Gong Wang
| Gong Wang | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
 a Qing dynasty illustration of Gong Wang | |
First appearance | Chapter 70 |
| In-universe information | |
| Nicknames | "Flowery-necked Tiger" 花項虎 |
| Weapon | javelin |
| Origin | military officer |
Designation | Infantry Commander of Liangshan |
Rank | 78th, Victorious Star (地捷星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
| Chinese names | |
| 龚旺 | |
| 龔旺 | |
| Gōng Wàng | |
| Kung Wang | |
Gong Wang is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Classic Chinese Novels. Nicknamed "Flowery-necked Tiger", he ranks 78th among the 108 Heroes and 42nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Background
[edit]Gong Wang is nicknamed "Flowery-necked Tiger" because he has tattoos of tiger's stripes on his body and a tattoo of a tiger's head on his neck. A skilled warrior, he specialises in using javelins. He and Ding Desun serve as the lieutenants of Zhang Qing, a military officer stationed in Dongchang Prefecture (東昌府; in present-day Liaocheng, Shandong).
Becoming an outlaw
[edit]When the outlaws from Liangshan Marsh attack Dongchang Prefecture, Zhang Qing, flanked by Gong Wang and Ding Desun, leads his troops out to engage the enemy. Zhang Qing uses his deadly stone-flinging skill to defeat several of Liangshan's best fighters on horseback and on foot. Each time he takes down his opponent, Gong Wang and Ding Desun will charge forward and attempt to take his opponent captive.
At one point, Zhang Qing and Dong Ping duel on horseback and start grappling with each other after discarding their weapons. Gong Wang moves in to intercept Liangshan's Lin Chong and Hua Rong when they attempt to join the fray to help Dong Ping, but he is no match for the two and ends up being captured. Meanwhile, Ding Desun is captured too by Liangshan's Lü Fang and Guo Sheng. Zhang Qing ultimately falls into a trap and gets taken captive by the outlaws. He decides to surrender and join the outlaws; Gong Wang and Ding Desun follow suit.
Campaigns and death
[edit]Gong Wang is appointed as a commander of the Liangshan infantry after the 108 Heroes are fully assembled. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory after the outlaws receive amnesty from Emperor Huizong.
During the final campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Gong Wang is assigned to attack Deqing County, where he encounters the enemy warrior Huang Ai (黄愛) and duels him. As Huang Ai retreats, Gong Wang pursues him but misses his step and falls into a stream, where he is speared to death by enemy soldiers.
References
[edit]- 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. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. 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.