Li Ying
Encyclopedia
Li Ying is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He ranks 11th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Striking Hawk".
is captured by the Zhu brothers from the Zhu Family Village after stirring up trouble there. His companions Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu
pass by the Li Family Village along the way to seek help from Liangshan
to rescue Shi Qian. They meet Li Ying's housekeeper Du Xing
, who brings them to meet his master. Li Ying sympathises with Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu and decides to help them after hearing about the incident. He writes an apology letter to the Zhus on behalf of Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu, requesting that they release Shi Qian on account of their neighbour relationship. However, the Zhus refuse to release Shi Qian and insult Li Ying instead. Li Ying is angered and he goes to confront the Zhus, demanding Shi Qian's immediate release. Zhu Biao, youngest of the Zhu brothers, shoots Li Ying in the arm with an arrow. Li Ying is wounded and falls off his horse. He is saved in time by Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu, who bring him back to his village.
sends Song Jiang
to lead the outlaws to attack the Zhu Family Village. The outlaws launch three consecutive assaults on the village and the village eventually falls. Li Ying does not participate in the three battles as he is staying at home to recuperate.
Song Jiang is eager to recruit Li Ying to join the Liangshan cause. He asks Xiao Rang
to disguise himself as an official and bring some men to the Li Family Village to "arrest" Li Ying for being in league with outlaws. Li Ying and Du Xing are bound and escorted as prisoners by the soldiers back to the county office. Along the way, the outlaws ambush the convoy and "rescue" the prisoners. Li Ying is initially unhappy when he discovers that his arrest is actually a fake one and an attempt by the outlaws to make him join them. However, after being persuaded by Song Jiang, Li Ying decides to join the Liangshan cause of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf".
. After the heroes are granted amnesty by the emperor, Li Ying follows them on their campaigns against the Liao
invaders and rebel forces. He is one of the few lucky survivors of Liangshan after the campaigns. He is appointed as an official by the emperor in recognition of his contributions. He holds office for six months. When he hears that Chai Jin has resigned from his official post, he too feigns illness and resigns. He goes home with Du Xing and spends the rest of his life in luxury and comfort.
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 11th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Striking Hawk".
Background
The Water Margin describes Li Ying as a unique-looking man with eyes like those of a hawk, a head like a tiger's, arms like an ape's and a waist like a wolf's. He dons a red robe, rides on a white stallion and wields a steel spear in combat. He is the master of the Li Family Village situated on Lone Dragon Ridge (獨龍崗), neighboring the Hu and Zhu family villages. He is a wealthy squire with scores of servants and a small army under his command. Li Ying is friendly and always willing to use his wealth to help those in need. Li Ying is best known for the use of his flying daggers. His aim is very accurate and he can hurl a dagger and hit an enemy a long distance away from him. As such, he is nicknamed "Striking Hawk" for his superb accuracy and speed with using his daggers and his prowess in martial arts.Battle of the Zhu Family Village
Once, Shi QianShi 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:...
is captured by the Zhu brothers from the Zhu Family Village after stirring up trouble there. His companions Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu
Shi Xiu
Shi Xiu is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 33rd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Daredevil Third Brother".-Background:...
pass by the Li Family Village along the way to seek help from 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...
to rescue Shi Qian. They meet Li Ying's housekeeper Du Xing
Du Xing
Du Xing is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 89th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 53rd of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Demon Face".-Background:...
, who brings them to meet his master. Li Ying sympathises with Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu and decides to help them after hearing about the incident. He writes an apology letter to the Zhus on behalf of Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu, requesting that they release Shi Qian on account of their neighbour relationship. However, the Zhus refuse to release Shi Qian and insult Li Ying instead. Li Ying is angered and he goes to confront the Zhus, demanding Shi Qian's immediate release. Zhu Biao, youngest of the Zhu brothers, shoots Li Ying in the arm with an arrow. Li Ying is wounded and falls off his horse. He is saved in time by Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu, who bring him back to his village.
Joining Liangshan
Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu travel to Liangshan to seek help. Chao GaiChao Gai
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...
sends 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 lead the outlaws to attack the Zhu Family Village. The outlaws launch three consecutive assaults on the village and the village eventually falls. Li Ying does not participate in the three battles as he is staying at home to recuperate.
Song Jiang is eager to recruit Li Ying to join the Liangshan cause. He asks Xiao Rang
Xiao Rang
Xiao Rang is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 46th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 10th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Sacred Handed Scholar".-Background:...
to disguise himself as an official and bring some men to the Li Family Village to "arrest" Li Ying for being in league with outlaws. Li Ying and Du Xing are bound and escorted as prisoners by the soldiers back to the county office. Along the way, the outlaws ambush the convoy and "rescue" the prisoners. Li Ying is initially unhappy when he discovers that his arrest is actually a fake one and an attempt by the outlaws to make him join them. However, after being persuaded by Song Jiang, Li Ying decides to join the Liangshan cause of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf".
Campaigns and later life
Li Ying becomes one of the chief accountants in charge of Liangshan's income and provisions together with Chai JinChai 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"...
. After the heroes are granted amnesty by the emperor, Li Ying follows them on their campaigns against the Liao
Liao 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. He is one of the few lucky survivors of Liangshan after the campaigns. He is appointed as an official by the emperor in recognition of his contributions. He holds office for six months. When he hears that Chai Jin has resigned from his official post, he too feigns illness and resigns. He goes home with Du Xing and spends the rest of his life in luxury and comfort.