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Lin Chong
Lin Chong is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Panther Head", he ranks sixth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits. In some folk tales derived from the novel, he is said to have learnt martial arts from Zhou Tong, who purportedly trained the Song dynasty general Yue Fei in archery. Background Lin Chong resembles Zhang Fei, a general of the Three Kingdoms era, in appearance. Over six '' chi'' tall, he has piercing eyes and a head like that of a panther, which earns him the nickname "Panther Head". He is a martial arts instructor of the Imperial Guards in Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan), the imperial capital of the Song dynasty. Framed and exiled Lin Chong introduces himself to Lu Zhishen when he sees the monk working out with his hefty staff and is deeply impressed. Lu tends a vegetable plot for a temple in Dongjing. They become sworn brothers. While they are chatting, Gao Yanei, the play- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zhang Fei
Zhang Fei () (died July or August 221 AD), courtesy name Yide, was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China. Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, who were among the earliest to join Liu Bei, shared a brotherly relationship with their lord and accompanied him on most of his early exploits. Zhang Fei fought in various battles on Liu Bei's side, including the Red Cliffs campaign (208–209), takeover of Yi Province (212–214), and Hanzhong Campaign (217–218). He was assassinated by his subordinates in 221 after serving for only a few months in the state of Shu Han, which was founded by Liu Bei earlier that year. Zhang Fei is one of the major characters in the 14th-century historical novel ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', which dramatises and romanticises the events before and during the Three Kingdoms period. In the novel, Zhang Fei became sworn brothers with Liu Bei and Guan Yu in the fictional Oath ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sworn Brother
Blood brother can refer to two or more men not related by birth who have sworn loyalty to each other. This is in modern times usually done in a ceremony, known as a blood oath, where each person makes a small cut, usually on a finger, hand or the forearm, and then the two cuts are pressed together and bound, the idea being that each person's blood now flows in the other participant's veins. The act carries a risk due to blood-borne diseases. The process usually provides a participant with a heightened symbolic sense of attachment with the other participant. Cultures Scandinavia The Norsemen entering the pact of foster brotherhood ( is, Fóstbræðralag) involved a rite in which they let their blood flow while they ducked underneath an arch formed by a strip of turf propped up by a spear or spears. An example is described in ''Gísla saga''. In '' Fóstbræðra saga'', the bond of Thorgeir Havarsson (Þorgeir Hávarsson) and Thormod Bersason (Þormóð Bersason) is sealed by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gongsun Sheng
Gongsun Sheng is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Dragon in the Clouds", he ranks fourth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Background The novel depicts Gongsun Sheng as an eight '' chi'' tall Taoist priest with a noble look as his eyebrows slant apart like the Chinese character for "eight" (八) and his eyes are almond-shaped. A native of Jizhou (薊州; present-day Ji County, Tianjin), he is a master of Taoist magic who could summon the wind and the rain, ride the mist and drive the clouds. His magical craft plus his sometimes mystical behaviour earn him the nickname "Dragon in the Clouds". He carries an ancient sword made of copper which is part of his magic kit. Robbing the convoy of birthday gifts Gongsun Sheng learns that Liang Shijie, the prefect of Daming, is sending valuables to his father-in-law Grand Tutor Cai Jing in the capital Dongjing as b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wu Yong
Wu Yong is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Knowledgeable Star", he ranks third among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Background The novel portrays Wu Yong as having a fair and handsome face and a long beard – typical features of learned and sophisticated men in Chinese literature. When Wu Yong is an ordinary teacher in a village school in Yuncheng County, he is already likened by some to Zhuge Liang and Chen Ping, two famous strategists of the Han dynasty, for his astuteness and wit. He is hence nicknamed "Knowledgeable Star". Robbing the convoy of birthday gifts Wu Yong first appears in the book when he watches Lei Heng, a chief constable of Yuncheng, fight the vagabond Liu Tang from his village school. Liu has come from afar to ask Chao Gai, the headman of Dongxi Village, to partner him to hijack valuables in transportation to the Grand Tutor Cai Jing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cai Jing
Cai Jing (1047–1126), courtesy name Yuanchang (), was a Chinese calligrapher and politician who lived during the Northern Song dynasty of China. He is also fictionalised as one of the primary antagonists in '' Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Life Cai Jing was from Xianyou, Xinghua (present-day Putian, Fujian). In 1070, he participated in the imperial examination and was a '' jinshi'' (a successful candidate). He served as a civil official in Qiantang before moving on to work in the Grand Secretary's office. In 1086, Cai Jing was posted to the administrative office in Kaifeng, the capital. He supported the conservative faction in the imperial court, headed by Sima Guang, and won the praise of Sima. In 1094, Cai Jing became the Minister for Revenue. He helped Zhang Dun () revive the New Policies of reformist chancellor Wang Anshi, although he set out on a campaign of attrition to destroy or radically alter the written work of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chao Gai
