Du Xing 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 ...

'', 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 ...

of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Demon Face", he ranks 89th among the

108 Stars of Destiny The 108 Heroes are the main characters of the Ming dynasty classic Chinese novel the ''Water Margin'', which was written in the 14th century and usually attributed to Shi Nai'an. The heroes are divided into the 36 Heavenly Spirits and 72 Earthly ...

and 53rd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Du Xing, a native of Zhongshan Prefecture (中山府; around present-day

Dingzhou Dingzhou, or Tingchow in Postal Map Romanization, and formerly called Ding County or Dingxian, is a county-level city in the prefecture-level city of Baoding, Hebei Province. As of 2009, Dingzhou had a population of 1.2 million. Dingzhou has 3 ...

Hebei Hebei or , (; alternately Hopeh) is a northern province of China. Hebei is China's sixth most populous province, with over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. The province is 96% Han Chinese, 3% Manchu, 0.8% Hui, and ...

), is nicknamed "Demon Face" due to his ugly look. When doing business in Jizhou (薊州; around present-day

Ji County, Tianjin Jizhou District (), formerly a county known as Ji County, is a district in the far north of the municipality of Tianjin, People's Republic of China, holding cultural and historical significance (''e.g''., the Buddhist Temple of Solitary Joy). O ...

), he kills a partner in a heated quarrel and is jailed. Fortunately the chief warden Yang Xiong helps to get him freed.

Zhu Family Village

After killing his adulteress wife at Mount Cuiping, Yang Xiong decides to join the outlaws at

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 Marg ...

with his sworn brother

Shi Xiu Shi Xiu is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Daredevil Third Brother", he ranks 33rd among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. B ...

. The burglar and tomb raider Shi Qian, who happened upon the killing, asks to go with them. On the way, the three eat in an inn belonging to the Zhu Family Manor. They get into a fray with the innkeeper after Shi Qian, finding the inn's food not appetising, stole its only rooster and cooked it for meal. As they run away pursued by men fetched by the innkeeper, Shi Qian is captured in a trap. Yang and Shi stumble into the neighbouring Li Family Manor, where they run into Du Xing when he is at an inn buying wine. As Yang Xiong is his benefactor, Du Xing, now the butler of Li Ying, the head of Li Family Manor, asks his master to appeal to the Zhus to release Shi Qian. Li Ying writes a polite letter to the Zhu family requesting that they let Shi Qian go. Rebuffed by the Zhus, Li Ying assumes they reckoned he was not serious and sends Du Xing, his top servant, to personally deliver another letter. This time the Zhus tear up the letter and verbally insult Li Ying for associating himself with bandits. Shocked, Du Xing reports the aspersions to his master. Li is enraged and goes to confront the Zhus, taking some of his men. But he is wounded in the arm by an arrow shot by Zhu Biao. Luckily he is saved by Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu. Yang and Shi continue their way to Liangshan, where they mention Shi Qian and ask the outlaws to help rescue him. After three military offensives,

Song Jiang 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 repetition ...

eventually exterminates the Zhu Family Village.

Joining Liangshan

Keen to recruit Li Ying and Du Xing, Song Jiang carries out a plan in which

Xiao Rang Xiao Rang is a fictional character in '' Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Sacred Handed Scholar", he ranks 46th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and tenth among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Backg ...

and a few others pose as government officials to arrest the two for "collaborating" with Liangshan. As Li and Du are being "escorted" to the county office, the outlaws intercept the convoy to "rescue" them. Taken to the stronghold, Li Ying has no choice but joins Liangshan. Du Xing follows his master.

Campaigns

Du Xing is placed in charge of an inn which acts as a lookout for Liangshan after the

came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in

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 repetiti ...

territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan. Du Xing is one of the few Liangshan heroes who survive all the campaigns. Although conferred the title "Martial Gentleman of Grace" () and given an official position, he resigns from it when Li Ying quits his. The two return to the Li Family Manor where they lead a comfortable life.

References

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Du, Xing 72 Earthly Fiends Fictional characters from Hebei