Gong Wang
Gong Wang | |
---|---|
Water Margin character | |
First appearance | Chapter 70 |
Nickname | "Flowery Necked Tiger" 花項虎 |
Rank | 78th, Victorious Star (地捷星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
Infantry leader of Liangshan | |
Origin | Imperial general |
Weapon | Spear |
Names | |
Simplified Chinese | 龚旺 |
Traditional Chinese | 龔旺 |
Pinyin | Gōng Wàng |
Wade–Giles | Kung Wang |
Gong Wang is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Flowery Necked Tiger", he ranks 78th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 42nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Background
Gong Wang sports tattooed stripes of a tiger on his body and the head of the animal on his neck, with the latter earning him the nickname "Flowery Necked Tiger". A good fighter, he is skilled in throwing javelins at targets. He and Ding Desun are lieutenants of Zhang Qing, the commandant of the garrison of Dongchang (東昌府; in present-day Liaocheng, Shandong).
Joining Liangshan
With his accuracy in hurling stones, Zhang Qing defeats the outlaws from Liangshan Marsh under Lu Junyi who have come to demand food from Dongchang. Song Jiang comes to provides reinforcement, but Zhang Qing injures further some of Liangshan's best warriors when they challenge him one-on-one on horseback. Meanwhile, Gong Wang and Ding Desun wait at the wings to capture any enemy that Zhang fells with his stone.
When Zhang Qing and Liangshan's Dong Ping end up grappling with each other on horseback, Gong Wang rides forth to intercept Lin Chong and Hua Rong as they rush to aid Dong. But he is no match for the two. Cornered, he hurls his spear at them but misses. He is at last knocked off his horse and captured. He and Ding Desun, also seized, are sent in captivity back to Liangshan. After Zhang Qing is captured and won over by Liangshan, Gong and Ding join the bandits following their leader.
Campaigns and death
Gong Wang 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.
Gong Wang is under the command of Huyan Zhuo when Liangshan attacks Deqing County in the campaign against Fang La. While pursuing an enemy officer Huang Ai (黄愛), he accidentally falls into a stream and is speared to death by opposing troops.
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. 157. 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. 93
- Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.