The Old Dragon’s Head by Justin Newland Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway { Ends June 6}

Author Justin Newland

The preface to my novel, The Old Dragon’s Head, is taken from a book called The Great Ming Code and depicts a real event that took place in Nanjing, China. The image below shows the Forbidden City of Nanjing.

Here is the preface….

“I, Zhu Yuanzhang, have expelled the Mongol invader. For too many winters, we have suffered at the hands of the barbarian.

I will restore the greatness of China both in Heaven and on earth.

While my followers exhorted me to grasp the Mandate of Heaven, I dared not do so without a propitious sign. Five days ago, on a cold, snowy day, I erected an altar of worship to the Supreme Cosmic Deity. I prayed that if the Lord on High approved of my new ruling house, then the appointed day of my enthronement – 23rd of January 1368 – would be a bright day.

Today is that day and, miracle of miracles, the warm rays of the sun pierce the gloom and have melted the frozen earth. The Lord on High has heard my supplication. The Yang exerts itself upon the Yin. The order of the Tao is restored. Thus, I take my seat on the Dragon Throne.

As a bright day in Heaven means a bright day on earth, I name this the Ming – the Bright – Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Hongwu Emperor (shown in the image below).

The Great Ming Code.”

Zhu Yuanzhang is the victorious warlord who has freed China from the Mongol scourge. His generals urge him to grasp the Mandate of Heaven, or, in other words, become the first Emperor of the new dynasty.

Most people in his position would don the emperor’s robe emblazoned with the five-clawed dragon and humbly step onto the Dragon Throne. Not Zhu Yuanzhang. No, he refuses the mandate and demands a higher one – he wants a visible portent that his reign is in harmony with the will of Heaven.

His feet crunch on the snow and ice as he walks solemnly towards the Nanjing altar. There, he declares that if his mandate is acceptable to the gods, then, in five days’ time, the snow will have melted. This would be a sign that the natural order of things – in which the bright, warm Yang influence overcomes over the dark, cold, Yin influence – is restored. NB The image of the Yin-Yang symbol is shown on the right.

And in five days, this is exactly what happens.

The Great Ming Code served as a moral textbook to ensure “all under Heaven” were aligned to that cosmic order.

Its statutes applied to everyone from the lowliest peasants to the merchants, the magistrates, and the mandarins.

It is probably the last time in history where a nation attempted to harmonize their people, through the instrument of its statutes, with the will of heaven and the spirit realms (image shown to the left).

I felt this preface brilliantly highlighted the mind-set of the Chinese living at the time.

In the novel, I tried to imagine what it would be like to live under the auspices of Heaven.

The question is, why would they do that?

To find out more, read The Old Dragon’s Head.