming Dynasties. Luo Guanzhong popularized Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms into Romance of the Three Kingdoms, causing a huge impact; afterwards, many emulated works appeared, such as Romance of the Spring and Autumn Period, Romance of the Eastern and Western Jin Dynasties, Romance of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Popular Romance of the Song Dynasty, Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, etc. Being narrative and plain in language, these historical romances are very popular with the people.
