Author Description

Chen Zi-Ang (courtesy name Bo-Yu) was a medieval Chinese poet, author, scholar, twice-prisoner and martyr. It has been a devotion of the Daoist and the Chinese folk religions to venerate him as the Holy Land Patron of the Shu Area (Sichuan) and his hometown, Shehong. Chen reverently practiced the cultural-spiritual lineage of Confucianism and was a devout follower of the Daoist religion. He also manifested the Chinese cultural-spiritual archetype of the warrior. Earning his doctorate in 684 CE, he served minor court official roles. Chen was not only tender, elegant, delicate and vulnerable, but also firm and fierce, possessing a spicy defiance. For a long term, he spread his social, political, judicial and religious creeds that differed from many. Falsely accused of having a political connection with "foul rebels," with his illness and infirmities he was imprisoned for well over a year; he bore detention brutalities first-hand. Several years later while severely ill, the effects of persecution led to him being carried into several malicious interrogations and getting arrested again, resulting in him being "harmed to death" (Du Fu) in prison. His wife Madam Gao, an intellectual noblewoman, appeared to have passed away shortly after him, which seemed to have strong correlations with Chen's martyrdom. This book has Chen Zi-Ang as its original author and Rivolia Chen Xiao-Yu as its translator, editor and commentator. The book's quality requirement, standards and methodologies are deeply influenced by these heritages: Joan of Arc studies, memorials and cultural-spiritual manifestations in France and America; American psychology; American English studies.