The Last Quarter of the Moon

The Last Quarter of the Moon is an epic odyssey through the last century as told through the eyes of an aged member of the Evenki tribe, a clan of nomads who once roamed the remote forests of north-eastern China with their herds of reindeer. These forests are now being ravaged by industrial logging, the tribe is fragmenting as many are drawn to the attractions of modern life, but the old woman is eschewing the comforts of a fixed abode in a nearby town, choosing instead to spend the last of her days among the birch trees in the mountains.

The author not only takes us on a familial journey through the life of the aged storyteller but we also witness the dramatic cultural and political changes that affected the area as Russian revolutionaries are replaced by Japanese Imperialist forces and then by the Chinese cultural revolution. Yet through these often tragic upheavals, the Evenki tribe remain true to their traditions, their empathy with the natural environment and most importantly their relationship with the reindeer.

Chi Zijian's insight into the life of the Evenki tribe is truly remarkable. The reader not only learns much about a shamanistic culture and the rituals surrounding birth, marriage and death but also how to hunt bear and to live with the reindeer.