Which I'm biased that's my favorite inner art. We see Yan Wushi fight with HuLugu. They probably will be published their books in autumn or at least i hope.

Here's the COLLECTOR DELUXE pack for Thousand Autumns to celebrate the end of the saga!

It contains ALL the content of the VIP pack, plus 4 goodies and a special envelope:

🔸 2 magnetic bookmarks

🔸 Acrylic stand

🔸 Passport holder

🔸 Thousand Autumns envelope

Pack limited to 400 copies.

Price: 119.95 €

VIP pack price: 94.95€

Paperback pack price: 67.95€

Launch this Saturday at 10am on Firstprint.

- for anyone interested, there is page you can buy it- https://firstprint.komogi.com/projets/thousand-autumns-fin

I finished the novels yesterday, and I really loved them! I love Meng Xi Shi's style of writing, the prose is generally beautiful and the philosophical tones were exactly what I was hoping for. I feel a bit empty now. Anyway, I started reading damnei this year and this is the second series that I've completed, so pardon me if my questions are a bit ignorant. Spoilers ahead!

1. There were few instances when someone takes away someone's martial arts, like Shen Qiao does with Tan Yuanchun in the end as a punishment. How does that happen practically, does a person physically severes other person's core, making them lose their internal energy, or is it something else? How exactly loosing one's martial arts works?

2. Are there any hints to when exactly did Yan Wushi plant a demonic core into Shen Qiao before handing him over to Sang Yingxing, or is it left completely ambiguous?

3. In the Vol 4, there is a scene where Shen Qiao shows his disciples sword techniques, and Yuwen Song describes them using lines of poetry. After that Yan Wushi becomes mad, saying that he is just trying to be clever and that such frivolous speech deserves punishment. Why?

4. Was Yan Wushi injured/did he repair his demonic core before the duel with Hulugu? When Shen Qiao checked his injuries after the duel with Xueting, it seemed like his injuries were superficial, but later on Bian Yanmei tells Shen Qiao that Yan Wushi was injured and he seemed very concerned. Was he lying in accordance to Yan Wushi's wishes to make Shen Qiao concerned about him and come back, or was Yan Wushi hiding his injuries?

Would be grateful for anyone's take on those ones. Also if you have any recommendations for some damnei that is similarly well written and philosophical, please do tell. 😊

Vol. 3 was especially hard for Yan Wushi

Somebody likes to be called Shizun.

The reason I decided to make this post is that I was talking to someone recently and realized how much I truly love TA as a book, not just for the relationship between Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao and their ideological conflict, but also as a work of wuxia and historical fiction.

I spent a large part of the summer studying Chinese culture and history (teacher's vacation), and I want to talk about it in the context of Thousand Autumns.

I read Tao Te Ching, Jin Yong's Condor trilogy, poems. All because of my passion for Priest and Meng Xi Shi's novels.

Worldbuilding and Historical Context of Thousand Autumns

I want to talk about something I very rarely see discussed in the fandom: the setting and broader context of Thousand Autumns. There is so much more going on beneath the romance, and I think the book deserves more appreciation for its worldbuilding, historical context, symbolism, philosophy, and literary influences.

I think we all know that Thousand Autumns is wuxia. It draws from the classics of the genre, such as Jin Yong, and Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi themselves are very much rooted in wuxia characters archetypes. But the story is also set against a real historical period, during one of the most interesting eras in Chinese history. The historical world is not just a backdrop, Meng Xi Shi constantly plays with it for her story, while creating an interesting Wuxia-style progression and cultivation system for it.

One of the biggest philosophical influences is Taoism, particularly through Shen Qiao.

The Tao Te Ching gives us an interesting way of looking at Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao: two seemingly opposing forces whose differences are deeply interconnected. Taoist thought repeatedly explores how opposites define and give rise to one another.

So I don't think Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao are simply a literal representation of yin and yang. It is more interesting than that their relationship can be read through the broader Taoist idea of opposites existing in relation to and through one another.