Chao Gai, nicknamed "Pagoda-Shifting Heavenly King", is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He is not one of the 108 Stars of Destiny because he dies before the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars. However, after his death, he serves as a spiritual guardian of the outlaws, who from time to time dedicate ceremonial sacrifices to him. Background Chao Gai earned his nickname "Pagoda-Shifting Heavenly King" after carrying a pagoda miniature from the west side of a creek to the east, where his village stood, to deter malevolent spirits. His fellows commonly refer to him as "Heavenly King Chao" (). Born in a wealthy family, he serves as the ''baozheng'' (保正; a chief of a village with 500 households) of Dongxi Village (東溪村; "Eastern Creek Village") in Yuncheng County, Shandong. Apart from having a wide network of friends and acquaintances throughout the '' jianghu'', he also maintains close friendships with the l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Song Wan (Water Margin)
Song Wan is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Giant in the Clouds", he ranks 82nd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 46th among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Background When Liangshan Marsh is first mentioned in ''Water Margin'', it is occupied by bandits led by Wang Lun, Du Qian and Song Wan. But Song apparently joins Liangshan after the band has been developed to a considerable size by Wang and Du. Song comes later with some men to add to its strength. Wang Lun takes the place of chief, with Du Qian placed second and Song third. Lin Chong joins Liangshan Song Wan, along with Wang Lun and Du Qian, is first mentioned when the nobleman Chai Jin suggests to the former imperial troops instructor Lin Chong, who has killed three men sent by Grand Marshal Gao Qiu to murder him in Cangzhou, that he could take refuge in Liangshan. However, when Lin Chong arrives at the stronghold, Wang Lun is worried that Lin, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yang Zhi (Water Margin)
Yang Zhi is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Blue Faced Beast", he ranks 17th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Background Yang Zhi is descended from Yang Ye, a general in history made famous by the folk story Generals of the Yang Family -- a saga of the family's patriotism stretching from him to his great-grand child. Seven '' chi'' tall, Yang Zhi has red whiskers on his chin and a blue birthmark on his face, which earns him the nickname "Blue Faced Beast". A highly skilled fighter and archer, he combats with either a long sabre or a spear. He serves as a middle-ranking officer under Grand Marshal Gao Qiu in Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan), the imperial capital of the Song Empire. Gao Qiu sends Yang Zhi and several officers to escort rare minerals and plants, known as ''huashigang'' (花石綱), to Dongjing for the decoration of a park of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zhu Gui (Water Margin)
Zhu Gui is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Dry Land Alligator", he ranks 92nd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 56th among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Background The novel depicts Zhu Gui as tall with a yellowish beard and cheekbones like fists. Originally a tradesman, he joins the outlaws at Liangshan Marsh led by Wang Lun after losing his investment. Wang puts him in charge of an inn which acts as a lookout for the stronghold. First appearance Zhu Gui first appears in the novel when Lin Chong comes to join Liangshan on the recommendation of the nobleman Chai Jin after killing three men sent to murder him by the Grand Marshal Gao Qiu. It is a snowy night when Lin stops by to eat in Zhu's inn. Miserable over his misfortune, Lin writes a poem on the wall which reveals his identity. Zhu introduces himself to Lin Chong and leads him through the marsh to the stronghold to meet Wang Lun and the other t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mount Liang
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''. The modern Liangshan County is located a few kilometres to the north, and 80 kilometres west of the Beijing–Shanghai railway. The original Mount Liang was named after the Prince of Liang (), a son of Emperor Wen of the Han dynasty. After his death, the prince was buried on the mountain. The area was from prehistoric times surrounded by the largest marshland in North China, called the Daye Marsh and later the Liangshan Marsh. During the Song dynasty, the Yellow River flowed through the area. Mount Liang was located at the extreme north of what became known as the "eight hundred '' li'' moorage of Mount Liang". Because the area was largely a wasteland on the frontiers of several administrative units, government control was mini ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chai Jin
Chai Jin is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Little Whirlwind", he ranks 10th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Background and history The novel depicts Chai Jin as handsome-looking with eyebrows like those of a dragon, eyes like those of a fenghuang, red lips and white teeth. He is descended from Chai Rong, the second emperor of the short-lived Later Zhou dynasty. The Later Zhou general Zhao Kuangyin usurped the imperial throne from Chai Rong's young son, Chai Zongxun, in the Coup at Chen Bridge of 960 AD and became the founding emperor of the Song dynasty. According to ''Water Margin'', Zhao Kuangyin felt guilty about the usurpation so he treated the Chai clan well, granting them many privileges which were later passed on to their descendants. Among these was immunity from prosecution except for capital crimes. The privilege was inscribed in a ''danshu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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