Yang Xiong (''Water Margin'')

Yang Xiong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Sick Guan Suo", he ranks 32nd among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Background

The novel describes Yang Xiong as a good-looking man with flower tattoos all over his body. He has thick eyebrows, eyes like those of a fenghuang, and a few strands of beard on his chin. While he resembles Guan Suo in appearance, he is nicknamed "Sick Guan Suo" because of his paler complexion. (In those days, a pale complexion is suggestive of poor health.) Although he is originally from Henan, he works as a prison warden and executioner in Jizhou (薊州; present-day Ji County, Tianjin).

Killing his adulterous wife

One day, after conducting a public execution of a notorious criminal, Yang Xiong receives many gifts from the townsfolk and makes his way back to the county office with much fanfare. Along the way, he encounters a group of hooligans who try to beat him up and rob him. Shi Xiu, a firewood seller, sees the commotion and comes to Yang Xiong's aid and helps him drive away the hooligans. Yang Xiong feels so grateful to Shi Xiu, a stranger, for helping him and becomes sworn brothers with him.

Yang Xiong allows Shi Xiu to live with him and help him run a butcher side as a side business. When Shi Xiu later discovers that Yang Xiong's wife Pan Qiaoyun has a secret affair with the monk Pei Ruhai, he informs Yang Xiong about it. However, Pan Qiaoyun denies any wrongdoing and accuses Shi Xiu of fabricating a lie to cover up his attempt to molest her. Yang Xiong believes his wife, and breaks ties with Shi Xiu and throws him out of his house. Feeling wronged and indignant, Shi Xiu becomes even more determined to prove to Yang Xiong that he is telling the truth.

One night, Shi Xiu ambushes Pei Ruhai outside Yang Xiong's house and kills him. He then takes the monk's possessions and shows them to Yang Xiong. Feeling sceptical, Yang Xiong asks Pan Qiaoyun to meet him at Mount Cuiping (翠屏山; in present-day Jizhou, Hebei) under the pretext of visiting his ancestors' graves. At Mount Cuiping, he shows her Pei Ruhai's possessions and demands the truth from her. Seeing that her lover is dead, Pan Qiaoyun feels so heartbroken that she confesses her affair and admits that she made a false accusation against Shi Xiu. Yang Xiong then kills her in anger, and apologises to Shi Xiu and becomes sworn brothers with him again.

Becoming an outlaw

Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu decide to go to the outlaw stronghold at Liangshan Marsh for refuge. Shi Qian, who witnessed Yang Xiong killing Pan Qiaoyun, requests to join them. Along the way, they rest in an inn run by the Zhu Family Village. Shi Qian steals the inn's rooster and sparks off a conflict between them and the Zhus. After the Zhus capture Shi Qian in a trap, Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu flee from the village and encounter Du Xing, who leads them to his master Li Ying. Li Ying agrees to help them by writing an apology letter on their behalf and asking the Zhus to release Shi Qian. However, the Zhus not only refuse to release Shi Qian, but also hurl insults at Li Ying's messenger. When Li Ying goes to confront them, Zhu Biao fires an arrow and injures him. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu then travel to Liangshan to seek help. After launching three strikes on the Zhu Family village, the Liangshan outlaws manage to defeat the Zhu forces, capture the village and rescue Shi Qian.

Death

Yang Xiong becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the 108 Stars of Destiny come together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He follows the outlaws on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces on Song territory after they received amnesty from Emperor Huizong. He makes great contributions and is lucky to survive the final campaign against Fang La's rebel forces. However, he dies from a tumour on his back while on the way back to the imperial capital Dongjing.

See also

• List of Water Margin minor characters#Yang Xiong's story for a list of supporting minor characters from Yang Xiong's story.

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. 65. 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. 70
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.