Jigong Chuan - A Must-Read Series on Chinese Traditional Culture for Students

Author: Shi Yanbo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: The Legend of Jigong first appeared in the mid-Qing Dynasty as a folk tale passed down through the mouths of the people. Later, it underwent refinement and modification by several scholars before being compiled into a book by Guo Xiaoting of the Qing Dynasty. Jigong is the central figure of the book, differing from the heroic images in previous literary works. He is ragged and eccentric, breaking down the barrier between deities and humans that had existed for thousands of years, making him more relatable to real life and more easily accepted by the working masses. "Dedicated to correcting the injustices of the world" is one of the core themes of the book. Whenever he encounters evil and threats, Jigong not only avoids them but instead faces the challenges head-on, actively helping the innocent and punishing the evil forces. His fearless attitude in challenging authority and upholding justice reflects the hatred and disdain of the working masses toward the ruling class at the time. They their desire to punish the powerful in Jigong, using his actions to express their voices and making readers cheer for his deeds. The book is written in the form of stories, and to broaden and deepen the reading experience, a "Discussion Corner" is provided after each story, offering supplementary content from different perspectives, with the hope that young readers can better understand the essence of the original work.