Chinese cartoonist Chen Lei explains 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' with a single image

Chen Lei, the Chinese cartoonist who signs as 'Brother Hunzi', turned a talk about reading into a visual history lesson. During the event 'Yuedu Changning: A Journey of Knowledge Through Comics', held at the Bailian Xijiao shopping center in Shanghai, the author explained the central plot of Romance of the Three Kingdoms by drawing a series of water bubbles.

The image was simple: a complete bubble represented the unified dynasty. After Dong Zhuo's rebellion, that bubble broke into pieces, each one a warlord. From the struggle among those fragments emerged three kingdoms, Wei, Shu, and Wu, facing off against each other. With that, Chen Lei summed up the arc that goes from unity to division and back to a new balance.

For the author, understanding that historical logic is worth more than memorizing scattered anecdotes. "Reading the whole novel and keeping only isolated facts is useless," he explained to the audience. His method aims to help readers grasp the deep structure of the story, not just the names and battles.

What order he recommends for reading the classics

Chen Lei also answered one of the most repeated questions among parents and young readers: where to start with the four great novels of Chinese literature? His recommendation was clear.

• Journey to the West: the most accessible, with a fun story that works for all ages.
• Water Margin: it has many characters, but the plot is easy to follow.
• Romance of the Three Kingdoms: it requires some historical background to fully appreciate it.
• Dream of the Red Chamber: the most complex, full of reflections on life and society.

The order is not random: it progresses according to reading maturity and prior knowledge. Chen Lei insisted that age is not the only factor; experience and previous reading also count.

A defender of comics as an educational tool

During the talk, the author responded to those who question whether using comics to explain the classics makes them less serious. His stance was direct: solemnity does not depend on the format, but on the thinking behind it. "I keep asking myself how to create a book that is different from the rest," he confessed.

Chen Lei shared his own story: he went from being a bad student to becoming a popularizer. His message to the children present was that there are no slow children, only those who have not yet found their learning method. He recommended cultivating varied interests, reading a lot, and approaching topics they do not master. He also mentioned video games, movies, and stand-up comedy as valid ways to observe the world and learn.

The event was part of a book fair with five days of market and five lectures. In addition to the books in the Hunzhi series, there were popular science and history titles. Attendees could browse them in the shopping center's atrium, among stationery stalls and cultural products.

Chen Lei's team organized comic workshops for children. Participants learned about Archimedes' principle of buoyancy, the evolution of Chinese ceramics, warships, and aerospace technology. They also did experiments with submarines, ceramic pieces, aluminum foil boats, and airplane models.

The initiative seeks to take books out of the traditional circuit and bring them to everyday spaces. A shopping center as a reading venue is not common, but in Shanghai it worked: entire families stopped to read between purchases, and the place gained the feel of an urban library.