Huangfu Duan

Huangfu Duan is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Purple Bearded Count", he ranks 57th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 21st among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

The novel describes Huangfu Duan as a man with green eyes and a long yellow beard. Believed to be of non-Han Chinese or mixed ancestry, he is nicknamed "Purple Bearded Count". Although Huangfu Duan is from Youzhou (幽州; around present-day Beijing), he works as a veterinarian in Dongchang Prefecture (東昌府; in present-day Liaocheng, Shandong). A specialist in equines, he can cure over 400 types of diseases affecting horses and is rumoured to possess the ability to bring dead horses back to life. He is a close friend of "Featherless Arrow" Zhang Qing, the military officer in charge of Dongchang Prefecture's armed forces.

Joining Liangshan

Huangfu Duan is among the last few of the 108 Stars of Destiny to join the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh. After Zhang Qing loses to the Liangshan outlaws in battle, he agrees to surrender and join the outlaws in pursuing their quest of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf". He assists the outlaws in capturing Dongchang Prefecture and then recommends Huangfu Duan to join Liangshan as well.

Huangfu Duan becomes Liangshan's veterinarian and caretaker of its horses. 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 Liangshan heroes are about to embark on the final campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, the emperor summons Huangfu Duan to the imperial capital Dongjing and appoints him as an imperial veterinarian. Huangfu Duan thus does not participate in the final campaign and serves as an imperial veterinarian until his death.

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. 115. 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.