The Legend of Xu Fu, Immortal Envoy of Penglai

The flames of war among the warring states have died down, and Great Qin has unified the world. The mighty ruler Ying Zheng commands the four seas, yet cannot withstand the passage of time and longs desperately for the elixir of immortality. In Langya on the eastern coast, the learned and talented fangshi Xu Fu sees the dangerous state of affairs and understands the emperor’s mind. Using the tale of the “three divine mountains in the sea” as his raft, he embarks on a shocking journey of survival and exploration.

This book recounts the legendary life of Xu Fu, an extraordinary figure of the ages, in sweeping prose. Twice he submits memorials to the Qin emperor, using unparalleled wisdom and esoteric arts to navigate the emperor and his powerful ministers. Under the pretext of seeking immortality, he carefully prepares a vast fleet to carry the seeds of civilization: three thousand boys and girls, skilled artisans of every trade, and the finest grain seeds all set out across the sea. Facing raging storms, imperial suspicion, and rivalries among his companions, Xu Fu leads them across the ocean with extraordinary courage and navigational skill, surviving one near-death ordeal after another.

At last, they reach the far shore of the legendary “vast plains and broad marshes.” Xu Fu reads the situation and “stays to rule, never to return,” leading his people to settle and multiply in this new land. He teaches them farming, weaving, medicine, and construction, fostering the intermingling of peoples and the spread of culture. He transforms from a fangshi seeking immortality into a pioneering settler and envoy of civilization, profoundly shaping the development of the civilization on the far shore. Meanwhile, in the Qin palace, the emperor’s obsession with immortality comes to nothing, leaving only the age-old mystery of Xu Fu’s voyage east and his undying legend.

This epic blends the tides of history, maritime adventure, clashes of civilizations, and the strategies of a wise man. It unveils the magnificent life and enduring achievements of Xu Fu, whose journey went far beyond the search for immortality.