Jiao Ting

Jiao Ting is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Faceless", he ranks 98th of the 108 Stars of Destiny and 62nd of the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Jiao Ting is from Zhongshan Prefecture (中山府; around present-day Dingzhou, Hebei). He is well-trained in a set of wrestling techniques passed down over generations in his family. His ancestors had created a family rule forbidding the Jiaos from imparting those skills to people not related to the Jiao family. He leads an anonymous life and hardly reveals his true identity when interacting with others. As a result, he earns himself the nickname "Faceless".

Joining Liangshan

Jiao Ting intends to join an outlaw gang based on Mount Deadwood (枯樹山) in Kouzhou (寇州; believed to be present-day Guan County, Shandong) so he travels there. Along the way, he encounters Li Kui and gets into a staring match with him. Li Kui tries to intimidate Jiao Ting into backing off by glaring at him and raising his fists as if he is ready for a fight. However, Jiao Ting remains unfazed by Li Kui's bravado and fearsome appearance, and continues staring at him. Li Kui loses his temper and starts a fight with Jiao Ting, who easily wrestles him to the ground.

Impressed with Jiao Ting's skill, Li Kui yields and asks for his opponent's name. After introducing themselves to each other, Li Kui invites Jiao Ting to join the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh. Jiao Ting eagerly accepts. After that, Jiao Ting and Li Kui make their way to Mount Deadwood, where they meet Bao Xu, the leader of the outlaw gang there, and convince him to bring along his followers to join Liangshan as well. Just then, they receive news that a military convoy escorting two prisoners is passing by Mount Deadwood. Jiao Ting and Li Kui join Bao Xu and his gang in attacking the convoy and succeed in rescuing the two captives, who turn out to be Liangshan's Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen. Jiao Ting later joins the outlaws at Liangshan after they defeat government forces sent to eliminate them.

Campaigns and death

Jiao Ting becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny. 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. He is killed at the battle of Runzhou (潤州; present-day Runzhou District, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) during the campaign against Fang La's rebel forces.

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. 199. 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.