Thousand Autumns: Qian Qiu, Vol. 1

Format read: PaperbackReading time: 6-7h Tags: reread, wuxia, xianxia, translation, politics, historical fiction, Chinese history, friendship, fantasy, disability, lgbt (bi, m/m)Own a copy: yesReread likelihood: 10/10If you liked this book, then you'll probably like: [b:Stars of Chaos: Sha Po Lang, Vol. 1 62145799 Stars of Chaos Sha Po Lang, Vol. 1 (Stars of Chaos Sha Po Lang, #1) Priest https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682111621l/62145799.SX50.jpg 97934661]SummaryAfter 10 years of seclusion, Yan Wushi reenters the cultivation world to find that his old enemies are dead and have been replaced by new talent. One such talent is Shen Qiao, the number one Daoist sect leader, but Yan Wushi doubts this man's abilities when he finds him at the foot of a cliff, near death and with his spiritual power all but destroyed. Yan Wushi decides that Shen Qiao is the perfect blank canvas for him to corrupt and bring onto the path of demonic cultivation. However, Shen Qiao proves to be a worthy opponent after all, and the two embark on a battle of wills, good versus bad, the corrupt and the incorruptible.ReviewFirst of all, the official translation is fantastic. Everything is explained clearly, and the extra information at the end of the book helps to situate the story in its historical context. Meng Xi Shi is very skillful at detailing the sociopolitical realities of ancient China, and much of the first volume is dedicated to explaining the complex relationships between the different clans, courts, and regions in and around sixth-century China.Thousand Autumns is set in an age of political unrest as the ruling Zhou dynasty vies for more territory to the north where the Göktürk live. This historical background is juxtaposed to the wuxia world inhabited by Yan Wushi, Shen Qiao, and a host of other equally colourful characters. Yan Wushi's purposes are nebulous. As a member of the imperial court, he has a political interest in what happens in the world, but he is equally interested in the development of the Jianghu. Yan Wushi's primary mission is to best all other cultivation masters and to collect techniques from sacred scrolls, the Zhuyang Strategy, that have been scattered around China. When he first meets Shen Qiao, his initial interest is fueled by his desire to understand why this weak and disabled man is the heir to one of the greatest martial artists of his generation. Furthermore, by regularly sparring with Shen Qiao, Yan Wushi can absorb parts of the secret technique from Shen Qiao's clan, making him stronger day by day.If he had died in defeat, all his troubles would have died with him. But now, when he wakes up and realizes that he is not only alive, but that he's also lost everything he once had–grievously injured, his strength destroyed, and his martial arts no more. How will he feel, then? The greater one's prestige and authority, the less they can withstand such a blow. His heart and mind will certainly break. And when they do, I will take him under my wing. –Thousand Autumns, p.25True to his strict Daoist training, Shen Qiao is an upright and righteous young man. Despite his horrible defeat at the hands of the Göktürk leader that left him blind and severely injured, as well as all the betrayals he experiences, Shen Qiao remains steadfast in his belief of fairness and forgiveness for all. This often causes Yan Wushi to question his sanity, and the more that Shen Qiao remains pure in thought, the more Yan Wushi seeks to break his convictions.Shen Qiao doles out justice on two notable occasions where villains truly deserved retribution, showing that Shen Qiao is not above punishing those who deserve it. However, when it comes to himself, he more easily lets things slide. When Yan Wushi pushes him to his physical limits by having him fight despite his injuries, Shen Qiao says nothing and endures it all. He has no desire to seek vengeance for what was done to him, and wishes instead to live peacefully, whereas Yan Wushi is ambitious and wants to take over the world or see it burn. In this way, Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao are diametrically opposed, which makes their relationship uneasy and tense from the get-go. Overall, this first volume is a good start to the series. The first half is heavy with background information, but it is necessary to understand the motivations of each character. If you enjoy a politically-focused narrative, then Priest's [b:Stars of Chaos: Sha Po Lang, Vol. 1 62145799 Stars of Chaos Sha Po Lang, Vol. 1 (Stars of Chaos Sha Po Lang, #1) Priest https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682111621l/62145799.SX50.jpg 97934661] has a similar take on the traditional wuxia story. Thousand Autumns's grey-zone characters make for an interesting read in which the concepts of good and evil are muddled, and where everything is politically motivated.