Chao Gai
Encyclopedia
Chao Gai is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He is widely considered as the founding father of the Liangshan
outlaws' cause to serve the nation and deliver justice on behalf of Heaven. However, he is not one of the 108 Stars of Destiny
due to his premature fatal encounter during a battle with the Zeng Family Fortress before the Grand Assembly in chapter 71.
, Shandong
. He is a close friend of Wu Yong
, Gongsun Sheng
, Liu Tang
and the Ruan brothers. He maintains close relations with the constables Zhu Tong
and Lei Heng
as well.
overhears news that a convoy escorting some birthday gifts for the Imperial Tutor Cai Jing
is to pass by Eastern Creek Village. He falls asleep in a rundown temple after getting drunk and is mistaken by Lei Heng's patrol as a wanted criminal and arrested. Lei Heng and his men stop by Eastern Creek Village to have a short break. Chao Gai recognises Liu Tang and lies to Lei Heng that Liu is his nephew and not a wanted criminal. Lei Heng releases Liu Tang but the latter is still unhappy with Lei for arresting him earlier without reason. He tracks down Lei Heng and fights with him but Chao Gai arrives and stops them.
Liu Tang tells Chao Gai and the others about the convoy and they decide to rob it. The seven men take an oath of fraternity and disguise themselves as date traders. They succeed in robbing the convoy by following Wu Yong's plan and with some help from Bai Sheng
. The authorities send the constable He Tao to investigate the incident and arrest the robbers. Bai Sheng is caught after he unknowingly reveals himself as one of the robbers. Despite being subjected to torture, Bai Sheng refuses to name his accomplices even though the authorities have already confirmed that Chao Gai is one of the robbers.
alerts Chao Gai and the others that they are wanted by the government for the robbery and they prepare to flee the village. Zhu Tong
and Lei Heng
are assigned to arrest Chao Gai and his companions but they help Chao and company escape instead, on account of their friendship. Chao Gai and his companions defeat soldiers led by He Tao and flee to Liangshan for refuge. Wang Lun, chief of Liangshan, allows them to stay at his stronghold temporarily as he is worried that Chao Gai and his friends will pose a threat to his position as chief. Wang Lun tries to send them away with valuable gifts but Chao Gai protests that they have nowhere else to seek refuge and begs Wang to allow them to stay. Wu Yong instigates Lin Chong
to kill Wang Lun and Chao Gai is then nominated to be the new chief. Chao Gai recruits Wang Lun's former deputies Song Wan
, Du Qian
and Zhu Gui
.
is the one who captured Shi Wengong.
Chao Gai's character is entirely consistent with the ideas presented in the Liangshan outlaws' eventual manifesto, "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf". His personal history as an official-turned-outlaw portended the way of life and recruitment policy of Liangshan.
Water Margin
Water Margin , also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, All Men Are Brothers, Men of the Marshes, or The Marshes of Mount Liang, is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.Attributed to Shi Nai'an and written in vernacular Chinese, the story, set in the Song Dynasty,...
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
Four Great Classical Novels
The Four Great Classical Novels, or the Four Major Classical Novels of Chinese literature, are the four novels commonly regarded by scholars to be the greatest and most influential of pre-modern Chinese fiction. Dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties, they are well known to most Chinese readers...
of Chinese literature
Chinese literature
Chinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
. He is widely considered as the founding father of the Liangshan
Mount Liang
Mount Liang is a mountain in Liangshan County, Shandong province, China which rises to 197.9 m above sea level. It is well known as the stronghold of the 108 legendary Song Dynasty heroes of the classic Chinese novel Water Margin...
outlaws' cause to serve the nation and deliver justice on behalf of Heaven. However, he is not one of the 108 Stars of Destiny
108 Stars of Destiny
The 108 Stars of Destiny are at the core of the plot of the Chinese classic Shui Hu Zhuan , commonly translated as Water Margin, Outlaws of the Marsh, or All Men Are Brothers, edited by Shi Nai'an and Luo Guanzhong during the 13th century and 14th century...
due to his premature fatal encounter during a battle with the Zeng Family Fortress before the Grand Assembly in chapter 71.
Background
Chao Gai is nicknamed "Pagoda Wielding Heavenly King", and popularly referred to as "Heavenly King Chao" by his fellows. He is the headman of Eastern Creek Village (東溪村) in Yuncheng CountyYuncheng County
Yuncheng County is a county in southwest of Shandong province, China. It borders Liangshan County and Jiaxiang County to the east, Juancheng to the west and Juye and Heze to the south.-Notes and references:...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
. He is a close friend of Wu Yong
Wu Yong
Wu Yong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 3rd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Resourceful Star".-Background:...
, Gongsun Sheng
Gongsun Sheng
Gongsun Sheng is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 4th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Dragon in the Clouds".-Background:...
