Existing scholarship rarely examines the theme of mercy and forgiveness in the early Qing novel Xingshi yinyuanzhuan 醒世姻緣傳 (Predestined Marriage to Awaken the World) which is known for its recurrent narratives of karmic retribution and vengeance. This talk will analyze the many terms and themes related to mercy and forgiveness in the novel, Chinese philosophy, and history to discuss why mercy and forgiveness are fundamental to the early Qing novel.
