Dong Ping

Dong Ping is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "General of Double Spears", he ranks 15th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Background

Dong Ping is from Shangdang (上黨), which is around present-day Yuncheng, Shanxi. He serves as the garrison commander in Dongping Prefecture (東平府; present-day Dongping County, Shandong). A highly feared warrior, he has the nickname "General of Double Spears" because he wields a pair of spears in battle. Apart from his excellent combat skills, he is also known for being an attractive and charming man, and a connoisseur of music and the arts. As a result, his nickname has been further extended to "Refined and Cultured General of Double Spears".

Becoming an outlaw

The outlaws from Liangshan Marsh send Yu Baosi and Wang Dingliu as their envoys to meet the prefect of Dongping Prefecture and demand food supplies from him. Although the prefect initially feels shocked upon hearing the outlaws' demand, Dong Ping manages to calm him down and suggests that he executes the two envoys to send a strong message to the outlaws that he will not comply. The prefect ultimately spares Yu Baosi and Wang Dingliu but orders his men to beat them up and throw them out of the city.

When Liangshan's Shi Jin attempts to use his past acquaintance with a prostitute to infiltrate Dongping Prefecture and spy for the outlaws, he ends up being captured by government forces when the brothel owner secretly reports him to the authorities. Upon learning of Shi Jin's capture, the Liangshan outlaws immediately launch an attack on the city. During the battle, Dong Ping engages some of Liangshan's best warriors in one-on-one duels but neither side manages to win.

One night, the outlaws taunt Dong Ping and manage to lure him out of the city. Dong Ping, not knowing it is a trap, falls into a hidden pit and ends up getting captured by the outlaws. Song Jiang, the outlaw chief, treats Dong Ping respectfully and successfully convinces him to join the outlaw band. Dong Ping then returns to Dongping Prefecture and tricks the prefect into opening the city gates. The outlaws then kill the prefect and take over the city easily.

Death

Dong Ping becomes one of the Five Tiger Generals of the Liangshan cavalry after the 108 Stars of Destiny come together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the invading Liao army and rebel forces on Song territory.

During the campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Dong Ping and "Featherless Arrow" Zhang Qing are assigned to attack the enemy at Dusong Pass (獨松關; located south of present-day Anji County, Zhejiang). Even though his left arm has been injured by shrapnel, Dong Ping continues engaging Li Tianrun, one of Fang La's generals, in a one-on-one duel on horseback until he decides to retreat to nurse his wounded arm. Zhang Qing then rushes forward to replace Dong Ping and continue the duel against Li Tianrun. After Li Tianrun slays Zhang Qing when the latter's weapon gets stuck in a tree, Dong Ping attempts to avenge his fallen comrade. When Dong Ping is distracted, Li Tianrun's colleague Zhang Tao sneaks up on him and slices him into two from behind.

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. 31. 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, pp. 92–93
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.