Tang Long (Water Margin)

Tang Long is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Gold Coin Spotted Leopard", he ranks 88th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 52nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Standing at seven chi tall, Tang Long is nicknamed "Gold Coin Spotted Leopard" because he has coin-shaped spots all over his body. His father was a government official in Yan'an Prefecture (延安府; present-day Yan'an, Shaanxi). After his father's death, Tang Long becomes a wandering blacksmith and uses his earnings to support his gambling habits. He is well-trained in martial arts and specialises in using pole weapons (e.g., spear, staff).

Joining Liangshan

Li Kui and Dai Zong encounter Tang Long during their mission to fetch Gongsun Sheng from Jizhou (薊州; present-day Ji County, Tianjin) to the outlaw stronghold at Liangshan Marsh. At the time, Tang Long is performing a feat on the streets by smashing a rock with a huge iron mallet. Li Kui, attracted by the loud applause from the onlookers, goes over, talks to Tang Long, and invites him to join their outlaw band at Liangshan. The four of them (including Gongsun Sheng) later travel to Gaotangzhou (高唐州; present-day Gaotang County, Shandong) to join their fellow outlaws in battle against government forces.

Recruiting Xu Ning

Gao Qiu, a corrupt grand marshal, later orders the general Huyan Zhuo to lead an army to attack the Liangshan outlaws. Huyan Zhuo defeats the outlaws in the initial stages of the battle when he deploys his chain-linked armoured cavalry formation to overwhelm the Liangshan infantry. Just as the outlaws are discussing how to counter Huyan Zhuo's tactics, Tang Long recommends his cousin, Xu Ning, to train the Liangshan infantry in using the hooked lance to break the formation.

Song Jiang, Liangshan's chief, then sends Shi Qian and Tang Long on a mission to lure Xu Ning to Liangshan and force him to join the outlaw band. Shi Qian breaks into Xu Ning's house at night and steals his family heirloom – an impenetrable, lightweight golden armoured vest. Tang Long later meets Xu Ning and pretends to offer help to his cousin in retrieving the vest. Xu Ning later unsuspectingly consumes wine spiked with drugs that will make him unconscious. While he is out cold, the outlaws fetch him and his family to Liangshan. In the meantime, they also rob a rich merchant in Xu Ning's name. After Xu Ning regains consciousness, he realises that he has no choice but to become a Liangshan outlaw too.

Tang Long produces a sketch of the hooked lance and oversees Liangshan's blacksmiths in mass producing the weapon. In the meantime, Xu Ning trains the Liangshan infantry to use the hooked lance. The Liangshan outlaws ultimately break Huyan Zhuo's cavalry formation, defeat him in battle, and convince him to join Liangshan as well.

Campaigns and death

Tang Long becomes the chief armourer of Liangshan after the 108 Stars of Destiny 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, Tang Long sustains severe injuries at the battle of Qingxi County (清溪縣; present-day Chun'an County, Zhejiang) and eventually dies from his wounds.

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. 179. 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.