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ELPNPress to publish Biographies of Immortals: Kindle and Paperback

Shawn Conners — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:02:16 +0000

Biographies of Immortals - Special Edition

This special edition brings together three classic works by Western scholars of ancient Chinese texts. The men were family friends and colleagues, and were all living in Shanghai during the late 19th century. Much of their combined transcription became shaped into the book we know today as the “Tao Te Ching.”

Biographies of Immortals – Legends of China is available for immediate Kindle download on Amazon, and will be available in paperback on February 20th, 2010.

“China and the Manchus” by Herbert Giles is a series of legends and recollections from ancient China, ordered by chronology. Herbert Giles is also known for creating the first Chinese-English Dictionary and helping to develop the system of Chinese translation now known as the “Wade-Giles Romanization System.”

“Leaves from My Chinese Scrapbook” by Frederic Balfour is a collection of stories, legends and anecdotes by a British expatriate scholar, who was working for local Chinese newspapers such as “Celestial Empire” and contributing travel articles to “Harpers Magazine”. Many of these stories are taken from the source scrolls Balfour used to write the ground-breaking “Taoist Texts” in 1884.

“Biographies of Immortals” by Lionel Giles is the first partial Western translation of the ancient Chinese book of “Liexian Zhuan,” containing mythic heroes from Chinese history, including the “Eight Immortals of China.” Lionel Giles, the son of Herbert Giles, is also known for his original translation of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” as well as “The Analects” of Confucius.

Excerpt from “Biographies of Immortals: Legends of China – Special Edition”.
Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Lao Tzu was a native of Ch’en.

His surname was Li (Plum), his personal name was Erh and his “style” was Po-yang. His mother gave birth to him while leaning against a plum tree. He was able to speak as soon as he was born, and pointing to the plum tree said: “I take my surname from this tree.” Though born in the Yin period, he became Palace Secretary under the Chou dynasty. He made a practice of nourishing his vital essence, his great aim being to absorb strength without dissipating any. In due course he was made Custodian of the Archives, a post which he held for more than eighty years–the Shih Chi says, for over two hundred years. His contemporaries called him the Noble Recluse, and his posthumous title was Tan (Flat-eared). When , Confucius came to Chou and visited Lao Tzu, he recognized him as an inspired sage and took him as his Master.

Later on, when the virtue of Chou had fallen into decay, he mounted a chariot drawn by a black ox and departed for the land of Ta Ch’in. When he passed through the Western Barrier, the Warden of the Pass, Yin Hsi, received him with honor, knowing that he was a saintly man, and persuaded him to write a treatise, which was no other than the Tao Te Ching in two parts, one roll to each.

Confucius paid a visit to the Chou State in order to question Lao Tzu on matters of ceremonial. The latter replied, saying: “Those about whom you speak are men whose bones have all turned to dust, and whose words alone survive. Now, when the princely man finds his opportunity, he rides in a State chariot; if he fails to find his opportunity, he goes on foot in humble guise. I have heard it said that a clever merchant, though possessed of great hoards of wealth, will act as though his coffers were empty; and that the princely man, though of perfect moral excellence, maintains the air of a simpleton. Abandon your arrogant ways and countless desires, your suave demeanor and unbridled ambition, for they do not promote your welfare. That is all I have to say to you.”

Confucius went away, and said to his disciples: “I understand how birds can fly, how fishes can swim, and how four-footed beasts can run. Those that run can be snared, those that swim may be caught with hook and line, those that fly may be shot with arrows. But when it Comes to the dragon, I am unable to conceive how he can soar into the sky riding upon the wind and clouds. To-day I have seen Lao Tzu, and can only liken him to a dragon.”

ELPN Press publishes Hammer of Thor on Kindle

Shawn Conners — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:20:41 +0000

Hammer of Thor

El Paso Norte Press announced the publication of Hammer of Thor: Norse Mythology and Legends – Special Edition on the Kindle ebook platform.

