Peng Gong Case -- Chinese Ancient Chivalrous Court Case Novels

Author: (Qing) Tan Meng Dao Ren | Annotations
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the creation of vernacular long novels flourished, and 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 Lie), 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 difference 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 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, leading to multiple reprints and a continuous stream of sequels. Among them, the most representative works are Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men, Little Five Heroes, Shi Gong An, and Peng Gong An. Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men was slightly modified by the renowned Qing Dynasty scholar Yu Yue based on Three Heroes and Five Righteous Men, which in turn was derived from the storytelling of the famous Qing Dynasty performer Shi Yukun. 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 Fur Rat Bai Yutang, as well as the efforts of the fair-minded judge to lead the heroes in suppressing 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, with particular emphasis on Bai Yutang's chivalrous and righteous nature, his arrogance, and his impulsive behavior, all of which make him a vivid and dynamic character rather than a one-dimensional hero. Little Five Heroes is a sequel to Three Heroes and Five Righteous Men, continuing the plot while introducing new developments. It follows the conspiracy of the Xiangyang King Zhao Jue to rebel, the imperial decree appointing Yan Chansan to investigate, and the loyalty of the heroes 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 still features occasional brilliant narrative and character portrayals, making it worth reading. Shi Gong An primarily covers the first 97 chapters, depicting Shi Shilun's judicial career as the magistrate of Jiangdu County and the Vice Minister of the 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 the 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 Shi Gao) and is known as the "Blue Sky" (a title for a just and incorruptible official). The novel is inspired by 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 An is Peng Peng, whose prototype is the famous Qing Dynasty official Peng Peng mentioned in the Draft Biography of the Qing Dynasty. Known for his integrity and praised by the people, the novel is based on folk tales about him. Peng Gong An focuses more on chivalry, with suppressing bandits and rebellion as the central events, while the judicial activities of the fair-minded judge 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, shining brighter than the image of the fair-minded judge Peng Peng and becoming favorites among the common people. Lu Xun summarized the characteristics of chivalrous and detective novels as "writing from the hearts of the common folk." The chivalrous figures and fair-minded judges in these novels deeply reflect the ordinary people's longing for political justice and a strong sense of righteousness, reflecting the public's sentiments from a specific perspective. Of course, these novels inevitably contain certain historical limitations, which readers should recognize and understand while reading. The source texts used for these four novels are as follows: Seven Heroes and Five Righteous Men uses the Guangbai Songzhai edition from the 16th year of the Guangxu reign, with annotations from the Shanghai Guangyi Bookstore edition; Little Five Heroes uses the same Guangbai Songzhai edition from the 16th year of the Guangxu reign, with annotations from the Shanghai Shunpao Press edition; Shi Gong An uses the Da'an Bookstore edition from the Gengyin year of the Daoguang reign in Xiamen, the Dada Bookstore edition from the 29th year of the Guangxu reign, with annotations from the Shanghai Zhengyi Bookstore and Guangyi Bookstore stone-printed editions; Peng Gong An uses the stone-printed edition of The Complete Story of the Great Qing Dynasty from the Liulichang bookstore in the 20th year of the Guangxu reign, with annotations from the Shanghai Shaoyeshanfang stone-printed edition of The Complete Story of Peng Gong An with Paintings. Shanghai