Dealing with rumors from the Han Dynasty and through investigation and study of gossips, lies or “rumors” and the related contexts as recorded in historical documentation, the author holds that these so-called rumors may help researchers of history interpret the group mentality and the social psychological atmosphere of a time and place in history, thus producing historical images in more dimensions, at more levels and with more color. It provides a full interpretation of the “historical authenticity” of such information as well as its relationship with the particular time and place in history.
