Gao Yanei was the foster son of Gao Qiu, the high-ranking Song official and eventual nemesis of the Liangshan heroes in the novel ''The Water Margin''.
In the novel, Gao Yanei was entranced by the beauty of Lin Chong's wife and tried to rape her. Lin came back on time and rescued his wife from Gao Yanei. Gao Yanei, being unhappy, ganged up with his foster father and Lu Qian to frame Lin Chong. Lin was accused of attempted assassination on Gao Qiu and exiled to Cangzhou.
Gao then bribed the guards escorting Lin to Cangzhou to kill him on the way, but Lu Zhishen rescued Lin from his fate. Gao Qiu was furious with Lu and ordered the temple abbot to chase Lu out. Gao Yanei's eventual fate was to be ambushed by Lu Zhishen's followers and castrated.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Gao Qiu
Gāo Qiú , nicknamed the 'High Ball', is a character in the epic novel the ''Water Margin''.
Gao starts off as a street urchin who impresses important government officials with his skill at football, but he soon becomes a perpetual thorn in the flesh of the Liangshan bandits. His first run-in with a bandit-to-be is with Lin Chong, whom he frames out of vengeance for his nephew Gao Yanei, in a plot involving Lu Qian, a good friend of Lin's.
Gao rises through the government ranks and eventually becomes Prime Minister, manipulating the incompetent , and ensuring that corruption and decadence prevail. Together with Tong Guan and Cai Jing, Gao Qiu seeks to eliminate Chao Gai and Song Jiang, the leaders of the Liangshan rebels, who have sought to "deliver justice on Heaven's behalf". Following a series of five failed imperial military campaigns against the bandits, Song Jiang takes up the government's offer of an amnesty, believing that this will bring peace and unity to the country.
Although the campaign against the Liao Tartars is successful, close to two thirds of the 108 heroes are slain in the campaign against the Southern rebel Fang La. When Song and his remaining brothers return to the imperial court, having eliminated the rebels, Gao Qiu conspires with his cronies to kill Song and his deputies one by one.
Gao Qiu is the cousin of , an equally corrupt government official who also appears in the novel .
Gao starts off as a street urchin who impresses important government officials with his skill at football, but he soon becomes a perpetual thorn in the flesh of the Liangshan bandits. His first run-in with a bandit-to-be is with Lin Chong, whom he frames out of vengeance for his nephew Gao Yanei, in a plot involving Lu Qian, a good friend of Lin's.
Gao rises through the government ranks and eventually becomes Prime Minister, manipulating the incompetent , and ensuring that corruption and decadence prevail. Together with Tong Guan and Cai Jing, Gao Qiu seeks to eliminate Chao Gai and Song Jiang, the leaders of the Liangshan rebels, who have sought to "deliver justice on Heaven's behalf". Following a series of five failed imperial military campaigns against the bandits, Song Jiang takes up the government's offer of an amnesty, believing that this will bring peace and unity to the country.
Although the campaign against the Liao Tartars is successful, close to two thirds of the 108 heroes are slain in the campaign against the Southern rebel Fang La. When Song and his remaining brothers return to the imperial court, having eliminated the rebels, Gao Qiu conspires with his cronies to kill Song and his deputies one by one.
Gao Qiu is the cousin of , an equally corrupt government official who also appears in the novel .
Gao Lian (Water Margin)
Gao Lian is a character in the epic Chinese novel, the ''Water Margin''.
Like his notorious relative, Gao Qiu, Gao Lian was a corrupt government official who crossed swords with the Liangshan bandits. Gao Lian's relative Yin Tianxi once bullied and humiliated Chai Jin's uncle and Chai's uncle died of the severe injuries caused by Yin. Later, Yin Tianxi was killed by in a fit of anger when Chai Jin went to confront Yin, escorted by Li Kui.
Chai was held responsible for Yin's death and was arrested by Gao Lian. Li Kui had fled back to Liangshan to seek help from the heroes. Gao Lian had Chai severely tortured and locked up in a prison in Gaotangzhou. Later, the Liangshan heroes arrived with an army to attack Gaotangzhou and rescue Chai Jin.
