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''The Generals of the Yang Family'' is a collection of Chinese
folklore Folklore is the body of expressive culture shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture. This includes oral traditions such as Narrative, tales, myths, legends, proverbs, Poetry, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions. This also ...
,
plays Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...
and
novel A novel is an extended work of narrative fiction usually written in prose and published as a book. The word derives from the for 'new', 'news', or 'short story (of something new)', itself from the , a singular noun use of the neuter plural of ...
s on a military family from the earlier years of
imperial China The history of China spans several millennia across a wide geographical area. Each region now considered part of the Chinese world has experienced periods of unity, fracture, prosperity, and strife. Chinese civilization first emerged in the Y ...
's
Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
(960–1279). The stories recount the unflinching loyalty and the remarkable bravery of the Yangs as they sacrificed themselves to defend their country from foreign military powers, namely the Khitan-ruled Liao dynasty (907–1125) and
Tangut Tangut may refer to: *Tangut people, an ancient ethnic group in Northwest China *Tangut language, the extinct language spoken by the Tangut people *Tangut script, the writing system used to write the Tangut language *Tangut (Unicode block) *Wester ...
-ruled
Western Xia The Western Xia or the Xi Xia ( zh, c=, w=Hsi1 Hsia4, p=Xī Xià), officially the Great Xia ( zh, c=大夏, w=Ta4 Hsia4, p=Dà Xià, labels=no), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts ...
(1038–1227). Spanning the century from 950 to 1050, the mostly fictional saga was based on the lives of historical characters
Yang Ye Yang Ye (楊業) or Yang Jiye (楊繼業)According to he changed his name directly from Liu Jiye to Yang Ye in 979, changing both the surname and the given name. If this is to be believed, the name Yang Jiye is technically incorrect, but shows ...
(died 986), Yang Ye's son Yang Yanzhao ( 958–1014) and Yang Yanzhao's son
Yang Wenguang Yang Wenguang (; died 1074) was a general in ancient China's Northern Song dynasty. In history, Yang Wenguang was the son of Yang Yanzhao; however, he is the grandson of Yang Yanzhao in the popular fictionalized stories of Yang clan warriors. ...
(died 1074). As Yang Yanzhao was nicknamed "sixth son" (六郎) in history, the stories made him Yang Ye's sixth eldest son. Also, as Yang Wenguang was close to two generations younger than his father, the stories made him Yang Yanzhao's grandson instead.


Historical basis


Historical background

In 907, when the
Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
officially ended,
imperial China The history of China spans several millennia across a wide geographical area. Each region now considered part of the Chinese world has experienced periods of unity, fracture, prosperity, and strife. Chinese civilization first emerged in the Y ...
entered the chaotic and fragmented phase known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The decades that followed were marked by regional warlords, many legitimizing themselves as
emperors The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife ( empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/ grand empress dowager), or a woman who rule ...
, fighting amongst one another for power and territories. The year 907 also marked the beginning of such a militaristic state – officially called the Liao after 947 – established by
Khitan people The Khitan people (Khitan small script: ; ) were a historical Eurasian nomads, nomadic people from Northeast Asia who, from the 4th century, inhabited an area corresponding to parts of modern Mongolia, Northeast China and the Russian Far East. ...
in roughly today's
Liaoning ) , image_skyline = , image_alt = , image_caption = Clockwise: Mukden Palace in Shenyang, Xinghai Square in Dalian, Dalian coast, Yalu River at Dandong , image_map = Liaoning in China (+all claims hatched).svg , ...
and
Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia, officially the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of China. Its border includes two-thirds of the length of China's China–Mongolia border, border with the country of Mongolia. ...
. The Khitans were largely nomadic people and frequently engaged in raids of the more affluent agricultural
Han Chinese The Han Chinese, alternatively the Han people, are an East Asian people, East Asian ethnic group native to Greater China. With a global population of over 1.4 billion, the Han Chinese are the list of contemporary ethnic groups, world's la ...
and
Korean people Koreans are an East Asian people, East Asian ethnicity, ethnic group native to the Korean Peninsula. The majority of Koreans live in the two Korean sovereign states of North and South Korea, which are collectively referred to as Korea. As ...
in the south for wealth. The southern area known as the Central Plain, or the Chinese heartland, defended against the Khitan incursions with strategical points or passes established roughly along the line of the old
Great Wall The Great Wall of China (, literally "ten thousand Li (unit), ''li'' long wall") is a series of fortifications in China. They were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection agains ...
. However, the area including these passes, known as the
Sixteen Prefectures The Sixteen Prefectures, more precisely known as the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan- Yun () or the Sixteen Prefectures of You- Ji (), comprise a historical region in North China along the Great Wall in present-day Beijing, Tianjin, and part of no ...
, were given to the Liao dynasty in 936 by general
Shi Jingtang Shi Jingtang ( zh, 石敬瑭; 30 March 892 – 28 July 942''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 283.), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Gaozu of Later Jin (), was the founding emperor of the Later Jin dynasty of China during the Five Dynas ...
, in exchange for military aid in Shi's personal war against the
Later Tang Tang, known in historiography as the Later Tang, was a short-lived imperial dynasty of China and the second of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in Chinese history. The first three of the Later Tang's four ...
. With no more passes impeding their army, the Khitans gained unlimited access to the Central Plain: just a decade later, they easily took their army south to extinguish the same Later Jin they helped Shi establish. Even though the Khitans did not occupy the Central Plain, partially because their constant looting had caused unmanageable unrest, the sad fate of Later Jin already illustrated the danger looming in the north for any succeeding Chinese dynasty. When the
Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
was established in the Central Plain in 960, it first tried to appease the Liao dynasty to focus on campaigns against the states in southern China, but the goal of recovering the Sixteen Prefectures had always been there.


