"Son of Heaven is a historical novel about Emperor Shunzhi, the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty after the Qing army conquered the Shanhai Pass.
Confronted with the grave situation of the dynastic change during the transitional period of Ming and Qing, Emperor Shunzhi made every effort to make the country prosperous, so he strove for reform. However, his reform provoked strenuous opposition from the conservatives and led to political repercussions. The Emperor was adept in both literary composition and painting. He was sentimental, and yearned for love and a happy marriage. Unfortunately, his love and marriage were inextricably interwoven with the power struggle in the imperial court. Correspondingly, his measures gave rise to the conflicts between love and hate, as well as between life and death. The political failure and breakdown of love Emperor Shunzhi experienced reflect not only his character tragedy but also historical tragedy.
The novel is featured by a well-knit structure, intricate plot, dignified style, as well as smooth and elegant language. It combines various writing skills. With the author’s good grounding in art, the novel boasts unique artistic charm.
The book won the Third Mao Dun Literature Prize, and has been translated into English and French, and other languages."