Story of the Yang Family Generals -- Popular Readings in Chinese Classical Literature

Author: (Ming) Xiong Damu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-11-01
Features: Romance of the Yang Family Heroes is an excellent popular novel. The prototypes of Yang Ye, Yang Yanzhao, and Yang Wenguang in the book are all recorded in the History of the Song Dynasty. The heroic deeds of the Yang Family in defending the frontier and resisting invaders had already spread widely during the Song Dynasty. More than 60 years after Yang Ye's death, when Yang Wenguang was still alive, the renowned literary figure Ouyang Xiu wrote: "Both father and son were renowned military commanders, hailed as invincible in wisdom and courage. Even today, scholars and commoners alike can recount their tales." Another literary figure, Su Zhe, wrote a poem upon passing by the temple of Yang Wujin in Gubeikou,: "My travels were for the service of the Central Plains, and my deeds earned me respect even beyond foreign lands."
The Romance of the Yang Family Heroes tells the story of the Yang Jiye family, whose generations remained loyal and resisted the Liao invaders to protect the Northern Song Dynasty. This story has been passed down through the ages since the Southern Song Dynasty. Published during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, Romance of the Yang Family Heroes synthesizes the various widely circulated stories and legends of the Yang Family that had beened since the Song and Yuan dynasties. The novel portrays a large number of characters from the Yang Family, such as Yang Linggong (Old Yang), Yang Lianglang (Young Yang), She Taijun, Mu Guiying, Yang Xuanniang, Jiao Zan, and Meng Liang. These characters are vividly depicted, deeply loved by people. In the series of Yang Family novels, Romance of the Yang Family Heroes is considered the cornerstone. All subsequent novels and theatrical works based on the Yang Family stories expanded upon, adapted, and derived from this foundation.
The novel boldly and passionately portrays numerous female warriors of the Yang Family who defied the constraints of feudal ethics and female decorum. They were skilled in martial arts, bold in character, intelligent and graceful, and fearless on the battlefield, completely breaking free from the shackles of women's moral teachings and hierarchical expectations. They became household names among the common people, widely discussed and admired. In folklore, there even emerged the saying, "In the Yang Family mansion, women surpass men."