The Yang family

Yang Ye Yang Ye (楊業) or Yang Jiye (楊繼業)According to he changed his name directly from Liu Jiye to Yang Ye in 979, changing both the surname and the given name. If this is to be believed, the name Yang Jiye is technically incorrect, but shows ...
, a general of the
Northern Han The Northern Han ( zh, t=北漢, s=北汉, p=Běi Hàn) was a dynastic state of China and one of the Ten Kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It was founded by Liu Min (Emperor Shizu) as a continuation of the Later Ha ...
Kingdom, was nicknamed "Invincible" (無敵) due to his tactical prowess and unmatched gallantry in battle. He served the
Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
after
Liu Jiyuan Liu Jiyuan () (died in 992), also known by his regnal name as the Emperor Yingwu of (Northern) Han ((北)漢英武帝), was the last emperor of the Shatuo-led Chinese Northern Han dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He w ...
, ruler of Northern Han, surrendered.
Emperor Taizong of Song Zhao Jiong (20 November 939 – 8 May 997), known as Zhao Guangyi from 960 to 977 and Zhao Kuangyi before 960, also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizong of Song, was the second emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned from 9 ...
had great faith in Yang Ye and commissioned him to defend Song's northern border from the Khitan-ruled Liao dynasty. Yang Ye proved himself by defeating the Liao in the
Battle of Yanmen Pass Yanmen Pass, also known by its Chinese name Yanmenguan and as Xixingguan, is a mountain pass which includes three fortified gatehouses along the Great Wall of China. The area was a strategic choke point in ancient and medieval China, contro ...
, instilling fear in the enemy but also incurring the jealousy of some Song officials. In 986, during a northern campaign against Liao forces, the Song force commanded by General Pan Mei was attacked by the main enemy force. Pan Mei and others forced Yang Ye to lead an army to resist a much larger enemy despite Yang Ye's opposition. Yang Ye engaged Liao forces in a bloody battle at Chenjiagu (陳家谷), but reinforcements did not arrive as promised. Surrounded by the much larger army, Yang Ye was captured by Liao forces and starved himself to death. One of Yang Ye's seven sons was also killed. Pan Mei was later demoted by Emperor Taizong for Yang Ye's death. The most outstanding of Yang Ye's seven sons was Yang Yanzhao, who continued defending Song's northern border from Liao forces for more than two decades. The Khitans feared him. Yang Yanzhao's son
Yang Wenguang Yang Wenguang (; died 1074) was a general in ancient China's Northern Song dynasty. In history, Yang Wenguang was the son of Yang Yanzhao; however, he is the grandson of Yang Yanzhao in the popular fictionalized stories of Yang clan warriors. ...
also became an important general and followed
Di Qing Di Qing (1008–1057), formerly romanized as Ti Ch'ing, was a Chinese military general of the Northern Song dynasty. He often wore a mask in battle. He led campaigns against the Western Xia and the Nong Zhigao rebellion in Guangxi. He was kno ...
on a southern campaign against
Nong Zhigao Nong Zhigao (; modern Zhuang language: ; ) (1025–1055?) was a Zhuang people, Zhuang (Nùng people, Nùng) chieftain and the only emperor of Dali (大曆; 1041), Nantian (南天; 1045–1052), and eventually Danan (大南; 1052–1053). Today ...
. He also defended Song's western borders from
Western Xia The Western Xia or the Xi Xia ( zh, c=, w=Hsi1 Hsia4, p=Xī Xià), officially the Great Xia ( zh, c=大夏, w=Ta4 Hsia4, p=Dà Xià, labels=no), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts ...
.


Literary development


Early development: 11th to 13th century

Legends on the Yang family began very early. In 1051, even before Yang Wenguang distinguished himself in the military, scholar
Ouyang Xiu Ouyang Xiu (; 1007 – 1072 CE), courtesy name Yongshu, also known by his art names Zuiweng () and Liu Yi Jushi (), was a Chinese historian, calligrapher, epigrapher, essayist, poet, and politician of the Song dynasty. He was a renowned writer a ...
had inscribed the following on the tombstone of a Yang family relative. He was clearly referring to Yang Ye and Yang Yanzhao: The earliest reference to the saga were from the so-called Southern Song (1127–1279), when the Song dynasty had to relocate its capital to Southern China in Lin'an (modern
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 ...
,
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 ...
), for its northern territory had been
conquered Conquest involves the annexation or control of another entity's territory through war or coercion. Historically, conquests occurred frequently in the international system, and there were limited normative or legal prohibitions against conquest ...
by the Jurchen-ruled
Jin dynasty Jin may refer to: States Jìn 晉 * Jin (Chinese state) (晉國), major state of the Zhou dynasty, existing from the 11th century BC to 376 BC * Jin dynasty (266–420) (晉朝), also known as Liang Jin and Sima Jin * Jin (Later Tang precursor) ...
. Among a recorded list of stories told by Lin'an storytellers, two titles clearly involved the Yang family: * "Commander Lord Yang" (楊令公) * "The fifth son becomes a monk" (五郎為僧)


