Bell of a Thousand Temples (Two Volumes)

Name: Bell of a Thousand Temples (Two Volumes)
ISBN: 9787539995823

陈峻菁Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaNov 2023

Rating 3.7

Word count: 305K words
Chapters: 138
ISBN: 9787539995823

Summary

In the second and third months of spring, willows and poplars all bloom. One night the spring wind enters the boudoir, and willow catkins drift and fall to the southern house. With love in her heart she goes out the door, her feet without strength; picking up a willow catkin, her tears soak her breast. When autumn comes and spring returns, the paired swallows—would that they might carry willow catkins into the nest. This widely sung "Song of the White Willow Flower" was composed by Empress Dowager Hu Ling of the Northern Wei in memory of her lover who had flown far away. In the deep palace of the Northern Wei, where the cruel ancestral rule of "keeping the calf and discarding the mother" prevailed, consorts all dared not bear imperial sons. Hu Rongzheng, daughter of a minister, was clever and beautiful from childhood, and because at her birth the room was filled with red light, a physiognomist predicted she would enjoy the highest honor. Even though she had witnessed the cruel struggles between the empresses of the two preceding reigns, and even though she faced death under "keeping the calf and discarding the mother," she, bent on rising in the world and bringing prosperity to her clan, still could not let go of her longing for power. To fulfill her ambitions she refused the Prince of Qinghe's proposal and set her heart on entering the palace—could she win the emperor's favor, escape the doom of death, and climb to the pinnacle of power? When true love arrives, can she defy age and worldly convention and love him with all her heart? When she is wounded by love, will her choice keep her safe for a lifetime? This diligent, caring ruler with remarkable achievements—how many more times will fate toy with her in her life? The evening bells from the thousand temples she decreed to be built in Luoyang echo long in the twilight of the city……

Editor's review

千寺钟 is a two-volume historical novel by Chen Junjing set in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Centered on the rise and fall of Yongning Temple in Luoyang, it compresses the decades of turmoil from the late Northern Wei to the founding of the Sui into the fate of a single imperial temple. Chen Junjing is known for solid historical research and finely drawn characters, and this book continues that style. Rather than merely retelling historical events, she refracts the grandeur and sorrow of the age through the eyes of invented artisans, monks, and officials. The depictions of Northern Wei Buddhist art, architecture, and court politics are especially vivid, letting readers almost hear the wind bells on the Yongning Temple pagoda and see the smoke and dust of Luoyang. This is not only a novel about power, faith, and art but also a mournful elegy for the transmission and destruction of civilization. Its literary value lies in going beyond ordinary historical storytelling to offer a deeply humane interpretation of that culturally blended, turbulent, and brilliant era.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the history of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, especially the Northern Wei, Northern Qi, Northern Zhou through Sui
Lovers of historical fiction grounded in fact and rigorously researched
Readers who appreciate literary quality and emphasis on atmosphere and inner lives of characters
Those curious about Buddhist art, ancient architecture, or the social history of medieval life

Not a good fit for

Readers of popular fiction seeking fast pacing, strong plot conflict, and dense drama
Readers expecting fully accurate, textbook-style historical record

Reading tips

Reading alongside a historical map of the Northern Wei can help in understanding the story's geography and political changes
The book involves considerable Buddhist culture and historical figures; readers may slow down to savor the detailed descriptions
It can be read in comparison with the author's other works on the Northern and Southern Dynasties (such as I, Wei Zifu) to appreciate her different narrative styles

About the publisher

Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1958

Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House focuses on literary publishing while also covering the humanities, social sciences, and books on art and daily life. Its approximately 1,535 titles in the database span social novels, world history, design, science fiction, classic works, and film and television: they include modern Chinese literary classics by Lu Xun such as A Madman's Diary: The Complete Short Stories of Lu Xun, Call to Arms, Four Generations Under One Roof, and Teahouse, as well as foreign literary memoirs like Stefan Zweig's The World of Yesterday. In science fiction it offers Asimov's Galactic Empire series, while in architecture and art it publishes Liu Dunzhen's Classical Gardens of Suzhou and design titles from Phoenix Space. Its authors are concentrated among classic writers such as Lu Xun, Zweig, and Asimov, with translators including Liang Xijiang, Zhong Haonan, and Ye Lihua. Its overall character is built on classic works while embracing genre fiction and visual culture. Public information is limited, and this introduction is based on the titles in the database.

版权信息
序言万寺兴废走蛇鼠
千寺钟（上）
版权信息
第一章平城秋雨
1
2
3
4
5
第二章冯家有女
1
2
3
4
第三章瑶光古寺
1
2
3
4
5
第四章咫尺天涯
1
2
3
4
5
第五章鸣鸠于归
1
2
3
4
5
第六章垂棠涅槃
1
2
3
4
5
第七章鸠占鹊巢
1
2
3
4
5
第八章巨蟒护棺
1
2
3
4
5
第九章莲花伴帝
1
2
3
4
5
第十章顾命大臣
1
2
3
4
5
第十一章魏宫碧血
1
2
3
4
5
千寺钟（下）
版权信息
第十二章充华世妇
1
2
3
4
5
第十三章元愉之死
1
2
3
4
5
第十四章图穷匕见
1
2
3
4
第十五章留犊去母
1
2
3
4
第十六章元诩登基
1
2
3
4
第十七章淮堰白花
1
2
3
4
第十八章君临天下
1
2
3
4
5
第十九章白花南逃
1
2
3
4
5
第二十章本空和尚
1
2
3
4
第二十一章幽居北宫
1
2
3
4
5
第二十二章归政之争
1
2
3
4
5
第二十三章千寺钟鸣
1
2
3
4
5

FAQ

Is this book adapted from real history?

The book is set against a real historical period, and the central building, Yongning Temple, and its rise and fall are real historical events. But the main characters and specific plotlines are largely artistic fiction, literary creation by the author within a historical framework.

What is the novel's overall tone?

The overall tone is somber, desolate, and poetic, presenting through the writing of a temple and the fates of a group of characters the struggles of individuals and the calamities of civilization under the torrent of the times, with a strong sense of tragic aesthetics and historical reflection.

What is author Chen Junjing's writing style like?

Chen Junjing excels at depicting history with a woman's delicate touch; her style is elegant and refined, attentive to the authenticity of historical detail and the creation of literary atmosphere, with richly drawn characters and relatively restrained, profound emotional expression.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

陈峻菁 Author

Chen Junjing is an author for whom limited public information is currently available; details such as nationality, dates of birth and death, and an English name have not been clearly recorded. Judging from the four works held in the collection, Chen Junjing's writing spans both historical narrative and speculative fiction. Representative works include Thousand Temple Bells (2 volumes), Dugu Jialuo, The Tangdi Dynasty (2 volumes), and Rising Step by Step. These works are often categorized as otherworldly continent fiction, time-travel alternate history, and social fiction, suggesting that the author can both unfold long narratives against historical figures and dynastic settings and explore character fates and social relations within speculative frameworks. Based on the available material, Chen Junjing's writing consists mainly of longer series, combining a sense of history with popular storytelling, while further public information is needed to clarify the author's specific writing career and literary influence.