Bao Gong Case

Author: (Ming) Anyuoshi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Bao Gong An (also known as Longtu Gong An), full title Jingben Tongpu Yanyi Bao Longtu Baijia Gong'an Quanzhuan, also called Longtu Shenduan Gong'an. A legal case novel, comprising ten volumes, compiled by Anyuoshi. The compiler Anyuoshi's life story remains unknown. Bao Gong An is essentially a collection of short stories about Bao Gong's judicial cases, with each story depicting one of Bao Gong's rulings. Although the content is not continuous, Bao Gong's character runs through the entire work. Like other legal case novels, the creation of Bao Gong An also stemmed from the circulation of folk tales. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, the prosperity of commerce and handicrafts led to the high flourishing of cities and a sharp increase in urban populations. In bustling urban centers, where commerce and craftsmanship thrived and people were densely packed, a "storytelling" art suitable for the rising urban populace emerged in the "Wasi Guelan" entertainment venues. The stories performed by these storytellers were called "huaben," and after being refined by scholars, these huaben became the earliest forms of popular short fiction. The themes of Bao Gong An were partly drawn from folk tales about Bao Gong, while other parts were compiled and adapted from materials found in historical records, miscellaneous notes, and fictional works. Bao Zheng was a real historical figure, originally from Luzhou (now Hefei, Anhui Province). During the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, he held positions such as Censor-in-Chief, Attendant at the Tianzhang Pavilion, Academician of the Longtu Pavilion, and Vice Minister of Military Affairs. The Biography of Bao Zheng in the History of the Song Dynasty describes him as "firm and resolute in court, making even nobles and eunuchs restrain themselves"; "people compared Bao Zheng's smile to the clarity of the Yellow River. Even children and women knew his name, calling him Bao Dazhi. In the capital, people said, 'If you do not curry favor with Bao Dazhi, you will face the underworld's Bao Lao.'" During his tenure as the Magistrate of Kaifeng, Bao Zheng was renowned for his integrity and incorruptibility, earning the deep love of the common people. Folk tales about Bao Gong were widely circulated, and since the Song and Yuan dynasties, numerous literary works featuring Bao Gong have emerged, with his image continuously enriched and idealized into one of the most famous upright officials in feudal society. This phenomenon has historical and social roots. Under the long oppression of feudal autocracy, the suffering masses yearned for a better life,ing their hopes in "benevolent rulers" and "virtuous ministers." The lives of emperors were both unfamiliar and distant to the common people, making upright officials and virtuous ministers the ideal figures they aspired to, and central figures in various literary and artistic forms. The basic content of the novel praises Bao Gong for his impartial justice and incorruptibility. Through a series of cases involving "homicide," "adultery," "theft," and "disputes over property," the author portrays an upright official who eliminates harm for the people. Some stories condemned the execution of imperial relatives and nobles, such as Huangye Cai and Shier Xiang. Others exposed the cruelty of wealthy and powerful local tyrants, like Zai Zhang and Gui Tui Mo. While Qu Sha Yingcai and Jiu Quan strongly criticized the imperial examination system. Many plotlines in Bao Gong An were later adopted by later works like Longtu Erlu and San Xie Wu Yi. Some stories in the book are vivid and intricate, with relatively distinct characters, but the overall literary quality is poor, with both ideological depth and artistic merit being mediocre. Yet, these works, which were once considered "non-mainstream," gained widespread popularity. This is not surprising, as the rise of the urban populace and the flourishing of urban culture during the Song and Yuan dynasties were the fundamental reasons for the popularity of martial arts and legal case novels. The cultural level, mindset, and tastes of the common people determine the public recognition of literary and artistic works. To this day, numerous operas and film and television dramas based on Bao Gong stories still exist. We can confidently say that Bao Gong's tales not only enriched the cultural lives of the people but also hold significant contemporary relevance in the fight against corruption and the public's call for judicial fairness. Like other legal case novels, Bao Gong An also contains elements of fatalism and feudal superstition, such as retribution for past deeds, omens, and dreams. Additionally, the work's strong advocacy of loyalty to the monarch reflects a "blind loyalty" to feudal autocracy, which is not commendable. We hope readers will discern these aspects when reading the novel. This edition is available in both traditional and simplified characters, with the traditional version comprising ten volumes and one hundred stories. The main editions include early Qing publications, those from the Simai Tang, and the post- (reprinted in the Bingshen year of the Qianlong era) edition. This edition is based on the Simai Tang publication, with appropriate references to other versions for collation. Due to limited knowledge and scholarly ability, errors and omissions may have occurred during collation. We sincerely hope that experts and dedicated readers will kindly point out any mistakes so that they can be corrected for future reprints, making the work even more perfect.