Immortal's Tale

Author: Lü Xiong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-03-01
Features: The Legend of the Female Immortal from Mount Hua, also known as The Tale of the Female Immortal of the Great Ming or The Soul of Stone, was written by Lü Xiong during the Qing Dynasty. It is a long fantasy novel that depicts the life of Tang Sai'er, a female leader of a peasant uprising in the early Ming Dynasty. The story goes that the god of the Shooting Star constellation, Shi Lang, molested Chang'e and descended to the mortal world as Prince Yan of the Great Ming, Zhu Di. Enraged, Chang'e was reborn as Tang Sai'er in the Tang family of Putai, Shandong. The immortals of the Moon Palace also came to assist her. Sai'er received the Heavenly Book and a magic sword, trained diligently, and helped the poor and the weak. She made friends with heroes and prepared to rise in rebellion. At the time, Emperor Hongwu passed away, and the Prince of Jianwen ascended the throne. The Prince of Yan raised an army and marched south. The Prince of Jianwen fled in monk's robes, and Nanjing fell to the Prince of Yan, who then ascended the throne. Tang Sai'er rebelled in the name of loyalty to the throne, capturing Qingzhou and Jinan. Heroes from all over heard the news and joined her cause. Sword immortals like Nie Yinniang and Gongsun Dama also descended to assist. Sai'er led her army northward, shocking the Prince of Yan, who wanted to offer her as his principal wife but was rejected. After several fierce battles, the rebel army approached Beijing, where they engaged in supernatural battles with Taoists and magicians who aided the Prince of Yan. In the 22nd year of the Yongle era, the Prince of Yan returned victorious from a campaign in the northern deserts, while Sai'er ascended to the Moon Palace in broad daylight. This book richly portrays a host of vivid and unique female heroes, greatly influencing later novels such as Dream of the Red Chamber and Flowers in the Mirror.