Ma Lin (Water Margin)

Ma Lin is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Iron Flute Deity", he ranks 67th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 31st among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Ma Lin is from Jiankang Prefecture (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu). Highly skilled in martial arts, he is capable of fighting dozens of opponents at the same time with his weapon – a pair of bronze sabres. However, he is better known for his talent in playing the dizi (Chinese flute), which earns him the nickname "Iron Flute Deity". Along with Ou Peng, Tao Zongwang and Jiang Jing, he leads a group of bandits based on Mount Yellow Gate (黃門山).

Joining Liangshan

After the outlaws from Liangshan Marsh save Song Jiang from execution in Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), they make their way back to base and pass by Mount Yellow Gate along the way. Ma Lin and his three co-leaders stop the Liangshan outlaws and request to join them. After Song Jiang agrees, the four bandit leaders become part of the Liangshan outlaw band.

Campaigns and death

Ma Lin becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry after all the 108 Stars of Destiny come together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He follows the 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, Ma Lin is assigned to attack Black Dragon Ridge (烏龍嶺; northeast of present-day Meicheng Town, Jiande, Zhejiang), where he engages an enemy officer, Bai Qin, in a one-on-one duel. Bai Qin knocks Ma Lin off horseback when the latter is distracted. Shi Bao, another of Fang La's officers, uses the opportunity to kill Ma Lin by slicing him into two after he is down.

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. 135. 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. 98
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.