New Book The Way of the Master Mixes Confucius Philosophies and the Zhou Dynasty With Murder/Mystery

Oct. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- New Book, The Way of the Master, Mixes Confucius Philosophies and the Zhou Dynasty With Murder And Mystery

In the new book, "The Way of the Master" the author, Steve Burns, uses historical facts from the Zhou Dynasty period to develop a murder mystery with Confucius as the main character.

Murder and betrayal in ancient China. On his return to his home city of Qufu in the province of Lu during the Zhou dynasty, Yuen Meng Ji is delighted to be reunited with Master Confucius, his old friend and mentor after a five-year absence. But his delight at being home is short-lived as he is given the task of investigating the brutal murder of Shi, a complex former travelling companion and minor dignitary from the neighboring province of Qi.

Set in the year 518BC, The Way of the Master is not only an account of violent murder and betrayal, but also a detailed insight into ancient China - its customs, political intrigues and philosophies. For decades the Zhou dynasty had been in a steady decline and had already disintegrated into semi-independent feudal provinces where the ruling Dukes were prepared to use treachery, conspiracy and assassination to further their own political ambitions and territorial expansion. As a senior minister in the Lu government, Confucius is forced to try and defend his own values against other conflicting philosophies as well as trying to compete with reality where virtue and harmony have no place in a world of political ambition and territorial expansion.

This account breathes life into the daily life of the citizens of Qufu, from how they acted and spoke to who they looked up to and why. Master Confucius is an enigmatic, wise teacher who guides by example, teaching his follower how to see beyond the lies and conspiracies and unravel the riddles he finds himself ensnared in. Only in asking the right questions, will Yuen Meng Ji ever find the answers he so desperately needs.

"Readers can look inside Chinese culture as Confucius uses his philosophies to solve the mystery," says Burns. "Anyone with an interest in China's beliefs and its similarities to European thought should read it."

Book Information:
The Way of the Master
Author: Steve Burns
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781461190608
Pages: 308
Published: August 2011

About The Author
Steve Burns has pursued several different careers throughout his working life: including the military, commercial diver, professional photographer and marketing. Educated in the US, England, South Africa and France, he has pursued those type of careers that would allow him to continue to travel throughout the world. His experiences with living in different cultures and interest in history have provided the basis for his first book. He has used ancient China as the main subject to explore how different philosophies not only create a stable culture but also become the catalyst for disruption and change. He looks at how new ideas can quickly become a threat to the status quo and how the defense against this threat quickly crosses the line into extremism.

For more information, review copies, or interviews please contact the author at:

Steve Burns
E-mail: srburns@t-online.de

The Way of the Master is available for purchase online from the publisher, Amazon.com,  BN.com and other online retailers.

Bookstores should contact Ingram for wholesale orders.

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