The Zhuang Tinglong case, also known as the Ming History case, was a 17th-century case of literary inquisition which took place in China between 1661 and 1663 during the

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...

. The case was about the publication of an unauthorised history of the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

– the ruling dynasty in China before the Qing dynasty – by Zhuang Tinglong (), a merchant from

Huzhou Huzhou (, ; Huzhou dialect: Romanization of Wu Chinese, ''ghou² cieu¹'') is a prefecture-level city in northern Zhejiang province (Hangzhou–Jiaxing–Huzhou Plain, China). Lying south of the Lake Tai, it borders Jiaxing to the east, Hangzho ...

Zhejiang ) , translit_lang1_type2 = , translit_lang1_info2 = ( Hangzhounese) ( Ningbonese) (Wenzhounese) , image_skyline = 玉甑峰全貌 - panoramio.jpg , image_caption = View of the Yandang Mountains , image_map = Zhejiang i ...

. At the end, thousands of people associated with the publication of the work were punished, including over 70 put to death.

Background

Zhuang Tinglong was a wealthy merchant from Nanxun, which is in present-day

. He desired to emulate

Zuo Qiuming Zuo Qiuming, Zuoqiu Ming or Qiu Ming (556 – 451 BCEZhou, Jixu (May 2011"Confucius and Lao Zi" Their Differing Social Foundations and Cultures ''Sino-Platonic Papers'' 211. p. 2 or 502 – 422 BCE) was a Chinese historian who was a c ...

(556–451 BCE), the author of the ''

Zuo Zhuan The ''Zuo Zhuan'' ( zh, t=左傳, w=Tso Chuan; ), often translated as ''The Zuo Tradition'' or as ''The Commentary of Zuo'', is an ancient Chinese narrative history traditionally regarded as a commentary on the ancient Chinese chronicle the '' ...

'' who was also blind like him, by publishing a book of history on the

. However, he knew little about Ming history, so he decided to start with materials that were already available. He purchased a draft of Ming history, written earlier by Zhu Guozhen. Later, he hired a team of 16 scholars from the

Jiangnan Jiangnan is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of its delta. The region encompasses the city of Shanghai, the southern part of Jiangsu ...

region, including Wu Yan () and Pan Chengzhang (), to help him edit and build on Zhu Guozhen's work. The book contained a number of inappropriate references to the Ming dynasty, as well as text considered taboo and defamatory to the Qing dynasty. Some examples include the use of

era name A regnal year is a year of the reign of a sovereign, from the Latin meaning kingdom, rule. Regnal years considered the date as an ordinal, not a cardinal number. For example, a monarch could have a first year of rule, a second year of rule, a t ...

s of the Ming emperors and other Ming titles and forms; denial of the legitimacy of the Qing dynasty; references to the

Manchus The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized ethnic minority in China and the people from whom Manchuria derives its name. The Later Jin (1616–1636) an ...

and

Jianzhou Jurchens The Jianzhou Jurchens () were one of the three major groups of Jurchens as identified by the Ming dynasty. Although the geographic location of the Jianzhou Jurchens changed throughout history, during the 14th century they were located south of ...

as "barbarians"; and references to the Qing emperors by their personal names. The book was published under the title ''History of Ming'' and contained more than 100 volumes. Li Lingxi () wrote the preface, while Zhuang Tinglong was credited as the lead writer. Other contributors to the book include: Wu Yan (), Pan Chengzhang (), Mao Yuanming (), Wu Zhiming (), Wu Zhirong (), Li Tao (), Mao Cilai (), Wu Chu (), Tang Yuanlou (), Yan Yunqi (), Jiang Linzheng (), Wei Jinyou (), Wei Yiwei (), Zhang Gao (), Dong Eryou (), Lu Qi (),

Zha Jizuo Zha Jizuo (1601–1676) was a Chinese writer and scholar who lived during the late Ming dynasty and early Qing dynasty. Names Zha Jizuo's given name was originally Jiyou () before he changed it to Jizuo (). His courtesy name was originally Sanx ...

and Fan Xiang ().

