What is the origin of the image of Bao Zheng with a black face, Bao Qingtian And what kind of legendary experiences does Bao Zheng have

For those who are interested in the image of Bao Zheng, the History Encyclopedia editor brings a detailed article for your reference.
There is a Bao Qingtian in Kaifeng who selflessly distinguishes between loyalty and treachery. “Bao Qingtian’s story is almost well-known, because of the influence of film and television works and theatrical stages. In people’s minds, Bao Qingtian has always had a dark face and a small crescent moon on his forehead.
Judging by the color of the skin and the look in the eyes can give people a very fierce feeling, that is, majesty and a strong aura. However, the real Bao Qingtian in history was a scholar with clear eyebrows and beautiful eyes,
That is to say, the image of weak literature. Although the skin is not fair, it can only be considered slightly dark. Why did the image of Bao Qingtian with a black face come from? What kind of legendary experiences does our young master have?
1、 Iron faced Yama with a black face
1. Bao Gong’s personality
Bao Gong’s real name was Bao Zheng. He was born in the second year of Xianping in the Northern Song Dynasty (999) in Hefei, Luzhou (now Hefei, Anhui), into a bureaucratic family. During his youth, Bao Zheng was deeply loved by his parents.
I have been studying hard behind closed doors, cultivating my character, and passed the imperial examination at the age of 29. So, as mentioned in movies, TV shows, and theatrical performances, Bao Gong was abandoned by his parents from a young age and raised by his sister-in-law, which is purely a joke.
2. Not a black face
In history, Duke Bao was indeed impartial, but not a black face. On the stone tablet in the second hall of Baogong Temple, there is a portrait of Baogong.
The image of Bao Gong above is white faced, with well-defined facial features, clear eyebrows, and beautiful eyes. He is 1.6 meters tall and looks like a literati, so the black faced image of Bao Gong is not true.
But due to the deeply ingrained black face image of Duke Bao, culture has a subtle influence on people. Over time, even if Duke Bao’s face is not really black, it is still black.
3. Why Black Face
I think the reason why Bao Gong is portrayed as having a face as black as carbon and a crescent moon on top of his head on the stage and screen is twofold. Firstly, on the stage, it is to distinguish Bao Gong’s image as a clean official from the white faced image representing treacherous officials and villains.
Secondly, it is to highlight the person’s iron faced selflessness, being upright and impartial, not afraid of the powerful, and making decisions for the people, conveying a kind of righteousness that is clear and bright.
The image of Bao Zheng’s black face has long been deeply ingrained in people’s hearts, and the cultural influence of drama and film works is profound. Culture has a subtle influence on people, and over time, even if Bao Zheng is not black, he is still black in people’s minds.
2、 Be impartial and make decisions for the people
1. Quan Zhi Kaifeng Prefecture
In the first year of Song Jiayou (1056), at the age of 58, Bao Zheng was appointed as the governor of Kaifeng. In fact, he was the magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture (an official name established by Emperor Taizu of Song after he retired from the position of military governor, temporarily acting as a certain official instead of a legitimate official). He cracked down on the powerful and enforced the law impartially, winning the support of the people. Therefore, in Bao Zheng’s experience as an official, this period is the most widely praised.
2. Standing firm and resolute, loving the people like children
According to the “Biography of Bao Zheng” in the “History of the Song Dynasty”, “Bao Zheng stood firm and resolute in the court, and the nobles and eunuchs restrained their hands for him. Anyone who heard of him was afraid of him.” Even in the folk, the people gave Bao Zheng a nickname “Yan Wang Ye” and there is a folk song that goes, “If you don’t have a joint, there is Yan Luo Bao Lao.
According to the laws of the Song Dynasty, if ordinary people wanted to file a complaint in the yamen, they could not directly submit it in front of the governor, but had to convey it through the “gatekeeper”.