Yuan/Ming dynasty plays: 14th to 15th century

In a list of plays from Southern Song dynasty's northern neighbor Jin dynasty (1115–1234), one title probably refers to an episode in the Yang saga: * ''Da Wang Shumi Cuan'' (打王樞密爨; "The Skit of Beating Military Affairs Commissioner Wang") By the
Yuan dynasty The Yuan dynasty ( ; zh, c=元朝, p=Yuáncháo), officially the Great Yuan (; Mongolian language, Mongolian: , , literally 'Great Yuan State'), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after Div ...
(1271–1368), plays in the form of ''
zaju ''Zaju'' was a form of Chinese opera which provided entertainment through a synthesis of recitations of prose and poetry, dance, singing, and mime, with a certain emphasis on comedy (or, happy endings). Although with diverse and earlier roots, ''z ...
'' on the Yang saga appeared. Many scripts survived in its entirety, almost all compiled 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 ...
so their authenticity have * ''Haotian ta Meng Liang dao gu'' (昊天塔孟良盜骨; "At Haotian Pagoda Meng Liang Steals the Bones") * ''Ba dawang kaizhao jiu zhongchen'' (八大王開詔救忠臣; "The Eighth Great Prince Opens a Proclamation and Saves a Loyal Vassal") * ''Xie Jinwu zha chai Qingfeng fu'' (謝金吾詐拆清風府; "Xie Jinwu Underhandedly Tears Down Clear Breeze Mansion") * ''Yang Liulang diaobing po tianzhen'' (楊六郎調兵破天陣; "Yang's sixth son lines up his troops and defeats the Heavenly Battle Array") * ''Jiao Guangzan huona Xiao Tianyou'' (焦光贊活拿蕭天佑; "Jiao Guangzan catches Xiao Tianyou alive") * ''Huang Meiweng cifu shangshou'' (黃眉翁賜福上壽; "The Yellow-Eyebrows Greybeard offers blessing and extends longevity")


Ming/Qing dynasty novels: 16th to 19th century

In
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 ...
(1368–1644), a number of novels on the Yang family began to appear. The two that have survived to this day both appeared during
Wanli Emperor The Wanli Emperor (4 September 1563 – 18 August 1620), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Shenzong of Ming, personal name Zhu Yijun, art name Yuzhai, was the 14th List of emperors of the Ming dynasty, emperor of the Ming dynasty, reig ...
's reign (1572–1620): * The earliest extant version was from 1593, but it was probably written during
Jiajing Emperor The Jiajing Emperor (16September 150723January 1567), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Shizong of Ming, personal name Zhu Houcong, art name, art names Yaozhai, Leixuan, and Tianchi Diaosou, was the 12th List of emperors of the Ming ...
's reign (1521–1567). The author was almost certainly Xiong Damu (熊大木), a bookstore owner. * The earliest extant edition was from 1606, but it was likely a slightly revised edition of text from the early 16th century. The author was Qinhuai Moke (秦淮墨客; "The Qinhuai Ink Guest"), believed to be 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 Ji Zhenlun (紀振倫), probably a bookstore scribe in Jinling (金陵; modern
Nanjing Nanjing or Nanking is the capital of Jiangsu, a province in East China. The city, which is located in the southwestern corner of the province, has 11 districts, an administrative area of , and a population of 9,423,400. Situated in the Yang ...
,
Jiangsu Jiangsu is a coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province in East China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its capital in Nanjing. Jiangsu is the List of Chinese administra ...
). These novels would become the primary source materials for the legends. In 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 ...
(1644–1911), more novels appeared. Some are modifications of the previous novels, some retold particular stories, while some are
sequels A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music, or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...
.Zhang, Ch.4 Other novels with similar settings would also feature characters from the Yang family, for example the novels featuring
Zhao Kuangyin Emperor Taizu of Song (21 March 927 – 14 November 976), personal name Zhao Kuangyin, courtesy name Yuanlang, was the founding emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned from 960 until his death in 976. Formerly a distinguished milita ...
(927–976) or
Di Qing Di Qing (1008–1057), formerly romanized as Ti Ch'ing, was a Chinese military general of the Northern Song dynasty. He often wore a mask in battle. He led campaigns against the Western Xia and the Nong Zhigao rebellion in Guangxi. He was kno ...
(1008–1057) as their main character. Other novels in later settings also included characters who were alleged descendants of the Yang family: *"Blue Faced Beast" Yang Zhi (楊志), a character in the classical novel ''
Water Margin ''Water Margin'' (), also called ''Outlaws of the Marsh'' or ''All Men Are Brothers'', is a Chinese novel from the Ming dynasty that is one of the preeminent Classic Chinese Novels. Attributed to Shi Nai'an, ''Water Margin'' was one of the e ...
'', is a fictitious descendant of Yang Ye. *
Yang Zaixing Yang Zaixing (, died 21 August 1140) was a Song dynasty general under Yue Fei, known for his ferocity in battles. He fought against the Jin dynasty in the Jin–Song Wars. His heroic death in the battle of Yancheng—where he led 300 cavalry to ...
(died 1140), a historical general of the Southern Song dynasty, was said to be a descendant of Yang Ye through Yang Yanzhao in the novel ''Shuo Yue Quanzhuan'' (說岳全傳) about
Yue Fei Yue Fei (; March 24, 1103 – January 28, 1142), courtesy name Pengju (), was a Chinese military general of the Song dynasty and is remembered as a patriotic folk hero, national hero, known for leading its forces in Jin–Song Wars, the wars ...
.
Yang Zaixing Yang Zaixing (, died 21 August 1140) was a Song dynasty general under Yue Fei, known for his ferocity in battles. He fought against the Jin dynasty in the Jin–Song Wars. His heroic death in the battle of Yancheng—where he led 300 cavalry to ...
had two sons, Yang Zhengyuan (楊正園) and Yang Zhengguo (楊正國).