Literary inquisition

Zhuang Tinglong died of illness in 1655 shortly after the book was completed. In 1660, Zhuang Tinglong's father, Zhuang Yuncheng (), had the book printed and distributed under the title ''Brief Series of Ming History''. In 1661, Wu Zhirong (), the magistrate of Gui'an County (in present-day

), reported the book to Chen Yongming (), the prefecture governor. However, Chen Yongming dismissed the case after accepting a bribe of a few thousand silver

tael Tael ( ),"Tael" entry
at the

Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...

eventually found out about the book.

Oboi Oboi (Manchu: , Mölendorff: Oboi; ) (c. 1610–1669) was a prominent Manchu military commander and courtier who served in various military and administrative posts under three successive emperors of the early Qing dynasty. Born to the Guwalg ...

, the regent for the then underage

Kangxi Emperor The Kangxi Emperor (4 May 165420 December 1722), also known by his temple name Emperor Shengzu of Qing, personal name Xuanye, was the third emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign of 61 ...

, ordered officials from the

Ministry of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

to go to Huzhou to conduct an investigation. This led to the arrests of multiple individuals associated with the book, including the Zhuang family, the publishers of the book, people who possessed copies of the book, and officials who failed to report the book. Wu Zhirong, who bore a grudge against a merchant Zhu Youming (), used the opportunity to frame Zhu Youming for being involved. He claimed that the "Zhu" mentioned in "Zhu's original draft" in the book referred to Zhu Youming when the "Zhu" actually referred to Zhu Guozhen. Zhuang Yuncheng was arrested and sent to Beijing, and eventually died in prison from abuse and torture. Zhuang Tinglong's remains were excavated from his grave and destroyed. In 1663, the arrested people were given various sentences ranging from execution to exile. Tang Dafu () and Li Xiangfu (), who were in charge of the printing process of the book, along with bookstore owners Wang Yunjiao () and Lu Deru (), who sold copies of the book, were executed. Zhuang Tinglong's brother, Zhuang Tingyue (), was executed by ''

lingchi ''Lingchi'' ( IPA: , ), usually translated "slow slicing" or "death by a thousand cuts", was a form of torture and execution used in China from roughly 900 until it was banned in 1905. It was also used in Vietnam and Korea. In this form of ex ...

'', and the entire Zhuang family was implicated in the case. Li Lingxi and his son Li Rengdao (), Zhu Youming and his sons Zhu Nianshao (), Zhu Yanshao (), Zhu Keshao () and nephew Zhu Yi (), were executed by beheading; Zhu Youming's wife committed suicide. The sentencing judge took pity on Li Lingxi's youngest son, who was then 16 years old, and offered to reduce his legal age by one year, thus sparing him from death and sentencing him to exile instead. However, the boy refused and was executed along with his family. Dong Eryou, who had already died by then, had his remains excavated and dismembered into 36 parts. His son, Dong Yuyi (), was executed. Zhao Junsong (), a teacher in Huzhou who initially reported the book, was also convicted and executed for secretly keeping a copy of the book. Li Jibai (), an official in Xuyeguan Town in

Suzhou Suzhou is a major prefecture-level city in southern Jiangsu province, China. As part of the Yangtze Delta megalopolis, it is a major economic center and focal point of trade and commerce. Founded in 514 BC, Suzhou rapidly grew in size by the ...

, was executed for purchasing a copy of the book. Other officials such as Hu Shangheng (), Liang Huafeng () and Zhang Wulie () managed to escape persecution by heavily bribing the authorities. Fan Xiang, Zha Jizuo and Lu Qi were saved due to the intervention of

Wu Liuqi Wu Liuqi (1607–1665), courtesy names Jianbo () and Geru (), was a Chinese general of the Qing dynasty who served as the provincial military commander of Guangdong Province. Life Wu Liuqi was born in Fengshun County, Guangdong Province durin ...

and were pardoned. Wu Zhirong, who reported the book, received Zhuang Yuncheng and Zhu Youming's family fortunes as his reward.

Aftermath

The case was closed on 21 June 1663. The thousands of people who were involved or implicated in the case were rounded up at a military camp in

Hangzhou Hangzhou, , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ; formerly romanized as Hangchow is a sub-provincial city in East China and the capital of Zhejiang province. With a population of 13 million, the municipality comprises ten districts, two counti ...

