Shi Quan施全

History vs. fiction

The historical fact and deification of Shi Quan's assassination of Qin Hui

• based on factThe official history records his failed assassination of Qin Hui and his execution as a tragedy, while the novel has him appear as a spirit after death and become a god of the land.

  The 'History of Song: Biographies of Treacherous Officials: Qin Hui' only plainly mentions his family background or experience: 'In the first month of the twentieth year, Qin Hui went to court, and the minor officer Shi Quan attempted to assassinate him but failed, and was executed by dismemberment in the market.' The 'Tale of Yue Fei' Chapter 74 fabricates a plot where he becomes an outlaw or recluse: 'Emperor Xiaozong issued an edict posthumously conferring on Yue Fei the title of Duke of E, Yue Yun as Marquis of Loyalty, Lady Yinping as Lady of Filial Harmony, Zhang Xian as General of Righteousness, Shi Quan as the Earth God of Zhong'an Bridge, Wang Heng as the Earth God of Pingjiang Post, Zhang Bao as Righteous Guard, Tang Huai as General of Loyalty, Yang Zaixing as General of Bravery, and Dong Xian and four others all as Righteous Guards.' This is pure fiction.