Qing dynasty opera: 19th century

The
Jiaqing Emperor The Jiaqing Emperor (13 November 1760 – 2 September 1820), also known by his temple name Emperor Renzong of Qing, personal name Yongyan, was the sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty and the fifth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. He was ...
, who reigned from 1796 to 1820, ordered the compilation of a ''Song Book to Enlighten Generations'' (昭代箫韶), containing 240 plays in ''
kunqu Kunqu (), also known as Kunju (), K'un-ch'ü, Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from a music style local to Kunshan, part of the Wu (region), Wu cultural area, and later came to dominate ...
'' about the generals of the Yang family. The compilation was published in 1813 and attributed to Wang Tingzhang (王廷章) and Fan Wenxian (范聞賢). Over the years the opera series was only performed three times due to its length.Zhang, Ch. 5 Later,
Empress Dowager Cixi Empress Dowager Cixi ( ; 29 November 1835 – 15 November 1908) was a Manchu noblewoman of the Yehe Nara clan who effectively but periodically controlled the Chinese government in the late Qing dynasty as empress dowager and regent for almost 50 ...
ordered its modification into the
Peking opera Peking opera, or Beijing opera (), is the most dominant form of Chinese opera, which combines instrumental music, vocal performance, mime, martial arts, dance and acrobatics. It arose in Beijing in the mid-Qing dynasty (1644–1912) and became ...
version, a huge project that lasted from 1898 until 1900 when it was interrupted by the
Boxer Rebellion The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, was an anti-foreign, anti-imperialist, and anti-Christian uprising in North China between 1899 and 1901, towards the end of the Qing dynasty, by the Society of Righteous and Harmonious F ...
and subsequent foreign invasions. In addition to the plays shown in the
Forbidden City The Forbidden City () is the Chinese Empire, imperial Chinese palace, palace complex in the center of the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City in Beijing, China. It was the residence of 24 Ming dynasty, Ming and Qing dynasty, Qing dynasty L ...
, ''
qinqiang Qinqiang (秦腔, pinyin: Qín qiāng, literally "Qin's tune") is a genre of folk Chinese opera originated in Shaanxi Province of Qing China in 1807 and soon took over other genres to be the representative genre of the province. Historically, t ...
'', '' yuju'', ''
pingju Pingju or Ping opera () is a form of Chinese opera from North China, northern China. History Pingju originated in Tangshan, Hebei, near the city of Tianjin.. Among all China's regional operas, it was the most famous in the Republic of China (191 ...
'' and many other local
Chinese opera Traditional Chinese opera (), or ''Xiqu'', is a form of musical theatre in China with roots going back to the early periods in China. It is an amalgamation of various art forms that existed in ancient China, and evolved gradually over more tha ...
forms have all throughout the centuries developed their own stories about generals of the Yang family. Many of the stories aren't found in novels and have vastly enriched the legends. In the 20th century, the stories were greatly popularized in China through the performing art ''
pingshu ''Pingshu'' () or ''pinghua'' () refers to the traditional Han Chinese performing art of storytelling with no musical accompaniment. It is better known as ''pingshu'' in northern China and ''pinghua'' in southern China. Performing art Pingshu ...
'' (storytelling).


