Farewell to the mortal world

Author: Chen Baichen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-01-01
Features: A Chinese Classic of Heroism and Filial Piety is a highly distinctive fictional narrative in the style of a vernacular tale. Since its publication during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, it has been cherished by a wide readership. The author, Wen Kang, belonged to the Feimo family of the Manchu Xianghong Banner. In the story, the author creates a fictional ideal tale: During the reigns of the Qing emperors Kangxi and Yongzheng, the honest official An Xuehai falls victim to the schemes of corrupt officials. His son, An Ji, undertakes a perilous journey alone to rescue his father and is betrayed along the way. He is saved by the heroic woman He Yufeng (also known as "Thirteen Sisters"). He Yufeng arranges a marriage between An Ji and another young woman, Jin Xinfeng, whom she had also rescued. Afterward, He Yufeng retreats from the world. To repay the kindness of "Thirteen Sisters," An Xuehai resigns his official post and embarks on a quest to find her. Eventually, he discovers that He Yufeng is the daughter of a distinguished military family. Upon learning her true identity from her father, He Yufeng realizes that her father's enemies have been eliminated by the imperial court, thus avenging her family's long-standing grievance. With the persuasion of others, she finally decides to abandon her earlier vow to enter a nunnery to mourn her parents for life and instead marries An Ji, joining Jin Xinfeng in building a new life together with the An family.