蒼穹之昴 上

蒼穹の昴 #1

by Jirō Asada, 淺田次郎, 劉沙沙 (Translator)

「天下財富必盡入你手！」清朝末年，梁家屯的貧困少年李春雲（春兒）對占卜師白太太曾預言他受昴宿照命，將來必大富大貴的說法深信不疑；同樣的，白太太也預言梁家的二少年梁文秀受昴宿照命，必將登殿高升、陪王伴駕。

受同一星宿照命，又情同手足的兩個人，就這樣步上了命運安排好的道路。在文秀成為新科狀元後，兩人走向了分歧：一是慈禧太后心腹、一是光緒皇帝智囊，因為「后黨」與「帝黨」的對立，使得他們再也無法像過去那樣無話不談；雖然總是掛念著對方，卻也總是顧忌著對方。身處宮廷權力中心的兩個人雖然各自為了自己的目標努力著，但終究無法逃脫「天命」的安排；曾經的意氣風發、憂國憂民，到頭來簡直就像是為了證明白太太的預言終將成真而上演的惡夢一場。

「天命」真是不可違逆的嗎？人究竟有沒有足夠的力量改變天命？天圓地方之間，掌管命運的昴宿又到底在哪裡呢？

Genres: Japan

480 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2008

About the author

Jirō Asada (浅田 次郎, born December 13, 1951 in Tokyo) is the pen name of Kōjirō Iwato (岩戸 康次郎), a Japanese writer.

Inspired by Yukio Mishima, who tried to stage a coup d'état among Japan Self-Defense Forces then committed suicide after the coup was failed, Asada enlisted in the SDF after finishing his studies. He changed jobs many times while endeavoring to find writing opportunities, submitting his works to literary competitions.

In 1991, his novel Torarete tamaruka! (とられてたまるか!) started his literary career. After writing several picaresque novels, his novel Metro ni notte (地下鉄に乗って) was awarded the Eiji Yoshikawa Prize for New Writers and made into a 2006 film; a short story collection The Stationmaster and other stories (Poppoya (鉄道員)) was also awarded the Naoki Prize.

He writes not only standard fiction and picaresque novels, but also writes historical and Chinese historical novels such as The Firmament of the Pleiades (Sōkyū no subaru, 蒼穹の昴).

Reviews

[Zaina Zahid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely insightful regarding the quality of lives in the past whilst cultural phenomena such as castration still took place. A novel that gives us a glimpse into the lives of imperial courts as well as the struggle with foreign affairs and the impact of politics on a country that has been shamed for being itself. Very very relevant in today’s world. Internal National struggles are weaved with foreign affairs’ impact on the everyday person’s life- but the most intriguing for me was how the author welded the story with some obvious fantasy at times. It felt cinematic in parts- in a moving way. This writing gave me new perspectives and was a breath of fresh air. Very sobering.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un petit paysan chinois se voit prédire par une vieille sorcière une destinée des plus déroutante : «  il possèdera toutes les richesses de ce monde. Il sera empereur »
Il deviendra ennuque afin de réaliser sa prophétie. Intrigues à la cour, lent cheminement, écriture riche et quelques principes philosophiques... c’est un magnifique roman.

[adeline Bronner]

Un véritable chef d’œuvre, somme d’érudition et de curiosités. Un voyage dans l’incroyable complexité du monde des hommes, loin bien loin de tout manichéisme étroit ou servile goût du moment. Un must read 👏👏👏👏👏

[DonJulio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une fresque incroyable de la Chine en transformation et entrant dans la modernité du XXeme siècle. À la fois un roman historique, un roman initiatique et une œuvre éclairant la culture et la pensée chinoises. Passionnant!

[Jean Corbel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Version courte : bof.
D'ailleurs, si l'auteur avait rédigé une version courte... Le gout des descriptions sadiques ne suffit pas à faire un bon livre.