Seven Heroes and Five Righteousness

Author: (Qing) Shi Yuquan, edited and annotated by Mu Gong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the creation of vernacular long novels flourished. Among the various literary genres, the chivalrous detective novels, which emerged in the mid-Qing Dynasty, were undoubtedly the most popular and widely circulated among the general public. Chivalrous detective novels are essentially 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 "Biographies of the Wandering Knights" in the Records of the Grand Historian and the numerous chivalrous figures in Tang Dynasty legends. Detective novels, on the other hand, encompass the "telling of detective cases" in Song and Yuan Dynasty fiction, vernacular detective short stories in the Ming Dynasty, and collections of detective cases from the Ming Dynasty. The plots of chivalrous and detective novels often share similarities, and both share a tendency to advocate for justice and eliminate evil. The difference lies in that chivalrous novels more vividly depict the courage of chivalrous heroes and their extraordinary martial arts skills, while detective novels focus more on portraying the fair-minded judges who uphold justice. After the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, chivalrous and detective novels gradually merged. Chivalrous detective novels combine both elements, featuring thrilling stories and dramatic plots, which made them deeply popular among readers upon publication. They were reprinted multiple times, and numerous sequels followed. Among the most representative works are The Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men, The Little Five Righteous Men, The Cases of Shi Gong, and The Cases of Peng Gong. The Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men was slightly modified by the renowned Qing Dynasty scholar Yu Yue based on The Three Heroes and Five Righteous Men, which was adapted from the storytelling of the famous Qing Dynasty artist Shi Yuquan. The first part of the novel narrates the growth and judicial career of Bao Zheng, while the latter part primarily focuses on 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 fair-minded judge to lead the heroes in suppressing the faction of the Xiangyang King. The Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men portrays many chivalrous figures, such as Zhan Zhao's bravery, Ouyang Chun's seasoned wisdom, and especially Bai Yutang's chivalrous and righteous nature, arrogance, and impulsive behavior. These characters are not idealized heroes but are depicted vividly and brilliantly.