Pei Xuan
Encyclopedia
Pei Xuan is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He ranks 47th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 11th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Iron Face".
) and he serves as a magistrate there. He has a reputation for being stern as he always metes out sentences to convicts according to the laws without showing any mercy. He does not yield to threats nor bribes. He earns himself the nickname "Iron Face" as a result. He is also an accomplished swordsman and scholar as well.
Pei Xuan's reputation as a fair and just magistrate ultimately leads him into trouble with the corrupt government officials, who fear that he might interfere in their affairs. Pei Xuan is framed for insubordination to the governor and imprisoned. He is sentenced to exile on Shamen Island later. He passes by Yinma River along the way where a bandit gang led by Deng Fei
and Meng Kang
live. The bandits attack the guards and free Pei Xuan. Pei Xuan is grateful to the bandits and he joins them. He becomes their chief as he is the oldest among the trio.
and they agree. They disguise themselves as soldiers and travel to Liangshan. Pei Xuan is appointed as the chief military judge of Liangshan after the Grand Assembly. He oversees the handing out of rewards and punishments and serves as Liangshan's de facto Chief Justice.
Pei Xuan follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao
invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the Wang Qing
campaign, Pei Xuan, Xiao Rang
and Jin Dajian are captured by the enemy general Liang Yong. They are subjected to torture but they refuse to surrender. Liang Yong's subordinate turns on him later and kills him. The three of them are released.
Pei Xuan is one of the few lucky survivors after the Fang La
campaign. He is offered an official post by the emperor in recognition of his contributions but he declines the offer. He goes back to Yinma River with Yang Lin.
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 47th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 11th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Iron Face".
Background
Pei Xuan is from Jingzhao (near present-day Xi'anXi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
) and he serves as a magistrate there. He has a reputation for being stern as he always metes out sentences to convicts according to the laws without showing any mercy. He does not yield to threats nor bribes. He earns himself the nickname "Iron Face" as a result. He is also an accomplished swordsman and scholar as well.
Pei Xuan's reputation as a fair and just magistrate ultimately leads him into trouble with the corrupt government officials, who fear that he might interfere in their affairs. Pei Xuan is framed for insubordination to the governor and imprisoned. He is sentenced to exile on Shamen Island later. He passes by Yinma River along the way where a bandit gang led by Deng Fei
Deng Fei
Deng Fei is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 49th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 13th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Fiery Eyed suan-ni".-Background:...
and Meng Kang
Meng Kang
Meng Kang is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 70th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 34th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Jade Flagpole".-Background:...
live. The bandits attack the guards and free Pei Xuan. Pei Xuan is grateful to the bandits and he joins them. He becomes their chief as he is the oldest among the trio.
Joining Liangshan
One day, Dai Zong passes by Yinma River and meets the trio. Dai Zong invites them to join the outlaw band at Liangshan MarshMount 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...
and they agree. They disguise themselves as soldiers and travel to Liangshan. Pei Xuan is appointed as the chief military judge of Liangshan after the Grand Assembly. He oversees the handing out of rewards and punishments and serves as Liangshan's de facto Chief Justice.
Pei Xuan follows the heroes 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 after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the 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...
campaign, Pei Xuan, 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:...
and Jin Dajian are captured by the enemy general Liang Yong. They are subjected to torture but they refuse to surrender. Liang Yong's subordinate turns on him later and kills him. The three of them are released.
Pei Xuan is one of the few lucky survivors after 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 is offered an official post by the emperor in recognition of his contributions but he declines the offer. He goes back to Yinma River with Yang Lin.