Many of these wonderful Norse stories were originally compiled by H.A. Guerber in “Myths of the Norsemen” in 1909. Borrowing from this and other classic sources, Hammer of Thor contains more than two dozen bold and exciting myths and legends from Norse mythology.

This special edition begins with the Norse legend of creation and ends with a comparison to Greek mythology. In between, hundreds of larger than life heroes jump out of the pages to boast of their glorious adventures and achievements.

Roam the great hall of Valhalla in the realm of Asgard, in the company of the greatest heroes to ever populate the heavens. Follow the mighty Thor as he smites his enemies with his wondrous hammer. Bow to King Odin, the wise and feared leader of the Norse gods, and skulk along darkened passages with Loki, the most mischievous of the gods.

Fully indexed for easy Kindle searching, this special edition is perfect for new readers, and for those anxious to revisit some old friends.

Index of Stories
1. The Beginning
2. Odin
3. Frigga
4. Thor
5. Tyr
6. Bragi
7. Idun
8. Niörd
9. Frey
10. Freya
11. Uller
12. Forseti
13. Heimdall
14. Hermod
15. Vidar
16. Vali
17. The Norns
18. The Valkyrs
19. Hel
20. Ægir
21. Balder
22. Loki
23. The Giants
24. The Dwarfs
25. The Elves
26. The Sigurd Saga
27. The Frithiof Saga
28. The Twilight of the Gods
29. Greek and Northern Mythologies—A Comparison

ELPNPress publishes Illustrated Samurai Series on Kindle

Shawn Conners — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:30:19 +0000

The Illustrated Kindle Samurai Series ISBN 1934255017

El Paso Norte Press announced the publication of The Illustrated Kindle Samurai Series: The Book of Five Rings; Hagakure – The Way of the Samurai & Bushido – The Soul of Japan.

This kindle ebook brings together three of the most important books that deal with the Samurai path and philosophy into one volume, along with black and white illustrations of legendary swords, Ronin and battles. It contains:

The Book of Five Rings which was written by Miyamoto Musashi, a Samurai of legendary renown, about 1645 AD. It is a masterpiece of simple exposition written by a master swordsman, who, near the end of his spectacular life, tried earnestly to explain the essentials of individual combat and the essence of being a Samurai. His book is widely considered to a cornerstone of the philosophy of Bushido.

Hagakure – The Way of the Samurai, which means: “Hidden by Leaves”, that was composed from dialogs by the famous Samurai, Yamamoto Tsunetomo, by a scribe, Tashiro Tsuramoto, about 1716 AD. It explains the major ideas and philosophy that are essential to the “way of the Samurai”, by which is meant the “way of dying”. It contains numerous tales of various Samurai and their deeds which illustrate their philosophy and practice.

Bushido – The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe which was first published 1899. It is an extremely literate presentation by a Japanese intellectual who wished to present Japan and its fundamental philosophy in a way that could be understood by Westerners. It describes how the Shinto Religion and Buddhism are the underpinnings of the essentially militaristic view of honor and life that are inherent in Bushido, the Samurai code.

Confucius Not Only Said It… He Brought It

Shawn Conners — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:16:32 +0000

Playing a traditional zither

Confucius not only said interesting things, he sang them and accompanied himself on a kind of zither. The Smithsonian Institution’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery has frequent shows of musical instruments from Confucius’ time, 2,500 years ago. A collection of his lyrics (there are no melodies preserved) is one of the first pieces of Chinese literature handed down through the centuries.

“It is said that Confucius accompanied himself on a ‘qin’ while singing the odes of the Shi Jing, or the ‘Classic of Poetry,’” says cellist Yo-Yo Ma in a guide to the exhibit. “We don’t know what Confucius’ qin may have looked like, but in popular accounts of his life, the image of the philosopher-musician became firmly established.” The qin is a kind of zither. Today’s Chinese musicians still use one kind. Ma is an American of Chinese ancestry, one of today’s leading cellists playing classical western music.