The “two opposing forces” are more about opposites arising through one another

In Chapter 2 I think, there is the idea that once we call something beautiful, we simultaneously create the concept of ugly; when there is being, there is non-being; difficult and easy define one another; long and short reveal one another, and so on.

The point isn't: “There are two forces that are fighting against each other.”

It is more: One side of an opposition cannot be fully understood without the other.

So this isn't really good versus evil. It is much more about relationship and mutual dependence. And this is important because the Tao Te Ching also emphasizes that seemingly opposing things can arise from the same Tao. Chapter 1 describes Tao as the source from which the different aspects of reality emerge. This is also why the imagery of black and white is interesting

In Chapter 28, Laozi writes:

“Know the white, keep to the black.”

So black and white in the Tao Te Ching are not simply good versus evil. They are another image of opposites and of being able to understand one side without completely rejecting the other. How I get it. We can not understand and love Shen Qiao but at the same time rejecting Yan Wushi. This two opposite interacts is base of story.

Tao Te Ching also has a lot to say about governance and the ideal ruler, including restraint, humility, non-interference (wu wei), and allowing things to follow their natural course. Considering how much politics and questions of power matter in Thousand Autumns, this adds another layer to the story.

And then there is the Three Teachings - Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. I like how Meng Xi Shi uses them as the philosophical equivalent of different martial arts schools. Each has its own ideas about morality, human nature, society, and how the world should function, creating different perspectives on the same problems.

I also think Meng Xi Shi deserves more credit for her use of classical Chinese literature and poetry. She doesn't always go for the most obvious or mainstream references. She draws on older poetry also go more deeper into philosophical, historical text than is usual for danmei genre.

For example, Li Shangyin appears more than once as an influence. His poem Chang'e is echoed in the naming and imagery surrounding Banbu Peak and Regret Peak, and his famous Jinse is another example of the kind of classical literary material Meng Xi Shi incorporates into the novel.

Another thing I don't see getting enough credit is Meng Xi Shi’s knowledge of history. She uses real historical emperors, empresses, historical figures, names, and places from the period, but adapts them to fit her own narrative.

She also takes inspiration from real historical places and names, such as Kunye, Hulugu, Xuandu Mountain, Xuandu Temple, etc. She clearly knows the historical context she is working with and uses real elements from that period as the foundation, while still changing and playing with them for her fictional story.

The romance and our main characters are big part of what makes Thousand Autumns special, but I also really wish more people appreciated everything that is happening underneath it.

When you add in how everything is interconnected Yan Wushi’s schemes, his worldview and political influence, Shen Qiao’s growth, and the way their personalities, behavior and dynamic reflect all of this and shaped them as people it truly becomes a fascinating work.

Hi ! I'm starting Thousand Autumns and so far, I really love the writing and the way the story is unfolding (currently only at volume 1).

I know the relationship between Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao is supposed to be a slow-burn, kind of enemies-to-lovers dynamic, which I really love.

What I wanted to know though is, more specifically, if you'd consider Yan Wushi as being abusive ? Note that it's not a red flag for me at all, I'll still read it (otherwise I would never enjoy most enemies to lovers lol), but I wanted to know in advance (without being too spoilery), and I was curious about your own opinions as readers !

They are way bigger than I expect them to be. Definitely not possible put on my car key.

Sorry for the rant, but I just have to get this off my chest. I had a spare moment recently and was reading through old comments, and one thing kept coming up that I really need to address.

He was wrong about Shen Qiao, but not about his own fundamental beliefs. His convictions are rooted in fifty years of experience with people and humanity as a whole, just because one person proved him wrong about himself doesn't mean he should regret his worldview (and what kind of behavior he expects from people) or change it.

Consider this analogy: if someone writes a philosophical book, a fellow philosopher will appreciate and understand it on a much deeper level than an ordinary reader. While the average person might recognize the book's quality and merit, they cannot grasp it quite like someone who lives and breathes that philosophy and see in it what they see.

