Lu Junyi
Encyclopedia
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
". In the world of published fiction, Lu Junyi is a former student of Zhou Tong.
tall, with sparkling eyes and a deity-like appearance. He is a wealthy squire from Daming Prefecture
(in present-day Handan
). He is also highly skilled in martial arts, especially in the use of the staff
. He is arguably one of the best fighters in the entire novel, the others being Guan Sheng
, Lin Chong
, Wu Song
, Lu Zhishen
, Shi Wengong, Fang La
's generals Wang Yin
, Shi Bao
and Deng Yuanjue
, Tian Hu
's generals Bian Xiang and Sun An, and Wang Qing
's generals Mi Sheng and Du Po. His reputation and charisma earns him the nickname "Jade Unicorn", as well as the right to become the second-in-command of the Liangshan
outlaws after the Grand Assembly even though he is one of the last few to join the Liangshan cause.
Song Jiang
intends to recruit Lu Junyi after the death of Chao Gai
to boost Liangshan's fame and possibly inspire others to join the Liangshan cause. Wu Yong
conjures a scheme to lure Lu Junyi out of Daming Prefecture. He disguises himself as a Taoist
priest and pays a visit to Lu Junyi at the latter's residence. He is accompanied by Li Kui, who pretends to be Wu Yong's mute assistant. Wu Yong knows that Lu Junyi is superstitious and he predicts an upcoming disaster for the latter. He says that Lu Junyi will face a violent death within 100 days and his family will die. Lu Junyi believes Wu Yong and asks Wu to help him avoid the disaster. Wu Yong advises Lu Junyi to leave Daming Prefecture and head southeast for beyond 1,000 li
. Before leaving, Wu Yong also reads a poem for Lu Junyi, who writes it on a wall in his house. Four Chinese characters that read "Lu Junyi rebels" are hidden in the lines of the poem (see below for more information).
saves him from death, but Lu is later captured again. Yan Qing runs into Shi Xiu
and informs him of his master's situation. They storm the execution ground in an attempt to rescue Lu Junyi, who has been sentenced to death, but fail and Shi Xiu is taken captive as well.
Yan Qing escapes to Liangshan and seeks help from the Liangshan outlaws to rescue Lu Junyi and Shi Xiu. Song Jiang feels guilty as he believes that he is responsible for Lu Junyi's plight thus he rallies his fellows to form an army to attack Daming Prefecture and rescue the captives. The imperial court sends another army led by Guan Sheng
to attack Liangshan as a diversion to force Liangshan forces to retreat from Daming Prefecture. Eventually, the outlaws succeed in defeating Guan Sheng and breaking into Daming Prefecture. Lu Junyi and Shi Xiu are rescued and the captured imperial generals, including Guan Sheng, decide to join Liangshan. Lu Junyi returns home after being freed and kills his wife and Li Gu.
. According to Chao Gai's dying wish, Lu Junyi is poised to succeed him as chief of Liangshan since he is Chao's avenger. Lu Junyi feels that he is not qualified to be the chief since he is new to Liangshan and he firmly declines the offer. Besides, majority of the heroes insist that Song Jiang be the new chief since he has made more contributions to Liangshan than any of them. Song Jiang thus becomes the new chief of Liangshan while Lu Junyi becomes second-in-command.
invaders and the rebel forces of Tian Hu
, Wang Qing
and Fang La
. He makes great contributions during the campaigns and survives to return to the imperial court. He is appointed as governor of Luzhou by the emperor for his achievements. However, the corrupt officials are dissatisfied with Lu Junyi's fate and wants to see him dead. In a ruse by minister Yang Jian, the officials summon Lu Junyi back to the capital in the name of the emperor and surreptitiously poison the food and drink bestowed upon Lu by the emperor. Lu Junyi is unable to ride on horseback during the return journey and has to travel by boat due to the pain caused by poisoning. He misses his step and falls into the water and eventually drowns as he is not a swimmer. His body is later recovered and given a proper burial by the local authorities.
. Before leaving, Wu Yong also reads a poem for Lu Junyi, which Lu writes himself on a wall in his house. The poem is as follows:
The first Chinese character in each of the four lines (in bold) when combined reads "lu jun yi fan" , which means "Lu Junyi rebels". However, the lu (蘆) in the poem is a homonym of the lu (盧) in Lu Junyi's name. The poem is later used as evidence against Lu Junyi when he is framed for collaborating with outlaws.