Jenny F. So, the Sackler’s curator of ancient Chinese art, said in an interview that some of the “odes” were just folk songs. Confucius reportedly made a practice of dancing with his disciples every day. In his time, music was considered of great social significance, linking rulers to subjects, parents to children. “It is by poetry that one’s mind is aroused; it is by ceremony that one’s character is regulated; it is by music that one becomes accomplished,” he said.

Most of the instruments on display come from a tomb of the Marquis Yi, found by Chinese soldiers in 1977 when they were leveling a hill as a site for a factory. The instruments are borrowed from a museum in Hubei, China. So said this is the first time they have been displayed in a musical context.

Confucius had definite ideas about what music ought to be. “Get rid of the tunes of Zheng,” he is quoted as saying. “The tunes of Zheng are lascivious.” The Zheng area lies just to the south of Lu, Confucius’ home state. A later chronicler, who So says may have been using his imagination some, told of a Chinese king who was fond of licentious music. “He assembled a large company of musicians and actors at the Shaqiu garden,” says the account, “filling a pond with wine and hanging up meats to make a forest. He caused men and women to disrobe and pursue each other through this scenery, as part of a drinking feast lasting long into the night.”

A costumed musician, Mei Min Su of the local Chinese Music Society, played more recent Chinese music for visitors before the official opening, on a zither like one from Confucius’ time. The marquis apparently had two sets of musicians: one for public ceremonials, which emphasized percussion instruments, and a smaller, more intimate one with strings. Chinese authorities considered his ceremonial set of 65 huge bronze bells too precious to leave the country. Inscriptions on them identify the notes they produce on the Chinese five-tone scale. So far as scholars can find, it took nearly another thousand years before actual tunes were written out, Su said. In one chamber of the tomb archaeologists found an elaborately lacquered double coffin with the body of a middle-aged man, presumably the marquis. Eight smaller coffins contained the skeletons of eight young women.

ELPN Press Releases 1001 Arabian Nights – Special Edition, Kindle

Shawn Conners — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:59:13 +0000

ISBN 1934255203

“1001 Arabian Nights” is a beloved collection of folk tales and other stories. It is often known in English simply as “Arabian Nights,” from the first English language edition (1706), which named the title, “Arabian Nights Entertainments.”

When it was published as “One Thousand and One Nights”, in the 18th century, there were 12 volumes, totaling more than 2,000 pages.

This full sized, deluxe edition has been restored for a modern audience, and contains the 3 most popular and well known sagas from Arabian Nights, including the complete “Seven Voyages of Sindbad,” “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp,” as well as “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”.

Excerpt from The Fifth Voyage of Sindbad:

…Scarcely had they finished their repast, when there appeared in the air, at a considerable distance, two great clouds. The captain of my ship, knowing by experience what they meant, said they were the male and female parents of the roc, and pressed us to re-embark with all speed, to prevent the misfortune which he saw would otherwise befall us.

The two rocs approached with a frightful noise, which they redoubled when they saw the egg broken, and their young one gone. They flew back in the direction they had come, and disappeared for some time, while we made all the sail we could in the endeavor to prevent that which unhappily befell us…

They soon returned, and we observed that each of them carried between its talons an enormous rock. When they came directly over my ship, they hovered, and one of them let go his rock; but by the dexterity of the steersman it missed us and fell into the sea. The other so exactly hit the middle of the ship as to split it into pieces. The mariners and passengers were all crushed to death or fell into the sea. I myself was of the number of the latter; but, as I came up again, I fortunately caught hold of a piece of the wreck, and swimming, sometimes with one hand and sometimes with the other, but always holding fast the plank, the wind and the tide favoring me, I came to an island, and got safely ashore.

I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself from my fatigue, after which I went into the island to explore it. It seemed to be a delicious garden. I found trees everywhere, some of them bearing green and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh pure water. I ate of the fruits, which I found excellent; and drank of the water, which was very light and good.