Romance of the Yang Family Generals Story of How Hu Called Out

Author: Anonymous Wu Youming (ed.)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-08-01
Features: The Romance of the Yang Family, also known as The Romance of the Yang Family Mansion or The Popular Romance of the Yang Family, is a full title of The Romance of the Generations of Loyalty and Courage of the Yang Family. It consists of eight volumes and fifty-eight chapters. There is a preface by Qinhuai Ink Guest in the thirty-fourth year of the Ming Dynasty, with each volume prefixed by Qinhuai Ink Guest for review and Smoky Wave Fishing Old Man for revision. Qinhuai Ink Guest is Ji Zhenlun, styled Chunhua, a native of Nanjing, with his life story unknown. The Romance of the Yang Family primarily narrates the stories of five generations of the Yang family—Yang Jiye, Yang Jing, Yang Zongbao, Yang Wenguang, and Yang Huaiyu—resisting the Liao and Western Xia wars. It emphasizes the heroic deeds of Yang Linggong’s sacrifice by (colliding with a pillar) while imprisoned, Yang Liulang’s repeated extraordinary achievements in guarding the three passes, Yang Zongbao’s wisdom and bravery in defeating the Heavenly Gate Formation, and the twelve widows’ patriotic service by fighting in the Western tribes. These earth-shattering and moving tales are deeply satisfying and delight the readers. The story of the Hu family actually originated from the story of the Yang family. Before the novel was completed, due to the widespread popularity of the Yang family story in (folk culture), some enthusiasts took historical excuses and expanded upon the plot involving the Hu family in the Yang family story. After being refined and polished by several storytelling artists, it gradually took shape, and eventually, this grand novel of forty chapters emerged.