Gao Lian was a master of sorcery and he defeated the heroes in the first battle by conjuring up a whirlwind. Song Jiang who had some knowledge in sorcery managed to dispel the whirlwind and allowed the heroes to launch an attack. Later, Gao Lian summoned some fiercesome and poisonous beasts with his magic shield to attack the heroes. He was eventually defeated by Gongsun Sheng in a battle of magical powers. The heroes then managed to break through Gaotangzhou's defences and killed Gao Lian. Chai Jin was rescued after being hidden in a dry well by Gao Lian for days.
Like his notorious relative, Gao Qiu, Gao Lian was a corrupt government official who crossed swords with the Liangshan bandits. Gao Lian's relative Yin Tianxi once bullied and humiliated Chai Jin's uncle and Chai's uncle died of the severe injuries caused by Yin. Later, Yin Tianxi was killed by in a fit of anger when Chai Jin went to confront Yin, escorted by Li Kui.
Chai was held responsible for Yin's death and was arrested by Gao Lian. Li Kui had fled back to Liangshan to seek help from the heroes. Gao Lian had Chai severely tortured and locked up in a prison in Gaotangzhou. Later, the Liangshan heroes arrived with an army to attack Gaotangzhou and rescue Chai Jin.
Gao Lian was a master of sorcery and he defeated the heroes in the first battle by conjuring up a whirlwind. Song Jiang who had some knowledge in sorcery managed to dispel the whirlwind and allowed the heroes to launch an attack. Later, Gao Lian summoned some fiercesome and poisonous beasts with his magic shield to attack the heroes. He was eventually defeated by Gongsun Sheng in a battle of magical powers. The heroes then managed to break through Gaotangzhou's defences and killed Gao Lian. Chai Jin was rescued after being hidden in a dry well by Gao Lian for days.
Fang Xi
Fang Xi was a rebel in the Song Dynasty and also a nemesis of the 108 heroes of Liangshan in the epic tale, the ''Water Margin''.
The Han characters "方腊" are pronounced as "Fang Xi" rather than "Fang La". The confusion was caused when the character "腊" was used as a simplified version of another character "臘" . In fact, the character "腊" was not a simplified character during the Song Dynasty, but another character pronounced as "xi".
The Fang Xi Rebellion took place nearing the end of the northern Song period in China. Fang Xi was by occupation a lumberjack. Being a man from south of the Yangtse River, he became frustrated and angry at the growing corruption in the Song emperor's court. Given that this frustration was shared by many of his compatriots who suffered from the same poverty and neglect he found himself well supported. By gaining massive support and rallying troops south of the Yangtse River, he became formidable enough to challenge the emperor in the north. Soon enough, by conquering and gaining control of vast amounts of land south of the Yangtse, Fang Xi set up his own court and declared himself emperor.
Fang Xi's rebellion was eventually crushed by united local armies organized by the corrupt officials he sought to destroy. Afterwards, Fang Xi was captured and killed.
In contrast to the "Water Margin", Fang Xi never did encounter a force such as Song Jiang's 108 heroes, or even encounter Song Jiang himself who was of another time period.
After Song Jiang had led his men on several successful campaigns against the corrupt imperial government, the latter offered the bandits amnesty. As part of the deal, Song had to repel the Liao Tartars from the north, and a trio of rebel leaders in the south. Fang Xi was one of them; the others being Tian Hu and Wang Qing.
Whilst the Liangshan contingent suffered hardly any casualties up till the point of the defeat of the Liao Tartars, the war against Fang Xi proved to be calamitous. Only 30-odd heroes survived the brutal war, and many of them were killed by Fang's men in gruesome ways, such as Qin Ming and Hao Si-wen.
Fang Xi was eventually captured after an elaborate infiltration scheme involving Chai Jin and he was gagged and tied up by Lu Zhishen, and executed in the capital.
Pronunciation of the name
The Han characters "方腊" are pronounced as "Fang Xi" rather than "Fang La". The confusion was caused when the character "腊" was used as a simplified version of another character "臘" . In fact, the character "腊" was not a simplified character during the Song Dynasty, but another character pronounced as "xi".
