Xu Ning
Encyclopedia
Xu Ning is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He ranks 18th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Gold Lancer".
tall, with a fair face, a thin dark beard and a wide waist. Xu Ning is the martial arts instructor of the Gold Lancers unit of the imperial army and he trains the men in using the unique Hooked Lance. He leads a prestigious early life in Dongjing (present-day Kaifeng
) and is well respected by his colleagues. He earns himself the nickname "Gold Lancer" for his prowess in martial arts, and more importantly, for being the only known exponent of the unique Hooked Lance. The lance looks similar to a Chinese spear
, but with a hook on the side of the spear's shaft.
The Liangshan
outlaws are at war with the imperial forces led by Huyan Zhuo. Huyan Zhuo's army defeats the Liangshan forces with its seemingly invincible chain-linked armored cavalry. Xu Ning's cousin, Tang Long, who has joined Liangshan, recommends Xu to Song Jiang
, saying that Xu is the only person who knows how to defeat Huyan Zhuo's cavalry. Song Jiang is eager to recruit Xu Ning to join the Liangshan cause when he hears of Xu's background and skill. He sends Tang Long, Dai Zong and Shi Qian
to lure Xu Ning to Liangshan.
Shi Qian steals Xu Ning's family heirloom, a gold armoured vest that is extremely light and yet capable of stopping sharp weapons from piercing through. Xu Ning values his vest highly and is determined to catch the thief and retrieve his stolen possession. He is unable to catch up with Dai Zong, who uses his magic power to travel at superhuman speed. Xu Ning eventually reaches an inn where he meets Tang Long. Tang Long pretends to sympathise with his cousin and agrees to follow Xu Ning on the quest to recover the stolen vest. The inn is run by Liangshan's Zhu Gui
and Zhu Fu
, and they put drugs into the food. Xu Ning consumes the food unsuspectingly and is knocked out. The outlaws send him to Liangshan when he is unconscious.
, who has also become an outlaw after being framed by corrupt officials. Lin Chong and Song Jiang succeed in persuading Xu Ning to join the Liangshan cause of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf". Meanwhile, Xu Ning is overjoyed to see that the Liangshan heroes have conveniently brought his family to Liangshan as well and he gets back his vest.
Xu Ning trains the Liangshan infantry in using the Hooked Lance and they emerge victorious over Huyan Zhuo's chain-linked armoured cavalry in the subsequent battle. The hooks on the lances are used to attack the horses' legs and drag them to the ground, bringing down the other horses linked to the fallen horse. The cavalry formation is thus destroyed.
invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the Fang La
campaign, Xu Ning is assigned to attack Hangzhou
together with Hao Siwen. Hao Siwen is captured by the enemy general Fang Tianding
. Xu Ning attempts to rescue Hao Siwen but he is hit by a poisoned arrow in the neck and dies from poisoning later.
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 18th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Gold Lancer".
Background
The Water Margin describes Xu Ning as six 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 fair face, a thin dark beard and a wide waist. Xu Ning is the martial arts instructor of the Gold Lancers unit of the imperial army and he trains the men in using the unique Hooked Lance. He leads a prestigious early life in Dongjing (present-day Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
) and is well respected by his colleagues. He earns himself the nickname "Gold Lancer" for his prowess in martial arts, and more importantly, for being the only known exponent of the unique Hooked Lance. The lance looks similar to a Chinese spear
Qiang (spear)
Qiang is the Chinese term for spear. Due to its relative ease of manufacture, the spear in many variations was ubiquitous on the pre-modern Chinese battlefield...
, but with a hook on the side of the spear's shaft.
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 are at war with the imperial forces led by Huyan Zhuo. Huyan Zhuo's army defeats the Liangshan forces with its seemingly invincible chain-linked armored cavalry. Xu Ning's cousin, Tang Long, who has joined Liangshan, recommends Xu to 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...
, saying that Xu is the only person who knows how to defeat Huyan Zhuo's cavalry. Song Jiang is eager to recruit Xu Ning to join the Liangshan cause when he hears of Xu's background and skill. He sends Tang Long, Dai Zong and Shi Qian
Shi 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:...
to lure Xu Ning to Liangshan.
Shi Qian steals Xu Ning's family heirloom, a gold armoured vest that is extremely light and yet capable of stopping sharp weapons from piercing through. Xu Ning values his vest highly and is determined to catch the thief and retrieve his stolen possession. He is unable to catch up with Dai Zong, who uses his magic power to travel at superhuman speed. Xu Ning eventually reaches an inn where he meets Tang Long. Tang Long pretends to sympathise with his cousin and agrees to follow Xu Ning on the quest to recover the stolen vest. The inn is run by Liangshan's Zhu Gui
Zhu Gui
Zhu Gui is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 92nd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 56th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Dry Land Alligator".-Background:...
and Zhu Fu
Zhu Fu
Zhu Fu is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 93rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 57th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Smiling Tiger".-Background:...
, and they put drugs into the food. Xu Ning consumes the food unsuspectingly and is knocked out. The outlaws send him to Liangshan when he is unconscious.
Joining Liangshan
When Xu Ning regains consciousness, he is surprised to find himself at Liangshan. When he learns that he has been forcefully lured to Liangshan to join the outlaws, he is very unhappy. However, his mood lightens when he sees his former colleague, Lin ChongLin 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"...
, who has also become an outlaw after being framed by corrupt officials. Lin Chong and Song Jiang succeed in persuading Xu Ning to join the Liangshan cause of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf". Meanwhile, Xu Ning is overjoyed to see that the Liangshan heroes have conveniently brought his family to Liangshan as well and he gets back his vest.
Xu Ning trains the Liangshan infantry in using the Hooked Lance and they emerge victorious over Huyan Zhuo's chain-linked armoured cavalry in the subsequent battle. The hooks on the lances are used to attack the horses' legs and drag them to the ground, bringing down the other horses linked to the fallen horse. The cavalry formation is thus destroyed.
Campaigns and death
Xu Ning becomes one of the Eight Tiger Cub Vanguard Generals of the Liangshan cavalry. He joins 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, Xu Ning is assigned to attack 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...
together with Hao Siwen. Hao Siwen is captured by the enemy general Fang Tianding
Fang Tianding
Fang Tianding is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Fang Tianding is a son of the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws.-Biography:...
. Xu Ning attempts to rescue Hao Siwen but he is hit by a poisoned arrow in the neck and dies from poisoning later.