An Amazon Bestselling book about Taiwan's history, featuring cozy mystery and authentic multicultural characters written by a Taiwanese Canadian author. Uncover the ancient secrets of the Heirloom Seal of the Realm in this action-adventure novel.
Carved out of a mythical jade in the 8th century.
The symbol of the first Dragon Emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
The legitimizing device of the throne—
Heirloom Seal of the Realm.
“Do you ever feel like—life is passing by, but you’ve never taken 'the plunge' to experience it?”
Sebastian Lee, a fresh college grad, travels to Taiwan to teach English in his gap year to escape from starting the dreadful nine-to-five rat race.
But when one of his students, an old Chinese Civil War veteran in his dying breath, shares the clues of the legendary jade seal with him, and Sebastian accidentally promises to help, he is suddenly pulled into this unforeseen turn of events—a deadly and perilous treasure hunt.
Accompanied by his buddy Jack and the old veteran’s granddaughter Audrey, together they race all over Taiwan, with the mission of solving the mystery of the Lost Imperial Seal—The Heirloom Seal of the Realm. They must follow the trail of clues, decipher puzzles, and fight off unknown hostiles. Along the way, they uncover murders, clandestine operations, secret passages, and even national conspiracies.
Why is the Heirloom Seal of the Realm hidden in Taiwan? Who hid it and why? And why would Sebastian’s failure to find the Heirloom Seal doom the future of Taiwan’s freedom and democracy?
If you enjoy mystery, comedy, and multicultural storytelling, The Lost Imperial Seal is your next must-read.
These are the most common questions I get asked about my novel The Lost Imperial Seal. Most of them are about the real Heirloom Seal of the Realm, touristy stuff in Taiwan, and what inspired me to write the story. If you’re curious about anything else, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Growing up as an Asian Canadian in Toronto, I never felt truly connected to or represented by any characters in movies or literature. Asian representation were either portrayed as native to Asia or reduced to Hollywood’s xenophobic stereotypes. Positive portrayals of Asian Canadians or AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) were virtually nonexistent.
When COVID-19 forced everyone to stay home, I decided to take that time and give it a try—to take the first step and write an action-adventure novel that authentically represents the voice of an Asian Canadian or AAPI, bringing diversity and cultural nuance to the genre.
My goal is to challenge negative stereotypes and create a relatable story for all Asian Canadians and AAPI, celebrating their unique identities and shared experiences.
Most of the locations are actual places in Taiwan, such as Grand Hotel Taipei, Jiufen, National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Shilin Night Market, Taipei 101, etc.
The foods in the story are obviously real Taiwanese food. My personal favourites are bubble tea, deep-fried chicken fillets, popcorn chicken, and yes, stinky tofu. The last item is an acquired taste, I heard. Try it!
The White Terror martial law in Taiwan (20 May 1949 to 14 July 1987) is real, but other than that, the shootout in the prologue, Operation Clouded Leopard, or Frank Gao’s Ca-Pin Tech are as fictional as the story itself.
Growing up, I was often appalled by the portrayal of Asians in Western media—this is very real. When AAPI hate crimes skyrocketed during COVID-19, I determined to write a story that authentically represents Asian Canadians and the broader AAPI community. My goals are to debunk stereotypes and write mainstream stories that positively reflect our multicultural world today.
The Heirloom Seal of the Realm, also known as the Imperial Seal of China or 傳國玉璽 in Chinese, is the most valuable artifact in Chinese history. According to legend, this jade seal was carved during the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE) from the renowned Heshibi jade for the first Emperor of China. The people in Ancient China believed that the Seal was not merely a ceremonial object—it was the physical embodiment of the Chinese emperor’s Mandate of Heaven (天命), symbolizing the divine right to unify and rule China.
The Heirloom Seal of the Realm also served as the symbol of imperial legitimacy and sovereignty. Ancient Chinese emperors across different dynasties used this jade seal to authenticate decrees, official orders, laws, and assert imperial authority. Possession of this Imperial Seal of China was considered essential for claiming control over an unified China.