Basic story

During the
Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
's invasion of the much weaker
Northern Han The Northern Han ( zh, t=北漢, s=北汉, p=Běi Hàn) was a dynastic state of China and one of the Ten Kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It was founded by Liu Min (Emperor Shizu) as a continuation of the Later Ha ...
Kingdom,
Emperor Taizu of Song Emperor Taizu of Song (21 March 927 – 14 November 976), personal name Zhao Kuangyin, courtesy name Yuanlang, was the founding emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned from 960 until his death in 976. Formerly a distinguished milita ...
's army was surprised by Northern Han general
Yang Ye Yang Ye (楊業) or Yang Jiye (楊繼業)According to he changed his name directly from Liu Jiye to Yang Ye in 979, changing both the surname and the given name. If this is to be believed, the name Yang Jiye is technically incorrect, but shows ...
and suffered a major defeat. Song general
Pan Renmei Pan Mei (潘美) ( 925From his date and Chinese age at death we can deduct that he was born some time between 27 January 925 and 14 February 926. – 20 July 991) was a military general and statesman in the early years of imperial China's Song ...
was almost killed by Yang Ye and the Song army had no choice but to retreat. Years later, Emperor Taizu's successor Emperor Taizong initiated another invasion, which was again stopped by forces led by Yang Ye, his wife
She Saihua She Saihua (佘賽花) is a legendary heroine from ancient China's Northern Song Dynasty. The wife of Yang Ye and the mother of their 7 sons, she is a prominent figure in the stories on ''Generals of the Yang Family''. The elderly and widowed Sh ...
, and their seven sons. Pan Renmei was injured by an arrow fired by She Saihua. Emperor Taizong had to bribe corrupt Northern Han officials to create
distrust Distrust is a formal way of not trusting any one party too much in a situation of grave risk or deep doubt. It is commonly expressed in civics as a division or balance of powers, or in politics as means of validating treaty terms. Systems based ...
between Northern Han's ruler
Liu Jiyuan Liu Jiyuan () (died in 992), also known by his regnal name as the Emperor Yingwu of (Northern) Han ((北)漢英武帝), was the last emperor of the Shatuo-led Chinese Northern Han dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He w ...
and Yang Ye. This eventually led to Liu Jiyuan's defeat and surrender. After Yang Ye's reluctant surrender, Emperor Taizong awarded his family an impressive mansion in the capital
Kaifeng Kaifeng ( zh, s=开封, p=Kāifēng) is a prefecture-level city in east-Zhongyuan, central Henan province, China. It is one of the Historical capitals of China, Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and ...
called "Heaven Wave House". Gratified, Yang Ye swore allegiance to the emperor and defeated the Liao dynasty forces at Song's northern borders again and again. The jealous Pan Renmei, also the emperor's father-in-law, suggested the emperor name his son Pan Bao the vanguard, but the other ministers were not convinced since Pan Bao had no experience. Pan Renmei offered to start a
martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...
tournament in Kaifeng's Tianqi Temple, but requested the Yang family not participate. The emperor agreed. Yang Ye locked his sons at home, but on the last day the seventh son sneaked out the house, joined the tournament, and killed Pan Bao (who had been using underhand means to defeat his opponents). After several attempts to kill Yang family members failed, Pan Renmei turned to the Liao army for help and assisted them in luring and besieging the outnumbered Yang Ye, his seven sons and Emperor Taizong in the border city of
Youzhou You Prefecture or You Province, also known by its Chinese name Youzhou, was a prefecture ('' zhou'') in northern China during its imperial era. "You Province" was cited in some ancient sources as one of the nine or twelve original provinces o ...
. With no better options available, Yang Ye's first son volunteered to dress as the emperor and meet the Liao prince for a risky peace talk called the "Double-Dragon Meet" in Golden Beach, while the real Emperor Taizong escaped. As feared, the meeting turned out to be a trap, and only his two youngest sons remained when Yang Ye and his men retreated to Twin Wolves Mountain. Yang Ye asked his seventh son to fight his way out to Pan Renmei's camp to request reinforcements. The seventh son managed to reach Pan Renmei, but was drugged, tied up and shot to death by countless arrows. Severely outnumbered in the trap and with no sign of reinforcements, Yang Ye also learned about the confirmed deaths of his eldest three sons. To avoid being captured, he committed suicide by knocking his head against a stone tablet bearing
Li Ling Li Ling (, died 74 BC), courtesy name Shaoqing (), was a Chinese military general of the Western Han dynasty who served during the reign of Emperor Wu. He later defected to the Xiongnu after being defeated in an expedition in 99 BC. Early lif ...
's name. His sixth son managed to fight a way out back to Song territory, but was confronted by generals ordered by Pan Renmei to kill him. Instead, the generals (who all respected Yang Ye) told him about his seventh brother's death and let him go. On the way back to Kaifeng, the sixth son befriended a man named Wang Qin, who unbeknownst to him was a Liao spy. When Emperor Taizong received the sixth son's report about Pan Renmei's crimes, he also received a report by Pan Renmei accusing the Yangs of
treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state (polity), state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to Coup d'état, overthrow its government, spy ...
. The first judge of the case was bribed by Pan Renmei's daughter Consort Pan and tried to help the Pans, but was stopped by the emperor's nephew
Zhao Defang Zhao Defang (; c. 959–981) was an imperial prince of imperial China's Song dynasty. He was the fourth son of Emperor Taizu and the younger brother of Zhao Dezhao. He was the 3rd great-grandfather of Emperor Xiaozong of Song. Biography In 97 ...
, also known as the "Eighth Virtuous Prince". The second judge escaped from his post for fear of offending the Pans. After a long time, the Eighth Virtuous Prince finally located a candidate for the post, a provincial official named
Kou Zhun Kou Zhun ( 961 – 24 October 1023), courtesy name Pingzhong, was a much-praised official of China's Song dynasty#Northern Song, 960–1127, Northern Song dynasty. He was the chancellor (China), chancellor from 1004 to 1006 during the Emperor Zh ...
, who despite having only held minor posts before, had a reputation of intelligence and moral principles. Finally, Kou Zhun convicted Pan Renmei of multiple crimes and executed him with the help of the Eighth Virtuous Prince. Succeding his father as the new commander of the Song army, the sixth son Yang Yanzhao continued to fight the Liao forces under the new emperor.
Emperor Zhenzong Emperor Zhenzong of Song (23 December 968 – 23 March 1022), personal name Zhao Heng, was the third emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned from 997 to his death in 1022. His personal name was originally Zhao Dechang, but was change ...
honored the Yang family by building a stone
epitaph An epitaph (; ) is a short text honoring a deceased person. Strictly speaking, it refers to text that is inscribed on a tombstone or plaque, but it may also be used in a figurative sense. Some epitaphs are specified by the person themselves be ...
, which was disrespected by Xie Jinwu – the son-in-law of Wang Qin who had since become a high official. After Xie Jinwu received a heavy beating by the women in the Yang household, trouble began to arise which resulted in Yang Yanzhao being notified at the border. Worried about his mother, he violated military rules by rushing back to the capital without permission together with a subordinate Jiao Zan. Jiao couldn't control his anger and killed Xie Jinwu, creating more trouble. Finally reinstated, Yang Yanzhao accidentally learned that his fifth brother had survived the events at Golden Beach and was a monk at
Mount Wutai Mount Wutai, also known by its Chinese name Wutaishan and as is a sacred Buddhist site at the headwaters of the Qingshui in Shanxi Province, China. Its central area is surrounded by a cluster of flat-topped peaks or mesas roughly correspondin ...
. Having given his soul to the
Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist legends, he was ...
in despair after the fighting at Golden Beach, the fifth brother now refused to participate in the Song army or return home, but he proved that
blood is thicker than water Blood is thicker than water is a proverb in English meaning that familial bonds will always be stronger than other relationships. The oldest record of this saying can be traced back to the 12th century in German. Historical perspectives A simila ...
by helping his brother at a critical time and killing the enemy. Meanwhile, their sister – Yang Ye's eighth child – learned that her father's remains and golden
sabre A sabre or saber ( ) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the Early Modern warfare, early modern and Napoleonic period, Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such a ...
were kept by the Liao in Haotian Pagoda so she went across the border by herself in an attempt to retrieve the items. She was arrested but escaped with help from someone who turned out to be her fourth brother, now under the false identity "Mu Yi" and had married a Liao princess. When
Yang Zongbao Yang Zongbao (楊宗保) is a character in the '' Generals of the Yang Family'' legends. In these largely fictionalized stories, he is the son of general Yang Yanzhao and Princess Chai, the husband of Mu Guiying and the father of Yang Wengua ...
, the son of Yang Yanzhao and Princess Chai, travelled to the Muke Fort in search of the Dragon Subduing Wood, which would help in breaking Liao army's Heaven Gate Formation, he met
Mu Guiying Mu Guiying (穆桂英) is a legendary heroine from ancient China's Northern Song dynasty and a prominent figure in the ''Generals of the Yang Family'' legends. She is the wife of Yang Zongbao and mother of Yang Wenguang. Brave, resolute and loyal ...
, who married him after capturing him. Mu Guiying would prove instrumental in breaking the Heaven Gate Formation with the rest of the Yangs. Around that time,
Western Xia The Western Xia or the Xi Xia ( zh, c=, w=Hsi1 Hsia4, p=Xī Xià), officially the Great Xia ( zh, c=大夏, w=Ta4 Hsia4, p=Dà Xià, labels=no), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts ...
invaded Song, and Yang Zongbao was killed in action. When Yang Yanzhao died, there were few males left in the Yang family; so, the twelve women in the family participated in the campaign against Western Xia. The female generals of the Yang family proved that they were not inferior to their male counterparts.


