Hu Sanniang

Hu Sanniang (literally: Third Sister Hu) is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. She ranks 59th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 23rd of the 72 Earthly Fiends. She is nicknamed "Ten Feet of Blue".

Background

Hu Sanniang is the daughter of Squire Hu of the Hu Family Village at Lone Dragon Ridge. She dons a suit of armour over a red robe, a gold helmet and a silk belt. She is an expert in martial arts and wields a pair of sabers in combat and can take on several opponents at the same time. She carries a lasso as well, which she uses to trip and pull enemies off their steeds.

Joining Liangshan

Hu Sanniang is originally engaged to Zhu Biao of the neighbouring Zhu Family Village. The Zhus offend the outlaws from Liangshan Marsh, who attack them in retaliation. Hu Sanniang comes to the Zhus' aid and she challenges the outlaws to a duel. The lecherous Wang Ying is aroused when he sees a female warrior and takes up her challenge. Wang Ying underestimates Hu Sanniang and is defeated and captured by her, far from what his fellows expected. She continues to fight with Ou Peng and Ma Lin of Liangshan without showing any signs of weariness after defeating Wang Ying. She gets closer to Liangshan's leader Song Jiang and pursues him as he flees. Song Jiang lures Hu Sanniang into an ambush, where she is defeated by Lin Chong and captured and escorted back to Liangshan as a captive.

Hu Sanniang's older brother Hu Cheng pleads with Song Jiang to release his sister. Song Jiang agrees on the condition that Hu Cheng captures one of the Zhu brothers to exchange for her. The outlaws defeat the Zhus eventually and capture the village. Zhu Biao runs into Hu Cheng during his escape and Hu takes him captive. Hu Cheng and his men meet Li Kui on their way to Song Jiang's camp, and Li Kui beheads Zhu Biao without hesitation. He attempts to kill Hu Cheng as well, but the latter escapes into the wilderness. Although the Hus have surrendered, Li Kui nonetheless charges into the manor and kills everyone inside to satiate his bloodlust. He is later reprimanded by Song Jiang for disobeying orders.

Back on Liangshan, Hu Sanniang has been made a ward of Song Jiang's father. With Song Jiang and the other chieftains as matchmakers, Hu Sanniang is married to Wang Ying to fulfill Song Jiang's earlier promise to find Wang a bride. Hu Sanniang notes how seriously Song Jiang takes his chivalrous obligations and dares not refuse.

Campaigns and death

Hu Sanniang becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry after the Grand Assembly. She follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the Fang La campaign, Hu Sanniang and Wang Ying are assigned to attack the enemy city of Muzhou. They engage the enemy general Zheng Biao in battle. Zheng Biao uses his magic to confuse Wang Ying and kill him. Hu Sanniang attempts to avenge her husband but Zheng Biao uses his magical gold bricks to kill her.

References

• (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 119. EPB Publishers Pte Ltd, 1992. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.