Han Tao
Encyclopedia
Han Tao is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He ranks 42nd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 6th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "General of Hundred Victories".
). He wields a lance and excels in martial arts. He serves the imperial court as a drill instructor in Chenzhou (present-day Huaiyang County
). He is nicknamed "General of Hundred Victories" for his might and expertise in warfare.
is furious with the Liangshan
outlaws after they captured the city of Gaotangzhou (present-day Gaotang County
, Shandong
) and killed his cousin Gao Lian. He requests for the emperor to send an army to quell the outlaws. The emperor appoints Huyan Zhuo in charge of the army, with Han Tao and Peng Qi
serving as Huyan's deputies and leaders of the vanguard army. Han Tao fights with Liangshan's Qin Ming
but is no match for Qin. He barely escapes when Huyan Zhuo joins in and covers him from Qin Ming's attacks.
Huyan Zhuo deploys his superior chain-linked armoured cavalry formation to attack the outlaws and score a complete victory. Tang Long recommends his cousin Xu Ning
to Song Jiang
and Xu trains Liangshan's infantry in using the hooked spear. Liangshan forces eventually overcome Huyan Zhuo's cavalry formation and defeat the imperial army. Huyan Zhuo and Han Tao escape in a frenzy. Han Tao is lured into a trap set by Liu Tang
and Shi Qian
, where he is captured and sent to Liangshan. Song Jiang treats Han Tao with respect and succeeds in persuading Han to join the Liangshan cause of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf".
invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the Fang La
campaign, Han Tao is assigned to lead an attack on the enemy city of Changzhou. He engages the enemy general Gao Keli in a fight. Gao Keli fires an arrow at Han Tao, which hits him in the face, and Han falls off his steed. Zhang Jinren then spears Han Tao in the throat and kills him.
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 ranks 42nd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 6th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "General of Hundred Victories".
Background
Han Tao is from Dongjing (present-day KaifengKaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
). He wields a lance and excels in martial arts. He serves the imperial court as a drill instructor in Chenzhou (present-day Huaiyang County
Huaiyang County
Huaiyang County is a county in the prefecture-level city of Zhoukou in Henan province, People's Republic of China. During the Spring and Autumn Period the capital of the state of Chen was located there....
). He is nicknamed "General of Hundred Victories" for his might and expertise in warfare.
Becoming an outlaw
Grand Marshal Gao QiuGao Qiu
Gao Qiu was a government official who served Emperor Huizong during the Song Dynasty. He is also featured as one of the main antagonists and nemesis of the 108 Liangshan outlaws in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.-Biography:According to the Chinese...
is furious with 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 after they captured the city of Gaotangzhou (present-day Gaotang County
Gaotang County
Gaotang County is a county of northwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It is administered by Liaocheng City.The population was in 1999.- External links :*...
, 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...
) and killed his cousin Gao Lian. He requests for the emperor to send an army to quell the outlaws. The emperor appoints Huyan Zhuo in charge of the army, with Han Tao and Peng Qi
Peng Qi
Peng Qi is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 43rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 7th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "General of Heavenly Vision".-Background:...
serving as Huyan's deputies and leaders of the vanguard army. Han Tao fights with Liangshan's Qin Ming
Qin Ming
Qin Ming is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 7th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Fiery Thunderbolt".-Background:...
but is no match for Qin. He barely escapes when Huyan Zhuo joins in and covers him from Qin Ming's attacks.
Huyan Zhuo deploys his superior chain-linked armoured cavalry formation to attack the outlaws and score a complete victory. Tang Long recommends his cousin Xu Ning
Xu Ning
Xu Ning is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 18th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Gold Lancer".-Background:...
to Song Jiang
Song 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...
and Xu trains Liangshan's infantry in using the hooked spear. Liangshan forces eventually overcome Huyan Zhuo's cavalry formation and defeat the imperial army. Huyan Zhuo and Han Tao escape in a frenzy. Han Tao is lured into a trap set by 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 Shi Qian
Shi Qian
Shi Qian is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 107th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 71st of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Flea on a Drum".-Background:...
, where he is captured and sent to Liangshan. Song Jiang treats Han Tao with respect and succeeds in persuading Han to join the Liangshan cause of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf".
Campaigns and death
Han Tao becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry after the Grand Assembly. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the LiaoLiao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the Fang La
Fang La
Fang La was a rebel leader who lived during the Song Dynasty. He is also featured as one of the antagonists and nemesis of the 108 Liangshan heroes in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.-Biography:...
campaign, Han Tao is assigned to lead an attack on the enemy city of Changzhou. He engages the enemy general Gao Keli in a fight. Gao Keli fires an arrow at Han Tao, which hits him in the face, and Han falls off his steed. Zhang Jinren then spears Han Tao in the throat and kills him.