Beyond the Heavens

The events that occurred during the life of Cao Cao, the final Chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty (155–March 15, 220), who also acts as the story's primary character, are a loose inspiration for Souten Kouro's narrative. While the Three Kingdoms era has long been a popular theme in Japanese manga, Souten Kouro stands out significantly from the majority of them in a number of key ways. The main character Cao Cao, who is typically the antagonist in both Japanese comics and the majority of novels set during the Three Kingdoms era, including the original 14th century rendition, Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, is given a very positive representation in this work. Another notable distinction from other stories is that Records of Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, the authentic historical account of the time, is used more frequently in the plot than the aforementioned Romance of the Three Kingdoms book. As a result, Liu Bei, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms' typical hero, is given a smaller role in the narrative and is given a less favorable impression. The tale does, however, borrow from the novel in a number of ways, including as the use of original characters like Diao Chan and out-of-date weaponry like Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade and Zhang Fei's Viper Blade. Cao Cao's ongoing desire to free China and its people from outdated ideologies and ways of thinking and to promote an emphasis on pragmatism rather than ideals is a recurring motif throughout the narrative. This frequently puts him at odds with Confucianism's prevailing practices and ideas, as well as those who support them.