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Xuan Zan
Xuan Zan is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Ugly Prince Consort", he ranks 40th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and fourth among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Background An eight ''chi'' tall skilled warrior, Xuan Zan is strikingly ugly with a face like the charred bottom of a wok, an upward pointing nose, hair messy like rank grass, and a red beard. He fights with a long sabre and is good in archery. A prince is so impressed by Xuan Zan when he beats contestants from a foreign state in archery, bringing glory to the Song empire, that he marries his daughter to him. Xuan Zan is therefore nicknamed "Ugly Prince Consort". However, the princess is so unhappy with the marriage, finding his looks disgusting, that she soon falls ill and dies. As a result, Xuan Zan falls out of the prince's favour and is relegated to a low-ranking military position in a garrison unit of Dongjing, the imperial capital. Beco ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dao (Chinese Sword)
''Dao'' (pronunciation: , English approximation: , Chinese language, Chinese: 刀; pinyin: ''dāo''; jyutping: ''dou1'') are single-edged Chinese swords, primarily used for slashing and chopping. They can be straight or curved. The most common form is also known as the Chinese sabre, although those with wider blades are sometimes referred to as Chinese broadswords. In China, the ''dao'' is considered one of the four traditional weapons, along with the ''Gun (staff), gun'' (stick or staff), ''qiang (spear), qiang'' (spear), and the ''jian'' (double-edged sword), called in this group "The General of Weapons". Name In Chinese language, Chinese, the word can be applied to ''any'' weapon with a single-edged blade and usually refers to knives. Because of this, the term is sometimes translated as knife or Nonetheless, within Chinese martial arts and in military contexts, the larger "sword" versions of the ''dao'' are usually intended. General characteristics While the ''dao'' hav ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Qin Ming
Qin Ming is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Fiery Thunderbolt", he ranked seventh among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Background A native of Kaizhou (開州; present-day Fengcheng, Liaoning), Qin Ming is a high-ranking military commander serving in Qingzhou (青州; in present-day Shandong). He was nicknamed "Fiery Thunderbolt" due to his thunderous voice, fiery temper and impetuousness in battles, which made him a fearsome but reckless warrior. His weapon is a sort of spiked club known in Chinese as "wolf's teeth mace" (). Conflict with the bandits of Mount Qingfeng When Murong Yanda, the governor of Qingzhou, was informed that Hua Rong, the garrison commander of Qingfeng Fort (清風寨; in present-day Qingzhou, Shandong), which was in his jurisdiction, had joined the outlaws at nearby Mount Qingfeng (), he ordered Qin Ming to lead a military force to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fang La
Fang La (; 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. Life Fang La was from Shezhou, which is roughly present-day She County, Anhui. However, other sources claimed that he was from Qingxi County (), which is present-day Chun'an County, Zhejiang. In 1120, he led an uprising against the Song Empire in Qixian Village (), Shezhou. Others claimed that he started the rebellion in Wannian District (), 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 (), to lead an army to crush the rebellion. Wang Yuan's subo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Suzhou
Suzhou is a major prefecture-level city in southern Jiangsu province, China. As part of the Yangtze Delta megalopolis, it is a major economic center and focal point of trade and commerce. Founded in 514 BC, Suzhou rapidly grew in size by the Eastern Han dynasty, mostly due to emigration from Northern and southern China, northern China. From the 10th century onwards, it has been an important economic, cultural, and commercial center, as well as the largest non-capital city in the world, until it was overtaken by Shanghai. Since Chinese economic reform, economic reforms began in 1978, Suzhou attained GDP growth rates of about 14% in 35 years. In 2023, Suzhou had 5 million registered residents. Suzhou is listed as the 48th List of cities by scientific output, cities by scientific output according to the Nature Index 2022. The city is home to universities, including Soochow University (Suzhou), Soochow University, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong–Liverp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Emperor Huizong Of Song
Emperor Huizong of Song (7 June 1082 – 4 June 1135), personal name Zhao Ji, was the eighth emperor of the Song dynasty of China and the penultimate emperor of the Northern Song dynasty. He was also a very well-known painter, poet and calligrapher. Born as the 11th son of Emperor Shenzong, he ascended the throne in 1100 upon the death of his elder brother and predecessor, Emperor Zhezong, because Emperor Zhezong's only son died prematurely. He lived in luxury, sophistication and art in the first half of his life. In 1126, when the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty invaded the Song dynasty during the Jin–Song Wars, Emperor Huizong abdicated and passed on his throne to his eldest son, Zhao Huan while Huizong assumed the honorary title of '' Taishang Huang'' (or "Retired Emperor"). The following year, the Song capital, Bianjing, was conquered by Jin forces in an event historically known as the Jingkang Incident. Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong and the rest of their family we ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jiao Ting
