Zhu Tong | |
---|---|
Water Margin character | |
First appearance | Chapter 13 |
Nickname | "Lord of the Beautiful Beard" 美鬚公 |
Rank | 12th, Fulfillment Star (天滿星) of the 36 Heavenly Spirits |
Tiger Cub Vanguard General of Liangshan | |
Origin | Constable |
Ancestral home / Place of origin | Yuncheng County |
Weapon | Sabre |
Names | |
Simplified Chinese | 朱仝 |
Traditional Chinese | 朱仝 |
Pinyin | Zhū Tóng |
Wade–Giles | Chu T'ung |
Zhu Tong is a fictional character in Water Margin , one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Lord of the Beautiful Beard", he ranks 12th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
A chief constable in Yuncheng County in present-day Shandong province, Zhu Tong is Eight chi and five cun tall and sports a beard one chi and five cun long. His sparkling eyes and long flowing beard give him a look resembling Guan Yu of the Three Kingdoms era. He is thus nicknamed, like Guan, "Lord with a Beautiful Beard".
Zhu Tong and fellow chief constable Lei Heng are close friends of Chao Gai, the headman of Dongxi village in Yuncheng. When Yuncheng receives an order from higher authorities to arrest Chao, who is found to have led the hijacking of birthday gifts being transported to Imperial Tutor Cai Jing in the imperial capital Dongjing, the job falls on Zhu Tong and Lei Heng to execute. Both want to help Chao escape, not knowing the other thinks the same. Zhu Tong prevails on Lei to break into Chao's house from the front while he himself blocks the rear knowing Chao would exit by that way. When Chao Gai, Wu Yong, Liu Tang and Gongsun Sheng charge out of the back gate, Zhu Tong ensures the way is cleared for them to flee.
Soon after Chao Gai is elected chief of Liangshan Marsh, he sends gifts to convey his gratitude to Zhu Tong and Song Jiang, who had warned him of the impending arrest, thus enabling him to make preparations to escape. Song kills his mistress Yan Poxi in anger when she threatens to report him after discovering the gifts and a letter from Chao revealing his connection to Liangshan. The magistrate orders Zhu Tong and Lei Heng to search for Song Jiang at his father's house. Zhu tells Lei Heng to watch over Song's father while he alone goes search for Song. As Song has earlier told him there is a pit under the floor in the study room good for hiding, Zhu heads to the spot, lifts the cover and finds him there. However, Zhu tells Song to flee. He reports to the magistrate that Song could not be found.
Lei Heng gets into a money dispute with a songstress Bai Xiying and is arrested for beating her father. As he is shackled and tethered to a post outside the magistrate's office, his elderly mother comes to send him food. She gets into a quarrel with Bai, who insults and slaps her. Lei in anger smashes his cangue on the woman and kills her. The magistrate exiles him to Jizhou (薊州; present-day Ji County, Tianjin), with Zhu Tong to escort him there. Zhu releases Lei midway. As the magistrate is fond of Zhu, he hands him a mitigated sentence of exile to Cangzhou.
In Cangzhou, Zhu Tong's impressive looks endear him to the local prefect, who lets him be an assistant in his office. The prefect's four-year-old son finds Zhu Tong's long exquisite beard charming and often wants to play with him. One night when Zhu is outdoors with the boy, Lei Heng and Wu Yong approach him to persuade him to join Liangshan. As he vehemently turns down their invitation, Li Kui, taking his cue from Wu Yong, takes away the child and hacks him to death. When Zhu finds the body of the boy, he is furious and wants to kill Li Kui. But Wu Yong and Lei Heng try to placate him. Seeing that he has no other choice, Zhu Tong reluctantly joins Liangshan, but on the condition that Li Kui is barred from returning to the stronghold.
Zhu Tong is appointed as one of the Eight Tiger Cubs Vanguard Generals 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.
He is one of the few heroes who survive the many campaigns. He accepts an official appointment and dedicates the rest of his life to serving the Song Empire.
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, and the leader of the 108 Heroes who come together as bandits in Shandong's Liangshan Marsh.
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.
Guan Sheng is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Great Blade", he ranks fifth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
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 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.
Chao Gai, nicknamed "Pagoda-Shifting Heavenly King", is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He is not one of the 108 Stars of Destiny because he dies before the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars. However, after his death, he serves as a spiritual guardian of the outlaws, who from time to time dedicate ceremonial sacrifices to him.
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.
Ruan Xiaowu, also known as Ruan the Fifth, is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Lives-Shortening Second Brother", he ranks 29th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
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.
Chai Jin is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Little Whirlwind", he ranks 10th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Lei Heng is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 25th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Liangshan heroes, and is nicknamed "Winged Tiger".
Bai Sheng is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Daylight Rat", he ranks 106th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 70th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Song Wan is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Giant in the Clouds", he ranks 82nd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 46th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Du Qian is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Touching the Sky", he ranks 83rd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 47th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Zhu Gui is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Dry Land Alligator", he ranks 92nd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 56th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
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. Godfrey Ho was assistant director.
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.
Outlaws of the Marsh is a Chinese television series adapted from Shi Nai'an's classical 14th century novel Water Margin. It was first broadcast on Shandong TV in China in 1983, and was not completed until 1986. The series was one of the earliest television dramas with an ancient China setting to be produced in mainland China. It was divided into different parts, each focusing on the story line of a certain character. Widely regarded, as a classic in mainland China, the series won a Golden Eagle Award.