Jiang Jing (Water Margin)

Jiang Jing is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Divine Mathematician", he ranks 53rd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 17th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Jiang Jing is from Tanzhou (潭州; around present-day Changsha, Hunan). When he was younger, he sat for the imperial examination with high hopes of passing it and becoming a government official. However, when he failed to make the cut, he decided to shift his focus of study to military-related subjects. After years of hard work, he becomes an expert in martial arts, military science and mathematics. His expertise in mathematics earns him the nickname "Divine Mathematician".

Some time later, Jiang Jing joins a bandit gang based at Mount Yellow Gate (黃門山) and becomes one of its four leaders alongside Ou Peng, Ma Lin and Tao Zongwang.

Joining Liangshan

When the outlaws from Liangshan Marsh are on their way back to their stronghold after saving Song Jiang in Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), they pass by Mount Yellow Gate and meet the four bandit chiefs, who request to join them. After Song Jiang agrees, the four of them become part of the Liangshan outlaw band.

Campaigns and death

Following the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny, Jiang Jing is designated as an accountant in charge of maintaining records of Liangshan's stocks and supplies. After the Liangshan outlaws received amnesty from Emperor Huizong, they embark on campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces on Song territory as a form of service to the Song Empire.

By the end of the campaigns, Jiang Jing is one of the few surviving Liangshan heroes who make their way back to the imperial capital Dongjing to report their victory. To honour Jiang Jing for his service during the campaigns, Emperor Huizong grants him an official appointment. However, after holding office for some time, Jiang Jing feels homesick and decides to resign and return home to Tanzhou, where he lives as a commoner for the rest of his life.

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. 107. 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.