Kong Liang
Encyclopedia
Kong Liang is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He ranks 63rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 27th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Lonely Fiery Star".
). He is good-looking, standing at seven chi
, with a round face, large ears, wide lips and a squarish mouth. He is impatient by nature and loves getting into quarrels. He is nicknamed "Lonely Fiery Star" while his older brother, Kong Ming, is nicknamed "Hairy Star".
Their father sends them to Chai Jin
's residence to fetch Song Jiang
to their manor. The Kongs are fond of martial arts and they become Song Jiang's students.
In a later chapter, Wu Song
flees to the Kongs' manor after killing Inspector Zhang in Mengzhou
. He has a quarrel with Kong Liang and knocks the latter out cold. Wu Song then throws the unconscious Kong Liang into the river. When Kong Liang regains consciousness, he gathers a group of men with his brother to hunt down Wu Song. Wu Song is drunk when the Kongs attack him so he is no match for them. The brothers tie Wu Song to a tree and beat him up for revenge. Song Jiang is with the Kong brothers then and he recognises Wu Song and asks the Kongs to release him.
However, the Kongs encounter Huyan Zhuo and are defeated by him. Kong Ming is captured and Kong Liang travels to Liangshan Marsh
to seek help. The outlaws form an army to attack Qingzhou and succeed in rescuing Kong Ming. The Kong brothers then follow the heroes back to Liangshan.
invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the Fang La
campaign, he follows the Ruan brothers to attack the enemy territory of Kunshan by water. However, he is not a good swimmer and falls into the river during the battle and drowns.
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 63rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 27th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Lonely Fiery Star".
Background
Kong Liang is the younger son of Squire Kong from Qingzhou (in present-day ShandongShandong
' 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 good-looking, standing at seven chi
Chi (unit)
The chi is a traditional Chinese unit of length, approximately equal to one foot. Its length is derived from the length of human forearm and has first appeared during the Shang Dynasty approximately 3000 years ago. Since then it has spread to and adopted by other East Asian cultures, such as...
, with a round face, large ears, wide lips and a squarish mouth. He is impatient by nature and loves getting into quarrels. He is nicknamed "Lonely Fiery Star" while his older brother, Kong Ming, is nicknamed "Hairy Star".
Their father sends them to Chai Jin
Chai Jin
Chai Jin is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 10th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Little Whirlwind"...
's residence to fetch 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...
to their manor. The Kongs are fond of martial arts and they become Song Jiang's students.
In a later chapter, Wu Song
Wu Song
Wu Song, nicknamed "Pilgrim", is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 14th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes. Wu Song also appears in the novel Jin Ping Mei, a spin-off of Water Margin...
flees to the Kongs' manor after killing Inspector Zhang in Mengzhou
Mengzhou
Mengzhou is a County-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. It is administered by the prefecture-level city Jiaozuo. Its population in 1999 stood at 341,190.-Economy:...
. He has a quarrel with Kong Liang and knocks the latter out cold. Wu Song then throws the unconscious Kong Liang into the river. When Kong Liang regains consciousness, he gathers a group of men with his brother to hunt down Wu Song. Wu Song is drunk when the Kongs attack him so he is no match for them. The brothers tie Wu Song to a tree and beat him up for revenge. Song Jiang is with the Kong brothers then and he recognises Wu Song and asks the Kongs to release him.
Becoming an outlaw
The Kong brothers have an argument with a wealthy landlord later and they kill him and his family in anger. They flee from Qingzhou and become outlaws. They set up a stronghold on the nearby Mount White Tiger and rally a group of 700 bandits under their command. Shortly after, the Kong brothers' uncle is imprisoned by governor Murong Yanda of Qingzhou. The brothers lead their men to attack Qingzhou and free their uncle.However, the Kongs encounter Huyan Zhuo and are defeated by him. Kong Ming is captured and Kong Liang travels to Liangshan Marsh
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...
to seek help. The outlaws form an army to attack Qingzhou and succeed in rescuing Kong Ming. The Kong brothers then follow the heroes back to Liangshan.
Campaigns and death
Kong Liang becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry and one of the Central Camp Defendant Generals 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, he follows the Ruan brothers to attack the enemy territory of Kunshan by water. However, he is not a good swimmer and falls into the river during the battle and drowns.