Tienkuo: The Heavenly Kingdom

by Li Bo

In Tienkuo: The Heavenly Kingdom, author Li Bo has drawn on his knowledge of East Asian civilization to transport readers to nineteenth-century China. There a massive civil war is tearing the Qing dynasty apart.

At the heart of the rebellion is the mysterious Taiping Tienkuo, the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace. The Heavenly Kingdom is the center for the Taipings, a religious and political movement determined to overthrow Confucian rule and establish a government based on semi-Christian beliefs. Leading the revolt is a man who claims to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ himself.

The Heavenly Kingdom is home to the devout, the zealous, and the courageous. Some regard them as mere rebels but others as visionaries.

For Jason Brandt, the son of a Hong Kong missionary, the Heavenly Kingdom holds an undeniable allure. Accompanied by his best friend, Wu Sek-chong, and the beautiful and stubborn Black Jade, the young man sets off to see the Heavenly Kingdom for himself.

In the great journey ahead, all three travelers will be tested as they confront their hidden desires and doubts. Could there be catastrophic consequences in the gripping adventure unfolding before them?

 

Genres: Historical Fiction, China, Fiction, Historical, Amazon, Romance

261 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Dr. Steven A. Leibo, who writes fiction under the name Li Bo, has been obsessed with history ever since his imagination was captured by the story of King Tut and his fabled tomb in the fifth grade.

From then on, Leibo's was a life caught up with trying to figure out how to make a living teaching and writing about history. That meant of course not only decades of schooling but years of reading not only the books of professional historians, but the wonderful works of historical fiction produced by writers from Irving Stone to Robert Graves. Eventually starting his own efforts writing as a professional historian and a writer of historical fiction.

In fact, Leibo’s entire career has operated on two parallel tracks, as professor of modern world history, the author of a series of nonfiction historical works plus a textbook and his on-going Sino-American Tales about Sino-Western relations in the nineteenth century.

He is the author of a wide variety of books from Transferring Technology to China: Prosper Giquel and the Chinese Self-Strengthening Movement to Journal of the Chinese Civil War 1864 as well as the annual East and Southeast Asia 2016-17

and the historical fiction Sino-American tales which includes
Tienkuo: The Heavenly Kingdom
and
Beyond the Heavenly Kingdom

Leibo is currently writing the third in the series mentioned above.


More formally Leibo is the Sherman David Spector Professor in the Humanities at the Sage Colleges in New York and focuses on Modern International History & Politics. Dr. Leibo also taught at the State University of New York at Albany from 1986 to 2015.

A former Fulbright scholar, Prof. Leibo specializes in the relationship between Asia and the West. Leibo has extensive experience leading study tours through Vietnam. Leibo is also a documentary filmmaker. His most recent film is From Albany to Saigon: Vietnam & the Capital Region

Leibo, is a commentator for Northeast Public Radio, a member of the National Committee on US China Relations and an associate in research at Harvard's Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a historical novel about the Taiping revolution of the mid-19th century. It follows the adventures of an American son of a Missionary, who has grown up and China. He feels his destiny is there in China not in America and sets off into the interior of China when few foreigners had seen much of the country. The Heavenly Kingdom is a heretical Christian sect started by a Chinese called Hung who believed he was the brother of Jesus. He started an overtly Christian state around Nanking with equal rights for women and a classless meritocracy and antipathy for Confucianism and Buddhism. The story continues.....only 1/2 through the book.

[Karen Levi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading about China, so this book was of interest to me. I did not know anything about the Taiping revolution. So I was happy to learn something of it. The writer obviously is very knowledgeable about Chinese history, as there is a great deal of historical detail, including the setting and characters in the story. Of course, the story is fiction, so some license was probably taken. Often, in my reading, I go backwards in history, and this is the case with this book. I have read many books pertaining to 20th century China, so it was interesting to read what came before in the 19th century and what set the stage for the events of the next century. I know the writer is a Professor of Political Science, so it is very impressive that he is able to write so well in the genre of fiction. It is no easy feat to create a story, with protagonists, problems, conflicts, characters who go against the protagonist (antagonists), resolution, etc. The storyline has to hold the interest of the reader and be suspenseful yet plausible. Li Bo has accomplished all of these aspects.

[Tess Ailshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was actually prepared to plod through this, based on its title, but hey, it was free through one of the free e-book sites.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a well-written story of an American by birth who finds himself Chinese by culture and must attempt to navigate the Sino-American divide during times of great change.