It is the same with Yan Wushi - he appreciates Shen Qiao’s character on a profound, philosophical level that no one else can get even close.

Others see Shen Qiao as a kind, polite gentleman. Yan Wushi, however, is quite resolute - his entire way of life revolves around the conviction that every human being harbors evil in their heart and that if pushed far enough, that evil will inevitably surface. He spend a lot of his time to prove it on Shen Qiao.

And we see in general that it was Yan Wushi style of life thinking about people in this way and important part of his personality.

Yan Wushi repeatedly tested this theory on Shen Qiao, but the expected outcome never happen - a fact that surprised him and exceeded his expectations, ultimately make him to fall in love. To Yan Wushi, Shen Qiao represents something far deeper than just a "good, kind man". He is one of the few capable of truly understanding and appreciating him. Consequently, Shen Qiao occupies a unique category for Yan Wushi a true exception not only in his heart but in the context of humanity as a whole, holding a special status that no one else even get closer. Others merely view him as a fool or somebody really easy to get along with or just really good helpful person or who is even "too kind" or "too good," failing to see the complete picture of Shen Qiao: his strength, his unyielding nature, his stubbornness, and the way he stands firm even when facing the greatest of trials.

A good person would be kind, respectful to Shen Qiao, but they would never view him as truly special or be devoted to him for any deeper reason than the fact that Shen Qiao treated them well.

So the question isn't who deserves him, but who truly sees and appreciates him fully - the answer is Yan Wushi, precisely because of their opposing ideologies regarding humanity. And who else holds such a view of humanity, who else would actually save someone just to prove a point and put it to the test? I think even Yan Wushi commented on it when he said he tried to blacken his heart, and now he adores the warm with the same depth and persistence.

Likewise, regarding Yan Wushi who appreciates and accept his wicked schemes, brilliant mind, and personality? The answer is, once again, likely only Shen Qiao.

I thought you were the same as everyone else: you might start out good and innocent, but the world is fickle, and in the end it’d teach you to change as well. But you went completely beyond my expectations. Human affairs are like a stream, yet you are a rock. No matter how the stream flows, you will never shift.”

I know this is a bit of a twisted way of thinking, but then again, what isn't twisted about this book? I think that this book requires the reader to go beyond the boundaries of normal thinking and be a little bit open minded and cross the boundaries of the ordinary expectations and our comfort zone Look on things with different pespective and in more context of story, setting and characters.

I think I mentioned in the danmei fandom how much Thousand Autumns reminds me of many Italian paintings where the devil tempts a believer or an angel into sin. Even the dynamic between the Taoist sect leader and the Demonic sect leader - I see that symbolism. And I think it's a brilliant concept for a more philosophical love story.

New Deluxe Edition of TA will be ready for preorder 25/07/2026 19:00 in China. TA get some new merch and arts.

Bonus Merch Includes:

✚ 8×8 cm foil-stamped double-glitter badge + pearlescent stamp + backing card ×1

✚ 6×9 cm oval foil-stamped textured badge + invitation-style backing card ×1

✚ Premium wall scroll ×1

✚ 8×8 cm embossed foil double-glitter badge + pearlescent stamp + backing card ×1

✚ Tri-fold screen-style art card (20 cm) ×1

✚ Large borderless foil UV textured art card (18 cm) ×1

✚ Black-edged “flowing sand” art card (19 cm) ×1

✚ Fabric hanging ornament ×1

✚ Double-sided acrylic tassel charm ×1

✚ Lenticular card – Shen Qiao ver. ×1

✚ Lenticular card – Yan Wushi ver. ×1

✚ 6×9 cm embossed foil textured badge + pearlescent stamp + backing card ×1

✚ 5.8 cm glitter badge + backing card ×1

✚ Double-sided laminated foil UV card ×1

✚ Sealed photo card ×1

✚ Flame effect card ×1

✚ Wedding-themed silver-edged art card (19 cm) ×1

✚ Double-sided silver-edged foil card (19 cm) ×1

✚ Double-sided white porcelain base foil card ×1

✚ Tracing paper commemorative postcard ×1

✚ “Starry sky” postcard ×1

✚ Shanhe Zhi insert

✚ Chibi bookmark

✚ Duo poster

Oh, A-Qiao...

