The Xuanji Diagram

Name: The Xuanji Diagram
ISBN: 9787516215531

Wu WeiChina Democracy and Legal System Publishing House · ChinaJan 2026

4.0

Word count: 409K words
Chapters: 22
ISBN: 9787516215531

Report an error Find this book

Summary

In the late reign of Empress Wu Zetian, the court was in chaos and foreign threats were frequent. Five friends—Wang Han, Wang Zhihuan, Xin Jian, Di Jiao, and Li Meng—set out together on a grand tour. In Puzhou they become entangled in a bizarre murder case, and because they have offended Wu Yanxiu, Prince of Huaiyang, they are falsely accused of being assassins. To save his companions, Di Jiao writes to his uncle, Di Renjie, for help, setting off a major treason case. Not only is Di Renjie, the reigning chancellor, accused of being the mastermind of rebellion, but Li Xian, Prince of Luling, is also dragged in. A Xuanji Tu suddenly comes to the fore; legend has it that it hides a shocking secret capable of turning the tide of the world. Clashing armies and commanding heroes, brazen political opportunism, lofty talk of ordering the realm, and heart-stopping palace intrigue—a grand historical panorama unfolds before the reader...

Editor's review

This is a historical mystery novel set in the late reign of Wu Zetian, weaving together the travels of five friends—including Wang Han and Wang Zhihuan—with bizarre murders, political frame-ups, and palace conspiracies. Di Renjie is drawn into accusations of treason, and Li Xian, Prince of Luling, is also implicated, while the "Xuanji Tu" (Mirror of the Stars) runs through the whole as the core puzzle. Its appeal lies in the layered nesting of literati friendships, local murder cases, and court intrigue, combining the grandeur of armed conflict with the ruthless maneuvering of political opportunism; the historical atmosphere and the suspense rhythm are tightly integrated. It suits readers who enjoy fictional mysteries set within a real historical framework, as well as general readers interested in the late-period politics of Wu Zetian. Read it as historical mystery rather than official history, and enjoy the process of deduction and puzzle-solving.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy historical mystery novels and layered puzzle-solving
General readers interested in the politics of Wu Zetian's later years and the Di Renjie material
Readers who prefer narratives interweaving literati friendships with court intrigue
Readers who want to feel the atmosphere of Tang dynasty history in light reading

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting strict historical scholarship and rejecting fictional plots
Readers uninterested in murder mysteries and political conspiracy
Readers who need short, brisk books and have no patience for lengthy build-up

Reading tips

First sort out the identities and relationships of the five friends, then move into the murder and political threads; reading goes more smoothly once the relationships are clear.
Treat the "Xuanji Tu" as the core clue, watch for echoes back and forth when you reach related passages, and take simple notes.
When you encounter historical figures and events, distinguish fictional invention from real background; there is no need to judge the plot by the standards of official history.
Read in stages: the murder section first, then the court conspiracy section, and the rhythm will be clearer.

About the publisher

China Democracy and Legal System Publishing House China · Founded in 1989

China Democracy and Legal System Publishing House focuses on professional legal publishing. Its output covers working materials for state organs of power, compilations of laws and regulations, legal popularization readers for the public, law textbooks and documentation on people's congress work, with law, politics and social sciences as common categories. Representative titles in the catalog include the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China, the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Ecological Environment Code of the People's Republic of China, alongside practice- and research-oriented works such as Legislators Explaining the Law: Li Yuan's Reports on Legal Interpretation and On Record Review and Constitutional Review. Its authors include Li Yuan, Qin Qianhong, the General Office of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and editorial teams. The press emphasizes accuracy in legal texts and the organization of practical people's congress materials, while also serving public legal education.

版权信息
再版说明
璇玑图（上）
引子
第一章蒲津风云
第二章血案迷雾
第三章断舌凶手
第四章谋逆大罪
第五章璇玑悬斡
璇玑图（下）
第六章并刀如水
第七章洛州无影
第八章若有所思
第九章女子心计
第十章神龙见首
尾声
千诗织就回文锦
一片冰心在玉壶
附录一武氏世系表
附录二璇玑图
附录三唐代洛阳图
原后记

FAQ

Is the "Xuanji Tu" a real historical object in the book?

The Xuanji Tu has related cultural legends in history, but this book is a historical mystery novel; the earth-shaking secret and specific plot built around it are literary fiction. Readers may treat it as the core puzzle driving the story, not as material for historical verification.

Can I read it directly without having read other Di Renjie works?

Yes. The book is set in the late years of Wu Zetian, and Di Renjie is one of the key figures drawn into the treason case, but the novel explains the necessary relationships. As long as you have a basic interest in the Tang historical background, direct reading poses no obstacle.

Is this book more history or more mystery?

It uses a real historical framework to unfold fictional murders and political conspiracies: history provides the atmosphere and character background, while mystery drives the plot. Overall it is better read as a historical mystery novel than as a serious historical work.

What if I get confused about character relationships while reading?

The book involves five friends, court figures, and members of the imperial clan, and the relationships are dense. It is advisable to first remember the friend line of Wang Han, Wang Zhihuan, Xin Jian, Di Jiao, and Li Meng, then gradually distinguish the political camps, and jot down identities when new characters appear.

Comments

Find this book

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

Wu Wei Author · Chinese

Wu Wei is a contemporary Chinese writer. A woman whose ancestral home is Hubei, she graduated from Beijing Institute of Technology and once worked in the IT industry before turning to writing. Fond of literature and history, she describes herself as "making a living among old papers," and her works are largely drawn from ancient Chinese history and celebrated legal cases, spanning documentary literature, biography, historical reading, and social fiction; 33 of her works are held in the collection. She has created series such as "Explorations of Great Cases in Ancient China" and "Great Histories of the Han, Tang, Song, and Ming," with representative works including An Cang Sha Ji, Snow Fills the Bow (Parts 1 and 2), Xuanji Tu, Yuchang Sword, The Ganlu Incident (Parts 1 and 2), and Bao Qingtian. She has also participated in the screenwriting of several television dramas. Her writing emphasizes the organization of historical sources and the development of plot, blending suspense and detective elements into popular historical narrative. Because public information is limited, details of her life remain unclear.