Meng Kang is a fictional character in '' Water Margin'', 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 "Jade Flagpole", he ranks 70th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 34th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Tall and thin, Meng Kang is nicknamed "Jade Flagpole" for his fair complexion. He is from Zhending Prefecture (真定府; around present-day Zhengding County,

Hebei Hebei is a Provinces of China, province in North China. It is China's List of Chinese administrative divisions by population, sixth-most populous province, with a population of over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. It bor ...

Becoming an outlaw

The

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 ...

court commandeers men like Meng Kang, who is an expert in building boats, to construct sailing vessels for the purpose of transporting rare plants and rocks from all over the empire to the capital Dongjing (東京; present-day

Kaifeng Kaifeng ( zh, s=开封, p=Kāifēng) is a prefecture-level city in east-Zhongyuan, central Henan province, China. It is one of the Historical capitals of China, Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and ...

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 ...

) to decorate an imperial park. Meng Kang's project supervisor is overbearing and demanding, often punishing him for minor faults. In a fit of anger he kills the man and goes on the run. He subsequently joins Deng Fei, who leads a bandit gang at Yinma River (飲馬川; in present-day

Ji County, Tianjin Jizhou District (), formerly a county known as Ji County, is a district in the far north of the municipality of Tianjin, People's Republic of China, holding cultural and historical significance (''e.g''., the Buddhist Temple of Solitary Joy). O ...

). Later they make Pei Xuan, an upright magistrate's clerk who has been framed by his corrupt superiors and whom they incidentally rescued when he was escorted past Yinma River in his exile to a distant island, their leader. When Dai Zong and Yang Lin are searching for Gongsun Sheng around Jizhou, who has left

Liangshan Marsh Mount Liang is a mountain in Liangshan County, Shandong, China, which rises to 197.9 metres above sea level. It is well known as the stronghold of the 108 Heroes in the classic Chinese novel '' Water Margin''. The modern Liangshan County i ...

to visit his mother, they come by Yinma River. The bandits block their way, but Yang Lin recognises Deng Fei, an old friend. The bandits, led by Pei Xuan, accept Dai Zong's invitation to join Liangshan.

Campaigns and death

Meng Kang is placed in charge of the building of boats, especially battle vessels, 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 on

territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan. In the attack on Black Dragon Ridge (烏龍嶺; northeast of present-day Meicheng Town, Jiande,

Zhejiang ) , translit_lang1_type2 = , translit_lang1_info2 = ( Hangzhounese) ( Ningbonese) (Wenzhounese) , image_skyline = 玉甑峰全貌 - panoramio.jpg , image_caption = View of the Yandang Mountains , image_map = Zhejiang i ...

) in the campaign against Fang La, Meng Kang is trapped by the enemy and blasted into bits by cannon.

References

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Meng, Kang 72 Earthly Fiends Fictional characters from Hebei