The events of the novel take place in the kingdom of T'ang, where the royal family lives in remote splendor far above the grueling daily lives of their subjects. Jen senses problems almost as soon as he leaves the royal grounds. He is profoundly shocked by the poverty, filth, and poorly made homes that he sees all around him in the capital city Ch'ang. The kingdom itself is a place where injustice is mixed with enchantment.

A girl can fly like an eagle once she has mastered her kite, but corrupt public officials steal farms, and judges issue rulings that favor those who give them the biggest bribes. Wonders and mysteries abound: animals may talk, magical transformations may occur anytime, professional robbers may be the soul of honesty, and mysterious figures may appear in the most unlikely places to guide travelers to their destinations. The reader should pay...