She Who Became the Sun is an epic reimagining of China’s rise to power in the Ming dynasty, weaving fate, ambition, and gender identity into a story of one woman’s determination to seize greatness in a world that would deny her everything.
Book Details
Title: She Who Became the SunAuthor: Shelley Parker-Chan
ISBN: 978-1250621801
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Asian Mythology, Epic Fiction
Published Year: 2021
Introduction
In She Who Became the Sun, Shelley Parker-Chan presents a reimagined, sweeping tale inspired by the founding of the Ming dynasty. In a harsh and unforgiving world shaped by hunger, cruelty, and war, a young peasant girl chooses to defy her destiny. Assuming her deceased brother’s identity, she embarks on a path that challenges her identity, explores her ambitions, and tests the boundaries of fate, gender, and power. This character-driven fantasy delves deeply into themes of survival, self-discovery, and the cost of ambition.
Plot Overview
1. A Peasant’s Harsh Beginning
The story begins in 1345, in a small famine-stricken village. A young girl and her brother, Zhu Chongba, struggle to survive in the face of poverty and hunger.
- Zhu Chongba’s Prophecy: A fortune-teller predicts that Zhu, her brother, is destined for greatness, while the girl’s future is filled with “nothingness.”
- Tragedy Strikes: The girl’s family is wiped out by bandits, and when Zhu Chongba succumbs to despair and dies, she seizes the chance to escape her destiny.
“I refuse to become nothing. If Heaven has nothing for me, I’ll take what Zhu Chongba was supposed to have.”
2. Assuming Her Brother’s Identity
Deciding to defy Heaven’s decree, the girl takes on Zhu Chongba’s identity. As “Zhu,” she enters a Buddhist monastery, hoping to carve a place for herself. Her life there is filled with the hardships of secrecy and fear of discovery, yet she perseveres.
- Becoming Zhu Chongba: By taking her brother’s name, Zhu tries to escape the label of “nothingness.” She discovers the power of reshaping one’s fate.
- Gender and Identity: Living as a boy, Zhu experiences both limitations and opportunities. Her struggle to hide her true identity adds tension and highlights the importance of identity and self-perception.
3. Embracing Ambition and Power
As the story progresses, Zhu’s ambitions intensify, especially as she witnesses the harshness of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty’s rule and sees a growing rebellion.
- Rising Ambition: Zhu’s ambition becomes a fire within her. Her desire to be seen and achieve greatness drives her every action, even as it pushes her deeper into dangerous territory.
- The Red Turban Rebellion: Zhu becomes involved with the rebellion against the Yuan dynasty, joining the ranks of the Red Turbans. Here, she finds the opportunity to rise through the military.
“Greatness is not a gift. It is something you reach out and seize, even if Heaven does not wish it.”
4. The Introduction of General Ouyang
General Ouyang, a eunuch general serving the Mongol dynasty, serves as a fascinating counterpart to Zhu. Like Zhu, he is an outsider, marked by a complex identity and driven by his own desires for revenge and power.
- Ouyang’s Pain and Complexity: Ouyang’s background is one of shame and struggle. Forced into a position where he must constantly prove his loyalty, his character is a mix of vengeance and self-loathing.
- Parallel Ambitions and Conflicts: Ouyang’s and Zhu’s paths are marked by shared experiences of alienation, ambition, and survival, though they approach these challenges in contrasting ways.
5. Zhu’s Transformation and Rise Through the Ranks
Zhu’s ascent in the Red Turbans brings her to the center of power and conflict. She learns to embrace the ruthlessness necessary to maintain her role, balancing her ambition with her desire to hide her identity. Zhu’s ambition grows, leading her to take on increasingly dangerous missions and assert herself as a fearless leader.
- The Cost of Secrecy: Zhu’s constant fear of exposure highlights the toll her hidden identity takes on her. Her life becomes a balancing act between loyalty to her allies and her personal ambitions.
- Questioning Fate: Zhu begins to grapple with the nature of fate itself, wondering if she is creating her own path or merely following a predestined one.
“Destiny is nothing if you don’t fight for it. Heaven does not care if you deserve it or not.”
6. The War for the Throne and Zhu’s Drive for Greatness
The story crescendos as Zhu and Ouyang’s fates intertwine in the battle for the throne. Zhu’s commitment to her ambition propels her forward, transforming her from a humble peasant to a formidable figure. As the stakes heighten, Zhu realizes that greatness demands sacrifice and that her path is marked by violence and betrayal.
- Climactic Struggle: Zhu’s journey to claim her destiny becomes one of intense personal cost, as she sacrifices relationships and even her own sense of self.
- Reflection of Power and Identity: Zhu’s commitment to her ambition reflects on the consuming nature of power, the complex identity she has forged, and her willingness to embrace her darker side.
“To claim power is to accept every price that comes with it.”
7. The Final Confrontation
As Zhu reaches the zenith of her ambitions, she confronts not only her rivals but also her own inner turmoil. The story culminates in a powerful examination of fate, identity, and the cost of greatness.
- Acceptance of Fate: In her final realization, Zhu fully embraces her chosen path, understanding that greatness is not a passive blessing but something she must seize with determination and sacrifice.
- A New Beginning: Zhu’s journey leaves her changed, symbolizing the transformation from nothing to a force that defies even Heaven’s will.
Themes and Analysis
1. Identity and Self-Determination
Zhu’s journey is a powerful statement on self-determination and the right to choose one’s path. Through her defiance of societal and supernatural expectations, Zhu shows that identity is not given but chosen and earned through action.
2. Gender and the Fluidity of Identity
The novel explores gender in a nuanced way. Zhu’s experiences as both a woman and a man reveal the flexibility of identity and challenge traditional roles and expectations, illustrating that strength and ambition are not confined by gender.
3. Ambition and Power
She Who Became the Sun examines the lengths people will go to achieve power and recognition. Zhu’s journey shows the corrupting influence of ambition and the sacrifices demanded by greatness, emphasizing that power is as isolating as it is empowering.
4. The Role of Fate and Free Will
The story challenges traditional notions of fate, showing Zhu’s struggle to rewrite her destiny. Through her relentless pursuit of power, Zhu redefines what it means to be “chosen” and explores the boundaries between fate and self-creation.
Conclusion
She Who Became the Sun is a captivating exploration of ambition, identity, and destiny. Shelley Parker-Chan masterfully reimagines historical events through the lens of Zhu’s journey, painting a complex portrait of a character who defies expectations and challenges the world’s definition of greatness. Zhu’s rise from “nothing” to power is a journey marked by intense ambition, sacrifice, and self-discovery. By blending elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and mythology, Parker-Chan creates a story that resonates with timeless questions about identity, the cost of ambition, and what it truly means to create one’s own fate.
One-Sentence Summary
In She Who Became the Sun, Shelley Parker-Chan tells the story of a young peasant girl’s defiance against destiny and her transformation into a formidable force, blurring lines of identity and ambition in a quest for power.