Xiao Rang

Last updated
Xiao Rang
Water Margin character
First appearanceChapter 39
Nickname"Sacred Handed Scholar"
聖手書生
Rank46th, Literature Star (地文星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends
Chief secretary of Liangshan
OriginScholar and calligrapher
Ancestral home / Place of originJizhou (around present-day Jining and Heze, Shandong)
Names
Simplified Chinese 萧让
Traditional Chinese 蕭讓
Pinyin Xiāo Ràng
Wade–Giles Hsiao Jang

Xiao Rang is a fictional character in Water Margin , one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Sacred Handed Scholar", he ranks 46th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and tenth among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Contents

Background

Xiao Rang, who lives in Jizhou (濟州; around present-day Jining and Heze, Shandong), is a scholar good in imitating hand-writings including the distinctive ones of the four famous calligraphers of his time -- Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fu and Cai Jing. Xiao, nicknamed "Sacred Handed Scholar" for his rare expertise, is a friend of Wu Yong before the latter became the chief strategist of the Liangshan Marsh outlaws.

Becoming an outlaw

When Song Jiang is in Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), where he is exiled for killing his mistress Yan Poxi, he could move in and out of prison freely with permission of the chief warden Dai Zong, a friend of Wu Yong. One day he gets drunk in a restaurant alone. Lamenting his misfortunes, he writes a seditious poem on a wall in the restaurant, which he forgets the next day. Huang Wenbing, a petty official, discovers the poem and reports it to Cai Jiu, the governor of Jiangzhou, leading to Song being locked up and flogged. Cai Jiu orders Dai Zong to take a letter to his father Grand Tutor Cai Jing in the imperial capital Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan), from whom he seeks advice on the matter.

Passing by Liangshan, Dai Zong is drugged in an inn of the stronghold run by Zhu Gui. Zhu discovers Cai Jiu's letter on Dai and takes him to the bandit chiefs, who learn from Dai the plight of Song Jiang. Wu Yong suggests fooling Cai Jiu to send Song to Dongjing, as it would be easier to rescue him when he is on the road. To forge a letter from Cai Jing requires the help of the scholar Xiao Rang, who could imitate the Grand Tutor's handwriting, and the craftsman Jin Dajian, who could replicate his personal seal. Dai Zong travels to the homes of the two men, who are told their skills are needed for the renovation of a temple. They are lured to the vicinity of Liangshan, where they are taken to the stronghold. Finding themselves trapped, Jin and Xiao have no choice but join Liangshan. They create the fake letter as instructed by Wu Yong.

But the seal affixed to the letter happens to be one not appropriate for correspondence between fathers and sons. The letter fools Cai Jiu but not Huang Wenbing, who points out the giveaway. Cai Jiu orders Song Jiang and Dai Zong be executed. Meanwhile, having realised the mistake, Wu Yong sends many chieftains to Jiangzhou, where they save the two just before they are beheaded.

Life at Liangshan

Xiao Rang is appointed as the chief secretary of Liangshan in charge of all documents and correspondence after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly.

When Grand Marshal Gao Qiu leads a military attack against Liangshan, he is being captured by the outlaws. But Liangshan releases him on the condition that he puts in a good word with Emperor Huizong to help them win an amnesty. Xiao Rang and Yue He go with him to represent Liangshan's case to the emperor. However, Gao breaks his promise and detains them in his house. They are extricated by Dai Zong and Yan Qing.

Campaigns

The Liangshan outlaws finally receive amnesty from the emperor with the help of the courtesan Li Shishi and other government officials. Xiao Rang participates in campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory, which are ordered by the court as a way for the outlaws to atone for their crimes.

In the attack on Jingnan (荊南; around present-day Jingzhou, Hubei) in the campaign against Wang Qing, Xiao Rang, Jin Dajian and Pei Xuan are captured by the enemy. The three, who refused to surrender and divulge any information under torture, are freed when Xiao Jiasui and others revolt against Wang, causing Jingnan to fall.

Before the Liangshan heroes go on their last campaign, which targets Fang La, Xiao Rang is summoned to Dongjing, where he is made the private secretary of Cai Jing.

Related Research Articles

Song Jiang

Song Jiang was a Chinese historical figure who led an armed rebellion against the then ruling Song Dynasty in early 12th century. His band marauded over a region straddling the present-day Chinese provinces of Shandong and Henan. They eventually surrendered to the Imperial Court. The historical Song Jiang was turned into a fictional character in Water Margin, which became one of the four top Classic Chinese Novels,. He is the central figure in the book, the No. 1 man among 108 heroes, who come together as bandits in Shandong's Liangshan Marsh and are alleged to be 108 Stars of Destiny from Heaven.

Wu Yong

Wu Yong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Knowledgeable Star", he ranks third among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Gongsun Sheng

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

Liu Tang

Liu Tang is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Red Haired Devil", he ranks 21st among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Ruan Xiaoqi

Ruan Xiaoqi, also known as Ruan the Seventh, is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Living King Yama", he ranks 31st among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Ruan Xiao'er, also known as Ruan the Second, is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Tai Sui Who Stands His Ground", he ranks 27th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

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 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Zhang Shun

Zhang Shun is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "White Stripe in the Waves", he ranks 30th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Li Jun (Water Margin)

Li Jun is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "River Dragon", he ranks 26th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Dai Zong

Dai Zong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Magic Traveller", he ranks 20th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Pei Xuan is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Iron Faced Magistrate's Scribe", he ranks 47th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 11th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Mu Hong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Unrestrained", he ranks 24th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Jin Dajian is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Jade Armed Craftsman", he ranks 66th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 30th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Hou Jian is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Long Armed Ape", he ranks 71st among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 35th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Mu Chun is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Little Unrestrained", he ranks 80th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 44th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Xue Yong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Sick Tiger", he ranks 84th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 48th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

<i>The Water Margin</i> (film) 1972 Hong Kong film

The Water Margin, also known Outlaws of the Marsh and Seven Blows Of The Dragon, is a 1972 Hong Kong film adapted from the Chinese classical 14th-century novel Water Margin. It was produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio and directed by Chang Cheh.

<i>The Water Margin</i> (1998 TV series)

The Water Margin is a 1998 Chinese television series adapted from Shi Nai'an's classical 14th-century novel of the same title. It was produced by CCTV with Zhang Jizhong as producer. It was first broadcast in China in January 1998. The series also featured action choreography by Yuen Woo-ping.

<i>All Men Are Brothers</i> (TV series) 2011 Chinese television series

All Men Are Brothers is a 2011 Chinese television series adapted from Shi Nai'an's 14th century novel Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. The series is directed by Kuk Kwok-leung and features cast members from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The series was first broadcast on 8TV in March 2011 in Malaysia.

References