Wang Ying (Water Margin)

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Wang Ying (王英) is a character in the epic Chinese tale, the Water Margin.

Wang Ying was from the Huai province, and was born with a short stature and sparkling eyes. He was rough and impatient by nature and was particularly lustful. He was also very skilled in martial arts, and could fight a hundred men at the same time. Due to his short stature, he was nicknamed 'Stumpy Tiger' (矮脚虎).

Wang Ying was initially a carriage driver, but one day he met a group of rich men. Overcome by greed, Wang robbed the rich men, but was later arrested and thrown into prison. However, he managed to break out of prison and became an outlaw since then, on Qingfeng Mountain along with Yan Shun and Zheng Tian-shou.

Once, Song Jiang passed by Qingfeng Mountain on his way to Qingfeng Fort and was captured by Wang Ying and his gang. Wang Ying ordered Song Jiang to be killed, and at that critical moment, Song Jiang gave a long sigh and revealed his identity unexpectedly. Yan Shun heard that and immediately ordered Song Jiang to be released, then the bandits apologised to Song Jiang for not recognising his identity. Shortly after that, Wang Ying captured the wife of Governor Liu Gao of Qingfeng Fort. Wang Ying tried to rape her, but Song Jiang stopped Wang and managed to persuade Wang to release her. Later, Liu Gao's wife repaid kindness with evil and had Song Jiang framed and arrested. Song Jiang was escorted as a prisoner to Qingzhou, but on the way the Qingfeng bandits attacked the guards and rescued him. Song Jiang and the Qingfeng bandits managed to subdue Qin Ming and Huang Xin, then conquered Qingfeng Fort. After that, they made their way back to Liangshan.

When the Liangshan heroes attacked the Zhu Family Village, Hu San Niang rode forward to challenge the heroes. Wang Ying, on seeing a female warrior, became overcome by lust and tried to capture Hu in battle, but he was not match for Hu and was captured by her instead. Shortly after that, Hu San Niang was captured by Lin Chong and escorted back to Liangshan. Hu Cheng, San Niang's elder brother, asked for her release but was turned down. After the Liangshan heroes had conquered the Zhu Family Village, Wang Ying was freed and Song Jiang managed to persuade Hu San Niang to join the Liangshan band. In the end, Wang Ying and Hu San Niang were married, with Song Jiang being the matchmaker.

Wang Ying became one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry and was one of the 72 Earthly Warriors. After Song Jiang had obtained amnesty from the government, Wang Ying followed the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao Tartars and southern rebels. During the Fang La campaign, Wang Ying was assigned to attack Muzhou. Zheng Mojun used his magic powers to confuse Wang Ying and then he seized the opportunity to spear Wang Ying off his horse, killing Wang.

[edit] Films and TV adaptations

In the 1997 TV serial from Mainland China based on the novel, Wang Ying was played by Xu Jingyi. In the serial, he was slain by Fang Mao and not Zheng Mojun when he tried to entrap Fang together with his wife.

Water Margin characters
Founding Father
Chao Gai
108 Stars of Destiny
36 Heavenly Spirits
Song Jiang | Lu Junyi | Wu Yong | Gongsun Sheng | Guan Sheng | Lin Chong | Qin Ming | Huyuan Zhuo | Hua Rong | Chai Jin | Li Ying | Zhu Tong | Lu Zhishen | Wu Song | Dong Ping | Zhang Qing | Yang Zhi | Xu Ning | Suo Chao | Dai Zhong | Liu Tang | Li Kui | Shi Jin | Mu Hong | Lei Heng | Li Jun | Ruan Xiaoer | Zhang Heng | Ruan Xiaowu | Zhang Shun | Ruan Xiaoqi | Yang Xiong | Shi Xiu | Xie Zhen | Xie Bao | Yan Qing
72 Earthly Fiends

Zhu Wu | Huang Xin | Sun Li | Xuan Zan | Hao Siwen | Han Tao | Peng Qi | Shan Tinggui | Wei Dingguo | Xiao Rang | Pei Xuan | Ou Peng | Deng Fei | Yan Shun | Yang Lin | Ling Zhen | Jiang Jing | Lu Fang | Guo Sheng | An Daoquan | Huangfu Duan | Wang Ying | Hu San Niang | Bao Xu | Pan Rui | Kong Ming | Kong Liang | Xiang Chong | Li Gun | Jin Dajian | Ma Lin | Tong Wei | Tong Meng | Meng Kang | Hou Jian | Chen Da | Yang Chun | Zheng Tianshou | Tao Zongwang | Song Qing | Yue He | Gong Wang | Ding Desun | Mu Chun | Cao Zheng | Song Wan | Du Qian | Xue Yong | Shi En | Li Zhong | Zhou Tong | Tang Long | Du Xing | Zou Yuan | Zou Run | Zhu Gui | Zhu Fu | Cai Fu | Cai Qing | Li Li | Li Yun | Jiao Ting | Shi Yong | Sun Xin | Gu Dasao | Zhang Qing | Sun Er Niang | Wang Dingliu | Yu Baosi | Bai Sheng | Shi Qian | Duan Jingzhu

Languages