Shi Gong An - The Four Great Classical Chinese Chivalric Court Case Novels

Author: Anonymous (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the creation of vernacular long novels flourished. Among various literary genres, the chivalrous and detective novels that emerged in the mid-Qing Dynasty were undoubtedly the most popular and widely circulated among the general public. Chivalrous and detective novels are actually a combination of chivalrous novels and detective novels, two distinct yet interconnected genres in the history of Chinese fiction. The origins of chivalrous novels can be traced back to Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), specifically the "Biography of the Wandering Knights" (Youxia Zhuan), and the numerous chivalrous figures in Tang Dynasty legendary tales (Chuanqi); detective novels, on the other hand, encompass the "telling of detective cases" (Shuo Gong'an) novels from the Song and Yuan dynasties, vernacular short detective novels from the Ming Dynasty, and collections of detective case stories. The plots of chivalrous and detective novels often share similarities, and both reflect a tendency to fight against evil and protect the people. The difference lies in that chivalrous novels more vividly depict the courage of knights in acting righteously and their extraordinary martial skills, while detective novels focus more on portraying the images of fair-minded officials who judge cases impartially. After the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, chivalrous and detective novels gradually merged. Chivalrous and detective novel collections combine both elements, featuring thrilling stories and dramatic plots, which made them deeply popular among readers upon publication. They were reprinted multiple times, with numerous sequels appearing continuously. Among them, the most representative works are Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men (Qiqiaowuyi), Little Five Heroes (Xiao Wuyi), Shi Gong Case (Shigong'an), and Peng Gong Case (Penggong'an). Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men was slightly modified by the renowned Qing scholar Yu Yue based on Three Heroes and Five Righteous Men (Sanxiaowuyi), which in turn originated from the storytelling of the famous Qing-era artist Shi Yukun. The first part of the novel narrates the growth and case-solving experiences of Bao Zheng, while the latter focuses on the "cat and mouse" rivalry between the Imperial Cat Zhan Zhao and the Golden-Furred Mouse Bai Yutang, as well as the efforts of the fair-minded officials to suppress the followers of the Xiangyang King. Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men portrays many chivalrous figures, such as the heroic Zhan Zhao and the experienced Ouyang Chun. Notably, Bai Yutang's character—brave, proud, yet impulsive—is not a one-dimensional hero but rather a vivid and colorful figure. Little Five Heroes is a sequel to Three Heroes and Five Righteous Men, continuing the plot while introducing new twists. It follows the conspiracy of the Xiangyang King Zhao Jue to rebel, the imperial decree to investigate by Yan Chadian, and the loyalty of the heroes in fighting for justice. Although the overall quality of the novel is not exceptional, it still contains brilliant narrative and character portrayals, making it worth reading. Shi Gong Case primarily covers the first ninety-seven chapters, depicting Shi Shilun's tenure as magistrate of Jiangdu County and as Vice Commissioner of Shuntian Prefecture, his judicial cases, and his struggles against corrupt officials, powerful nobles, and bandits. From the ninety-eighth chapter onward, the story shifts focus to the chivalrous adventures of the heroes, with judicial activities playing a secondary role. The character Shi Shilun in the novel is based on the historical figure Shi Shilun, known as the "Blue Sky" (Qingtian) for his fairness, as recorded in the New History of the Qing Dynasty (Qingshi Gao). The novel is a fictionalized account inspired by his life. The chivalrous figure Huang Tianba in the novel is portrayed with great brilliance and later became a beloved character in traditional opera. The protagonist of Peng Gong Case, Peng Peng, is based on the famous Qing official Peng Peng of the Kangxi era, also recorded in the New History of the Qing Dynasty. Known for his integrity and praised by the people, the novel is a fictionalized version of folk tales about him. Peng Gong Case focuses more on chivalry, with suppressing bandits and rebellions as the central theme, while the judicial activities of the fair-minded official Peng Peng take a backseat. The chivalrous heroes Li Qihou, Huang Santai, Ouyang De, Yang Xiangwu, Zhang Yaozong, and Dou Erdun in the novel are vividly portrayed and more beloved by the common people than the official Peng Peng.
Lu Xun summarized the characteristics of chivalrous and detective novels as "writing from the hearts of the common people." The actions of the chivalrous heroes and fair-minded officials in these novels deeply reflect the ordinary people's longing for a just society and a strong force for justice. From a certain perspective, they echo the sentiments of the masses. Of course, these works inevitably contain certain historical limitations, which readers should recognize while reading.
The source texts used for these four novels are as follows:
Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men: The Guangbai Songzhai edition of the Guangxu era, with reference to the Shanghai Guangyi Bookstore edition.
Little Five Heroes: The Guangbai Songzhai edition of the Guangxu era, with reference to the Shanghai Shangbao Press edition.
Shi Gong Case: The Daode Tang edition of the Daoguang era, the Dada Bookstore edition of the twenty-ninth year of the Guangxu era, with reference to the Shanghai Zhengyi Bookstore and Guangyi Bookstore stone-printed editions.
Peng Gong Case: The edition from the Liulichang bookstore of the twenty-first year of the Guangxu era, with reference to the Shanghai Shaoyeshanfang stone-printed edition of the Complete Biography of Peng Gong (Huayi Penggong Quanzhuan).