Xuē Gāng Fǎn Táng 薛剛反唐
Xue Gang Rebels Against the Tang by 如蓮居士
About the work
Xuē Gāng Fǎn Táng 薛剛反唐 is a Qīng-dynasty vernacular historical-romance novel (lìshǐ yǎnyì 歷史演義), attributed to 如蓮居士 (Rú Lián Jūshì, “The Lay Buddhist Who is Like a Lotus”), a pen name that cannot be identified with any known historical individual. The text is a sequel to, and part of, the broader Xuē Jiā Jiāng 薛家將 (Xue Family Generals) story cycle, which follows the heroic deeds of the Xuē 薛 clan across multiple generations from the early Táng into the reigns of Empress Wǔ Zétiān 武則天. The text in the Kanripo corpus is a Qīng woodblock print.
Tiyao
No tiyao found in source.
Abstract
The narrative belongs to the jiāng jiāng 將將 (generals-and-battles) cycle of historical-romance fiction that flourished in late-Míng and Qīng popular publishing. Earlier installments cover the campaigns of Xuē Rénguì 薛仁貴 (Xuē Rénguì Zhēng Dōng 薛仁貴征東) and of Xuē Dīngshān 薛丁山 and his wife Fán Líhuā 樊梨花 (Xuē Dīngshān Zhēng Xī 薛丁山征西 / Shuō Táng Yǎnyì Hòuzhuàn 說唐演義後傳). Xuē Gāng Fǎn Táng picks up with the next generation: Xuē Gāng 薛剛, third son of Xuē Dīngshān, is an impulsive hero who at a Lantern Festival banquet (元宵) kicks and accidentally kills the Crown Prince, triggering the massacre of the entire Xuē clan by the empress regent Wǔ Zétiān 武則天. Xuē Gāng escapes, rallies loyal forces including the Tōngchéng Hǔ 通城虎 (“Thoroughbred Tiger”), the wise statesman Dí Rénjiě 狄仁傑, and the Tang prince Lúlíng Wáng Lǐ Xiǎn 廬陵王李顯. After numerous campaigns, Wǔ Zétiān’s usurpation is overthrown, Táng sovereignty is restored, and the Xuē family honour is vindicated.
The novel is framed by the contrast between Xuē Méng 薛蒙 (eldest son, who conforms to feudal loyalty even at the cost of his family) and Xuē Gāng (who refuses submission and fights back). This tension — filial and political duty versus righteous resistance — gives the narrative its moral energy.
The Xuē Jiā Jiāng cycle was extremely popular in late imperial China and fed both professional storytelling (píngshu 評書) and regional opera traditions. A modern critical edition was published by Jilin University Press (2011). The author’s pen name 如蓮居士 follows the common Qīng convention of pious lay-Buddhist pseudonyms.
Translations and research
No substantial secondary literature located.
Links
- Amazon (modern edition): https://www.amazon.com/dp/7551801790
- WorldCat: https://www.worldcat.org (search 薛剛反唐)