Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men - The Four Great Classical Chinese Detective Novels

Author: Shi Yuquan (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the creation of vernacular long novels flourished. Among various literary genres, the martial-arts and detective novels that emerged in the mid-Qing Dynasty were undoubtedly the most popular and widely circulated among the general public. The term "martial-arts and detective novels" refers to the combination of martial-arts novels and detective novels, which are two distinct yet interconnected genres in the history of Chinese fiction. The origins of martial-arts novels can be traced back to Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) and the numerous heroic figures in Tang Dynasty legends. Detective novels, on the other hand, encompass the "telling of detective cases" in Song and Yuan Dynasty fiction, vernacular short detective novels from the Ming Dynasty, and collections of detective cases from the Ming Dynasty. The plots of martial-arts and detective novels often bear similarities, and both share a tendency to advocate for justice and eliminate evil. The key difference lies in the fact that martial-arts novels more frequently depict the heroic spirit of the martial-arts practitioners and their extraordinary skills, while detective novels tend to focus on portraying the impartiality of the upright judges. After the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, martial-arts and detective novels gradually merged. Martial-arts and detective novels combine the elements of both genres, featuring thrilling stories and dramatic plot twists, which made them deeply popular among readers upon publication. They were reprinted multiple times, and numerous sequels were produced. Among the most representative works are Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men, Little Five Heroes, Shi Gong Case, and Peng Gong Case. Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men was slightly modified by the renowned Qing Dynasty scholar Yu Yiran based on Three Heroes and Five Righteous Men, which was derived from the storytelling of the famous Qing Dynasty performer Shi Yuquan. The first part of the novel narrates the growth and judicial career of Bao Zheng, while the latter primarily depicts the "cat and mouse" rivalry between the Imperial Cat Zhan Zhao and the Golden-Furred Rat Bai Yutang, as well as the efforts of the upright judge to suppress the faction of the Xiangyang King. Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men portrays many heroic figures, such as Zhan Zhao's bravery and Ouyang Chun's seasoned wisdom. Particularly noteworthy is Bai Yutang's chivalrous and self-righteous nature, his arrogance, and his impulsive behavior, all of which make him a vivid and dynamic character rather than a stereotypical hero.