Fang La

Fang La
方臘
Fang La; 方臘
Born	Unknown; She County, Anhui
Died	1121; Kaifeng, Henan
Occupation	Rebel leader

Fang La (simplified Chinese: 方腊; traditional Chinese: 方臘; pinyin: Fāng Là; died 1121) was a Chinese rebel leader who led an uprising against the Song dynasty. In the classical novel Water Margin, he is fictionalised as one of the primary antagonists and nemeses of the 108 Stars of Destiny. He is sometimes associated with Manichaeism but was most likely not a follower of the religion.^[1]

Life

Fang La was from Shezhou, which is roughly present-day She County, Anhui. However, other sources claimed that he was from Qingxi County (清溪縣), which is present-day Chun'an County, Zhejiang. In 1120, he led an uprising against the Song Empire in Qixian Village (七賢村), Shezhou. Others claimed that he started the rebellion in Wannian District (萬年鄉), Chun'an County. Fang La's forces captured Hangzhou and subsequently took control over parts of present-day Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces, with a total of 52 counties and six prefectures.

In 1121, the Song government sent a general, Wang Yuan (王淵), to lead an army to crush the rebellion. Wang Yuan's subordinate, Han Shizhong, disguised himself, infiltrated Qingxi County and captured Fang La. Later, Xin Xingzong (辛興宗), the Song general defending Zhongzhou (忠州), led his troops to block Qingxi County's exit route and regained control of the county. Fang La and 52 of his subordinates were captured and escorted by the general Tong Guan to the imperial capital, Kaifeng. Four months later, Fang La was found guilty of treason and executed in Kaifeng.

By 1132–1133 or later, the rebellion was linked to Manichaeism. Though not originally connected, in the public and historical conscience it became confused with the Taizhou unrest of April–June 1121, where Manichaeism was widespread.^[2]

In Water Margin

The classical novel Water Margin presents a semi-fictional account of Fang La and his battle with the Liangshan outlaws. After granting the outlaws amnesty, Emperor Huizong sends them on military campaigns to suppress rebel forces within the Song Empire and counter invaders from the Liao Empire in the north. Fang La is one of the rebel leaders based in the Jiangnan region.

Whilst the Liangshan forces suffered hardly any casualties in the campaigns against the Liao Empire and the rebel forces of Tian Hu and Wang Qing, the campaign against Fang La proved to be calamitous. 59 of the original 108 heroes were killed in action, mostly by Fang La's warriors, whose combat skills and abilities rival the best of Liangshan. Unlike the other rebels who lack good leadership and experience, Fang La has established a solid foundation in the Jiangnan region with many capable people serving under him.

Fang La is eventually captured by the Liangshan heroes after an elaborate infiltration scheme involving Chai Jin and Yan Qing. During his escape attempt, he is defeated by Lu Zhishen and escorted back to Kaifeng by imperial troops under Tong Guan. Four months later, Fang La is found guilty of treason and executed by lingchi.

References

^ Lieu, Samuel N.C. (1985). Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire and Medieval China. Manchester University Press. pp. 240–243. ISBN 0719010888.
^ ter Haar, B.J. (1992). The White Lotus Teachings in Chinese Religious History (illustrated, reprint ed.). University of Hawaii Press. pp. 49–52. ISBN 0824822188.

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. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. 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.

[1] Lieu, Samuel N.C. (1985). Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire and Medieval China. Manchester University Press. pp. 240–243. ISBN 0719010888.

[2] ter Haar, B.J. (1992). The White Lotus Teachings in Chinese Religious History (illustrated, reprint ed.). University of Hawaii Press. pp. 49–52. ISBN 0824822188.

[1]

[2]

v t e Water Margin characters
Founding father	Chao Gai
108 Stars of Destiny	36 Heavenly Spirits Song Jiang Lu Junyi Wu Yong Gongsun Sheng Guan Sheng Lin Chong Qin Ming Huyan Zhuo Hua Rong Chai Jin Li Ying Zhu Tong Lu Zhishen Wu Song Dong Ping Zhang Qing Yang Zhi Xu Ning Suo Chao Dai Zong Liu Tang Li Kui Shi Jin Mu Hong Lei Heng Li Jun Ruan Xiao'er Zhang Heng Ruan Xiaowu Zhang Shun Ruan Xiaoqi Yang Xiong Shi Xiu Xie Zhen Xie Bao Yan Qing 72 Earthly Fiends Zhu Wu Huang Xin Sun Li Xuan Zan Hao Siwen Han Tao Peng Qi Shan Tinggui Wei Dingguo Xiao Rang Pei Xuan Ou Peng Deng Fei Yan Shun Yang Lin Ling Zhen Jiang Jing Lü Fang Guo Sheng An Daoquan Huangfu Duan Wang Ying Hu Sanniang Bao Xu Fan Rui Kong Ming Kong Liang Xiang Chong Li Gun Jin Dajian Ma Lin Tong Wei Tong Meng Meng Kang Hou Jian Chen Da Yang Chun Zheng Tianshou Tao Zongwang Song Qing Yue He Gong Wang Ding Desun Mu Chun Cao Zheng Song Wan Du Qian Xue Yong Shi En Li Zhong Zhou Tong Tang Long Du Xing Zou Yuan Zou Run Zhu Gui Zhu Fu Cai Fu Cai Qing Li Li Li Yun Jiao Ting Shi Yong Sun Xin Gu Dasao Zhang Qing Sun Erniang Wang Dingliu Yu Baosi Bai Sheng Shi Qian Duan Jingzhu
Antagonists (Song imperial court)	Gao Qiu Cai Jing Tong Guan Yang Jian
Antagonists (rebel leaders)	Fang La Tian Hu Wang Qing
Other characters	Ximen Qing Pan Jinlian Wu Dalang Yan Poxi Emperor Huizong Li Shishi Zhou Tong others

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Life

In Water Margin

See also

References