Lü Fang

Lü Fang is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Little Marquis of Wen", he ranks 54th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 18th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Lü Fang is from Tanzhou (around present-day Changsha, Hunan). He usually wears a suit of fiery red armour over a flowery robe, a silk belt and a headdress topped with a long feather. Like Lü Bu, he rides a red horse similar to the Red Hare, and wields a ji resembling Lü Bu's "Sky Piercer" (方天畫戟). Due to his resemblance to Lü Bu, he earns himself the nickname "Little Marquis of Wen".^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Originally a medicine trader, Lü Fang made losses while doing business in Shandong and did not have enough money to cover his expenses for the journey home. He decides to become an outlaw and settles down at Mount Duiying (對影山), where he leads a group of bandits. He becomes famous in the region after defeating many fighters who came to challenge him. When Guo Sheng hears of Lü Fang's reputation, he travels to Mount Duiying to challenge him to a one-on-one duel. Neither of them can defeat his opponent after fighting over a period of more than 10 days.

Joining Liangshan

Song Jiang, Hua Rong and other outlaws are on their way back to Liangshan Marsh when they pass by Mount Duiying. They chance on the duel between Lü Fang and Guo Sheng. At the time, the blades and the tassels of Lü Fang and Guo Sheng's jis get entangled so the two men struggle to free their weapons. Seeing that, Hua Rong fires an arrow that hits the entangled point and separates the weapons. Everyone cheers. Lü Fang and Guo Sheng stop fighting and greet Song Jiang, who convinces them to join the outlaw band at Liangshan.

Campaigns and death

After the 108 Stars of Destiny come together in what is called the Grand Assembly, Lü Fang becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry. Along with Guo Sheng, he is responsible for the security of the central camp when the Liangshan forces go to battle. The two of them also flank Song Jiang and serve as his bodyguards during battle.

Lü Fang follows the Liangshan heroes on the 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, Lü Fang is assigned to attack Black Dragon Ridge (烏龍嶺; northeast of present-day Meicheng Town, Jiande, Zhejiang), where he encounters an enemy officer, Bai Qin, and engages him in a one-on-one duel on horseback. After a prolonged fight, neither of them can defeat his opponent so they discard their weapons and start grappling with each other while still on horseback. Both of them eventually fall off a cliff to their deaths.

Notes

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. 109. 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, p. 91
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.