The Study On The Flying-Dragon's Biography

The Flying-Dragon's Biography written by Wu Xuan of Qing Dynasty is based on the old The Flying-Dragon's Biography, drawing extensively from the biographical histories, notes, fictions, dramas and other sources about Zhao Kuangyin. Since the appearance of this novel, many versions have circulated in the world, while the original version was lost from then on. In Qing Dynasty there is little study on the novel. Since the middle of the last century, Meng Qingxi, Pei Xiaowei and others have done some study on the "preface" or "Postscript" of The Flying-Dragon's Biography, and gained some results.The Flying-Dragon's Biography mainly describes the story about Zhao Kuangyin before he becomes the first emperor of Song Dynasty, with strong color of folklore. This paper does the textual research on the deeds of Later-Zhou Dynasty Taizu Guo Wei, Shizong Chai Rong and Song Dynasty Taizu Zhao Kuangyin described in the novel, studying its adaptation and absorption from the biographical histories and notes. Some stories of Zhao Kuangyin, which are recorded on the history books and notes but widely circulated among the folk, are also studied to find out the inheritance between The Flying-Dragon's Biography and previous novels, dramas, and so on.The first part of The Flying-Dragon's Biography is highly readable with strong folklore flavor while most of the second part is a copy of The South-Song Biography and a little obscure. Although it has got some artistic achievement, there is yet a fragmented feeling for the readers. The novel mainly advocates the ideas of chivalry, wise emperor and worthy officials, but there are obvious fatalism and negative thoughts as well. The Flying-Dragon's Biography's inheritance from previous novels and the value of its reviews are also an important aspect of this thesis.Ever since the appearance of The Flying-Dragon's Biography, the stories about Zhao Kuangyin and others are adapted to many novels and drama, which are very popular among the people. Therefore, The Flying-Dragon's Biography plays an important role on the popularity of the stories of Zhao Kuangyin.