The Fang Xi Rebellion
The Fang Xi Rebellion took place nearing the end of the northern Song period in China. Fang Xi was by occupation a lumberjack. Being a man from south of the Yangtse River, he became frustrated and angry at the growing corruption in the Song emperor's court. Given that this frustration was shared by many of his compatriots who suffered from the same poverty and neglect he found himself well supported. By gaining massive support and rallying troops south of the Yangtse River, he became formidable enough to challenge the emperor in the north. Soon enough, by conquering and gaining control of vast amounts of land south of the Yangtse, Fang Xi set up his own court and declared himself emperor.
Fang Xi's rebellion was eventually crushed by united local armies organized by the corrupt officials he sought to destroy. Afterwards, Fang Xi was captured and killed.
In contrast to the "Water Margin", Fang Xi never did encounter a force such as Song Jiang's 108 heroes, or even encounter Song Jiang himself who was of another time period.
''Water Margin''
After Song Jiang had led his men on several successful campaigns against the corrupt imperial government, the latter offered the bandits amnesty. As part of the deal, Song had to repel the Liao Tartars from the north, and a trio of rebel leaders in the south. Fang Xi was one of them; the others being Tian Hu and Wang Qing.
Whilst the Liangshan contingent suffered hardly any casualties up till the point of the defeat of the Liao Tartars, the war against Fang Xi proved to be calamitous. Only 30-odd heroes survived the brutal war, and many of them were killed by Fang's men in gruesome ways, such as Qin Ming and Hao Si-wen.
Fang Xi was eventually captured after an elaborate infiltration scheme involving Chai Jin and he was gagged and tied up by Lu Zhishen, and executed in the capital.
Fang Tianding
Fang Tianding is a character in the epic Chinese tale, the ''Water Margin''.
Fang is best known as one of the southern rebel Fang La's officers, and he was the one who killed Liangshan's Hao Si-wen in battle. Fang decapitated Hao and dismembered Hao's body, and displayed his head to the heroes. Also, Fang was responsible for the death of Zhang Shun as he had ordered his archers to shoot Zhang to his death while Zhang tried to climb over the Yongjin gate of Hangzhou.
Eventually, Fang was killed by Zhang Heng, Zhang Shun's brother. It was said that Zhang Shun's spirit had possessed his brother's body and killed Fang for revenge at Wuyun Mountain.
Fang is best known as one of the southern rebel Fang La's officers, and he was the one who killed Liangshan's Hao Si-wen in battle. Fang decapitated Hao and dismembered Hao's body, and displayed his head to the heroes. Also, Fang was responsible for the death of Zhang Shun as he had ordered his archers to shoot Zhang to his death while Zhang tried to climb over the Yongjin gate of Hangzhou.
Eventually, Fang was killed by Zhang Heng, Zhang Shun's brother. It was said that Zhang Shun's spirit had possessed his brother's body and killed Fang for revenge at Wuyun Mountain.
Fang Jie
Fang Jie is a character in the epic tale, the ''Water Margin.
Fang is best known as a general for the Southern Song rebel, Fang La. In the campaign against the Liangshan bandits, Fang Jie was responsible for killing Qin Ming on the battlefield with his spear.
He was eventually slayed by Wu Song at the last battle before the capture of Fang La.
Fang is best known as a general for the Southern Song rebel, Fang La. In the campaign against the Liangshan bandits, Fang Jie was responsible for killing Qin Ming on the battlefield with his spear.
He was eventually slayed by Wu Song at the last battle before the capture of Fang La.
Du Wei (Fang La general)
Du Wei is a character in the epic tale, the ''Water Margin''.
Du is best known as an instrumental general for the Song Southern rebel, Fang La. He inflicted great damage on the Liangshan forces when the latter attacked Fang and his men. In one instance, at the battlefield, he threw a flying dagger at Qin Ming and whilst Qin dodged it, Fang Jie seized the opportunity to stab him to death.
Du also killed Sun Er Niang and Yu Bao-si with his flying daggers as well.
Du is best known as an instrumental general for the Song Southern rebel, Fang La. He inflicted great damage on the Liangshan forces when the latter attacked Fang and his men. In one instance, at the battlefield, he threw a flying dagger at Qin Ming and whilst Qin dodged it, Fang Jie seized the opportunity to stab him to death.
Du also killed Sun Er Niang and Yu Bao-si with his flying daggers as well.
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