摘 要

《权力的游戏》主要讲述在一片虚构的中世纪世界里，七大家族所发生的一系列王权斗争。《三国演义》则是描述了东汉末年，刘备、曹操和孙权三足鼎立争夺王权的斗争。《三国演义》和《权力的游戏》的一个共同主题是对权力的追求。权力本质体现在对权力的争夺和占有。对权力争夺的过程影响着人物的性格、思想与行为。本文通过对

《三国演义》与《权力的游戏》中王权斗争的对比研究，看东西方封建社会，进而了解东西方文化差异。全文共有四章，第一章阐述权力的定义以及权力的游戏与三国演义的背景，并且介绍东西方封建社会制度。第二章分析二者王权斗争的相同点，通过相似点可以看出人类在权力斗争方面的共性。第三章分析二者在东西方文化影响下王权斗争的不同点。第四章对该篇论文进行结论。通过这种跨文化与地域的比较研究，展现出东西方文化独特的智慧，为全世界观者呈现真正精彩的权力较量。

关键词：权力斗争；封建制度；文化差异；《权力的游戏》；《三国演义》

Abstract

Game of Thrones chronicles the violent power struggles among the seven kingdoms for the Iron Throne. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms describes that the three states, Cao Wei, Shuhan and Eastern Wu, contend for the throne in the end of the East Han Dynasty. The common theme of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Game of Thrones is the pursuit of power. The contention and possession of power involve the nature of power, the influence of power on personal character, thought, and behavior, and the process of competing for power. This paper mainly focuses on the similarity and differentia of power struggle in feudal society of east and west, hoping to study the cultural differences between east and west.

The paper consists of four parts. The first part elaborates the definition of power and the background of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Game of Thrones, and introduces Chinese feudal monarchies and western feudal monarchies. In the second part, it analyzes the similarities between the two. Through the comparative study of similarities, it can be seen that human beings have commonality in power struggle. In the third part, it elucidates the differences between the two under the influence of the east and west culture. In part four, it makes a conclusion of this paper. This cross-cultural and regional comparative study can show the world’s audience the matchless wisdom of the east and west culture.

Key Words: power struggle; feudalism; cultural difference; Game of Thrones; Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Contents

1. Introduction 1
   1. Background of the Three Kingdoms and Game of Thrones 1
   2. Chinese feudal monarchies and western feudal monarchies 2
   3. Layout of the paper 3
2. On the Similarities 4
   1. Personal character 4
   2. Struggle of three major powers 5
3. On the Differences 7
   1. Power struggle in Game of Thrones 7
      1. Female status 7
      2. The conflict between the kingship and the church 8
   2. Power Struggle in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms 9
      1. Military strategies 9
      2. Feudal thought 11
      3. Macroscopic structure 12
4. Conclusion 14

References 15

Acknowledgements 16

A Comparative Study of Power Struggle in Game of Thrones and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Introduction

• 1. Background of the Three Kingdoms and Game of Thrones

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Game of Thrones are typical representatives of the east and west power struggle. In order to explore the power struggle of the east and west, people need to understand what power is. There are multifarious definitions and classifications of what people call power. Chinese scholars believe that power, based on the dominant of the specific resources, is the subject that has the influence and the control over the object. All human relations are power relations; therefore anyone wants to take as much power as possible if circumstances permit. The contention and possession of power involve the nature of power, the impact of power on personal character, thought, and behavior, and the process of competing for power. The relationship between power and human nature points out the common theme of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Game of Thrones: the pursuit of power.

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, adapted from the novel of the same title which is written by Luo Guanzhong, describes that the three states, Cao Wei, Shuhan and Eastern Wu, contend for power in the end of the East Han Dynasty. The period proceeds from the collapse of the Han Dynasty 206BC, and ended with the conquest of the last Wu Kingdom in 280 AD. Unlike the novel A Song of Ice and Fire, Luo is generally acknowledged having adopted a pro-Shu stance, and frequently depicted the other two states in a negative light. One of the sources that Luo takes inspiration from is the Records of the Three Kingdoms which is written by Chen Shou. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms is written in accordance with the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history, at the same time combines with part fictional composition, that is to say, the thread of the novel is still the real historical context(Chen, 2016).