Jiang Jing (Water Margin)
Jiang Jing is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.Nicknamed "Divine Mathematician", he ranks 53rd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 17th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Jiang Jing | |
---|---|
Water Margin character | |
First appearance | Chapter 41 |
Nickname | "Divine Mathematician" 神算子 |
Rank | 53rd, Meet Star (地會星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
Accountant of Liangshan | |
Origin | Bandit leader from Mount Yellow Gate |
Ancestral home / Place of origin | Tanzhou (around present-day Changsha, Hunan) |
Names | |
Simplified Chinese | 蒋敬 |
Traditional Chinese | 蔣敬 |
Pinyin | Jiǎng Jìng |
Wade–Giles | Chiang Ching |
Background
A native of Tanzhou (潭州; around present-day Changsha, Hunan), Jiang Jing is a scholar who has failed imperial examinations, the conventional route to becoming a government official. Frustrated with the repeat failures, he shifts to focus on military-related subjects. After years of hard work, he is not just skilled in martial arts but also proficient in war craft and mathematics. His talent in numerical calculation earns him the nickname "Divine Mathematician".
When he first appears in the book, he is already the second-ranking chief in the bandit group at Mount Yellow Gate (黃門山), under Ou Peng and above Ma Lin and Tao Zongwang.
Joining Liangshan
When Song Jiang is following the outlaws of Liangshan Marsh back to their stronghold after they and some heroes of the Jieyang region saved him in Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), he comes by Mount Yellow Gate with the pack. They are blocked by the four bandit chiefs who demand to know whether Song is among them. When he steps out to show himself, Song is paid homage by the four bandits, who request to join Liangshan. Song Jiang gladly agrees.
Campaigns and resignation
Jang Jing is appointed to keep accounts of the food stock and logistics of Liangshan after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the grand assembly. He participates in campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory following amnesty by Emperor Huizong for Liangshan.
Jiang Jing is one of the Liangshan heroes who survive all the campaigns. Though awarded with an official appointment, he quits shortly after and goes back to his hometown Tanzhou, where he lives as a commoner for the rest of his life.
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. 107. 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.