, where they were sentenced. 72 people were condemned to death: Zhuang Tingyue, Mao Yuanming, Jiang Linzheng, Zhang Gao, Wei Yuanjie (), Pan Chengzhang, Wu Yan, Wu Zhirong, Wu Zhiming and others were executed by ''

''. Song Kui (), the general of

, and Zhu Changzuo (), the

provincial governor Provincial may refer to: Government & Administration * Provincial capitals, an administrative sub-national capital of a country * Provincial city (disambiguation) * Provincial minister (disambiguation) * Provincial Secretary, a position in Can ...

of Zhejiang, along with their subordinates, were dismissed from office. Cheng Weifan (), who instigated Song Kui to accept bribes to cover up the case, was executed. Two teachers from Gui'an and Wucheng counties were also executed. Chen Yongming, the prefecture governor of Huzhou, was removed from office and exiled to

Tai'erzhuang Tai'erzhuang District ( zh, s=, t=臺兒莊區, p=Tái'érzhuāng Qū) is the southernmost of five districts under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Zaozhuang. The district is located in the south of Shandong Province, China, bor ...

Shandong Shandong is a coastal Provinces of China, province in East China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural ...

; he committed suicide during the journey but his body was sent back to Hangzhou and dismembered. Chen Yonglai (), Chen Yongming's brother who was serving as the magistrate of Jiangning County, was executed as well. Wang Zhaozhen () and Li Huan (), two teachers in Gui'an County, along with Tan Ximin (), Chen Yongming's successor as prefecture governor of Huzhou, were executed by hanging, while their families were exiled to Ningguta.

Gu Yanwu Gu Yanwu () (July 15, 1613 – February 15, 1682), also known as Gu Tinglin (), was a Chinese philologist, geographer, and famous scholar in the early Qing dynasty. After the Manchu conquest of north China in 1644, Gu participated in anti-Manc ...

, who was in

Fenyang Fenyang (), formerly as Fenyang County () before 1996, is a county-level city under the administration of Lüliang prefecture-level city, in Shanxi Province, China. Fenyang is located in the wide valley of the Fen River, some 20-plus kilometers we ...

Shanxi Shanxi; Chinese postal romanization, formerly romanised as Shansi is a Provinces of China, province in North China. Its capital and largest city of the province is Taiyuan, while its next most populated prefecture-level cities are Changzhi a ...

, wrote two poems to describe his grief over the case.

In fiction

The Zhuang Tinglong case is mentioned in the

wuxia ( , literally "martial arts and chivalry") is a genre of Chinese literature, Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists in ancient China. Although is traditionally a form of historical fantasy literature, its popularity ha ...

novel ''

The Deer and the Cauldron ''The Deer and the Cauldron'', also known as ''The Duke of Mount Deer'', is a historical novel by Jin Yong. It is his last and longest novel, originally serialized in the Hong Kong newspaper ''Ming Pao'' from 24 October 1969 to 23 September 1972 ...

'' by

Jin Yong Louis Cha Leung-yung (; 10 March 1924 – 30 October 2018), better known by his pen name Jin Yong (), was a Hong Kong wuxia novelist and co-founder of '' Ming Pao.'' Cha authored 15 novels between 1955 and 1972 and became one of the most pop ...

. In the novel, the protagonist

Wei Xiaobao The following is a list of characters from the novel '' The Deer and the Cauldron'' by Jin Yong. Some of these characters previously appeared in another novel '' Sword Stained with Royal Blood'', which is also written by Jin Yong. Some of these ch ...

meets the widows of the Zhuang family who have escaped from exile and helps them take revenge against Wu Zhirong. Jin Yong, the

pen name A pen name or nom-de-plume is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen name may be used to make the author's na ...

of Zha Liangyong, was a descendent of Zha Jizuo, an official who was implicated in the case but was spared from execution. Zha Jizuo also appears as a minor character in association with the case.

Notes

References

* * {{cite book , last=Waley-Cohen , first= Joanna , year=2000 , chapter=Collective Responsibility in Qing Criminal Law , editor-first1= Karen G. , editor-last1=Turner, editor-first2= James V. , editor-last2=Feinerman, editor-first3= R. Kent , editor-last3=Guy , title=The Limits of Rule of Law in China , location= Seattle , publisher= University of Washington Press , pages=112–131 , isbn=0-295-97907-0. 1661 in China 1661 in law 1662 in China 1662 in law 1663 in China 1663 in law Censorship in China Collective punishment Persecution of intellectuals in China Law in Qing dynasty History of Huzhou Historical controversies in China Historiography of China