DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Shih Tanzong (7th century A.D.)—Buddhist monk protagonist,
searching for his father while he assists the
emperor in quelling a potential rebellion in the southern
aborigine regions.
Li Wei—An imperial commissioner, the emperor’s
cousin, and Tanzong’s partner on this adventure.
Rao Rung, alias, Iron Shaman—the antagonist, a leader
of the Taoist sect, Celestial Masters. He is intent upon
stirring up an aborigine rebellion to topple the dynasty
so that his forces can rule.
Feng Ang—The aborigine leader to be contacted by
Tanzong and Li Wei
Feng Lili, alias, The White Rainbow—a powerful swordswoman,
who tends to be an antagonist and is identified
as one of Feng Ang’s daughters.
Byung Nhak—Aborigine pirate captain, also one of
Feng Ang’s daughters; she doesn’t get along with her
stepsister, Feng Lili (a.k.a., The White Rainbow).
Black Pearl—Chief lieutenant and female lover to
Byung.
The Maiden of the Tangerine Blossom Grotto—the spirit
of the Isle of Pearls.
Yue Shao-ping—Tanzong’s missing sister.
Blue Wasp—Aborigine chief lieutenant to Rao Rung; has a taste for human liver.
Hao Bai-huo—Tanzong’s father, thought to be a powerful
shaman with a mysterious background.
Yicheng—a mysterious swordswoman, who visits
White Rainbow.
The Sage-King Shun—A semi-legendary founder of
Chinese civilization
Ma Yuan, alias, The Wave Tamer—The Han dynasty
(206 B.C.-220 A.D.) general responsible for the Chinese
conquest of the aborigine southern regions.
Li Shihmin, reign title, Emperor Taitsung (600-649
A.D.)—Emperor who sends Li Wei and Tanzong on
mission to the south; considered to be one of the greatest
emperors in East Asian history.
Wei Zheng—Chief Minister and advisor to Emperor; Li
Wei’s teacher.
Tian-shih Dao—The Way of the Celestial Masters, a
powerful Taoist religious sect that formed during the
2nd century A.D. in the region of central Sichuan, western
China.
The Shaolin Monastery—The most famous Buddhist
martial arts monastery in Chinese history.
Flying Dragon Monastery—Lost monastery on the Isle
of Pearls that holds key to the fate of Tanzong’s family.
Lingnan Region—Present day Chinese provinces of
Guangdong and Guangxi.
Isle of Pearls—Ancient name for present day Hainan
Island, which lies off the southern coast of China, due
east of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin and the South
China Sea.
Lee Tribes—Native peoples on the Shore of Pearls.
Man Tribes—Native peoples of the far southern regions
of the Chinese empire.
Dan Tribes—Native seafarers/fishermen of the far
southern regions of the Chinese empire.
Sui Dynasty—581-618 A.D. Unified China after 300
years of disunion.
Tang Dynasty—618-907 A.D.—A high point in Chinese
and world civilization.