, Liu Tang
Liu Tang
Liu Tang is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 21st of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Red Haired Devil".-Background:...
and the Ruan brothers. He maintains close relations with the constables Zhu Tong
Zhu Tong
Zhu Tong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 12th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Lord of the Beautiful Beard".-Background:...
and Lei Heng
Lei Heng
Lei Heng is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 25th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Winged Tiger".-Background:...
as well.
Robbing the convoy of birthday gifts
Once, Liu TangLiu Tang
Liu Tang is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 21st of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Red Haired Devil".-Background:...
overhears news that a convoy escorting some birthday gifts for the Imperial Tutor Cai Jing
Cai Jing
Cai Jing , style name Yuanchang , was a government official and calligrapher who lived during the Northern Song Dynasty. Cai Jing is also featured as one of the antagonists and nemesis of the 108 Liangshan heroes in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese...
is to pass by Eastern Creek Village. He falls asleep in a rundown temple after getting drunk and is mistaken by Lei Heng's patrol as a wanted criminal and arrested. Lei Heng and his men stop by Eastern Creek Village to have a short break. Chao Gai recognises Liu Tang and lies to Lei Heng that Liu is his nephew and not a wanted criminal. Lei Heng releases Liu Tang but the latter is still unhappy with Lei for arresting him earlier without reason. He tracks down Lei Heng and fights with him but Chao Gai arrives and stops them.
Liu Tang tells Chao Gai and the others about the convoy and they decide to rob it. The seven men take an oath of fraternity and disguise themselves as date traders. They succeed in robbing the convoy by following Wu Yong's plan and with some help from Bai Sheng
Bai Sheng
Bai Sheng is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 106th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 70th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Daylight Rat" for his scavenging behaviour and lack of a stable job.-Background:Bai...
. The authorities send the constable He Tao to investigate the incident and arrest the robbers. Bai Sheng is caught after he unknowingly reveals himself as one of the robbers. Despite being subjected to torture, Bai Sheng refuses to name his accomplices even though the authorities have already confirmed that Chao Gai is one of the robbers.
Joining Liangshan
Song JiangSong Jiang
Song Jiang was the leader of a group of outlaws who lived during the Song Dynasty. The outlaws were active in the present-day provinces of Shandong and Henan before their eventual surrender to the government. Song Jiang is also featured as a character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great...
alerts Chao Gai and the others that they are wanted by the government for the robbery and they prepare to flee the village. Zhu Tong
Zhu Tong
Zhu Tong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 12th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Lord of the Beautiful Beard".-Background:...
and Lei Heng
Lei Heng
Lei Heng is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 25th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Winged Tiger".-Background:...
are assigned to arrest Chao Gai and his companions but they help Chao and company escape instead, on account of their friendship. Chao Gai and his companions defeat soldiers led by He Tao and flee to Liangshan for refuge. Wang Lun, chief of Liangshan, allows them to stay at his stronghold temporarily as he is worried that Chao Gai and his friends will pose a threat to his position as chief. Wang Lun tries to send them away with valuable gifts but Chao Gai protests that they have nowhere else to seek refuge and begs Wang to allow them to stay. Wu Yong instigates Lin Chong
Lin Chong
Lin Chong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 6th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Panther Head"...
to kill Wang Lun and Chao Gai is then nominated to be the new chief. Chao Gai recruits Wang Lun's former deputies Song Wan
Song Wan
Song Wan is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 82nd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 46th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Giant in the Clouds".-Background:...
, Du Qian
Du Qian
Du Qian is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 83rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 47th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Touching the Sky".-Background:...
and Zhu Gui
Zhu Gui
Zhu Gui is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 92nd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 56th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Dry Land Alligator".-Background:...
.
Death and legacy
Chao Gai participates in some battles against the enemies of Liangshan but most of the time he lets Song Jiang lead the outlaws into war while he stays behind to defend their base at Liangshan and provide reinforcements. Once, he decides to personally lead a campaign against the Zeng Family Fortress after the Zengs provoked Liangshan. The Zengs had robbed a precious steed known as the "Jade Lion" (玉獅子) from Duan Jingzhu, which was originally intended to be presented as a gift to Chao Gai. The Zengs had also injured Liu Tang in a skirmish and provoked Liangshan through insulting slogans. Chao Gai is infuriated and leads his forces to attack the fortress. In the midst of battle, he is struck in the forehead by an arrow whose arrowhead is coated with poison. The arrow was fired by Shi Wengong, a martial arts instructor of the fortress. Chao Gai dies from poisoning shortly after. His dying words are: "Whoever captures Shi Wengong shall succeed me as chief." Song Jiang succeeds Chao Gai as chief of Liangshan eventually although Lu JunyiLu Junyi
Lu Junyi is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 2nd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Jade Unicorn"...
is the one who captured Shi Wengong.
Chao Gai's character is entirely consistent with the ideas presented in the Liangshan outlaws' eventual manifesto, "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf". His personal history as an official-turned-outlaw portended the way of life and recruitment policy of Liangshan.
See also
- List of Water Margin minor characters#Chao Gai's story for a list of supporting minor characters from Chao Gai's story.