Kong Ming (Water Margin)

Kong Ming is a fictional character in Water Margin, one in the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Hairy Star", he ranks 62nd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 26th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Kong Ming and his younger brother Kong Liang are the sons of Squire Kong, the owner of a manor near Mount White Tiger (白虎山) in Qingzhou (in present-day Shandong).

When Song Jiang goes on the run after killing his mistress Yan Poxi, he meets the Kongs, who offer him shelter in their manor. During his stay at the Kong manor, Song Jiang instructs the Kong brothers in martial arts.

Around the time, Wu Song kills a corrupt official and his family in Mengzhou and goes into hiding. While passing by the town near the Kong manor, he encounters Kong Liang, gets into a heated quarrel with him, and beats him up and throws him into a creek. After getting out of the water, Kong Liang seeks help from his brother in taking revenge against Wu Song. The Kong brothers gather their followers and track down Wu Song, who is drunk when the Kongs show up. The Kong brothers capture him easily, tie him to a tree and beat him up. Just then, Song Jiang comes along, recognises Wu Song, and asks the Kong brothers to release him. With Song Jiang's help, the Kong brothers resolve their feud with Wu Song and they become friends.

Becoming an outlaw

After the Kong brothers kill a wealthy landlord in a bitter dispute, they flee to the nearby Mount White Tiger, where they start an outlaw gang with about 700 followers. In the meantime, the Kong brothers' uncle is implicated in their case and gets arrested and thrown into prison at the order of Murong Yanda, the governor of Qingzhou. The Kong brothers lead their men to attack Qingzhou in an attempt to rescue their uncle. However, they end up being defeated in battle by Huyan Zhuo, a general who has taken shelter in Qingzhou after his defeat at the hands of the outlaws from Liangshan Marsh. Huyan Zhuo also captures Kong Ming.

Kong Liang rushes to Liangshan Marsh to seek help from the outlaws there. In response, the Liangshan outlaws attack Qingzhou and eventually defeat the government forces and save Kong Ming. After his defeat, Huyan Zhuo surrenders and joins the Liangshan outlaw band, while the Kong brothers follow suit and lead their followers to join Liangshan as well.

Campaigns and death

Kong Ming becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry and one of the Central Camp Defendant Generals after the 108 Stars come together in what is called the Grand Assembly. 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.

During the campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Kong Ming falls sick after the battle of Hangzhou and dies of illness shortly before the Liangshan forces emerge victorious over Fang La.

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. 125. 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.