Bao Zheng (包拯) (998 - 1061) was a much-praised judge from Song China. His job title was the Mayor of the capital city (開封府尹) at the time. Because of his renowned fairness, he was popularly nicknamed "Blue-Sky Bao" (包青天; Bao Qingtian) or "Lord Bao" (包公 Bao Gong). He was also nicknamed "Darkie Bao" (包黑子 Bao Heizi) by his enemies due to his very dark complexion. His courtesy name was Xiren (希仁).

He was born in Hefei, Anhui province, where the Memorial Temple of Lord Bao (包公祠) is still located near the city centre. It was built in 1066 close to his tomb. He is famous for his uncompromising stance against corruption among the government officials at the time. He upheld justice and refused to yield to higher powers including the "royal father-in-law" (龐太師 Pang taishi) who treated Bao as an enemy.

In opera or drama, he is often portrayed with a black face and a white crescent shaped birthmark on his forehead. In most dramatization of his stories, he used a set of guillotines to execute criminals. The one decorated with a dog's head was used on commoners. The one decorated with a tiger's head was used on government officials. The one decorated with a dragon's head was used on royalties. He was granted a golden rod by the previous emperor which he was authorized to chastise the current emperor with. He was also granted a precious sword from the previous emperor as a license to execute any royalties before reporting to the emperor to get approval first. In these works he was often helped by seven Xia and five Yi (七俠五義), who acted like his deputies and detectives.

He became the subject of literature and modern Chinese TV series.

There are many legends and stories about Bao and his witty approach to solve mysterious and tough cases. Some famous examples include:

• 《鍘美案》 the story about Bao executed Chen Shimei (陳世美) who married a royalty,
• 《貍貓換太子》 the story about the new born crown prince being swapped with a civet in which Bao disguised as Yan Luo to try Guo Huai (郭槐) and the perpetrator confessed when he thought he was in hell.

External link

His biography as recorded in Song's historical document (in Chinese)