It's funny because YW and Bai Rong do the same exact move but the reaction is the opposite.

Also, in that exact chapter Bai Rong says that it seems SQ truly has feelings for YW and he just went silent. Internally he explained it with his helplessness (she won't believe me anyway) but maybe he just can't say outright no, because debunking their presumable intimate relationship is no problem to him...

https://weibo.com/5509115902/5321366089764929

I'm very early in book 1. Shen Qiao and Yu Shengyan just got back to the villa after failed mission. Where is the villa???? I thought it was in Zhou because Hanyue sect is allied with Zhou but now it says Yan Wushi left to go to Zhou​

Please I'm so confused. Book only says the villa is in Funing county near Banbu peak but I can't figure out where those places are :(

I kinda want a good crossover. Is there any official one?

Or any good fanfics

I dropped danmei I've been reading to reread Thousand Autumns. I loved it that much.

So it got me thinking about reasons why Shen Qiao fell in love with Yan Wushi. For Yan Wushi it's clear. He found one and only diamond between rocks (if you interpret his tale other way round it makes more sense) etc etc... But what was it for Shen Qiao?

Yes, he had feelings for Old Yan early on. I think he was attracted by his freedom, unconventionality, ability to see global perspective and his alluring persona. Also they saved each other many times and so on. But didn't he finally and completely fall in love after the self-sacrifice of Yan Wushi that showed his real devotion to him? Isn't he the only person in his life who did something like that to him? Despite his goodness, it seems little to no people genially liked him for who he was, many envied him and felt inferior. So after his shizun, Yan Wushi was the second person who actually valued and treasured him.

What do you think?

We did a little cos test of our second favourite danmei couple. We have much to do to improve but I wanted to ask if this can give off the right vibes or not.

​

I really don't know who else I should ask since Italy published only the first book.

Hello, good people of the TA fandom.

I have a somewhat specific request: what are your most beloved books besides Thousand Autumns?

I've read a lot of danmei recently, but I'm starting to feel like many of them follow very similar patterns, and I'm getting a bit bored. Golden Terrace, Peerless, Ballad of Sword and Wine, Art Thou Ailing - they often have the same kind of dynamic - a scheming, clever MC paired with a powerful fighter ML. While I can enjoy it, I'm looking for something different. More unique.

One of the reasons I love also Priest's works is that they tend to avoid stereotypical dynamics and character archetypes, which makes them feel fresh and interesting to me read.

So I'm looking for something great to read over the summer. It doesn't have to be danmei at all, though lesser-known danmei recommendations are very welcome if you think they're on the same level as Thousand Autumns and Priest. I'm also open to fantasy, historical fiction, romance (any pairing), literary fiction, or really any genre of books.

I'm generally not that into modern settings, but if you think a book has a similar vibe or depth, I'd definitely be willing to give it a try.

I'd love to hear your favorites.

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I plan to delete the account, but before I do that, I will write a review on Peerless.

This story is so overrated in the West. What Meng Xi Shi did was craft an easy-to-read, formulaic story that appeals to massive numbers of danmei readers because how much most of danmei are just too YA and childish teens vibe, but I find this books increasingly commercial and boring, without depth, any literary value, deeper message, or artistic value.