The people of the “doorplate department” often take advantage of their position to create difficulties and extort the people, leaving many people with nowhere to complain and unable to seek justice.
After taking office in Kaifeng Prefecture, Bao Zheng immediately removed the “doorplate office” and allowed ordinary people to directly present their grievances in the lobby. This measure deeply won the hearts of Bao Zheng, so no one in the city knew his name, regardless of gender or age.
3. Working tirelessly, serving the people with governance
Although Bao Zheng only served in Kaifeng Prefecture for more than a year, he managed Kaifeng in an orderly manner, ensuring that the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Bao Zheng had served as an official everywhere, and he worked tirelessly and humbly for the people wherever he went. The people naturally loved this upright and upright young master who served the people, and Bao Zheng’s reputation was well-known for thousands of miles.
When Bao Zheng took office in Duanzhou (today’s Zhaoqing, Guangdong), he ordered officials to act only according to their own duties and never oppress people against the corruption of previous Supervisor of the County of Duanzhou, who not only exploited people and plundered people’s wealth.
And Bao Zheng took responsibility with his own life, worked tirelessly, did not take any responsibility from the people, and held the government for the people. When Bao Zheng left Duanzhou, the local people specially made a Duan inkstone for him, but he politely declined. This is also the origin of the historical saying ‘returning without holding an inkstone’.
3、 Frankly speaking and daring to remonstrate, renowned throughout history
1. Speak frankly and advise
There are historical records that Bao Zheng once copied a copy of the three memorials from Wei Wei to Emperor Taizong of Tang, and even gave it to Emperor Renzong of Song as a warning to him to prioritize national affairs, humbly accept advice, and appoint talented individuals. Bao Zheng once submitted a memorial to Emperor Renzong titled ‘Begging for the Use of Corrupt Officials’, advocating for the practice of clean governance. He advocates being loyal to virtuous officials and distant from petty people.
However, Bao Zheng’s frankness and willingness to remonstrate often faced the risk of great effort, ranging from demotion to death. Nevertheless, Bao Zheng risked his life to remonstrate and admitted, “I am already old, and remonstrance is not for promotion or wealth. If something is wrong, I am willing to be punished.” Therefore, Bao Zheng offended many people, from the emperor’s confidants to corrupt individuals, but he remained resolute.
2. Speak up for justice
In the fourth year of Emperor Renzong’s Huangyou reign (1052), Bao Zheng remonstrated with Emperor Renzong to impeach Zhang Yaozuo, a member of the royal family, stating that he was a “mediocre person”.
But it angered Emperor Renzong. So Bao Zheng was demoted and appointed as the Hebei Governor and Transport Commissioner. At the same time, he was also given the honorary title of Longtu Ge Zhixue, which is why later generations called him “Baolongtu”.
But in fact, Bao Zheng spoke out of public concern for the welfare of the country and the people, and only spoke out to impeach him. However, Emperor Renzong did not understand his good intentions.
3. A lifetime of clear reputation will last forever
Bao Zheng passed away at the age of 64, reportedly while in office. Emperor Renzong posthumously conferred upon him the title of Minister of Rites and bestowed upon him the posthumous title of “Xiaosu”.
As soon as the news of Bao Zheng’s passing spread, the mournful voices of the people could be heard in the streets and alleys of Kaifeng. In the following years, Bao Zheng’s reputation spread far and wide.
Conclusion:
Later generations also built the Baogong Temple in Hefei, Anhui, the hometown of Bao Zheng, to commemorate him. Inside the Baogong Temple, there is a couplet that reads: “To deal with unjust imprisonment, if the joints are not connected, it is like the atmosphere of hell; to provide disaster relief to Li, charity is boundless, but still the heart of a bodhisattva
In order to praise the selfless and upright character of Bao Zheng, I think the reason why Bao Zheng is praised by the world is because those who have won the hearts of the people have won the world since ancient times. Although Bao Zheng did not win the world, he gained something more precious than the world.