What is the earliest historical fiction?

In China, 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' is among the early historical novels. Written in the 14th century, it is based on the historical period of the Three Kingdoms. It depicts the power struggles, heroic deeds, and strategic battles among the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu. It has had a huge impact on Chinese literature and culture, with its characters like Zhuge Liang becoming well - known figures in Chinese history and lore.

The earliest set of historical maps in China was the Warring States period's Topographic Records of the Warring States Period. It was drawn by Zhao Yang, a cartographer of the State of Zhao during the Warring States Period, to reflect the topography and geographical information of China during the Warring States Period.

The earliest historical novel in China was the Records of the Historian. " Records of the Historian " was a historical book written by Sima Qian during the Western Han Dynasty. It was divided into five parts: biographies, tables, books, aristocratic families, and biographies. It recorded historical events and figures from ancient times to the Western Han Dynasty. "Records of the Historian" was a classic work in the history of ancient Chinese literature. It mainly narrated historical events and the fate of characters, showing the customs and historical culture of ancient Chinese society.

The earliest historical novel in China was Dream of the Red Chamber.

Characteristics of the earliest historical fictions include a focus on important historical periods or events. For instance, 'The Histories' focused on the Greco - Persian Wars among other events. They also had a certain level of embellishment. Since they were not strictly historical records, the authors added fictional details to make the stories more interesting. In addition, they were used to create a sense of national or cultural identity. 'The Aeneid' was used to promote Roman identity by linking it to the heroic deeds of Aeneas in a fictionalized account of the past.

The earliest historical novel in China was the Spring and Autumn Annals. The author was a disciple of Confucius, a Confucian master during the Warring States Period. This novel was written around the 5th century B.C. It was a classic of ancient Chinese novels. It described the political struggles and wars between countries in the Spring and Autumn Period, showing the political style and cultural characteristics of ancient Chinese society. The Spring and Autumn Annals was supported by a large number of historical events and characters. The plot was full of ups and downs, and the characters were rich. The language was concise and bright, with extremely high artistic value and historical value.

Some scholars believe that the earliest fan fiction might have emerged with religious texts. People would write commentaries and additional stories based on religious figures and events, which can be seen as a precursor to modern fan fiction. These were ways of exploring and expanding on the established narratives within a religious framework, much like fans today might do with their favorite fictional universes.

One of the earliest known fiction novels is 'The Tale of Genji' by Murasaki Shikibu, written in the 11th century in Japan. It is a complex and detailed work that offers a deep look into the Heian period's court life, with its themes of love, politics, and social hierarchy.

The earliest oracle bone inscriptions in the Shi family's ruins were two pieces of bone inscriptions unearthed before the 15th century B.C. These oracle bone inscriptions were relatively primitive and belonged to the late Yueshi culture, which was at least 300 years earlier than the oracle bone inscriptions of the Yin Ruins in Anyang. These oracle bones were considered to be one of the earliest known oracle bones in China.

The earliest historical atlas of China was the Records of the Imperial Administration of the World, compiled during the Qing Dynasty. This Atlas contained information about the politics, economy, culture, and other aspects of each dynasty during the Qing Dynasty. It was the earliest historical Atlas in Chinese history and one of the important documents in the history of Chinese culture. Its editor was Huang Zhongzhao, an official of the Qing Dynasty. He participated in the editing of many important historical documents, including the Siku Quanshu and Zizhi Tongjian.