The Complete Story of the Hu Family
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Summary
The Complete Story of the Hu Family, also known as Shuo Hu, Generals of the Hu Family, The Complete Tale of the Hu Descendants, or The Golden Whip, is a Chinese classical popular novel in forty chapters; its author is unknown. The novel depicts the struggle between the family of Huyan Demo, descendants of the famous Northern Song general Huyan Zan in the time of Emperor Renzong, and the Pang family, relatives of the imperial consort. Historical figures such as Bao Zheng, Du Yan, and the eunuch Chen Lin appear, as do Yang Linggong (in spirit after his death) and his descendant Yang Wulang, whose family, like Huyan Zan's, were founding heroes of the dynasty. It should be noted that the novel sometimes treats 'Hu' as the family surname or splits 'Yan' out as part of given names (for example calling Huyan Qing 'Yanqing'); this is an error, since 'Huyan' is a compound surname and should not be separated.
Editor's review
The Complete Biography of Hu, also known as The Hu Family Generals, is a forty-chapter classical popular novel by an unknown author. It revolves around the struggle between the descendants of the Northern Song general Hu Yanzan—the household of Hu Yande—and the imperial relative Pang family, with historical figures such as Bao Zheng, Du Yan, and Chen Lin as well as descendants of the Yang Family Generals also appearing, bearing a clear coloring of heroic romance and family feud. The plot is largely driven by loyalist-versus-traitor opposition, with straightforward conflict and brisk pacing, suitable as a read for understanding the "Hu Family Generals" story system and folk popular narrative. While reading, note that the compound surname "Hu Yan" is sometimes split and misused in the book; this is a phenomenon of the text itself, and readers need not understand surnames accordingly. Overall, it is better appreciated as a traditional storytelling work than as a historical read. For readers who enjoy folk heroic genealogies such as the Yang Family Generals and the Hu Family Generals, this book can be read in comparison with related stories to appreciate how folk narrative weaves family loyalty and court struggle.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in folk heroic stories such as the Hu Family Generals and Yang Family Generals
- Readers who enjoy themes of family feud and loyalist-versus-traitor conflict in traditional popular fiction
- Enthusiasts studying classical popular fiction and the transmission of folk storytelling
- General readers seeking to broaden their reading of classical novels
Not a good fit for
- Historical researchers requiring strict historical fact and character verification
- Readers who prefer finely crafted literary language and complex psychological characterization
- Readers with little interest in formulaic chapter-based plots
Reading tips
- Before reading, learn the background of figures such as Hu Yanzan, Bao Zheng, and the Yang Family Generals to reduce unfamiliarity when characters appear.
- Note that "Hu Yan" is a compound surname; the text occasionally splits and misuses it, so understand character appellations as the compound surname when reading.
- Read in installments by chapter, sorting out the conflict line between the Hu family and the Pang family to grasp the loyalist-versus-traitor structure.
- Read alongside stories related to the Yang Family Generals to compare the similarities and differences in folk narratives of heroic families.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 目录
- 公版书总序
- 严杀相尽弓马嘶，其心不惩怒拥旌——《说呼全传》
- 正文
- 原序
- 第一回 呼家将游春戏猎 庞黑虎思美丧命
- 第二回 庞丞相忍气吞声 宋仁宗嘱托访美
- 第三回 庞丞相请驾游园 多花女花园献媚
- 第四回 庞贵妃欺僭正宫 呼得模遭奸设计
- 第五回 庞丞相父女弄权 呼家将一门受戮
- 第六回 王金莲奇缘巧遇 包文正力救呼郎
- 第七回 包文正硬退庞奸 呼守勇病倒王园
- 第八回 王员外巧选东床婿 牛夫人劝嫂联姻眷
- 第九回 钦天监观占星象 庞贵妃计触龙情
- 第十回 庞丞相乘机进剿 包文正奉旨入觐
- 第十一回 斗夫人怒打庞奸 赵凤奴山前大战
- 第十二回 赵大郎与妹完婚 庞丞相高山大败
- 第十三回 庞总兵钦召进京 赵大郎演习兵法
- 第十四回 庞四虎四路追赶 杨令公显圣惊庞
- 第十五回 五霸山大郎遇寇 王金莲喜产麟儿
- 第十六回 太行山守信拜别 杨家将保送甥儿
- 第十七回 齐国宝大演阵法 老夫人擂台选婿
- 第十八回 石头陀打下擂台 呼守信访兄别丈
- 第十九回 桃花潭守信收妖 新唐国公主招亲
- 第二十回 花公主许配东床 呼延庆书房讲武
- 第二十一回 骑石虎延庆逍遥 庞贵妃奸谋渐露
- 第二十二回 万花谷呼郎受法 飞石关王环相遇
- 第二十三回 呼延庆辞师归里 王金莲新唐访夫
- 第二十四回 齐月娥出猎较射 忠孝王冤魂显圣
- 第二十五回 呼延庆擒妖得偶 守信偷祭铁丘坟
- 第二十六回 牛夫人计救呼郎 包文正法场放绑
- 第二十七回 呼家将兄妹相遇 铁丘坟兄妹盗祭
- 第二十八回 呼延庆力救太子 赵文姬梦仙指引
- 第二十九回 仙岩洞延龙遇美 庞飞虎割耳逃回
- 第三十回 庞四虎火烧祝家庄 祝素娟飞马往西凉
- 第三十一回 花瑞莲雄关计放 四虎将兵遭迷雾
- 第三十二回 庞东海领兵助虐 天定山金莲剖诉
- 第三十三回 呼延庆新唐见父 仙山洞公主成亲
- 第三十四回 天定山庞琦大战 小道童大作妖法
- 第三十五回 岳鸣皋逞术大战 天定山国宝受困
- 第三十六回 呼家将大破五行阵 金牛岗杀死庞东海
- 第三十七回 老八王硬指奏妃 呼家将奉旨除奸
- 第三十八回 三家村女将交兵 呼延庆出关提兵
- 第三十九回 庞牛虎戏美亡身 呼家将领兵过关
- 第四十回 呼家将力歼庞奸 宋仁宗封赠团圆
- 如是我闻
- 一、缺失燕云与甘凉河套对宋朝的影响
- 二、北宋著名军事事件
- 三、北宋时期，辽国及西夏名将
- 四、古典文学中经常出现的北宋名臣
FAQ
Who is the author of The Complete Biography of Hu?
According to sources, the author's name is unknown; it is an anonymous work. Also known as Shuohu, The Hu Family Generals, The Complete Biography of the Hu Family Descendants, and The Golden Whip Record, it has forty chapters in total and is a classical popular novel.
Why is "Hu Yan" sometimes split in the book?
"Hu Yan" is a compound surname and should not be split. Sources note that the novel sometimes uses "Hu" as the character's surname or splits the character "Yan" as part of a given name, such as calling someone "Yan Qing"; such appellations are incorrect, and readers should understand character names by the compound surname "Hu Yan."
Is this book related to the Yang Family Generals story?
According to sources, the spirit of Lord Yang and his descendant Yang Wulang also appear, and figures of the Yang Family Generals, who were founding meritorious officials alongside Hu Yanzan, enter the story; thus it intersects with the Yang Family Generals story, though the main thread of this book remains the struggle between the Hu family and the Pang family.
Is it suitable as a historical read?
Not really. This book is a classical popular novel; although historical figures such as Bao Zheng and Du Yan appear, the plot centers on family feud and loyalist-versus-traitor conflict with a folk storytelling flavor and cannot replace historical sources. Those seeking to understand Northern Song history should choose historical materials instead.
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About the author
Anonymous
Author
Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.
