Beyond the Heavens

Synopsis

Souten Kouro draws its narrative from the era of the Three Kingdoms in ancient China, centering on the final Chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cao Cao (155 – March 15, 220), who acts as the protagonist of the tale. While the Three Kingdoms setting has long been a staple subject in Japanese manga, Souten Kouro sets itself apart from the majority of its peers in several notable ways. Chief among these is its decidedly favorable depiction of Cao Cao, a figure typically cast as the villain not only in Japanese manga but also in most prose retellings of the period, including the original 14th-century classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. Another major divergence lies in its source material: the story leans primarily on the historical chronicle Records of Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou rather than the aforementioned novel. As a consequence, Liu Bei—the conventional hero of Romance of the Three Kingdoms—receives comparatively diminished focus and is shown in a less flattering light. Even so, the narrative still borrows certain elements from the novel, such as the inclusion of original characters like Diao Chan, along with anachronistic armaments including Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade and Zhang Fei's Viper Blade. A recurring motif throughout the series is Cao Cao's persistent ambition to sever China and its populace from outdated institutions and modes of thought, steering them toward pragmatism rather than hollow ideals. This stance frequently brings him into conflict with the entrenched customs and doctrines of Confucianism and those who uphold them.