ABC-5's new Asianovela aims to stress the values of
transparency and incorruptibility among government officials. Judge Bao,
a Mandarin period drama that began airing last November 12 on ABC-5, tells the
story of the legendary Bao Zheng (999-1062), who was a much-praised judge
during the Song Dynasty. Because of his renowned fairness, he remains a
powerful icon in Chinese popular culture to this day, especially for the
disenfranchised who seek justice. He is often portrayed with a black face and a
white crescent-shaped birthmark on his forehead, suggesting the impartiality and
uprightness of an ancient Chinese official.
Bao was born into a cultured and scholarly family in Anhui, China. At the age
of 29, he passed the highest level of the Imperial Exams and was qualified to
serve as a magistrate in Kaifei, the capital city of the Song Dynasty.
He was well known and respected for his uncompromising principles against
corruption especially among government officials. He never yielded to pressure, not
even to the "royal" father-in-law. He also had conflicts with other powerful
members of the Imperial Court, including Prime Minister Song Yang. He once had
30 high officials demoted or dismissed for corruption and bribery.
There are many legends and stories about Bao and his witty approach to solving
mysteries and tough cases.
For the November 19 episode, Qin Xianglian came with her children to the
capital city of Kaifeng to look for her husband Chen Shimei. They had been
married for 10 years when Chen bid goodbye to his parents, wife and children
before setting off to take the Imperial Examinations and, eventually, marrying
royalty (the Emperor's daughter).
At the palace, Chen refused to see her and the children for fear that this would compromise his position and favorable future. The wife's pleas and the children's tears all failed to move his hardened heart. With all her hopes shattered, Xianglian confided her woes to Judge Bao.
Bao, famous for his impartial and incorruptible character, was filled with rage
with the crimes of the emperor's son-in-law. He invited Chen over to his place
for a meeting and after failing to persuade him to make amends, Bao had him
arrested.
The news alarmed the emperor and his daughter, Chen's second wife. They offered
Bao three hundred teals of silver to withdraw the case, but the morally upright
judge bravely put Chen to death.