Xiong Damu

Xiong Damu

Xiong Damu (about 1506-1578), a descendant of Zhonggu and Aofeng, was born in Jianyang, Fujian Province. He was the editor and publisher of historical novels in Jiajing and Wanli periods of Ming Dynasty.

He is a literary writer of the early heroic and legendary type, and has written biography of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Profile

Xiongdamu's ancestors, from xiongmi to Xionghe, had a high social status in Tang and Song dynasties. Later generations were either official or private. Xiongdamu's generation had already become a citizen class. However, the patriotism and the tradition of erudition and ability established by Xiong's ancestors are the two major characteristics inherited in Xiong's works.

He was engaged in editing and publishing, and his bookshop was called zhongzhengtang. Many books were published and handed down by him. He also wrote many popular novels himself. He is another folk writer in the history of Chinese novels who created historical novels and heroic legends after the writers of romance of the Three Kingdoms and outlaws of the marsh.

According to sun Kaidi's bibliography of Chinese popular novels, Xiong's popular novels include biography of the whole Han Dynasty, popular romance of the Tang Dynasty, biography of the northern and Southern Song Dynasties, popular romance of the great Song Dynasty and diary stories. These works reflect strong national consciousness and patriotism.

Xiong Damu compiled a large number of popular novels, which occupied an important position in the history of novels in Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Main works

1. Biography of the Northern Song Dynasty (also known as biography of Yang Jiajiang and Yang Jiajiang)

2. Popular romance of Zhongxing in Song Dynasty (also known as biography of Wu Mu Jingzhong)

3. Popular romance of Tang Shu Zhi Zhuan

4. Romance of the emperor and his ministers in Song Dynasty

5. Biography of the whole Han Dynasty

6. The sequel of song biography

Influence of later generations

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, bookstores intervened in the creation of popular novels. Although popular novels got a great development, they also led to the piling up of mediocre works. This situation is known as the "bear big wood phenomenon".

The main publishers representing this phenomenon are: Yu xiangdou (four travels), Xiong Longfeng, Yu Shaoyu (biographies of the kingdoms), Yu Chengzhang, Liu Shan, Liu Longtian, Xiong Zongli, Yu Liangfu and Zou Xuesheng, among which Xiong and Yu are the most successful.

Chinese PinYin : Xiong Da Mu