Historical and cultural sites

Due to the popularity of the stories throughout the Chinese-speaking world, numerous memorial sites including
temples A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the specially built places of worship of some religions are commonly called "temples" in Engli ...
and
tomb A tomb ( ''tumbos'') or sepulchre () is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes. Placing a corpse into a tomb can be called '' immurement'', alth ...
s have been built over the centuries throughout China to commemorate
Yang Ye Yang Ye (楊業) or Yang Jiye (楊繼業)According to he changed his name directly from Liu Jiye to Yang Ye in 979, changing both the surname and the given name. If this is to be believed, the name Yang Jiye is technically incorrect, but shows ...
and the Yang family. Many locations have no known and realistic relationship with the Yangs, yet still claim that events from the stories occurred there. Some of the most well-known sites include: * Invincible Yang Temple (楊無敵廟) in
Gubeikou Gubeikou Town () is a town of Miyun District in northeastern Beijing, traversed by G101, bordering with Luanping County, Hebei to the north and the Beijing towns of Gaoling () to the west, Xinchengzi () to the east and Taishitun (). The area i ...
,
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 ...
, built some time before 1055, when the location was still under Liao control.At least 3 poems about this temple at the location were written within 103 years of Yang Ye's death by Song envoy messengers to Liao. They are: "Passing Gubeikou's Invincible Yang Temple" (過古北口楊無敵廟) written by Liu Chang (劉敞) in 1055; "Passing Gubeikou's Invincible Yang Temple with Zhongxun" (和仲巽過古北口楊無敵廟) written by Su Song (蘇頌) in 1079; and "Gubeikou's Invincible Yang Temple" (古北口楊無敵廟) by Su Che (蘇轍) in 1089. Over the years many generals renovated the temple to pay their respects, including
Xu Da Xu Da (1332–1385), courtesy name Tiande, known by his title as Duke of Wei (魏國公), later posthumously as Prince of Zhongshan (中山王), was a Chinese military general and official who lived in the late Yuan dynasty and early Ming dynast ...
in the 14th century and
Feng Yuxiang Feng Yuxiang (; ; 6 November 1882 – 1 September 1948), courtesy name Huanzhang (焕章), was a Chinese warlord and later general in the National Revolutionary Army. He served as Vice Premier of the Republic of China from 1928 to 1930. A ...
in the early 20th century. It was destroyed in the
Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a Social movement, sociopolitical movement in the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). It was launched by Mao Zedong in 1966 and lasted until his de ...
but has since been rebuilt according to old photos. * Tian Bo Yang House (天波楊府) in
Kaifeng Kaifeng ( zh, s=开封, p=Kāifēng) is a prefecture-level city in east-Zhongyuan, central Henan province, China. It is one of the Historical capitals of China, Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and ...
,
Henan Henan; alternatively Honan is a province in Central China. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including Yinxu, the ruins of the final capital of the Shang dynasty () and the Shaolin Temple. Four of the historical capitals of China, Lu ...
, the capital of
Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
during the Yangs' time. The name "Tian Bo" (天波; literally "Heaven Wave") is the name of the house of the Yangs in popular legends. The house was built in 1992 as a
tourist attraction A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement. Types Places of natural beaut ...
. The location in Kaifeng was chosen based on records written in the 14th century. Some historians doubt whether the Yangs actually had a house in Kaifeng like the records claimed. * Yang Family
Ancestral Hall An ancestral shrine, hall or temple ( or , ; Chữ Hán: ; ), also called lineage temple, is a temple dedicated to deified ancestors and progenitors of surname lineages or families in the Chinese tradition. Ancestral temples are closely lin ...
(楊家祠堂) in
Dai County Dai County, also known by its Chinese name Daixian, is a county in Xinzhou, Shanxi Province, China. Its county seat at Shangguan is also known as Daixian. The county has an area of and had a population of 178,870 at the time of the 2020 c ...
,
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 ...
. Allegedly this is the location of Yang family when Yang Ye was serving the
Northern Han The Northern Han ( zh, t=北漢, s=北汉, p=Běi Hàn) was a dynastic state of China and one of the Ten Kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It was founded by Liu Min (Emperor Shizu) as a continuation of the Later Ha ...
Kingdom. It was built in 1329. * Yang Family City (楊家城) in
Shenmu County Shenmu () is a county-level city in the north of Shaanxi province, China, bordering Inner Mongolia to the northwest and Shanxi province, across the Yellow River, to the southeast. Under the administration of Yulin City, Shenmu is endowed with pl ...
,
Shaanxi Shaanxi is a Provinces of China, province in north Northwestern China. It borders the province-level divisions of Inner Mongolia to the north; Shanxi and Henan to the east; Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan to the south; and Gansu and Ningxia to t ...
,
Yang Ye Yang Ye (楊業) or Yang Jiye (楊繼業)According to he changed his name directly from Liu Jiye to Yang Ye in 979, changing both the surname and the given name. If this is to be believed, the name Yang Jiye is technically incorrect, but shows ...
's birthplace. The city walls were built in 748, but at least since 1098 it has been called Yang Family City. The Seven-Star Temple (七星廟) where
Yang Ye Yang Ye (楊業) or Yang Jiye (楊繼業)According to he changed his name directly from Liu Jiye to Yang Ye in 979, changing both the surname and the given name. If this is to be believed, the name Yang Jiye is technically incorrect, but shows ...
and
She Saihua She Saihua (佘賽花) is a legendary heroine from ancient China's Northern Song Dynasty. The wife of Yang Ye and the mother of their 7 sons, she is a prominent figure in the stories on ''Generals of the Yang Family''. The elderly and widowed Sh ...
allegedly married is about 25 km away (the name of course refers to their seven sons).