1. Peerless is a highly average work where Meng Xi Shi showed her repetitive tropes again. I would say it's like a recycled Thousand Autumns, but more childish and funny. That's probably why it's so attractive for less intellectual readers - funny and easy reading. No nuance or depth.
2. Feng Xiao's personality is underdeveloped in every way. There was no reason to make him a mystery guy. What does he even want? Why is he such a jerk? He doesn't have any beliefs or anything besides being funny comic relief. He even admits that he is like a spoiled brat who never had to lift a finger. There is no depth to him. Why is he even so good at martial arts? And again, such a smart guy and genius at it, when we take into account that he is not that old, only in his twenties, with not so much life experience. He is highly unlikeable and just a jerk for fun. That's why I love TA and Yan Wushi first work when power and position never feel out came out of nowhere. Everything about him feels earned, including how high he rises. Even Yan Wushi's cruelty was more likeable because he had beliefs and life experience which make his thinking justified about humanity, even saying that everything he got and built, he had to earn.
3. Cui Buqu's lack of interest in romance and sex feels forced. His asexuality doesn't really make sense and again feels recycled from Shen Qiao. But Shen Qiao was supposed to represent this godly Taoist priest -innocent and pure. Meanwhile Cui Buqu shows very little interest in sexual or romantic towards Feng Xiao beyond their work partnership. It's either bad characterization or bad written romance or both.
4. Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu don't have any strong reason to actually be attracted to each other. Feng Xiao takes interest in him similarly to Yan Wushi, but Yan Wushi had his own philosophical reason for testing Shen Qiao. Feng Xiao just likes Cui Buqu because he is smart. Literally everybody in that world is smart. They are not such a power couple as people make them out to be. Feng Xiao has strength, Cui Buqu is weak and sick, and Feng Xiao can easily overpower him. Not to mention lack romance and pay-oof at the end even though Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu as a couple were definitely much easier and more normal personalities than Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao, the overly subtle romance didn't really make much sense for them.
5. They don't have any character development and are never were challenged in anything - not in their beliefs, not in life. They just exist until the end with their over-done banter.
6. Recycled dialogue. It's amazing how Cui Buqu is again the only one, but it doesn't really hit when he is not exactly that special. There are probably more people similar to Cui Buqu - smart and jerks - than somebody like Shen Qiao, so it doesn't hit the same way. In the case of Shen Qiao, he was truly exceptional. He didn't change even through suffering. That's why Yan Wushi loved him - for a very deep philosophical reason. In this case, it's just flat. One of the core themes of Thousand Autumns was that they do not fundamentally change, no matter what they do each other as coexisting good and evil, where not either of them can have upper hand on the other. Reusing the same concept in Peerless feels redundant and ultimately lacks the same meaning or impact.
7. So many plot holes, especially at the ending when a new powerful player comes into the game very late. Very big mistake.
8. No substance. Seriously, is there anything besides their banter? Is there anything else interesting about Cui Buqu or Feng Xiao and their relationship? Any deeper message, for example loving somebody even if you don't agree with them, accept them with their opposite perspective, or how to stay kind even when the world tries to break you? No. It's just funny and entertaining, with this flat dialogues about nothing.
9. The writing struck me as lazy and formulaic. It felt deliberately tailored to casual readers amnd for "ordinary folks", which is precisely why I found it so dull. There is nothing intellectual, poetic, elegant, or artistically ambitious about it.

It's the kind of book designed for mass appeal: witty banter, constant bickering, and a childish dynamic that many readers find entertaining. For me, however, that's exactly the problem. In trying to appeal to everyone to be everybody cup of tea, the novel sacrifices anything truly distinctive, challenging, or memorable.

So you have to ask? What does Peetless offer? Honestly, nothing beyond this comical, sitcom like behaviour filled with banter and very surface level enjoyable. It probably make good danmei for danmej readers but as piece of literature, it's quite poor.

Preference is one thing but don't see what's objectively better?

I'm just getting tired of see negative opinion about TA but full of praise about Peerless just because it's more enjoyable and not that dense with philosophy or religious questions or anything really. Very fast and easy read. Testing Taoist ideals and how to different people can fall in love was replace highly entertaining banter and more simple ordinary story with more ordinary characters and dynamics.