The Poppy War

The Investiture of the Gods by Xu Zhonglin (1567-1619)

The Investiture of the Gods is a sweeping 100-chapter novel written in vernacular Chinese. It blends history, mythology, and folklore to retell the overthrow of King Zhao of the Shang Dynasty by Ji Fa of the Zhao Dynasty. One anecdote relates how King Zhao insults the goddess Nüwa. Nüwa sends the spirit Su Daji to bewitch King Zhao, who begins to neglect his country. This leads to his overthrow by Ji Fa, advised by his chancellor Jiang Ziya. Kuang has stated that The Investiture of the Gods is a major inspiration for The Poppy War. She draws many characters, such as Su Daji and Jiang Ziya, straight from the novel.

Japan’s Infamous Unit 731: First-hand Accounts of Japan’s Wartime Human Experimentation Program by Hal Gold (1996)

This book details the gruesome experiments undertaken by the Imperial Japanese Army’s most infamous medical unit, Unit 731. The first half of the book relates the unit’s history and its most shocking experiments. The second half is composed of firsthand accounts by Unit 731 members, who describe what it was like to experiment on fellow humans, what motivated them to do it, and why they decided to speak about their experience years later. Shiro’s laboratory is inspired by Unit 731.

The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II by Iris Chang (1997)

This historical nonfiction book details the events of 1937’s Nanjing Massacre. Chang’s book helped spread awareness about the horrific war crimes committed at Nanjing during World War II. Chang tells the story of the events leading up to, during, and following the Nanjing Massacre from three points of view: that of the Japanese, Chinese, and the Allied forces who remained in the city. The Golyn Niis Massacre is inspired by the Nanjing Massacre.

• The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II on SuperSummary

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang (1991)

This family history and autobiography follows three generations of women in 20th-century China. It focuses on life in Communist China under the rule of Mao Zedong. Kuang has stated that Rin is based on Mao Zedong and that her trilogy explores how someone can become an oppressive and violent ruler while simultaneously believing they are bringing radical change to their country. In The Poppy War, Rin commits gradually more heinous acts while telling herself that she is doing them for the sake of the Nikara people.

• Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China on SuperSummary