While the story is thin at times, with less detail than one might like in some places and more in others, it is an intriguing look at how physical features can easily override cultural and linguistic upbringing. The juxtaposition of Chinese and western moralities and religions is lessened by the fact the protagonist is not a religious man, but one can see the superficial clashes that would, of course, lead to deeper ones.

About the highest praise I can give is that upon finishing, I immediately purchased the sequel.

And it's good enough I gave it five stars despite it's dire need for a copy editor. Using "tenant" in place of "tenet", "teamed" for "teemed", and the like hurt my eyes.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Different Perspective

This well-written and -researched story the late Nineteenth Century wars in China is an interesting but slow read. Using Jason Brandt, the son of an American fundamentalist missionary who has no memory of living outside China, to tell the story gives it a bit more apparent objectivity than other fiction I’ve read on the subject. Even though the writing is good and the story interesting, there isn’t much sense of place. The action could be taking place just about anywhere, which is disappointing. Also disappointing is the lack of character development, especially as the book progresses. This is the first of three books, but I don’t know whether I’ll read the others.

[Luanne Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done!

I have to say I feel a bit silly writing, "very well done!" to a Harvard Associate Researcher... I feel even more silly admitting I read this book immediately after reading Kevin Kwan's first two books, Crazy Rich Asians and Crazy Rich Girlfriend. Talk about culture shock -
What a difference 100+ years can make! FYI, there are absolutely zero comparisons between these two author's works.
I has to keep reminding myself that the characters in Dr. (?why not?) Bo's book were fictitious. The book reminded me of Hudson Taylor's biography that I read in grade school and re-read a few years ago.
Great read and a great history lesson!

[Christine Staloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a historical fiction that follows an American missionaries son and his journey to forge his own path living in China during the Taiping rebellion. He’s spent most of his life in China so a lot of the book focuses on the tension between him being a Westerner but feeling a deep connection to China. The other aspect of the book is traditional versus modern. During the book, 2 others join him on his adventure and they offer diverse perspectives on what’s going on. I really enjoyed that this book took place in a location and time period that I’m not familiar with. I felt like I learned a lot but also enjoyed a good story.

[Janice Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this scholar's work felt like reading Pearl Buck. While PB's works may not be loved by all, she is one of my favourites. The reader is transported to China and lives the story. Tienko: The Heavenly Kingdom provides the same experience. Given the author's background and education, it is easy to get caught up in this story, the sights, the culture and the experiences of the protagonists become real.

[David A Willson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful novel! Having never learned about this time period in my own schooling, I found this a wonderful way to breathe life into my own ignorance. Just as Abraham Lincoln used story-telling to educate those around him, so does Li Bo employ his protagonist, Jason, to teach us about nineteenth century China.

Required reading for students of history!

[Dayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading historical fiction from sometime/someplace I didn’t know anything about. I knew nothing about the Chinese civil war (I do look things up on my iPad while reading!). Great background without being boring...

[Joschka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learnt a little about the devastating Taiping Rebellion that afflicted China in the mid-19th Century and more. Sometimes, the novel came across more as a vehicle to deliver historical information than anything else but I enjoyed the read well enough.

[vickieallred · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book

This was a very different story from my usual books. I enjoyed the knowledge about China and religion in earlier times. I learned a lot. I had no idea of all the history. I liked the woman character was strong, independent, and smart. I enjoyed reading this story.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It took a while to get into the story and I was left feeling empty about it at the end. The story never gripped me and I didn’t connect to any of the characters. It was interesting in that it covered a piece of Chinese history that I was unaware of, but the writing was not enough to satisfy.

[Li Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers who enjoyed Tienkuo the Heavenly Kingdom will be interested to know the sequel, Beyond the Heavenly Kingdom is now available.

[Cindy Lugo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

Great book, Will take you to a time that has been long forgotten . Very refreshing makes everything fresh and new Brings Hong Kong back again.

[Jacki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read with lots of valuable information that anyone could use!

[rose gardea · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a very good book, it took me until now to finish it, had to go back and read some of the chapter again. will read the next one rose

[Aletha Pagett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a love story-of both person and country-set in a clash of cultures during the late 1800's. This e-book was received from Goodreads.

[Monica Pflugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story, could not stop reading. Will read again along with the sequel, which was a great read as well.

[Isham Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather workmanlike account of the Taiping Rebellion disguised as a novel.