Modern references

Stories about the Yang family have been retold in the form of folk tales, stage plays and opera, novels,
manhua () are Chinese-language comics produced in Greater China. Chinese comics and narrated illustrations have existed in China throughout its history. They are usually graphic and can be written for a myriad of genres, including romance, fanta ...
(comics), films and television dramas.


Literature

*
Wilt L. Idema Wilt Lukas Idema (born 12 November 1944) is a Dutch scholar and Sinologist who taught at University of Leiden and Harvard University (2000–13), presently emeritus at both universities. He specializes in Chinese literature, with interests in ear ...
and
Stephen H. West Stephen H. West, Ph.D. (Traditional Chinese: 奚如谷, pinyin: Xī Rúgǔ; born January 6, 1944) is a sinologist, philologist, and translator. West received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He formerly taught at University of Califor ...
's ''The Generals of the Yang Family-Four Early Plays'', offers a complete translation of four early plays of the Yang Family Generals. *
Yang Zhi (Water Margin) Yang Zhi is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Blue Faced Beast", he ranks 17th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Backg ...
, the Blue-Faced Beast of the
Water Margin ''Water Margin'' (), also called ''Outlaws of the Marsh'' or ''All Men Are Brothers'', is a Chinese novel from the Ming dynasty that is one of the preeminent Classic Chinese Novels. Attributed to Shi Nai'an, ''Water Margin'' was one of the e ...
, is a fictional descendant of the Yang Generals. *In
Louis Cha 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 popul ...
's ''
Condor Trilogy The ''Condor Trilogy'' (射鵰三部曲) is a series of three wuxia novels written by Hong Kong–based Chinese writer Jin Yong (Louis Cha). The series is amongst the most popular of Jin Yong's works. The novels in the trilogy are: * '' The Leg ...
'',
Yang Tiexin The following is a list of characters from the wuxia novel ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' by Jin Yong. Some of these characters are fictionalised personas of, or are based on, actual historical figures, such as Wang Chongyang, Qiu Chuji, Duan ...
(楊鐵心),
Yang Kang Yang Kang is the fictional antagonist in the wuxia novel ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). He also serves as a foil to Guo Jing, the protagonist due to their similar backgrounds. Birth and heritage Yang Kang's homet ...
(楊康) and
Yang Guo Yang Guo, courtesy name Gaizhi, is the fictional protagonist of the wuxia novel '' The Return of the Condor Heroes'' by Jin Yong. Birth and heritage Yang Guo traces his lineage to Yang Zaixing, a Song general who participated in the Jin–So ...
(楊過) are fictitious descendants of
Yang Zaixing Yang Zaixing (, died 21 August 1140) was a Song dynasty general under Yue Fei, known for his ferocity in battles. He fought against the Jin dynasty in the Jin–Song Wars. His heroic death in the battle of Yancheng—where he led 300 cavalry to ...
.


Opera and music

Composer Du Mingxin wrote a
Beijing opera Peking opera, or Beijing opera (), is the most dominant form of Chinese opera, which combines instrumental music, vocal performance, mime, martial arts, dance and acrobatics. It arose in Beijing in the mid-Qing dynasty (1644–1912) and became ...
to a Chinese libretto titled ''Yang Men Nü Jiang'' (). The opera was based on the Yangju opera ''Commanding the Troops at 100 Years Old'', and was first performed in 1960 by the China Peking Opera Company. The opera is set during the war between the Northern
Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
and the Kingdom of
Western Xia The Western Xia or the Xi Xia ( zh, c=, w=Hsi1 Hsia4, p=Xī Xià), officially the Great Xia ( zh, c=大夏, w=Ta4 Hsia4, p=Dà Xià, labels=no), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts ...
, after the death of Song general Yang Zongbao. Yang Zongbao's 100-year-old grandmother, She Saihua, along with Mu Guiying and other widows of the Yang family, lead the Song army to resist the invaders. In 2000 Du Mingxin also produced a symphonic version of the opera for the
China Philharmonic Orchestra The China Philharmonic Orchestra (; abbreviated CPO) is an orchestra founded in Beijing, China, on May 25, 2000, based on the previous China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. It is a division of the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Telev ...
(CPO), consisting of an overture, three movements and an epilogue. This was the first symphonic work commissioned for the newly established CPO at that time.