The Lost Imperial Seal is my interpretation of the "what if" the Heirloom Seal of the Realm is found today, and how it may impact the current political climate in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
The Heirloom Seal of the Realm value is considered priceless due to its immense historical, cultural, and symbolic significance. If rediscovered today, experts speculate its monetary value, the Heirloom Seal of the Realm price could surpass billions of dollars or one trillion, given its unparalleled importance in Chinese history. To put this number into perspective, the Heirloom Seal of the Realm could rival the worth all the properties in New York City. So amongst all the treasure-hunting novels and stories, the treasure in The Lost Imperial Seal is likely the most valuable of them all.
The Heirloom Seal of the Realm is believed to be lost, and its exact location remains unknown. It is thought to have been lost or hidden during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) amidst political turmoil. Some theories suggest that the Seal was stolen or hidden to protect it from invaders, while others speculate it may have been destroyed. Despite various efforts to find it, the Seal’s whereabouts remain a mystery. Its loss has only added to its legendary status in Chinese history, making it one of the most coveted and sought-after artifacts.
Of course, is the Heirloom Seal of the Realm really lost or has it been found, I guess you won't know until you read The Lost Imperial Seal :)
The Heirloom Seal of the Realm is a jade artifact made from the legendary Heshibi jade, known for its translucent, greenish hue. It is speculated that the Seal may be oval-shaped, with a square base. On the surface, there is an inscription that reads:
"Having received the Mandate from Heaven, may (the emperor) lead a long and prosperous life." (受命於天 既壽永昌)
At the top of the Seal, a dragon motif is carved, symbolizing imperial power and sovereignty.
An interesting fact to note is that, because the Seal was rumoured to have been lost during the Tang Dynasty, when the Manchu (non-ethnic Han Chinese) came to rule China in the 17th century, they created their own imperial seals—possibly to convince the Chinese people that they had the right to rule a unified China. Therefore, none of the imperial seals exhibited in the Palace Museum in Beijing is the actual Heirloom Seal of the Realm.
Despite its immense importance, the Heirloom Seal of the Realm vanished during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907–960 CE). Historians believe the seal may have been lost during battles, stolen by rival factions, or hidden to protect it from destruction.
This mystery has fueled countless theories, ranging from secret tombs to hidden treasure caches. Some legends claim the Seal lies buried with an emperor, while others suggest it was melted down or destroyed in the chaos of war. Its disappearance remains one of the most tantalizing unsolved mysteries in history.
The intrigue surrounding the Heirloom Seal of the Realm is what inspired me to write The Lost Imperial Seal. Most treasure-hunting novels and stories focus on artifacts from Europe, Africa, or South America, so I wanted to tell a story centred on an artifact from East Asia. And what better artifact to tell than the most legendary one in Chinese history?
I chose the set the story in Taiwan for 3 key reasons:
1. "Where are you from?" I'm a Taiwanese Canadian. But growing up in Canada, my experience is that not many people know about Taiwan, and even fewer can point it out on a map. A common misconception is confusing Taiwan with Thailand. Conversations often go like this:
"Where are you from?" someone asks.
"I'm from Taiwan," I reply.
"Oh, I know Thailand! It's so beautiful there!"
I can almost guarantee that most Overseas Taiwanese—whether they're from Canada, the U.S., the U.K., or Australia—have experienced this. 9 times out of10, people think Taiwan and Thailand are the same place.
2. "Write what you know": This is a timeless piece of advice for new writers. As a debut novelist, I find that writing about a place I know intimately comes more naturally, and makes the scenes more vivid and authentic. It just makes sense for my debut novel. Setting my story in Taiwan allows me to draw on personal experiences and create a world that feels real and grounded.
3. To shine a spotlight on Taiwan: When Crazy Rich Asians hit the big screen, it boosted Singapore’s tourism by 2% ($400 million USD). The film, based on a novel, showcased Singapore to the world and turned it into a top tourist destination. I want Taiwan to gain similar mainstream media attention, joining the ranks of South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and China. Through my story, I hope to share Taiwan’s unique charm and culture with a global audience.