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 2nd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Jade Unicorn
Qilin
The Qilin is a mythical hooved Chinese chimerical creature known throughout various East Asian cultures, and is said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a wise sage or an illustrious ruler. It is a good omen that brings rui . It is often depicted with what looks like fire all over...
". In the world of published fiction, Lu Junyi is a former student of Zhou Tong.
Background
The Water Margin describes Lu Junyi as nine chiChi (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...
tall, with sparkling eyes and a deity-like appearance. He is a wealthy squire from Daming Prefecture
Daming County
Daming County is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of Handan city.-Administrative Divisions:Daming County has 6 towns and 14 townships.Towns:...
(in present-day Handan
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...
). He is also highly skilled in martial arts, especially in the use of the staff
Gun (staff)
The Chinese word gun refers to a long Chinese staff weapon used in Chinese martial arts. It is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the qiang , dao , and the jian , called in this group "The Grandfather of all Weapons".-Variants:There are various kinds of gun, and they include the...
. He is arguably one of the best fighters in the entire novel, the others being Guan Sheng
Guan Sheng
Guan Sheng is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 5th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Great Blade".-Background:...
, 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"...
, 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...
, Lu Zhishen
Lu Zhishen
Lu Zhishen, nicknamed "Flowery Monk", or Sagacious Lu , is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He is the lead character in the first major story cycle of the novel, in which he comes to epitomize loyalty, strength, justice but...
, Shi Wengong, 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:...
's generals Wang Yin
Wang Yin
Wang Yin is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Wang Yin is the Secretary of Military Affairs serving under the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws...
, Shi Bao
Shi Bao (Water Margin)
Shi Bao is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Shi Bao is the South Departing Great General serving under the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws...
and Deng Yuanjue
Deng Yuanjue
Deng Yuanjue is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Deng Yuanjue is the Royal Advisor serving under the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws...
, Tian Hu
Tian Hu
Tian Hu is one of the antagonists in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Tian Hu is one of the three rebel leaders in China, together with Fang La and Wang Qing, that the Liangshan heroes have to defeat in the final chapters of the novel.-Biography:Tian...
's generals Bian Xiang and Sun An, and Wang Qing
Wang Qing
Wang Qing is one of the antagonists in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Wang Qing is one of the three rebel leaders in China, together with Fang La and Tian Hu, that the Liangshan heroes have to defeat in the final chapters of the novel.-Early life:The...
's generals Mi Sheng and Du Po. His reputation and charisma earns him the nickname "Jade Unicorn", as well as the right to become the second-in-command 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 after the Grand Assembly even though he is one of the last few to join the Liangshan cause.
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...
intends to recruit Lu Junyi after the death of Chao Gai
Chao 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...
to boost Liangshan's fame and possibly inspire others to join the Liangshan cause. 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:...
conjures a scheme to lure Lu Junyi out of Daming Prefecture. He disguises himself as a Taoist
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
priest and pays a visit to Lu Junyi at the latter's residence. He is accompanied by Li Kui, who pretends to be Wu Yong's mute assistant. Wu Yong knows that Lu Junyi is superstitious and he predicts an upcoming disaster for the latter. He says that Lu Junyi will face a violent death within 100 days and his family will die. Lu Junyi believes Wu Yong and asks Wu to help him avoid the disaster. Wu Yong advises Lu Junyi to leave Daming Prefecture and head southeast for beyond 1,000 li
Li (unit)
The li is a traditional Chinese unit of distance, which has varied considerably over time but now has a standardized length of 500 meters or half a kilometer...
. Before leaving, Wu Yong also reads a poem for Lu Junyi, who writes it on a wall in his house. Four Chinese characters that read "Lu Junyi rebels" are hidden in the lines of the poem (see below for more information).
Arrest and imprisonment
When Lu Junyi passes by Liangshan, the outlaws ambush him and Song Jiang speaks to him, requesting that he join Liangshan. Lu Junyi refuses but Song Jiang allows him to leave. When Lu Junyi returns home, he is betrayed by his wife and housekeeper Li Gu, who report to the authorities that Lu is in league with outlaws. Lu Junyi is arrested and thrown into prison. Unfortunately for Lu Junyi, Grand Secretary Liang Shijie, the governor of Daming Prefecture, had earlier developed a feud with the Liangshan outlaws after they robbed a convoy of birthday gifts intended for his father-in-law. Lu Junyi is sentenced to exile on Shamen Island. Li Gu bribes the guards escorting Lu Junyi there to kill him along the way. However, Lu Junyi's servant Yan QingYan Qing
Yan Qing is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 36th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Wanderer" or "Prodigal"....
saves him from death, but Lu is later captured again. Yan Qing runs into 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:...
and informs him of his master's situation. They storm the execution ground in an attempt to rescue Lu Junyi, who has been sentenced to death, but fail and Shi Xiu is taken captive as well.
