Synopsis
☆ Setting:
Ancient legend: When the creator goddess Nuwa refined the five-colored stones to mend the sky, she left behind 108 stones. Absorbing the essence of the sun and moon and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, they became 108 stars. Whenever the world undergoes great upheaval, a "Sky-Mender" breaks through her limits, awakens the star that answers her, and repairs the rift in the heavens.
In a certain year of the Sheng Kingdom, strange phenomena appear in the sky. The martial world is thrown into turmoil, and the state of the realm shifts...
☆ Chapters 1-25 (two female leads):
Jiang Yuan, the "Thousand-Faced Jialuo" of the Xuanji Pavilion, a rising power in the northern and southern martial world, and He Ren, the "Ten Thousand Blades of Pingyang" of the Shadowblade Sect, meet by chance in the same place while in disguise on a mission. Rumors have made them regard each other as their sole rival. Driven by "pride and prejudice," they each put their talents to use, matching wits and fighting for their goals. They meet without recognizing each other, and fight without knowing each other. Yet they trust their own perceptions of the real person more than the rumors, and are all the more certain they have found worthy opponents, evenly matched in skill.
The two fall into an unknown trap, and danger forces them to join hands to escape. The sudden appearance of a statue of the goddess Nuwa, a lost treasured saber, fragments of a star chart, and strange changes in their bodies all hint at a world-shaking secret.
☆ From Chapter 26 onward (an ensemble of 108 women; the outline introduces them by their first appearance and martial-world nicknames):
Later, He Ren and Jiang Yuan are repeatedly brought together by "fate." Is it destiny, or someone's design? As they roam the martial world, investigating the mystery of their origins and searching for the star chart's history, they also meet and befriend more than a hundred women from every walk of life, each with their own story:
The storyteller read every official history by the age of ten and believes historians should "be true to the facts and write with an honest brush." Yet she discovers that among the endless volumes of history, women are almost nowhere to be seen. Even the founding princess, who spent her life on campaign and earned outstanding military merits, is never named in the histories. She resolves to investigate and compile a history of women herself, restoring the place in history that women should have had;
The farmer was kept illiterate from childhood because "a woman's lack of learning is a virtue." The only fields left to her and her widowed mother were swindled away by their clan because they couldn't read. She sincerely searches for the woman who once kindly wrote a letter for her, hoping to become her apprentice. By day she works hard to support her family, and at night she studies tirelessly, determined to appeal the case;
The woodcutter earned a good reputation for ridding the people of harm. But when her mother falls gravely ill and her relatives come looking for favors, she is forcibly sold to a powerful man in poor health to bring him good fortune. He dies before she can enter the household, and she is branded a bad omen, her reputation ruined. Unwilling to become a widow before marriage or be forced into a ghost marriage, she is shunned and imprisoned by the villagers. She makes a difficult escape, takes up two axes, and roams the world, championing justice;
The teacher could speak with eloquence at the age of five and was richly talented, but as women cannot take the imperial examinations, she has no way to put her abilities to use. Forced foot-binding has also left her frail, and poverty leaves her no choice but to become a private tutor for young girls, teaching the Lessons for Women, a text even she finds bewildering. She can only relieve her indignation by writing books and occasionally teaching poetry, literature, the classics, and political essays in secret;
Yet no matter how hard they struggle, the 108 women are denied the freedom to live as they please and use all their talents. And countless other women remain trapped in hardship, unable to escape. At last, the 108 women realize they must mend the part of the sky from which women have been forced to disappear. So they:
Swear bonds of sisterhood and establish the Sky-Mending Sect;
Roam the martial world with distinction and convene a sword-fighting gathering. (Volume 1)
Disguise themselves as men at court and compete in the civil and military imperial examinations;
Suppress rebellions and seize power in a time of chaos, ascending the throne as the Civil Emperor and the Martial Emperor. (Volume 2)
Secure the nation and bring peace, govern the world and benefit the people;
Build institutions and establish systems, and give her spring. (Volume 3)
★ Explanation of the title, The Chronicle of Benyuan: Giving Her Spring:
1. Ben means "to take flight"; Yuan means "kite" or "eagle"; Ji means "chronicle of an emperor."
2. The character Ben can be unpacked as "already possessing full wings"; Yuan can be unpacked as "a bird with a weapon at its side." Together, Benyuan means a fierce bird already equipped with full wings and a weapon. It symbolizes women's confidence, independence, and strength.
3. Benyuan sounds like "origin." It suggests both "returning to one's origin" and the idea that women "have always been capable, and things should always have been this way." It symbolizes women's limitless potential.
4. Spring is the season when all things stand on their own and grow, and it is also a symbol of hope. Giving Her Spring means that women of the past struggled, generation after generation, to give themselves spring, or hope, and also to give spring, or hope, to women of the future.
In summary, The Chronicle of Benyuan: Giving Her Spring evokes the 108 women in the story, soaring like eagles into the sky and joining hands to bring hope to themselves, the women of their own time, and all women of the future.
It is also the author's wish for all women: Be brave and soar into the sky like an eagle! You have always possessed the confidence, independence, and strength of a fierce bird with full wings and a weapon at its side. You have limitless potential and an infinite future! Don't give up hope because of a temporary setback. Just as spring will surely come, don't give up hope! Don't give up on yourself!
★ Reading guide:
1. Two female leads, no romance between them, with an emphasis on an ensemble of women. There are 108 women including the two leads; the number 108 comes from the 108 afflictions in Buddhist tradition. The story explores 108 hardships, 108 worries, stars, nicknames, occupations (some involving intangible cultural heritage), martial arts, weapons, and more. The entire story takes place in a fictional ancient setting. It has three volumes: Phoenix's Game in the Martial World (wuxia), Phoenix's Change at the Heavenly Palace (seizing power and ascending the throne), and Phoenix's Weaving of the World (governing the nation and helping the people).
This is a plot-driven story, focused on women's growth and solidarity. The relationships are mainly familial, friendship, or bonds that go beyond friendship, romance, and family. The two female leads have no romance with each other, though some other female characters will have romantic storylines for the sake of side plots or character development, not as the main narrative.
There are female and male characters on both sides of the conflict. Some plotlines feature women disguised as men.
Given the large cast, adding courtesy names and style names would be too cumbersome, so there are none. Characters may be referred to by their given names alone.
2. This is a long novel with many characters, so the pacing and progress may be slow. Thank you for reading patiently. I'll do my best to finish it.
Please point out any errors or omissions. I may make occasional or consolidated revisions later. Wishing all readers good health in body and mind, and many happy moments every day.
Theme: Women are born with limitless potential. Never give up.