Zhou Tong | |
---|---|
Water Margin character | |
First appearance | Chapter 5 |
Nickname | "Little Conqueror" 小覇王 |
Rank | 87th, Empty Star (地空星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
Tiger Cub Scouting General of Liangshan | |
Origin | Bandit chief |
Ancestral home / Place of origin | Qingzhou (in present-day Shandong) |
Weapon | Spear (走水綠沉槍) |
Names | |
Simplified Chinese | 周通 |
Traditional Chinese | 周通 |
Pinyin | Zhōu Tōng |
Wade–Giles | Chou T'ung |
Zhou Tong is a fictional character in Water Margin , one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Little Conqueror", he ranks 87th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 51st among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
There was a historical Zhou Tong, who lived during the late northern Song dynasty, the period Water Margin is set in. According to folklore, he taught archery to the well-known general Yue Fei. [lower-alpha 1] The given names of the two Zhou Tong are written differently in Chinese (通、同).
The novel depicts Zhou Tong as robust and having a broad face and a loud booming voice. A skilled fighter, he uses a long spear in combat. Zhou is nicknamed "Little Conqueror" as he resembles Xiang Yu, a warrior of the Qin dynasty called "The Conqueror", in appearance and with his domineering temperament. Zhou Tong leads a bandit gang at Mount Peach Blossom (桃花山) in Qingzhou (in present-day Shandong).
When passing by Mount Peach Blossom after parting ways with Shi Jin and Lu Da (who later becomes a monk with the name Lu Zhishen) in Weizhou, Li Zhong runs into Zhou Tong, who wants to rob him. After being beaten by Li, Zhou generously offers the latter his stronghold. Li accepts the offer and Zhou takes second position.
Running into the daughter of one Squire Liu, who lives near Mount Peach Blossom, Zhou Tong falls for her and demands her to be his wife. Although reluctant, the squire could not object. On the wedding night, Lu Zhishen, who is travelling to another temple in the imperial capital Dongjing after being expelled from the monastery at Mount Wutai for causing too many troubles, comes by Squire Liu's manor. He is provided lodgings for the night by the kindly old man. When Lu hears the family crying, he finds out the reason and volunteers to persuade Zhou to give up on the girl with his Buddhist teachings. So Lu lies in wait on the bed in the bridal room for Zhou in place of Squire Liu's daughter.
Zhou Tong comes in the finery of a bridegroom and heads to the bridal room. There he gropes in the dark to reach for the bed. But when he touches it, he is shocked to find a burly monk there, who gives him a good thrashing. Zhou manages to escape back to his stronghold and asks Li Zhong to get back at the monk for him. Li goes to the manor and is surprised to find the guy to be Lu Zhishen. To give face to Lu, Li asks Zhou Tong to forget about acquiring Squire Liu's daughter. Zhou readily gives his word. Lu Zhishen stays at their stronghold for a few days before resuming his journey.
When the imperial general Huyan Zhuo is fleeing to Qingzhou after being beaten in his military mission to stamp out the Liangshan Marsh, he passes by Mount Peach Blossom and puts up in an inn. That night Zhou Tong's men steals his horse, a gift from Emperor Huizong, from the stable. Mad at the loss, Huyan suggests to Qingzhou's governor Murong Yanda that he would help him wipe out all the local bandits to redeem his defeat at Liangshan.
As they are no match for Huyan, Li Zhong and Zhou Tong turn to the outlaws of the nearby Mount Twin Dragons led by Lu Zhishen for help. Finding Huyan a formidable warrior, the two strongholds conclude that it is better to seek help from Liangshan. Song Jiang leads troops to Qingzhou, where he captures and wins over Huyan. Li Zhong and Zhou Tong are absorbed into Liangshan along with the bandits of Mount Twin Dragons.
Zhou Tong is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry 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 in Song territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan.
Zhou Tong is involved in the attack on Dusong Pass (獨松關; located south of present-day Anji County, Zhejiang) led by Lu Junyi in the campaign against Fang La. One day when Zhou is scouting outside the pass, the gates suddenly open, out of which charges the enemy general Li Tianrun, who catches him off guard and kills him. When the campaign is over, Zhou Tong is conferred the posthumous title "Righteous Gentleman of Integrity" (義節郎).
Song Jiang was a Chinese historical figure who led an armed rebellion against the ruling Song Dynasty in the 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 famous Classic Chinese Novels. He is the central figure in the book, leading the 108 Heroes who gather as bandits in Shandong's Liangshan Marsh.
Lu Zhishen is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. He is the main character in the first segment of the novel, which spans about six chapters. Nicknamed "Flowery Monk", he ranks 13th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Lin Chong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Panther Head", he ranks sixth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits. In some folk tales derived from the novel, he is said to have learnt martial arts from Zhou Tong, who purportedly trained the Song dynasty general Yue Fei in archery.
Wu Song, also known as Second Brother Wu, is a legendary hero recounted since the 13th century; and one of the well-known fictional characters in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classic Novels in Chinese literature.
Hua Rong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Little Li Guang", he ranks ninth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Yang Zhi is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Blue Faced Beast", he ranks 17th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Shi Jin is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Nine-Tattoo Dragon", he ranks 23rd among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
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.
Huyan Zhuo is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Double Clubs", he ranked eighth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits (天罡), the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Zhang Qing is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Featherless Arrow", he ranks 16th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Kong Ming is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Hairy Star", he ranks 62nd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 26th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Kong Liang is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Lonely Fiery Star", he ranks 63rd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 27th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Sun Erniang is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Female Yaksha", she ranks 103rd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 67th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Li Zhong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Tiger Slaying General", he ranks 86th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 50th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Cao Zheng is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Knife Wielding Demon", he ranks 81st among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 45th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Wang Ying is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Stumpy Tiger", he ranks 58th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 22nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Zhang Qing is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Gardener", he ranks 102nd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 66th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Shi En is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Golden Eyed Tiger Cub", he ranks 85th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 49th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Peach Flower Village, also known as Flower Field Mistakes, is a Chinese opera comedy. It is a spin-off of a story in Chapter 5 of the 14th century novel Water Margin, and involves a few Water Margin heroes like Zhou Tong and Lu Zhishen.