Miscellaneous information The Deer and the Cauldron

1 miscellaneous information

1.1 sutra of forty-two chapters

1.1.1 8 books


1.2 literary inquisition

miscellaneous information
sutra of forty-two chapters

the sutra of forty-two chapters classical buddhist text. founders of manchu-led qing dynasty made 8 copies of it. after qing forces conquered central plains, looted large amounts of treasure , transported them secret location in northeast china. map location torn several pieces , hidden in 8 books separately. each book given 1 of 8 banners safekeeping.

to protect treasure, 8 banners commanders not told treasure vault. instead, told books contained secret leading location containing root of qing imperial bloodline, dragon s pulse (龍脈). if root disturbed, end fortunes of manchus. ensure none of nobles attempt find location; instead guard secret lives. emperor knows truth, evident when shunzhi emperor passes on knowledge kangxi emperor.

the books sought many, including hai dafu, mao dongzhu, mystic dragon cult, heaven , earth society, former princess changping, wu sangui , others. of them know truth treasure while others wish end qing dynasty destroying manchu root . wei xiaobao collects 8 books , pieces map together. finds treasure @ mount deer cauldron (鹿鼎山) in heilongjiang, not seize himself because holds on belief treasure qing imperial family s root .

the 8 books

the books listed in order of appearance. origins , how wei xiaobao acquired them included.

plain red banner: book stolen banner s commander, prince kang. wei xiaobao finds accident.
bordered red banner: rui dong, palace guard, kills banner s commander , takes away book on order of fake empress dowager, mao dongzhu. before can pass mao, killed wei xiaobao, takes book him.
bordered yellow banner: book taken away banner s commander, oboi, when imprisoned kangxi emperor. ends in hands of mao dongzhu before wei xiaobao steals later.
plain white banner: book taken away oboi banner s commander, suksaha, when suksaha executed. ends in possession of mao dongzhu, , later in of wei xiaobao.
bordered white banner: book first given shunzhi emperor concubine, consort donggo. book taken away mao dongzhu when consort donggo died. wei xiaobao later steals mao.
plain yellow banner: book kept shunzhi emperor after abdication , gives son when reunited on mount wutai. taken away mao dongzhu , later wei xiaobao.
bordered blue banner: tao hongying s grand-teacher attempted steal book banner s commander, fatally wounded mystic dragon cult s thin monk, keeps book. thin monk forgets book when leaves mao dongzhu s room in hurry. wei xiaobao finds , keeps himself.
plain blue banner: book stolen banner s commander , ends in wu sangui s possession. wei xiaobao secretly replaces bordered blue banner s book (with map pieces inside removed).

literary inquisition

in years of reign of kangxi emperor, regent oboi monopolised state power , introduced practice of literary inquisition. many intellectuals , scholars persecuted writings. zhuang tinglong, merchant huzhou, sponsored publication of unauthorised book history of ming dynasty. book used ming emperors era names, considered taboo in qing dynasty. wu zhirong found out , reported authorities.

zhuang tinglong , family persecuted , male members of zhuang family killed. incident sparked off chain reaction, in several individuals not directly involved or linked book rounded , executed. these individuals included scholars helped write , proofread book, bookstore owners sold copies of book, distant relatives of zhuang family, , people had contact readers of book.