Splendid Spring City

Symbols steeped in Eastern fantasy, such as canopy beds, hidden treasures, darkwood coffins, and the Teng Snake, connect three eras: the Northern Zhou, the late Qing, and the Republican period, bringing to life the theme of fate and reincarnation.

In the late Qing, Sijin House, a bearer of Shu brocade traditions, weaves together the legend of the Northern Zhou imperial robe through the Six Divine Beasts Grand Brocade.

In the Republican period, The Great Way witnesses the impact of the rise of modern textile manufacturing on the traditional silk-weaving trade. Beneath the ambitious tale that intertwines different eras lies the warmth of everyday life: family legacies endure, and amid shifting fortunes, Si Qingzhu, Jiang Wubao, Si Suqing, and others stay true to their original aspirations, telling of ordinary people’s pursuit of a peaceful, happy life.

Written in accessible language and ending on a hopeful note, this is an easy, pleasant read, like a cup of large-leaf tea brewed with Dianchi water in the early twentieth century, perhaps just the thing to while away the hours and soothe your homesickness.