Loulan

The Japanese classic Yasuji Inoue retells the myths of Ancient China, inspired by “The Historical Records”—a literary monument that appeared in the first century BC. In the collection “Loulan,” novellas and short stories blend Chinese legends with Japanese literary tradition, creating unique works. On the pages of the book come alive nomads, imperial concubines, mighty military commanders, and fairy-tale princesses who become participants in stories of love and hatred, loyalty and betrayal, and the rise and fall of civilizations.

Some of these stories are being made available in Russian for the first time through the translation by E. Kruchina, carried out in 2024 as part of V. Bakanov’s “Translation School” project; the edition was published by AST Publishers in 2025.