Suo Chao
Encyclopedia
Suo Chao is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He ranks 19th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Impatient Vanguard".
tall, with a round face, big ears, a squarish mouth and a beard which overshadows his face. His physical appearance gives him an impressive bearing like a hero's. Suo Chao was originally a military officer from Daming Prefecture
(in present-day Handan
) and he served under Grand Secretary Liang Shijie as a military general. Suo Chao is hot-headed and impatient by nature, and will always be the first to charge ahead of his men in battle, thus earning himself the nickname "Impatient Vanguard". His weapon of choice is a huge golden axe.
When Yang Zhi is exiled to Daming Prefecture, Liang Shijie recognises Yang's abilities and intends to let Yang serve under him. Yang Zhi defeats some of Liang Shijie's best officers in jousts. Suo Chao is dissatisfied and he challenges Yang Zhi to a contest. Neither of them emerges as the victor after several rounds of fighting. Liang Shijie is impressed with both of them and decides to promote them to the same rank.
and Shi Xiu
are captured and imprisoned in Daming Prefecture, Song Jiang
leads the Liangshan outlaws to attack Daming on a rescue mission. Liang Shijie appoints Suo Chao to lead an army to hold off the outlaws. Suo Chao's men engage the outlaws in a fierce battle at Flying Tiger Valley on the outskirts of Daming Prefecture. Suo Chao encounters Qin Ming
and they have a duel in which neither of them is able to win his opponent. Han Tao
fires an arrow that hits Suo Chao on his left arm. Suo Chao has no choice but to retreat back to the city after sustaining the injury.
The Liangshan forces retreat temporarily to counter the imperial army led by Guan Sheng
, which is attacking their base at Liangshan Marsh
. Guan Sheng is defeated later and he joins Liangshan after being persuaded by Song Jiang. The outlaws then return to attack Daming Prefecture. Suo Chao enters the battlefield once more but this time he falls into a pit and is captured by the outlaws. Song Jiang treats Suo Chao with respect and successfully persuades Suo 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, Suo Chao is assigned to lead the attack on the northern gate of Hangzhou
. He engages the enemy general Shi Bao
in a fierce battle. Shi Bao feigns defeat and pretends to retreat to lure Suo Chao to follow him. Just then, Shi Bao turns around and catches Suo Chao off guard. Shi Bao strikes Suo Chao with his club and kills him. Suo Chao is posthumously granted the honorific title of "Martial Gentleman of Loyalty" (忠武郎) by the emperor in recognition of his contributions to the nation during the campaigns.
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 19th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Impatient Vanguard".
Background
The Water Margin describes Suo Chao as seven 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 a round face, big ears, a squarish mouth and a beard which overshadows his face. His physical appearance gives him an impressive bearing like a hero's. Suo Chao was originally a military officer 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...
) and he served under Grand Secretary Liang Shijie as a military general. Suo Chao is hot-headed and impatient by nature, and will always be the first to charge ahead of his men in battle, thus earning himself the nickname "Impatient Vanguard". His weapon of choice is a huge golden axe.
When Yang Zhi is exiled to Daming Prefecture, Liang Shijie recognises Yang's abilities and intends to let Yang serve under him. Yang Zhi defeats some of Liang Shijie's best officers in jousts. Suo Chao is dissatisfied and he challenges Yang Zhi to a contest. Neither of them emerges as the victor after several rounds of fighting. Liang Shijie is impressed with both of them and decides to promote them to the same rank.
Becoming an outlaw
When Lu JunyiLu Junyi
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"...
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:...
are captured and imprisoned in Daming Prefecture, 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...
leads the Liangshan outlaws to attack Daming on a rescue mission. Liang Shijie appoints Suo Chao to lead an army to hold off the outlaws. Suo Chao's men engage the outlaws in a fierce battle at Flying Tiger Valley on the outskirts of Daming Prefecture. Suo Chao encounters 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:...
and they have a duel in which neither of them is able to win his opponent. Han Tao
Han Tao
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".-Background:...
fires an arrow that hits Suo Chao on his left arm. Suo Chao has no choice but to retreat back to the city after sustaining the injury.
The Liangshan forces retreat temporarily to counter the imperial 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:...
, which is attacking their base at 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...
. Guan Sheng is defeated later and he joins Liangshan after being persuaded by Song Jiang. The outlaws then return to attack Daming Prefecture. Suo Chao enters the battlefield once more but this time he falls into a pit and is captured by the outlaws. Song Jiang treats Suo Chao with respect and successfully persuades Suo to join the Liangshan cause of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf".
Death
Suo Chao becomes one of the Eight Tiger Cub Vanguard Generals of the Liangshan cavalry after the Grand Assembly. He follows the Liangshan 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, Suo Chao is assigned to lead the attack on the northern gate of Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
. He engages the enemy general 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...
in a fierce battle. Shi Bao feigns defeat and pretends to retreat to lure Suo Chao to follow him. Just then, Shi Bao turns around and catches Suo Chao off guard. Shi Bao strikes Suo Chao with his club and kills him. Suo Chao is posthumously granted the honorific title of "Martial Gentleman of Loyalty" (忠武郎) by the emperor in recognition of his contributions to the nation during the campaigns.