Leizu

Name: Leizu
ISBN: 9787555913337

胡松涛Henan Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaMar 2023

3.5

Word count: 170K words
Chapters: 24
ISBN: 9787555913337

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Summary

A novel that chronicles the lives of our ancestors as Chinese civilization first stirred, Lei Zu is a creation account of ancestral civilization touched by a divine light. For thousands of years, generation after generation has revered "Lei Zu of Xiling." She was not only the primary consort of the Yellow Emperor, the humanistic progenitor Xuanyuan, but also a great woman who set a maternal example for all under heaven. She discovered the secret of sericulture and gave silkworm rearing and silk to the secular life of humankind. With a maternal radiance, she offered resilient support, compassionate correction, and wise guidance along the Yellow Emperor's path to great achievements, deeply participating in the foundational work of civilization, and she has always been remembered and worshipped by later generations in the brilliant galaxy of the Chinese nation. In poetic language, this book depicts the shared world of humans and gods in the age of the Yellow Emperor, and many stories of cultural origins—the creation of writing, the earliest beginnings of brewing, pottery, boats and carts, clothing, and houses, as well as the encounters and divergences among humankind and the various creature tribes of heaven and earth—showing us, with astonishing endurance, the pure and unconstrained souls of our forebears and the winding course of their growth, and helping readers recognize the nobility and glory of our ancestors.

Editor's review

Leizu is a historical novel by the Chinese writer Hu Songtao, centering on Leizu, wife of the Yellow Emperor and legendary inventor of sericulture and silk. A major title from Henan Literature and Art Publishing House, the book draws on solid historical research and rich literary imagination to restore a distant woman almost buried under myth and legend as a flesh-and-blood tribal leader and cultural pioneer of wisdom and resilience. Hu Songtao's writing combines historical weight with literary grace: he depicts not only Leizu's arduous path from discovering wild silkworms to inventing silk reeling and weaving, but also sets this process against the grand backdrop of tribal alliances and the dawn of civilization in the Yellow Emperor's era, presenting a sweeping vision of early people living with nature and carving out a livelihood. The book's value lies in going beyond a simple 'biography' or 'invention story': through Leizu, it links the social structure, gender relations, technological revolution, and early sprouts of cultural ritual of remote antiquity, offering readers a distinctive and moving narrative entry point into the early genes of Chinese civilization. Its depictions of the details of early life and its exploration of primal beliefs and wisdom reflect the author's deep cultural grounding and serious creative attitude. This is not merely a novel about the 'Silk Goddess' but a profound epic of civilizational creation, female power, and the roots of the Chinese people.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in ancient Chinese history, myth and legend, and the origins of civilization
Readers concerned with women's historical roles and cultural contributions
Readers who enjoy substantial long-form fiction that combines literary beauty with historical depth
Readers curious about the history of ancient technology, especially the origins of textiles and agriculture

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking the fast pace and strong plot conflicts of web literature
Historians who prefer to rely entirely on archaeological evidence and reject reasonable literary imagination

Reading tips

You may first read the appendix or afterword to learn about the author's creative origins and selection of historical sources, which helps grasp the book's overall tone.
As you read, you might consult archaeological maps of late Neolithic China to better appreciate the spatial and temporal background of the characters' activities.
The book involves many ancient objects and customs; there is no need to rush—slow down and immerse yourself in the remote atmosphere the author creates.

About the publisher

Henan Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1996

Founded in 1996, Henan Literature and Art Publishing House mainly publishes books on literature and art, social sciences and broadly cultural subjects, and also edits and publishes the journal Celebrity Biography, gradually forming a publishing style characterized by full-length historical novels and biographical literature. Judging from the 269 titles in the database, its publishing scope also covers mystery and detective fiction, foreign literature, classic works and world classics. Representative books include Ellery Queen's four tragedies, Slaughterhouse-Five, Blindness, The Siege of Lisbon, The History of the Siege of Lisbon, the ten-volume Collected Works of Wang Zengqi, Old Tales Retold and the two-volume Classic Short Stories of Stanisław Lem, the God of Science Fiction. In terms of authors, it includes foreign masters such as Kurt Vonnegut, José Saramago and Ellery Queen, as well as translators such as Yang Xi, Yu Jianhua and Fan Weixin.

版权信息
卷一嫘前时代
嫘前简史（一）
嫘前简史（二）
西陵志
卷二嫘时代
子篇西陵
丑篇桑蚕
寅篇虹霓
卯篇明堂
辰篇名物
巳篇阪泉
午篇昆仑
未篇涿鹿
申篇赤水
酉篇刑天
戌篇共主
亥篇桑丧
卷三后嫘时代
绝地天通
众神远去
中不中
十二生肖会议
《嫘祖》后记

FAQ

Is this book a strict historical biography or a fictional novel?

The book belongs to the category of historical fiction. Based on extensive research into historical sources, myths, legends, and archaeological discoveries, author Hu Songtao carried out reasonable literary invention and artistic elaboration; the core aim is to shape characters and convey the spirit of the age rather than to provide a rigorous historiographical biography.

How does the book portray the relationship between Leizu and the Yellow Emperor?

The author does not simply place Leizu in a subordinate position to the Yellow Emperor but strives to portray her as an independent individual and important partner. The book describes both their alliance and their emotional bond, and emphasizes Leizu's autonomy and pioneering contributions in sericulture and tribal governance, imagining a more equal and mutually supportive partnership.

How difficult is this book to read?

The language is highly literary, with a plain and rich classical flavor, and requires some patience. The depictions of the ancient natural environment, social life, and spiritual world are detailed, and the information density is high, but the narrative line is clear and the characters are vividly drawn; for interested readers, immersion brings rich rewards.

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About the author

胡松涛 Author

Hu Songtao is an author about whom limited public information is available; the existing records show only one work by him, Leizu. The book is classified under the category of otherworldly continents, indicating that his writing leans toward fantasy and unfolds against a fictional, non-realistic world. Such fiction usually involves world settings, group relations, and adventure threads different from those of the real world, while the title Leizu borrows the name of a figure from ancient Chinese legend, giving the work a certain traditional cultural flavor within a fantasy framework. Because reliable records of Hu Songtao's life, writing career, and other works are currently lacking, no fuller judgment can be made about how his style took shape or about his overall output. Judging from this single work in the database, the author seems inclined to combine native legendary elements with the otherworldly fantasy genre, and readers interested in such themes may take Leizu as an entry point for understanding his writing orientation.