A Chinese Trilogy

A Chinese Trilogy is an amalgamation of Chinese history, tradition, and culture into fiction. It's three tales including the author's experiences and excerpts from her family's history. "Celebrating a Chinese New Year" relates the celebration of their annual traditions and food. Included is an explanation for the event. "Unbound" is a tale of the uncomfortable binding of young girls' feet satisfying the Proclamation of an erotic Emperor. The story's heroine succeeds in finding a new life in America. Chinese believed that by going to "Gold Mountain, America," they would no longer be poor. "The Emperor's Concubine" has its beginning with the loss of the protagonist's parent. To help her surviving parent, she hopes to be chosen to spend her life in the Emperor's royal court. Throughout "A Chinese Trilogy, " dialogues are in Cantonese is translated. The primary The character in each story bravely manages to combat all trials and tribulations. For those unfamiliar with Chinese cuisine, photographs and descriptions are included. A Chinese Trilogy provides a compelling insight to Chinese history, tradition, food, and culture. The sagas offer a perception of their frustrations, failures, coping, and successes.

Chinese New Year is a tradition celebrated annually at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, between 21 January and 20 February. The spring festival is celebrated by 50 ethnic groups throughout the world. For many, it is their Christmas, and when they honor their family and ancestors. Many myths abound about the origin of the tradition. Popular among the beliefs is the folk tale about Buddha's invitation to the animals for his banquet. The Chinese Zodiac is based on each of their appearance. Others claim the mystical monster Nian for its origin. At the beginning of the lunar new year, the beast would terrorize a small village. He was scared away by a stranger, an elderly man dressed in red, who scared the beast away with burning, crackling bamboo and doors decorated with red paper. The spring festival is also called "Guo Nian." Which means surviving the Nian's attack. "Celebrating Chinese New Year" is a fictitious tale incorporated with information about the tradition. It revolves around Sherie visiting her friend Mah Ling and her family in Hong Kong joined them during their festivities. "Unbound" is a tale weaving together Chinese history, fiction, and excerpts from my parent's lives. The reader travels from Canton, China, to Kauai, the northernmost island in the Hawaiian archipelago. My parents are first-generation Chinese. My mother, Dorothy Chock Chang, is a Renaissance woman. Excerpts from my Mother's exemplary accomplishments are emulated in Peony's life during her life as a mother and wife. As a child, I was fascinated by my paternal grandmother, Ah Po's bound feet. When she walked down the steps, she did so crab-like. I also learned not to ever disturb her while she is dressing! My sisters, 10 years older than me, ordered me to tell her that breakfast is ready. I knocked, opened the door, and saw her hair unbound. Not acceptable! She always had it bound tight. She yelled in Cantonese, which I didn't understand, and threw her hairbrush at me! Ai yah! I never went near her bedroom door in the mornings after that trauma! How was I to know that traditional Chinese culture forbade one from seeing a woman dress? With the establishment of the National Revolution in 1911, foot binding was outlawed in 1912. It finally ended with the People's Republic and factories gradually ceasing production in 1949. Chinese women were free! Their feet were unbound! "The Emperor's Concubine" Concubines were chosen for their beauty, lily feet, and long nails, symbolizing wealth. Class and social background did not matter. It applied only to choosing a consort. The selection was based on their health, training, and ability to please the Emperor and serve his mother. Chosen ones as concubines were confined in the royal inner court. Eunuchs served them. Some bore children; others prevented pregnancy by swallowing lead and mercury. Dangerous as doing so resulted in kidney failure, brain damage, and death. Concubines have been buried alive to serve their Emperor in his afterlife. A favored concubine is fortunate to become an Emperor's consort when his barren Empress passes. Should she bear him a son as heir, he will be the next Emperor of China.

Dorothy Chang-Van Horn was born in Lihu'e, Kaua'i, to the dentist, Sau Yee Chang, and elementary school, teacher, Dorothy Chock Chang. Dorothy left Kaua'i after graduating from elementary school in Honolulu. She spent four years at Punahou High School in Honolulu. She was the first Asian to board at Castle Hall. Following graduation, Dorothy spent three years at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, majoring in zoology and minoring in cultural anthropology. She completed her education at USC, graduating with a BS and MS in Zoology and K-14 Education. Dorothy taught Biology for four years at LAUSD's Belmont High School. Hired by the Air Force Dependent School, she spent three years teaching Biology and was a counselor at Johnson Air Force Base near Tokyo, Japan. Returning from Japan, she taught AP Biology, Biology, and Physiology, and trained student teachers at LAUSD'S Hamilton High School. She introduced and was the Magnet Coordinator for North Hollywood High School Biological Sciences at Los Angles Zoo. After 35 years of teaching, she retired and opened her travel agency, led tours, and escorted safaris in East and South Africa. Dorothy is a world traveler. She's visited 185 countries and 7 continents; Antarctica is her favorite. A "Chinese Trilogy," is Dorothy's fourth book. She is the author of"Kid ni Not' and "The Big and Little Five." Her third book, "A Dog's Memoir," is a tribute to her beloved dog, Da Chi, and Da Chi's buddies Tu Li and Li On. Dorothy's favorite past times are traveling, safaris, wine tasting, sampling different cuisines, reading, writing, and being with her beloved dogs.