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.

Wang Ying
Water Margin character
First appearanceChapter 31
Nickname"Stumpy Tiger"
矮腳虎
Rank58th, Minute Star (地微星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends
Cavalry leader of Liangshan
OriginBandit leader
Ancestral home / Place of originHuai River region
Names
Simplified Chinese王英
Traditional Chinese王英
PinyinWáng Yīng
Wade–GilesWang Ying

Background

A skilled fighter of short stature with sparkling eyes, Wang Ying is nicknamed "Stumpy Tiger" for his height. He is a coachman who conveys passengers for a living. One day, he covets the valuables of some traders who take his carriage that he robs them. After being arrested and escaping from prison, he becomes a bandit leader on Mount Qingfeng (清風山; in present-day Qingzhou, Shandong), ranked below Yan Shun and above Zheng Tianshou.

Meeting Song Jiang

When Song Jiang, on the run for killing his mistress Yan Poxi, is travelling to Qingfeng Fort (清風寨; near Mount Qingfeng) to take shelter under his friend Hua Rong, he passes by Mount Qingfeng and is captured in a trap by the bandits. The outlaws want to use his heart to make soup. Just as he is about to be sliced up, Song sighs loudly, "Am I, Song Jiang, destined to die just like this?" Surprised to hear the name of the man he admires for chivalry, Yan Shun stops the knife and inquires. After confirming Song's identity, the three bandit chiefs release him, offer their apologies and treat him as an honoured guest.

As they drink, Wang Ying takes leave to intercept a convoy crossing Mount Qingfeng that consists of a sedan chair, which apparently carries a woman. Finding the woman pretty, Wang wants to rape her. When the woman says she is the wife of Liu Gao, the governor of Qingfeng Fort, Song Jiang feels obliged to persuade Wang to let her go as Liu is the colleague of Hua Rong, the fort's garrison commandant. Wang reluctantly agrees.

Joining Liangshan

On the Lantern Festival night, Song Jiang, who is then living in Hua Rong's house, goes outdoor to enjoy the celebrations. Liu Gao's wife spots him and lies to her husband that Song has abducted and tried to rape her. Believing his wife, Liu orders Song Jiang arrested. After Hua Rong saved Song by force, Liu Gao seeks help from Murong Yanda, the governor of Qingzhou, which oversees Qingfeng Fort. Huang Xin, who is sent to handle the matter, lures Hua to a feast and captures him while Liu has re-arrested Song Jiang as he tried to sneak to Mount Qingfeng.

When Huang Xin is escorting the two prisoners back to Qingzhou, the bandits of Mount Qingfeng waylay him, rescue the two prisoners and kill Liu Gao. The bandits later defeat an army sent from Qingzhou led by Qin Ming and seize Mrs Liu after breaking into Qingfeng Fort. Wang Ying again intends to keep Mrs Liu, but is prevented by Song Jiang and Yan Shun, who kills the woman for the apparent fact that she is wicked and deceitful. Song promises to find Wang a becoming wife. As Qingzhou is likely to send a larger force, Song Jiang suggests that the group decamp to join Liangshan Marsh. Wang Ying is thus absorbed into the larger band.

Marrying Hu Sanniang

The Zhu Family Manor, located close to Liangshan, refuses to release Shi Qian, whom it has captured after he stole a rooster for meal from its inn while on the way to join the stronghold. Song Jiang, then second-in-command of Liangshan, comes to attack the manor to settle their longstanding acrimony. After accomplishing nothing in the first offensive, Liangshan launches the second one, which sees the involvement of Hu Sanniang, who comes to the aid of the Zhus.

Hu Sanniang, daughter of the squire of the neighbouring Hu Family Manor who is engaged to Zhu Biao of the Zhu Family Manor, comes charging on horse at Song Jiang's army. Excited to see a lady warrior, Wang Ying, who takes part in the offensive, eagerly takes on Hu in the belief that she can be easily captured. However, he underestimates the amazon, who senses that the guy has depraved intent. Overwhelming Wang with her sabres, she suddenly leans forward, pulls him off his horse and throws him to the ground. Zhus' men rush forward to tie up Wang.

Hu Sanniang shows no sign of weariness as she battles in succession Ou Peng and Ma Lin. Song Jiang suddenly finds himself being pursued by Hu on horse as his troops retreat in disarray. Hu comes close to seizing him when Lin Chong appears and intercepts her. Easily defeated and seized by Lin, she is sent to Liangshan by Song Jiang, who places her under the watch of his father.

The outlaws finally overrun the Zhu Family Manor aided by the infiltration by Sun Li and free all the captured chieftains, including Wang Qing. Back at Liangshan, Song Jiang convinces Hu Sanniang, who has become the god daughter of Song's father while under his care, to join the stronghold. She is also persuaded to marry Wang Ying, whom Song has earlier given the promise of finding him a wife.

Campaigns and death

Wang Ying is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry 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 Muzhou (睦州; in present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang) in the campaign against Fang La, Wang Ying encounters the enemy general Zheng Biao. Disoriented by Zheng's magic, Wang is speared to death by the sorcerer. Hu Sanniang tries to avenge her husband but is also killed by Zheng.

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.
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