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Finding the Way: A Novel of Lao Tzu (2018)

por Wayne Ng

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In the sixth century BC, the legendary philosopher Lao Tzu seeks redemption and an opportunity to spread his beliefs by joining the royal court, but is greeted by a vainglorious King, a mad Queen and a deadly struggle for power in progress between the twin princes. In one of them, the thoughtful but hesitant heir to the throne Prince Meng, he discovers a protégé. But Lao Tzu's ideas of peace and natural order leave him ill-prepared for the intrigue of the palace and the noxious rivalry between Meng and his younger twin brother, the bold and decisive Prince Chao. Confucius arrives and allies with Chao, thus raising the stakes for control of the dynasty culminating in a venomous clash between Taoism and Confucianism. With the King ailing and war imminent, Lao Tzu is betrayed and accused of spying. The Master Philosopher must cast aside his naivete and idealism to fight for his life.… (más)
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Lao Tzu is one of China's most famous philosophers, and while he left us his writings about Taoism there is little known about the man himself who lived in the 6th century BC during the Zhou Dynasty. That leaves plenty of room for artistic license to tell his origin story and what led up to his disillusioned ride out of China on the back of a water buffalo. For a novel told almost entirely from Lao Tzu's perspective, it avoids the greatest pitfall by never taking a didactic turn for all the wisdom being necessarily shared to understand Lao's motives and character. Lao Tzu (and later Confucius) convincingly speaks at times like the master philosopher he was. That's difficult enough to capture, but the more impressive authorial feat here is that, for all of his deep thoughts and devotion to unearthing a correct philosophy for life on earth, Lao is also shown to be a flawed human being who proves just as susceptible to worldly fears, motives and errors as anyone else.

This is Lao Tzu's story and so he is naturally its hero, humble though he is, which places Confucius as his opponent in a way that I wasn't expecting. Between the royal court intrigues, intellectual debates, and speculation about Chinese culture and lifestyle during this period at all levels of society, for such a relatively short novel (approximately 250 pages) it manages to pack a lot in without feeling rushed. There's a strong sense of place and time that I would have liked to see prolonged and expanded somehow, given the general lack of historical fiction using this setting. I would even have liked to know more about Taoism, rather than wishing for less. I don't foresee an obvious sequel, but I hope this author has more to share if he simultaneously keeps his stories this entertaining. ( )
2 vota Cecrow | Oct 2, 2018 |
Various incidents in the novel serve to illustrate Daoist concepts, with the competing ideologies of Daoism and Confucianism being played out by the rival princes Meng and Chao, so that the struggles at court add intrigue to the story as well as highlight the differences in philosophies. Prince Meng is open to Lao Tzu’s ideas about nature and harmony, but the bold, aggressive Prince Chao prefers Confucius’ emphasis on duty, order and stability, and of subjects being submissive to their rulers. This sets things up for a deadly battle between the siblings, and thus by extension between Daoism and Confucianism—these abstract philosophies are given a harsh test in real world politics and both are largely found wanting.
 
The competing ideologies are in part played out by the rival princes, the struggles at court cleverly incorporated by Ng to add intrigue and spice to the story. Prince Meng is receptive to Laozi’s ideas of following nature, but the bold, aggressive Prince Chao prefers Confucius’ emphasis on duty, order, and stability, of subjects being obedient to their rulers. This sets things up for a deadly battle between the princes, and by extension between Taoism and Confucianism, the abstract philosophies given a harsh test in the cutthroat realpolitik of war and power struggles and neither found especially effective.
añadido por Cecrow | editarBookish.asia, John Grant Ross (May 30, 2019)
 
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To Trish, for showing me the way.
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Shielding his eyes from a blinding sandstorm, Captain Yin Xi spied a figure approaching from the east.
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"Do not be so dismissive of yourself or your situation. With heaven's grace you will soon be in the corridors of power. It is a position and an opportunity that leaves few unchanged, and regrettably taints many. Your outsider's counsel and fresh eyes will be invaluable ... if you can maintain them."
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In the sixth century BC, the legendary philosopher Lao Tzu seeks redemption and an opportunity to spread his beliefs by joining the royal court, but is greeted by a vainglorious King, a mad Queen and a deadly struggle for power in progress between the twin princes. In one of them, the thoughtful but hesitant heir to the throne Prince Meng, he discovers a protégé. But Lao Tzu's ideas of peace and natural order leave him ill-prepared for the intrigue of the palace and the noxious rivalry between Meng and his younger twin brother, the bold and decisive Prince Chao. Confucius arrives and allies with Chao, thus raising the stakes for control of the dynasty culminating in a venomous clash between Taoism and Confucianism. With the King ailing and war imminent, Lao Tzu is betrayed and accused of spying. The Master Philosopher must cast aside his naivete and idealism to fight for his life.

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