Bao Xu
Bao Xu is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "God of Death", he ranks 60th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 24th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
| Bao Xu | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
| First appearance | Chapter 67 |
| Nickname | "God of Death" (喪門神) |
| Rank | 60th, Savage Star (地暴星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
| Infantry leader of Liangshan | |
| Origin | Bandit leader |
| Ancestral home / Place of origin | Kouzhou (believed to be present-day Guan County, Shandong) |
| Weapon | Broad Blade Sword (闊刃劍) |
| Names | |
| Simplified Chinese | 鲍旭 |
| Traditional Chinese | 鮑旭 |
| Pinyin | Bào Xù |
| Wade–Giles | Pao Hsü |
Background
The novel depicts Bao Xu as ugly-looking with a face shaped and coloured like the bottom of a wok, fierce bulging eyes and lips like those of a wolf. His voice is thunderous and fearsome. A skilled fighter who uses a broad-bladed sword, Bao Xu is nicknamed "God of Death" as he likes to kill and plunder. He leads a bandit band on Mount Deadwood (枯樹山) in Kouzhou (寇州; believed to be present-day Guan County, Shandong).
Joining Liangshan
The imperial commanders Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo capture Liangshan's Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen in their first battle with the force led by Guan Sheng, who has taken the fight to Lingzhou (凌州; present-day Ling County, Shandong) before they set out to eliminate Liangshan ordered by the Song court. Xuan and Hao are sent to the imperial capital Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan) for punishment.
In the meantime, Li Kui, who has secretly left for Lingzhou after being forbidden by Song Jiang to join Guan Sheng's expedition, gets into a spat with Jiao Ting while on his way. Jiao, who excels in wrestling, easily floors him twice. But the wrestler is glad to learn that the dark fellow is Li Kui. Jiao, who is heading to Mount Deadwood to join Bao Xu, invites Li to go with him, suggesting that they could work out something with Bao on Lingzhou.
At Mount Deadwood, Bao Xu welcomes the idea of joining Liangshan. Just then the troops escorting Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen come past the hill and are intercepted by Bao and his men. After rescuing the two lieutenants of Guan Sheng, Li Kui leads an attack on a gate of Lingzhou and break into it when Wei Dingguo is battling Guan Sheng outside the city. Earlier, Guan has captured and won over Shan Tinggui. After Wei also surrendered, Guan returns to Liangshan with the group including Bao Xu.
Campaigns and death
Bao Xu is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan.
In the battle of Hangzhou in the campaign against Fang La, Bao Xu and Li Kui are assigned to attack the city's north gate. After slaying the enemy officer Lian Ming, Bao Xu charges into the city where he finds himself ambushed. He is sliced in two by the enemy general Shi Bao
References
- Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035.
- Miyazaki, Ichisada (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. 121. 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.