Heaven and Earth’s yin and yang set the heavenly stems and earthly branches, while the Eight Trigrams gave rise to the zodiac animals. The Three Pure Ones of Taoism appointed the Twelve Zodiac Star Lords, who govern fortune and misfortune in the mortal realm and keep yin and yang in balance across the Three Realms. Guided by the profound principles of the I Ching and the Eight Trigrams, inheriting the fortunes and calamities of its sixty-four hexagrams, and following the mysteries of the Nine Palaces, they have upheld the Way through the ages: from the primordial age and the Investiture of the Gods in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, through the founding of religious traditions in the Qin and Han dynasties and the defense of the Way in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Throughout the long river of Chinese history, they have kept the Taoist tradition alive and safeguarded peace for all, vanquishing demons wherever they appear and overcoming every calamity. Blending the truth of Taoist culture, the depth of the I Ching, the reality of Chinese history, and the wonders of ancient mythology, this tale follows the Twelve Zodiac Star Lords through their thousand-year destiny, from their birth and investiture as gods to their defense of the Way and protection of the world... (Any resemblance is purely coincidental. This is only a novel, so please don't attack it if it's not to your taste. It's simply a personal preference. It is not intended to promote anything harmful. To each their own.)
