The Seven Killings Stele 3
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Summary
Within the city of Sichuan there are four great rivers—Ba, Luo, Lu, and Min—hence the name Sichuan. The province abounds in heroes, and this novel chiefly concerns the seven heroes of southern Sichuan at the end of the Ming dynasty: Yang Zhan, the Earl of Huayang; Chen Yaoshuang, the Snow-Clad Maiden; Yu Jinwen, the Female Flying Guard; the monk-hero Qibao Heshang Xirong; the beggar-hero Chen Denghao, known as Iron Soles; the merchant-hero Yu Fei; and Liu Daozhen, called the Rival of Bowen. Together they rise up and range across southern Sichuan, resisting Zhang Xianzhong and saving countless lives. Because Zhang Xianzhong was repeatedly thwarted by the seven heroes of southern Sichuan, he set up a stele and swore an oath; the Seven Killings Stele is the inscription vowing to kill the seven heroes.
Editor's review
This volume continues the story of the seven heroes of southern Sichuan joining forces against Zhang Xianzhong. Yang Zhan, Chen Yaoshuang, Yu Jinwen, Qibao Heshang, Chen Denghao, Yu Fei, and Liu Daozhen each display their abilities, by martial skill or by strategy, maneuvering across the southern Sichuan land between the Ba, Luo, Lu, and Min rivers. Zhu Zhenmu writes ensemble heroes with the liveliness of serialized fiction and the loyalty and resourcefulness characteristic of old-school wuxia; the dialogue has a Jianghu flavor, and the plot builds tension through one encounter and contest after another. As a transitional volume in the series, it focuses more on developing relationships and escalating conflict; it is best read in series order to appreciate how the seven heroes are gradually driven into direct confrontation with the Seven Killings Stele oath. Continuous reading in leisure time best conveys its rhythm, and it can also serve as a window into how Republican-era wuxia handled historical subjects.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers following Zhu Zhenmu's wuxia series who want to understand the seven heroes' story in order
- Readers who love old-school wuxia ensemble drama and enjoy scenes of Jianghu loyalty and battles of wits
- Readers interested in the combination of late-Ming southern Sichuan regional background and wuxia
- Readers accustomed to serialized narration and able to accept old-fashioned language rhythms
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting each volume to stand alone and unwilling to rely on earlier books' background
- Readers who prefer modern narrative pacing and concise vernacular Chinese
- Readers resistant to pronounced partisan historical depictions in fiction
Reading tips
- Read in series order; first learn how each of the seven heroes appears, then read this volume for clearer character motivation.
- Read each chapter as a complete segment and note the division of labor and cooperation as the seven take turns appearing.
- After finishing, review the passages about the Seven Killings Stele and sort out the clues of the escalating confrontation.
- Readers unused to old-fashioned language can read one or two chapters at a fixed time each day to gradually enter the tone.
Contents
- 作者简介
- 第十三章 铁拐婆婆
- 第十四章 秃尾鱼鹰的血债
- 第十五章 拉萨宫
- 第十六章 活僵尸
- 第十七章 大佛头上请客
FAQ
What is the relationship between this book and Volume 4?
Both belong to Zhu Zhenmu's Seven Killings Stele series and share the framework of the seven heroes of southern Sichuan resisting Zhang Xianzhong. This volume and Volume 4 are connected in plot; reading in volume order is recommended to fully grasp changes in the seven heroes' situation and the progression of the Seven Killings Stele thread.
Are the seven heroes all fictional characters?
According to the sources, the seven heroes include Yang Zhan, Earl of Huayang; Chen Yaoshuang, the Snow-Clad Maiden; Yu Jinwen, the Female Flying Guard; Qibao Heshang Xirong; Chen Denghao, Iron Soles; Yu Fei; and Liu Daozhen. Some, such as Yang Zhan, have related records in late-Ming historical sources, but the novel gives their deeds extensive literary elaboration and they should not be taken one by one as historical fact.
Do I need to know late-Ming history before reading this?
Not systematically; the novel explains the basic background. But knowing the general situation of Zhang Xianzhong's entry into Sichuan will make it easier to understand the seven heroes' situation and the origin of the Seven Killings Stele setup. You can read a brief historical overview first, then enter the novel.
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About the author
Zhu Zhenmu
Author · Chinese · 1895–1955
Zhu Zhenmu (1895–1955), originally named Zhu Zhenyuan and styled Shizhuan, was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang, and a modern Chinese wuxia novelist who was also skilled in painting and seal carving. He is grouped with Huanzhulouzhu, Bai Yu, Zheng Zhengyin and Wang Dulu as the "Five Masters of the Northern School." His wuxia fiction draws on a variety of subjects, often weaving together feuds of the jianghu, exotic romances and frontier customs into intricate plots with vivid characters. Thirty-one of his works are held in the collection, including such representative titles as Hu Xiao Long Yin, Qi Sha Bei, Miaojiang Fengyun and Yulong Gang. Hailed as the "forefather of the new-school wuxia novel," he exerted a profound influence on later wuxia writing. He died in Tianjin in the winter of 1955 from asthma complicated by heart disease.
