An Daoquan

An Daoquan is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Divine Physician", he ranks 56th of the 108 Stars of Destiny and 20th of the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

An Daoquan is a physician from Jiankang Prefecture (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu). His ability to treat a wide range of illnesses earns him the nickname "Divine Physician" and comparison to the Han dynasty physician Hua Tuo.

Joining Liangshan

When Song Jiang is leading the outlaws from Liangshan Marsh to attack Daming Prefecture (大名府; present-day Daming County, Hebei), he suddenly contracts a tumour on his back and falls sick. As a result of his unexpected illness, Song Jiang is forced to abandon the offensive and return to Liangshan to recuperate. Around the time, Zhang Shun tells his fellow outlaws that his mother suffered from a similar disease before, and An Daoquan eventually healed her. He then volunteers to find An Daoquan and bring him back to Liangshan to heal Song Jiang.

After travelling a long way to Jiankang Prefecture, Zhang Shun manages to find An Daoquan and convince him to go to Liangshan. However, An Daoquan's lover, Li Qiaonu, refuses to allow the physician to leave. Zhang Shun overhears their conversation. That night, Zhang Shun sneaks into Li Qiaonu's room, kills her, and writes "An Daoquan is the killer" in blood on the wall near the crime scene to frame An Daoquan for the murder. The next morning, a shocked An Daoquan has no choice but to follow Zhang Shun back to Liangshan and become an outlaw. At Liangshan, he manages to completely heal Song Jiang within 10 days.

Campaigns

After the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny, An Daoquan is appointed as Liangshan's physician. He follows the Liangshan heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces on Song territory after they received amnesty from Emperor Huizong.

Just before the battle of Hangzhou during the campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Emperor Huizong contracts a minor illness so he summons An Daoquan from the frontline at Hangzhou back to the imperial capital Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan) to treat him. From then on until his death, An Daoquan remains in Dongjing and serves as an imperial physician in the palace.

References

• Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Ichisada, Miyazaki (1993). Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu (in Japanese). Chuo Koronsha. ISBN 978-4122020559.
• Keffer, David. "Outlaws of the Marsh: A Somewhat Less Than Critical Commentary". Poison Pie Publishing House. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
• Li, Mengxia (1992). 108 Heroes from the Water Margin (in Chinese). EPB Publishers. p. 113. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
• Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
• Shibusawa, Kou (1989), Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Koei
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.