Shi Gong An - An Ancient Chinese Chivalrous Court Case Novel

Author: (Qing) Anonymous, annotated by Qiugu
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 populace. Chivalrous and 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 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 of the Song and Yuan dynasties, vernacular short detective novels of the Ming Dynasty, and collections of detective case stories from the Ming Dynasty. The plots of chivalrous and detective novels often bear similarities, and their ideological tendency to eliminate evil and protect the people also align closely. The distinction lies in that chivalrous novels more vividly depict the heroic spirit of chivalrous figures 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 and detective novel collections combine both elements, featuring thrilling stories and dramatic plot twists, which made them deeply popular among readers upon publication, leading to multiple reprints and a continuous stream of sequels. 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 revised 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 Bao Zheng's upbringing and his judicial cases, while the latter primarily 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 upright judge to lead the heroes in suppressing the faction of the Prince of Xiangyang. Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men portrays many chivalrous figures, such as Zhan Zhao's bravery and Ouyang Chun's seasoned wisdom, with particular emphasis on Bai Yutang's chivalrous and righteous yet arrogant and impulsive character, all of which are depicted as vivid and dynamic, not as idealized heroes. Little Five Heroes is a sequel to Three Heroes and Five Righteous Men, continuing the plot while introducing new developments. It revolves around the conspiracy of the Prince of Xiangyang Zhao Jue to rebel, with Yan Chansan investigating on imperial decree, and the heroes' loyalty in eliminating evil for the people. The theme remains the praise of chivalry and the promotion of justice. Although the overall quality of the novel is not exceptional, it occasionally features brilliant narrative and character portrayals, making it worth reading. Shi Gong Case primarily covers the first 97 chapters, depicting Shi Shilun's judicial cases as a magistrate of Jiangdu County and as the Vice Commissioner of Shuntian Prefecture, as well as his struggles against corrupt officials, powerful nobles, and bandits. From the 98th chapter onward, the story shifts focus to the chivalrous adventures of heroes, with judicial activities playing a secondary role. The Shi Shilun in the novel is based on the historical figure Shi Shilun, who is mentioned in the Draft Biography of the Qing Dynasty (Qing Shilu) and is known as the "Blue Sky" (Qingtian). The novel is adapted from this historical figure. 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 is Peng Peng, based on the famous upright official Peng Peng of the Kangxi era, also mentioned in the Draft Biography of the Qing Dynasty. Known for his integrity and revered by the people, the novel is adapted from folk tales about him. Peng Gong Case focuses more on chivalry, with suppressing bandits and rebellions as the central events, while the judicial activities of the upright judge Peng Peng take a backseat. The chivalrous heroes Li Qihu, Huang Santai, Ouyang De, Yang Xiangwu, Zhang Yaozong, and Dou Erdun in the novel are portrayed vividly and dynamically, shining brighter than the image of the upright judge Peng Peng, and are particularly favored by the common people. Lu Xun summarized the characteristics of chivalrous and detective novels as "writing from the hearts of the common folk." The actions of the chivalrous figures and upright judges in these novels deeply reflect the ordinary people's longing for a just society and a powerful force for justice, reflecting the voice of the people from a specific perspective. Of course, they 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 uses the Guangbai Songzhai edition of the 16th year of the Guangxu era, with references to the Shanghai Guangyi Bookstore edition; Little Five Heroes uses the Guangbai Songzhai edition of the 16th year of the Guangxu era, with references to the Shanghai Shunpao Press edition; Shi Gong Case uses the Da'an Bookstore edition of the Gengyin year of the Daoguang era in Xiamen, the Dada Bookstore edition of the 29th year of the Guangxu era, with references to the Shanghai Zhengyi Bookstore and Guangyi Bookstore stone-printed editions; Peng Gong Case uses the stone-printed edition of the Complete Story of the Great Qing Dynasty from the Liulichang bookstore of the 20th year of the Guangxu era, with references to the Shanghai Shaoyeshanfang stone-printed edition of Painted Peng Gong Case.