Yan Qing escapes to Liangshan and seeks help from the Liangshan outlaws to rescue Lu Junyi and Shi Xiu. Song Jiang feels guilty as he believes that he is responsible for Lu Junyi's plight thus he rallies his fellows to form an army to attack Daming Prefecture and rescue the captives. The imperial court sends another army led by Guan Sheng
Guan Sheng
Guan Sheng is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 5th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Great Blade".-Background:...
to attack Liangshan as a diversion to force Liangshan forces to retreat from Daming Prefecture. Eventually, the outlaws succeed in defeating Guan Sheng and breaking into Daming Prefecture. Lu Junyi and Shi Xiu are rescued and the captured imperial generals, including Guan Sheng, decide to join Liangshan. Lu Junyi returns home after being freed and kills his wife and Li Gu.
Joining Liangshan
Lu Junyi decides to join Liangshan as he has no other choice. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Zeng Family Fortress and Dongchang Prefecture. During a battle against the Zeng Family Fortress, Lu Junyi captures Shi Wengong, who is responsible for the death of Liangshan's former chief 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...
. According to Chao Gai's dying wish, Lu Junyi is poised to succeed him as chief of Liangshan since he is Chao's avenger. Lu Junyi feels that he is not qualified to be the chief since he is new to Liangshan and he firmly declines the offer. Besides, majority of the heroes insist that Song Jiang be the new chief since he has made more contributions to Liangshan than any of them. Song Jiang thus becomes the new chief of Liangshan while Lu Junyi becomes second-in-command.
Death
After the Liangshan outlaws have been granted amnesty by Emperor Huizong, Lu Junyi joins them 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 the rebel forces of Tian Hu
Tian Hu
Tian Hu is one of the antagonists in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Tian Hu is one of the three rebel leaders in China, together with Fang La and Wang Qing, that the Liangshan heroes have to defeat in the final chapters of the novel.-Biography:Tian...
, Wang Qing
Wang Qing
Wang Qing is one of the antagonists in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Wang Qing is one of the three rebel leaders in China, together with Fang La and Tian Hu, that the Liangshan heroes have to defeat in the final chapters of the novel.-Early life:The...
and 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:...
. He makes great contributions during the campaigns and survives to return to the imperial court. He is appointed as governor of Luzhou by the emperor for his achievements. However, the corrupt officials are dissatisfied with Lu Junyi's fate and wants to see him dead. In a ruse by minister Yang Jian, the officials summon Lu Junyi back to the capital in the name of the emperor and surreptitiously poison the food and drink bestowed upon Lu by the emperor. Lu Junyi is unable to ride on horseback during the return journey and has to travel by boat due to the pain caused by poisoning. He misses his step and falls into the water and eventually drowns as he is not a swimmer. His body is later recovered and given a proper burial by the local authorities.
Wu Yong's poem
When Wu Yong goes to Lu Junyi's house to predict his fortune, he lies to the latter that he will meet with a disaster within 100 days. Lu Junyi is superstitious and he believes Wu Yong, so he asks Wu for advice on avoiding the calamity. Wu Yong tells him to leave home and head southeast for beyond 1,000 liLi (unit)
The li is a traditional Chinese unit of distance, which has varied considerably over time but now has a standardized length of 500 meters or half a kilometer...
. Before leaving, Wu Yong also reads a poem for Lu Junyi, which Lu writes himself on a wall in his house. The poem is as follows:
The first Chinese character in each of the four lines (in bold) when combined reads "lu jun yi fan" , which means "Lu Junyi rebels". However, the lu (蘆) in the poem is a homonym of the lu (盧) in Lu Junyi's name. The poem is later used as evidence against Lu Junyi when he is framed for collaborating with outlaws.
See also
- List of Water Margin minor characters#Lu Junyi's story for a list of supporting minor characters from Lu Junyi's story.