Leizu

Leizu is a full-length novel about the lives of our ancestors at the dawn of Chinese civilization, a chronicle of civilization's beginnings suffused with the aura of the divine.

For thousands of years, generation after generation has worshipped Leizu of Xiling. She was not only the primary consort of Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor and progenitor of Chinese culture, but also a great woman who embodied the virtues of an empress. She discovered the secrets of silkworms and mulberry cultivation, bringing sericulture and silk into the everyday lives of humankind. With a mother's radiance, she steadfastly supported Huangdi on his path to greatness, gently corrected him, and guided him with wisdom. She played a vital part in laying the foundations of civilization, and has been remembered and venerated by later generations among the shining stars of the Chinese nation.

In poetic language, the book depicts a world in the age of Huangdi where humans and gods lived side by side. It recounts the origins of many cultural traditions, including the invention of writing, brewing, pottery, boats and carts, clothing, and houses, as well as the encounters and divisions between humankind and the many living peoples of the natural world. With remarkable patience, it reveals the pure, vibrant souls of our ancestors and the winding paths along which they grew, helping readers appreciate their nobility and glory.