A Catalog of Heroes in Chinese Classical Literature

Author: None
Publisher: China Worker Publishing House
Publishing Time: None
Features: The tradition of Chinese classical novels is long-standing. In addition to those published so far, there are still many popular varieties awaiting collation and edition. The set of "Heroic Chronicles of Chinese Classical Classics" now published includes thirteen works: "Complete Legend of Yue Fei," "Romance of Ten Thousand Flowers Building," "Romance of pacifying the West with the Five Tigers," "Romance of pacifying the South with the Five Tigers," "Romance of the Yang Family," "Legend of Shuo Tang," "Romance of Luo Tong Pacifying the North," "Romance of Xue RenGui Eastward Expedition," "Romance of Xue DingShan Westward Expedition," "Romance of Xue Gang Rebellious to Tang," "Legend of Three Heroes and Five Righteous," "Romance of Sui-Tang," and "Complete Legend of Shuo Hu." These are divided into three volumes: upper, middle, and lower. This is another important category in our classical novels, historically widely circulated and highly influential, with many characters and events in the books being the subject of popular discussion and admiration. The term "hero" refers to the protagonists in such novels, who are admired and revered due to their extraordinary martial arts, extraordinary courage, supernatural experiences, or moving and tragic deeds. Therefore, while similarly depicting a historical story, heroic romantic novels differ greatly from historical tales, as they are not strictly bound by historical records but instead draw widely from official histories, unofficial histories, strange anecdotes, and the novel accumulated through the stories' in, constantly refining and perfecting them, which is why heroic romantic novels have always been exceptionally popular.
"Complete Legend of Yue Fei" is centered around the deeds of Yue Fei and his army, intertwining with historical facts of the time. From Yue Fei's birth, his alliance in Qilin Village, obtaining the divine spear in Liquan Cave, and spearing Xiao Liang Wang—each story unfolds captivatingly. The book is well-structured, blending reality and fiction, making it a page-turner that fills readers with reverence for this national hero.
"Romance of Ten Thousand Flowers Building" narrates the story of the legendary figures Yang Zongbao and Di Qing resisting foreign aggression and loyal to the crown. Yang Zongbao's maturity and discipline, Di Qing's bravery and selflessness, and Bao Zheng's infallible judgment in adjudicating cases are deeply admirable.
"Romance of Pacifying the West with the Five Tigers" and "Romance of Pacifying the South with the Five Tigers" are sequels to "Romance of Ten Thousand Flowers Building." The former depicts the Five Tiger Generals' expedition to Western Liao, interweaving the struggle between Bao Zheng and Di Qing on one side, and Pang Hong and Sun Xiu on the other, as well as Di Qing's passionate love story with the princess of Shan Shan. The latter tells of the Five Tiger Generals suppressing the rebellion of Nong Zhi Gao, as well as the romantic entanglements between Di Qing's twin sons, Di Long and Di Hu, and the enemy generals Duan Hongyu and Wang Lan Ying. The plots are intricate, the structure tight, and the characters vivid, making the stories of heroes and beautiful women enthralling.
"Romance of the Yang Family" recounts Yang Ye's allegiance to the Song Dynasty and the exploits of the Yang Family soldiers fighting against the Liao. Among them, Yang Lao Lang's perseverance, Mu Guiying's fearlessness, Jiao Zan and Meng Liang's loyalty and bravery, and the Twelve Widows' expedition westward are widely circulated in folklore, leading to the saying, "Zhao family emperor, Yang family generals," a household name among the people.
"Legend of Shuo Tang" was once regarded as equal to "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Water Margin" in the olden days. It vividly portrays the massive rebellion against the Sui Dynasty by the Eighteen "Rebels" and Sixty-Four "Smoke and Dust" forces. The book successfully creates many heroic figures, such as the straightforward Cheng Yaojin, the brave Qin Qiong, the loyal Shan Xiongxin, and the cunning Xu Maogong. Stories like Cheng Yaojin's Three Axes, Qin Qiong Selling His Horse, Wei Zi Rescuing a Horse, Luo Cheng Calling the Gate, and Hong Kuo Hui Holding the Thousand-Jin Gate are widely celebrated.
"Romance of Luo Tong Pacifying the North" narrates Luo Tong's seizure of the martial arts championship, leading an army to pacify the rebellious Red Cliff Treasure King in the north, rescuing Emperor Tang Tai in Muyang City, defeating the barbarian generals, and his tragic marriage to the princess of the enemy country. The book portrays Luo Tong's loyalty, righteousness, and clear moral compass in depth.
"Romance of Xue RenGui Eastward Expedition" tells of Xue DingShan, the son of Xue RenGui, saving the throne and westward expedition with the help of Fan LiHua. Like Mu Guiying of the Yang Family, Fan LiHua is a beloved legendary hero in folklore.
"Romance of Xue Gang Rebellious to Tang" depicts Xue DingShan's son Xue Gang accidentally killing the crown prince, shocking the emperor. Wu CaiTian seizes the throne and kills over three hundred members of his family. Xue Gang's rise to power with the help of others to restore the Tang Dynasty. Scenes like Xue Gang's three sacrifices at the Qiuqiu Tomb, his marriage to a son-in-law from Western Tang, and his chaos during the Lantern Festival are widely circulated and performed in operas.
"Legend of Three Heroes and Five Righteous" skillfully combines the stories of knights and the imperial court, successfully portraying figures like the elegant Zhan Zhao, the clever and meticulous Jiang Ping, the subtle, the alert and, the innocent Ai Hu, and the spirited Bai Yutang. Meanwhile, Bao Zheng's upright and sagacious demeanor is depicted in fine detail. The book is written in plain language, with vivid characters and dramatic plots that leave readers in awe, making it a favorite across generations.
"Romance of Sui-Tang" begins with Emperor Wen of Sui invading Chen and covers the Sui Dynasty's peasant uprisings, Emperor Taizong's accession, the An Lushan Rebellion, and Emperor Minghuang's return to Chang'an from Sichuan. The time span covers over 170 years. The book focuses on:
1. Emperor Yangdi's murder of his father and brother to seize the throne, his travels to Jiangdu, and his expedition to Goguryeo.
2. The love story between Emperor Minghuang and Yang Guifei, revealing the extravagance of Tang court life, as well as the fratricidal strife among Li Shimin's brothers, Wu Zetian's reign of corruption, and Empress Wei's murder of Emperor Zhongzong, exposing rulers' ruthless pursuit of power.
3. The heroic tales of Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, and Li Jing following Li Shimin in overthrowing the heavens, praising their chivalrous spirit. The book is complex in events, intricate in plot, with numerous characters and a vast historical scope. The author skillfully blends history and storytelling, emphasizing key points with clarity and fluent writing. Since its publication, the book has remained popular for centuries.
"Complete Legend of Shuo Hu" is said to have "great benefit in making the book household-known" by Zilin Laoren. The artistic strength of this book lies in its skillful weaving of stories and interweaving of plots, often keeping readers hooked with one cliffhanger after another. It inherits and develops traditional techniques of Chinese classical novels, with characters and dramatic plots that leave a deep impression on readers.