中國公案小說創生於宋代，繁盛於明代，惟至情代又有開新發展，不同於前代。在撰著風格上實有特殊開展：其一，公案小說中主人向由一清官居全局重心。明代以來包公、海公便是。清代雖以施公、彭公定書名，其真正主角為三班皂隸、草時莽漢。其二，前代公案小說重形律問案之複雜過程、平反冤獄之超卓明斷。清代公案小說則特重緝捕土豪大盜之驚險惡鬥，詳敘各路英雄之義節勇烈。其三，清代公案小說更將說書藝術，文字本事，與戲劇表達結合成三重藝術交織之有機體，三項不藝術形式，藉公案小說為聯接主軸，而分投展現於庶民社會，賦予人人們深刻印象，足以使之造成不少特殊人物典型，其人物如黃三太、黃天霸、楊香武、計全、朱光祖、勝奎、歐陽德、褚彪、竇爾敦、九花娘，均具鮮明典型。在世人心目中何讓於孫悟空、豬八戒、武松、林沖、李逵、魯智深、賈寶玉、林黛玉、潘金蓮、西門慶。

Chinese chivalrous-criminal novels were created in Sung Dynasty and prospered in Ming, still in Ching Dynasty, however, we found a new creation and development. There are some difference from predecessors. Firstly, the principal characters had turned from officials of integrity to government clerk and people of rustic origins. Secondly, the main theme of these novels in earlier times are the complex process of punishment examining and taking affidavits, but in Ching period, eminent reversing of wrongly accused and shocking fight with the bandit are the most important part of these novels, and also the heroic chivalrous chastity of people. Thirdly, the chivalrous-criminal novels, written language skill and dramatic expression. These three art postures mentioned above have had united by chivalrous-criminal novels and had projected influence to all readers to figure out some special typical personalities of which quite equal to those novels?of previous times.