Wang Ying (''Water Margin'')

Wang Ying is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Stumpy Tiger", he ranks 58th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 22nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

The novel describes Wang Ying as a short man with sparkling eyes; his short stature earns him the nickname "Stumpy Tiger". A rough, impatient and lecherous man, he is highly skilled in martial arts and capable of taking on 100 opponents at the same time.

Wang Ying was originally a carriage driver. One day, after picking up a group of rich men, he got overcome by greed and robbed them of their valuables. Although he was arrested and imprisoned, he managed to escape from prison and has been an outlaw since then. Later, he becomes one of three leaders of a bandit gang based on Mount Qingfeng (清風山; in present-day Qingzhou, Shandong); the other two are Yan Shun and Zheng Tianshou.

Meeting Song Jiang

When Song Jiang is on his way to Qingfeng Fort (清風寨; near Mount Qingfeng) to take shelter under his friend Hua Rong, he passes by the mountains and gets captured in an ambush by the bandits, who intend to kill him and use his liver to make soup. Just as Song Jiang is about to be killed, he sighs loudly, "Am I, Song Jiang, destined to die just like this?" Yan Shun, who overhears him, is surprised to hear the name of a generous and chivalrous hero he has long admired. After Song Jiang confirms his identity, the three bandit chiefs are so stunned that they immediately release him, apologise to him, and treat him like an honoured guest.

In the meantime, Wang Ying has abducted a woman and wants to rape her. When she claims that she is the wife of Liu Gao, the government official in charge of Qingfeng Fort, Song Jiang feels obliged to help her so he manages to persuade Wang Ying to let her go.

Joining Liangshan

Song Jiang leaves the bandit stronghold, continues his journey to Qingfeng Fort, and stays there with Hua Rong. One evening, while touring the fort, he encounters Liu Gao's wife, who recognises him and falsely accuses him of being the bandit who abducted her. Liu Gao believes his wife's account and orders Song Jiang's arrest. After Hua Rong intervenes and saves Song Jiang by force, Liu Gao seeks help from his superior Murong Yanda, the governor of Qingzhou. Murong Yanda sends the general Huang Xin to deal with Hua Rong. Huang Xin lures Hua Rong into a trap and captures him and Song Jiang.

When Huang Xin and his troops are escorting Song Jiang and Hua Rong as prisoners back to Qingzhou, the bandits from Mount Qingfeng ambush them along the way and rescue Song Jiang and Hua Rong. The bandits eventually defeat the government forces, break into Qingfeng Fort, and kill Liu Gao and his family in revenge. After the battle, acting on Song Jiang's recommendation, Zheng Tianshou and his fellow bandits from Mount Qingfeng travel to Liangshan Marsh, where they join the larger outlaw band there.

Marriage to Hu Sanniang

During the battle between the Liangshan outlaws and the Zhu Family Village, Hu Sanniang, an ally of the Zhu family, rides forth to challenge the outlaws to a one-on-one duel. Aroused at the sight of a lady warrior, Wang Ying eagerly accepts Hu Sanniang's challenge and tries to flirt with and capture her. However, he underestimates his opponent and ends up being defeated and captured by Hu Sanniang. Hu Sanniang is later defeated and captured by Liangshan's Lin Chong.

After the battle concludes with a Liangshan victory, Song Jiang successfully convinces Hu Sanniang to surrender and join the Liangshan outlaw band. Song Jiang also arranges for Wang Ying to marry Hu Sanniang.

Campaigns and death

Wang Ying becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry 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.

During the campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Wang Ying is assigned to attack Muzhou (睦州; in present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang), where he encounters the enemy general Zheng Biao. Zheng Biao uses his magic to confuse Wang Ying and spear him to death. Hu Sanniang tries to avenge her husband but also ends up being slain by Zheng Biao.

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. 117. 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, pp. 93, 98
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.