Beyond the Heavens - S01

Souten Kouro loosely adapts events from China's Three Kingdoms period, focusing on the life of Cao Cao (155-220),the final Chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, who serves as the story's protagonist. Unlike most Japanese manga set in the Three Kingdoms era, Souten Kouro stands out in two key ways. First, it portrays Cao Cao in a strongly positive light, a departure from his usual role as the antagonist in works like the 14th-century novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and other adaptations. Second, the story draws mainly from the historical "Records of Three Kingdoms" rather than the more fictionalized "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," reducing the prominence of traditional hero Liu Bei and depicting him less favorably. However, the manga still borrows elements from the novel, including characters like Diao Chan and anachronistic weapons such as Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade and Zhang Fei's Viper Blade. A recurring theme is Cao Cao's ambition to modernize China by challenging outdated traditions and Confucian ideals, prioritizing practicality over hollow principles. This frequently brings him into conflict with the conservative values of his time.