ROOT AND BRANCH is a work of fiction, yet based on fact and documented by the social history of California, Boston, and Kwangtung,China of the 1850’s.
YANA , Native American woman warrior-shaman from Mt.
Shasta, must choose between maintaining a future peace or fighting present enemies
who want to exterminate her tribe. TAI-YING, famous “Red Stick” martial
hero of Kwangtung, finds the “Gold Mountain” of California to be a dark
labyrinth of illegal trade between the Triads, the U.S. government, and even
his own spiritual mentor. LIVINGSTON LOWE, from Back Bay Boston old
money, is determined to earn his spurs as a canny predator in the wild arena of
unbridled American commerce, at any price—even murder. And ISHI, the
young son of YANA and TAI-YING, comes of age at a time when ranchers and miners
hunt his head for bounty.
The Story
As warrior-shaman of her people, YANA undergoes rigorous integral
training that burdens her with choosing between a spiritual response to racial
extinction or immediate retaliation to save her people. Her epiphany occurs in
dialogue with her Gods during a medicine lodge ceremony.
She is captured fighting government forces and ranchers, and is thrown
into Sailors Prison in S.F., where she meets TAI-YING. While being transported
to government stockades aboard ship, she and the remnants of her tribe escape
to resist another day.
TAI-YING,
famous “Red Stick” martial hero of Canton, arrives in S.F. Chinatown as problem
solver for newly-arrived Chinese laborers, landing smack in middle of a turf
war between Tongs, Irish toughs, and Anglo businessmen. He is immediately
tossed into the clink, and is later busted out by a competing tong which has
purchased his freedom. He finds “Gold Mountain” to be riddled with dark labyrinths of illegal
trade between the Triads, the police, and even his own spiritual mentor.
The destinies of YANA and TAI-YING intertwine to fight for the rights
of their son ISHI, and their peoples to have better options than beheading,
hanging or slavery.
LIVINGSTON LOWE flees his stifling parents and the pre-ordained existence of Back Bay Boston old money. His determination to earn his own
spurs in American commerce confronts the raw, unbridled reality of frontier
life. Forced to
face his dark side, Livingston chooses to do what’s necessary to survive and to
succeed in business—even murder and sex-slaving.
ISHI comes of age when ranchers hunt his head for bounty. He is sent away to the remote White Lotus Monastery in the Trinity Mountains to save his skin and the blue jade key guarding an 800 year-old family treasure. There Ishi matures and unfolds into manhood under the tutelage of ABBOT CHAN, MARTIAL MASTER PENG, and BIG-EARED TU. Ishi’s inner journey to peace is conflicted by the violence suffered by both parents fighting for their right to exist..
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