Fan Rui is a fictional character in ''

Water Margin ''Water Margin'' (), also called ''Outlaws of the Marsh'' or ''All Men Are Brothers'', is a Chinese novel from the Ming dynasty that is one of the preeminent Classic Chinese Novels. Attributed to Shi Nai'an, ''Water Margin'' was one of the e ...

'', one of the

Four Great Classical Novels Classic Chinese Novels () are the best-known works of literary fiction across pre-modern Chinese literature. The group usually includes the following works: Ming dynasty novels '' Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', '' Water Margin'', ''Journey to t ...

Chinese literature The history of Chinese literature extends thousands of years, and begins with the earliest recorded inscriptions, court archives, building to the major works of philosophy and history written during the Axial Age. The Han dynasty, Han (202 ...

. Nicknamed "Demon King of Chaos", he ranks 61st among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 25th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Fan Rui, a native of Puzhou (濮州; around present-day Juancheng County,

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 ...

), is fearsome-looking with untidy hair. In battles he dons armour over a silk robe and fights with a sword called "Netherworld Demon King Sword" () and a mace called "Dark Chain-Swinging Spiked Mace" (). He can manipulate the weather and conjure strong winds with Taoist sorcery, which earns him the nickname "Demon King of Chaos". With Xiang Chong and Li Gun as his sidekicks, Fan Rui leads a 3,000-strong outlaw band at Mount Mangdang (芒碭山; north of present-day Yongcheng,

Henan Henan; alternatively Honan is a province in Central China. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including Yinxu, the ruins of the final capital of the Shang dynasty () and the Shaolin Temple. Four of the historical capitals of China, Lu ...

Joining Liangshan

The three chiefs of Mount Mangdang have been boasting about wiping out the Liangshan stronghold. Their bragging angers Liangshan, which sends Shi Jin to subdue them. But Shi cannot not hold up against the assaults of Xiang Chong and Li Gun, who bears down on his men with speed and ferocity, causing heavy casualties.

Song Jiang Song Jiang was a Chinese historical figure who led an armed rebellion against the ruling Song dynasty, Song Dynasty in the early 12th century. His band marauded over a region straddling the present-day Chinese provinces of Shandong and Henan. Th ...

arrives with reinforcement. The following day, when both sides face off again,

Gongsun Sheng Gongsun Sheng is a fictional character in '' Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Chinese Classical Novels. Nicknamed "Dragon in the Clouds", he ranks fourth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Backgro ...

arrays the Liangshan troops in the pattern of the

Eight Trigrams Formation Baguazhen ( Chinese: 八卦陣; pinyin: ''bāguàzhèn)''; lit. 'eight trigrams (military) formation') or Bagua Formation, also known as Jiujun (九軍; lit. 'Nine armies') or Jiugong Baguazhen (九宮八卦陣; pinyin: ''Jiǔgōng bāguàzhèn' ...

. Fan Rui, who knows sorcery, assists Xiang Chong and Li Gun in their attack by unsettling the other side with blasting winds and flying pebbles. But Gongsun engulfs Xiang and Li in darkness, trapping them in the formation and driving them into a pit. Meanwhile, Song Jiang's forces swarming forward, beating Fan back to his base.

treats the two captives with respect and convinces them to join Liangshan. The two return to Mount Mangdang and successfully help to recruit Fan Rui. As Fan admires Gongsun Sheng's prowess in sorcery, he asks the latter to teach him his craft as well as the right path of Taoism. His wish is granted.

Campaigns

Fan Rui is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the 108 Stars of Destiny comes together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in

Song A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usu ...

territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan. In the expedition against Tian Hu, Fan Rui contests with Qiao Daoqing in sorcery and is beaten. His teacher Gongsun Sheng comes to his aid and defeats Qiao, thus sealing the fall of Tian Hu. Fan Rui is one of the few Liangshan heroes who survives the campaigns. Although awarded an official post, he declines it and chooses to continue Taoist training under Gongsun Sheng as a recluse together with

Zhu Wu Zhu Wu is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Resourceful Strategist", he ranks 37th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and first among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Backgroun ...

References

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