So, what's prompted the map changes?
Ah, but those aren't kingdoms, is the trick. Even in a fifteen-way civil war, not just anyone can go around calling themselves a king, not if they want to be taken seriously. You have to work your way up to that.It sure looks like a whole lot more than three.
Well, the Chinese term is "Sānguó", translating as the carefully neutral "three states", so it may be a moot point. "Kingdom" is probably preferred because, for Western audiences, it denotes sovereign status while allowing for recognition that none are placed among the canonical list of Chinese emperors."the three kingdoms" aren't actually kingdoms either but "dynasties"
"three kingdoms" period doesn't begin until Sun Quan declares himself emperor in 229
yea but they use the word 國 pretty oddly too (see the warring states period)Well, the Chinese term is "Sānguó", translating as the carefully neutral "three states", so it may be a moot point. "Kingdom" is probably preferred because, for Western audiences, it denotes sovereign status while allowing for recognition that none are placed among the canonical list of Chinese emperors.