Films

;
Musical films Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as break ...
* ''How Muk Kwai-ying Thrice Captured and Released Yeung Chung-bo'' (穆桂英三擒三縱楊宗保), a 1956 Hong Kong film in
Cantonese opera Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Guangdong Province. It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau and among Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. Like all versions of ...
. * ''Eighth Sister Yeung'' (楊八妹招親), a 1956 Hong Kong film in Cantonese opera. * ''How Muk Kwai-ying and Yeung Chung-bo Defeated the Heavenly Gate Militia'' (穆桂英楊宗保大破天門陣), a 1957 Hong Kong film in Cantonese opera. * ''Mu Guiying Battling in Hongzhou'' (穆桂英大戰洪州), a 1958 Chinese film in
Peking opera Peking opera, or Beijing opera (), is the most dominant form of Chinese opera, which combines instrumental music, vocal performance, mime, martial arts, dance and acrobatics. It arose in Beijing in the mid-Qing dynasty (1644–1912) and became ...
. * ''Mu Guiying Takes Command'' (穆桂英掛帥), a 1958 Chinese film in
Yu opera Yu opera (), or Yuju opera, sometimes known as Henan bangzi"Bangzi" meaning wooden clappers with bars of unequal length (), is one of China's famous national opera forms, alongside Peking opera, Yue opera, Huangmei opera and Pingju. Henan provin ...
. * ''The Fourth Son'' (四郎探母), a 1959 Hong Kong film in Cantonese opera. * ''Golden Sword'' (楊八妹取金刀), a 1959 Hong Kong film in Cantonese opera. * ''Yang Female Warriors'' (楊門女將), a 1960 Chinese film in Peking opera. * ''Conqueress'' (無敵楊家將), a 1961 Hong Kong film in Cantonese opera. * ''Muk Kwai-ying Finds a Husband'' (穆桂英招親), a 1962 Hong Kong film in
Teochew opera Teochew opera ( Chinese: 潮劇; Teochow: diê5 giah8) or Chaozhou opera, Chiuchow opera (especially in Hong Kong), is one of the many variants of Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Chaoshan region. It is popular in eastern Guangdong, ...
. * ''She Saihua'' (佘賽花), a 1984 Chinese film in the ''shangdanglaozi'' (上黨落子) opera genre.


Television series

;Musical television series * ''The Generals of the Yang Family'' (楊家將), a 1982 series in
Taiwanese opera Taiwanese opera ( zh, t=, p=gēzǎixì, poj=koa-á-hì, l=Song Drama, c=, s=) commonly known as Ke-Tse opera or Hokkien opera, is a form of traditional drama originating in Taiwan. Taiwanese opera uses a stylised combination of both the literary ...
produced by
CTS Cts or CTS may refer to: Arts and entertainment Television * Chinese Television System, a Taiwanese broadcast television station, including: ** CTS Main Channel () ** CTS Education and Culture () ** CTS Recreation () ** CTS News and Info ...
(Taiwan), starring
Yang Li-hua Yang Li-hua () is a Taiwanese opera performer. During her career, she performed in nearly 170 productions on TTV. Unusually for Chinese opera, she played a wide variety of male roles. Early life Yang was born in Yuanshan, Yilan, Yuanshan, Yi ...
as Yang Yanzhao. in 1986, this TV series sequel from 薛丁山救五美 as the last part. * ''The Generals of the Yang Family'' (楊家將), a 1985 series in Taiwanese opera also produced by CTS, starring Yeh Ching as Yang Yanzhao. * ''She Saihua'' (佘賽花), a 2005 Chinese series in
Peking opera Peking opera, or Beijing opera (), is the most dominant form of Chinese opera, which combines instrumental music, vocal performance, mime, martial arts, dance and acrobatics. It arose in Beijing in the mid-Qing dynasty (1644–1912) and became ...
first broadcast on
CCTV-11 CCTV-11 is the Chinese opera channel of the CCTV (China Central Television) Network in the People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a populat ...
. ;Animation television series * ''The Generals of the Yang Family'' (楊家將), a 2011–2013 Chinese series first broadcast on
CCTV-14 CCTV-14 is a Chinese free-to-air television channel that was launched on 28 December 2003 and is owned by the China Central Television. It airs animated films and series as well as kids game shows and other young-oriented programmes. Before its ...
, so far airing three seasons.


Video games

* ''Yang's Troops'' () * ''Yīmén Yīngliè Yángjiā Jiāng'' (), also known as ''Yang Warrior Family'', is an unlicensed
beat 'em up A beat 'em up (also known as brawler and, in some markets, beat 'em all) is a video game genre featuring hand-to-hand combat against a large number of opponents. Traditional beat 'em ups take place in Side-scrolling video game, scrolling, 2D c ...
game for the
Mega Drive The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Sys ...
that was published in 1990s. It was developed by Taiwan Sanxun Information Co., Ltd. (台湾三协资讯股份有限公司).


Footnotes


References


Sources

* * * * * *


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Generals Of The Yang Family Chinese literature Song dynasty in fiction Works set in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Works set in the Liao dynasty Works set in Western Xia