Jiao Ting is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Faceless", he ranks 98th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 62nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Background Jiao Ting, a native of Zhongshan Prefecture (中山府; around present-day Dingzhou, Hebei), is skilled in wrestling, having mastered a set of techniques developed by his grandfather and taught only within the family. As he has no distinguished background and connection, he could not find anyone willing to shelter him when he becomes a drifter. For that reason he is nicknamed "Faceless". Joining Liangshan Jiao Ting intended to join the bandits on Mount Deadwood () in Kouzhou (寇州; believed to be present-day Guan County, Shandong) led by Bao Xu. On his way there, he runs into Li Kui, who, annoyed by his stare, wants to beat him up. But Jiao Ting easily tackles him to the ground twice. Impressed with Jiao Ting's wrestling skill, Li Kui asks him t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Li Kui (Water Margin)
Li Kui is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Black Whirlwind", he ranks 22nd among the 108 Heroes, 36 Heavenly Spirits. In ''Water Margin'' Background The novel depicts Li Kui as having a very dark complexion, a reddish-yellow unibrow and fiery-looking eyes. He is as strong as an ox, which is why he is called "Iron Ox". But he is better known as "Black Whirlwind" for his dark skin and his berserk behaviour in fights. Li, who carries a pair of axes, has a bad temper, likes to drink and is fond of gambling. He strikes fear in people just with an intense glare. A native of Baizhang Village () in Yishui County (in present-day Linyi, Shandong), Li Kui flees from home after killing a person by accident. He ends up in Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), where he becomes a jailer under the chief warden Dai Zong. He gets to know Song Jiang, who was exiled from Yuncheng for killing his mist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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. Background Bao Xu is ugly-looking with a face shaped and colored like the bottom of a wok, fierce bulging eyes and lips like those of a wolf. His voice is thunderous and terrifying. Bao, a skilled fighter who uses a broad-bladed sword, is nicknamed "God of Death" as he likes to kill and plunder. He leads a bandit gang on Mount Deadwood () in Kouzhou (寇州; believed to be present-day Guan County, Shandong). Joining Liangshan The imperial military officers Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo capture Liangshan's Xuan Zan and Hao Siwen at Lingzhou (凌州; present-day Ling County, Shandong), who have come with Guan Sheng to head them off before they set out on the mission to exterminate their stronghold by order of the Song court. Shan and Wei send the two captives ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shandong
Shandong is a coastal Provinces of China, province in East China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural and religious center for Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism. Shandong's Mount Tai is the most revered mountain of Taoism and a site with one of the longest histories of continuous religious worship in the world. The Buddhist temples in the mountains south of the provincial capital of Jinan were once among the foremost Buddhist sites in China. The city of Qufu was the birthplace of Confucius, and later became the center of Confucianism. Shandong's location at the intersection of ancient and modern north–south and east–west trading routes has helped establish it as an economic center. After a period of political instability and economic hardship beginning in the late 19th century, Shandong has experienced rapid growth in recent de ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dezhou
Dezhou () is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the southeast, Liaocheng to the southwest, Binzhou to the northeast, and the province of Hebei to the north. History Sulu royal family In 1417, the pre- sultanate East King of Sulu, Paduka Pahala, sailed to China on a tribute mission to the Yongle Emperor. While on his way home from the mission, he died in Dezhou, and his two sons and wife were left in the care of Hui people in the city. The two families descended from the two sons were given the surnames An and Wen by the Ming dynasty. They lived through the Ming and Qing dynasties, and still live in Dezhou today. Soon after, Sharif ul-Hāshim of Sulu arrived in Sulu and married a princess of the previous non-Hashemite royal family, founding the Sulu Sultanate. Since then, various Tausūg delegations from Sulu have visited Dezhou to meet the descendants of the previous roy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wei Dingguo
Wei Dingguo is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "General of Holy Fire", he ranks 45th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and ninth among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Background A military instructor in his hometown Lingzhou (凌州; in present-day Dezhou, Shandong) alongside Shan Tinggui, Wei Dingguo is a tough warrior who rides a red steed and fights with a long sabre. He dons a suit of red armour and a helmet topped with a red feather when he goes into a battle. He is best known for the use of flaming substances in attacks, aided by five hundred soldiers trained in the technique. For this skill in setting his foes on fire, he is nicknamed "General of Holy Fire". Becoming an outlaw Guan Sheng volunteers to take the fight to Lingzhou when Liangshan learns that Wei Dingguo and Shan Tingguo have been appointed by the Song court to eliminate them following their successful rescue of Lu Junyi in Daming which ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
