In sixteenth century Japan, an elite breed of soldier known as the Samurai represented the law of the land. Whatever the Emperor commanded, the Samurai carried fortheven when those commands seemed above the call of duty. Yoshima Gorisaki, called Gori, had never had anything to do with these Samuraiuntil word gets out of Goris betrayal of Emperor Tenchu. The Samurai are sent to dispatch Gori, his wife, and all his children. They succeed in half their mission, but Gori is not what he appears...

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this stunning historical novel, the celebrated author of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan presents “a heartwarming love story of heroic love between a mother and daughter” (Bookreporter) during revolutionary-era China.“Astonishing . . . one of those hard-to-put-down-until-four-in-the morning books . . . a story with characters who enter a reader’s life, take up residence, and illuminate the myriad d...

Russia, 1861Antonina's world is shattered one cold spring afternoon, when her only son, Misha, is kidnapped while out riding with his father, the Count of the Angelkov estate. The Count is also terribly injured, and Antonina turns for help to those closest to her: Grisha, the estate steward, a man whose stoic exterior hides a secret shame he has borne all the way from Siberia, where he was born; and Lilya, the maid who jealously guards her mistress's secrets - - and her af...

An epic historical adventure set in a pseudo 8th century China, from the author of the 2008 World Fantasy winner, Ysabel. Under Heaven is a novel of heroes, assassins, concubines and emperors set against a majestic and unforgiving landscape.An epic historical adventure set in a pseudo 8th century China, from the author of the 2008 World Fantasy winner, Ysabel. Under Heaven is a novel of heroes, assassins, concubines and emperors set against a majestic and unforgiving landscape....

Teza once electrified the people of Burma with his protest songs against the dictatorship. Arrested by the Burmese secret police in the days of mass protest, he is seven years into a twenty-year sentence in solitary confinement, cut off from his family and contact with other prisoners. Enduring the harsh conditions with resourcefulness, Buddhist patience and humour, he searches for news and human connection in every being and object that is grudgingly allowed into his cell.Despite h...

In 1913 an orphan girl boards a steamship bound for Wuhu in South East China. Left in the hands of her soft-hearted but opium-addicted uncle she is delivered to The Hall of Eternal Splendour which, with its painted faces and troubling cries in the night, seems destined to break her spirit.And yet the girl survives and one day hope appears in the unlikely form of a customs inspector, a modest man resistant to the charms of the corrupt world that surrounds him but not to the innocent...

“Heartbreakingly inspirational.” (AsianWeek)Ma Yan's heart-wrenching, honest diary chronicles her struggle to escape hardship through her persistent, sometimes desperate, attempts to continue her schooling.In a drought-stricken corner of rural China, an education can be the difference between a life of crushing poverty and the chance for a better future. But for Ma Yan, money is scarce, and the low wages paid for backbreaking work aren't always enough to pay school fees, or...

Fu Zhongwen's classic guide offers the best documentation available of the Yang style of taijiquan. The superbly detailed form instructions and historic line art drawings are based on Fu’s many years as a disciple of Yang Chengfu, taijiquan’s legendary founder. Also included are concise descriptions of fixed-step, moving-step, and da lu push hands practices. Additional commentary by translator Louis Swaim provides key insight into the text’s philosophical language and imagery, further eluc...

Unmatched in scope and literary quality, this landmark anthology spans three thousand years, bringing together more than six hundred poems by more than one hundred thirty poets, in translations–many new and exclusive to the book–by an array of distinguished translators.Here is the grand sweep of Chinese poetry, from the Book of Songs–ancient folk songs said to have been collected by Confucius himself–and Laozi’s Dao De Jingto the vividly pictorial ...

“If you want to lift yourself to a higher state of consciousness so that the political issues, the family issues, and social issues of the day do not throw you out of balance, so that you can find a happier, more contented life while you’re living here,” says author Harold Klemp, “sing HU, the most beautiful prayer.”This simple prayer, singing HU, will change you. It will open your eyes to see clearly the miracles happening around you every day. You’ll find in this beaut...

This is one of the most diverse yet accessible collections of Chinese strategies yet assembled. Brief in form, yet endless in wisdom, these fundamental rules of military engagement are easily adapted to the modern office, sports team, or everyday task.Taken from sources ranging from Lao Zi to Miyamoto Musashi, Stefan H. Verstappen has assembled a fascinating and impressive selection of historical and anecdotal evidence in support of this classic doctrine of strategy and one of the ...

Where does a firstborn girl fit in a world dominated by men?When Tiadone was born, her parents had two choices: raise their daughter as male and force her to suppress all feminine traits, or leave her outside the community to die in the wilds. Now, as the first female living as male in her village, Tiadone must prove her father didn’t make a mistake by letting her live. As her time of male initiation approaches, Tiadone desperately wishes to belong, and be accepted...