Xu Ning is a fictional character in ''

Water Margin ''Water Margin'' (''Shuihu zhuan'') is one of the earliest Chinese novels written in vernacular Mandarin, and is attributed to Shi Nai'an. It is also translated as ''Outlaws of the Marsh'' and ''All Men Are Brothers''. The story, which is s ...

'', one of the

four great classical novels Classic Chinese Novels () are the best-known novels of pre-modern Chinese literature. These are among the world's longest and oldest novels. They represented a new complexity in structure and sophistication in language that helped to establish t ...

in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Gold Lancer", he ranks 18th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Background

The novel depicts Xu Ning as six ''

chi Chi or CHI may refer to: Greek *Chi (letter), the Greek letter (uppercase Χ, lowercase χ); Chinese *Chi (length), ''Chi'' (length) (尺), a traditional unit of length, about ⅓ meter *Chi (mythology) (螭), a dragon *Chi (surname) (池, pin ...

'' tall, having a pale face studded with thick eyebrows, a thin moustache and ample at the waistline. An expert in spears, he is a rare master of the hooked lance, a

Chinese spear A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fasten ...

with a hook attached next to the tip. He serves as the instructor of the Gold Lancers Unit of the imperial guard in Dongjing (東京; present-day

Kaifeng Kaifeng () is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, China. It is one of the Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and is best known for having been the Chinese capital during the Nort ...

Henan Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...

), the imperial capital of the

Song Empire The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

Becoming an outlaw

The

Song A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetitio ...

Court orders

Huyan Zhuo Huyan Zhuo is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Double Clubs", hə ranks eighth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits (天罡), the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny ...

to lead a military attack on

Liangshan Marsh Mount Liang (, often referred to in Chinese as ) is a mountain in Liangshan County, Shandong, China which rises to 197.9 metres above sea level. It is well known as the stronghold of the 108 Heroes in the classic Chinese novel ''Water Margin ...

to stamp out the outlaws. The general deploys a special cavalry, which comprises groups of armoured horses linked by chains. As the horses charge forward as consolidated units, their stampede overwhelms the Liangshan force. Song Jiang, then Liangshan's second-in-command, has to hole up in the stronghold, relying on the marsh as a marsh, to find a way to counter the cavalry. Tang Long suggests his cousin Xu Ning, who is an ingenious user of the hooked lance, could fell the cavalry with the weapon. Agreeing with Tang's plan,

sends him,

Dai Zong Dai Zong is a fictional character in '' Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Magic Traveller", he ranks 20th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Backg ...

Shi Qian Shi Qian is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Flea on a Drum", he ranks 107th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 71st among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Background Shi ...

and

Yue He Yue He is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Iron Whistle", he ranks 77th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 41st among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Background The novel ...

to Dongjing to lure Xu Ning to Liangshan. Shi Qian sneaks into Xu Ning's house after nightfall and steals a precious family heirloom of his – a golden armour vest that no object can pierce. When Xu Ning discovers that the vest, which was concealed on a beam, is stolen, he is extremely upset. Tang Long, who claims to come by to visit, tells Xu he has seen a man walking with a limp and carrying an embroidered box. Believing that the man is the stealer of the vest, Xu tells his wife to file temporary leave for him at his office as he embarks on a long chase with Tang after Shi Qian. The pursuit brings him close to Liangshan. They run into Yue He, who poses as a businessman. Hitching a ride on Yue's coach, Xu is offered a spiked drink which knocks him over. When he comes to, he is already in the stronghold of Liangshan. Xu Ning is angry that he has been duped. However, when he gets his vest back and finds his family taken to Liangshan by Dai Zong, he reluctantly agrees to join the band. Xu trains some selected Liangshan foot soldiers in the use of the hooked lance. These lancers topple Huyan Zhuo's cavalry, causing his army to collapse.

Campaigns and death

Xu Ning is appointed as one of the Eight Tiger Cub Vanguard Generals of the Liangshan cavalry after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in

territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan, In the battle of Hangzhou in the campaign against

Fang La Fang La (; died 1121) was a Chinese rebel leader who led an uprising against the Song dynasty. In the classical novel ''Water Margin'', he is fictionalised as one of the primary antagonists and nemeses of the 108 Stars of Destiny. He is sometime ...

, Xu Ning and

Hao Siwen Hao Siwen is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Wood Dog of Well", he ranks 41st among the 108 Stars of Destiny and fifth among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Background ...

face Fang's son

Fang Tianding The following is a list of characters in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. 108 Stars of Destiny The 108 Stars of Destiny are at the core of the plot of ''Water Margin''. Based on the Taoist concept ...

. When Hao Siwen is captured by the enemy, Xu Ning attempts to save him but is hit in the neck by a

poisoned arrow Arrow poisons are used to poison arrow heads or darts for the purposes of hunting and warfare. They have been used by indigenous peoples worldwide and are still in use in areas of South America, Africa and Asia. Notable examples are the poisons se ...

. He dies from the wound soon after.

References

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Xu, Ning 36 Heavenly Spirits Fictional characters from Henan