Bao Daoyi

Bao Daoyi is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Bao Daoyi is the imperial sorcerer of the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws.

Biography

Bao Daoyi is a native of Jinhua, Zhejiang. He became a Taoist priest at a young age and studied unorthodox Taoist magic. He supported Fang La in his rebellion and used his magic to attack opponents in battle. He wields a magical sword, called Xuantian Hunyuan Sword, which is capable of killing an enemy within a hundred steps range. Bao Daoyi is also known as "Lingying Heavenly Master" to Fang's servants. He accepts Zheng Biao as his apprentice later.

Bao Daoyi is summoned by Fang La as the Liangshan forces prepare to attack Muzhou. One day before the battle, the astronomer-eunuch Pu Wenying came to see Bao Daoyi, warning him that he noticed an unlucky omen in the skies and urging Bao not to go to war. Bao Daoyi is furious after hearing Pu Wenying's words and he slices Pu into two with his sword in anger.

In his first battle against Liangshan, Bao Daoyi meets Wu Song, who is charging towards Zheng Biao with his sabers in hand. Bao Daoyi uses magic to control his sword and slices off Wu Song's left arm. Wu Song faints due to excessive bleeding, but is saved by Lu Zhishen, who manages to snatch away Bao Daoyi's sword. In another battle, Bao Daoyi is observing the duel between Zheng Biao and Liangshan's Guan Sheng. Zheng Biao is no match for Guan Sheng and he could only dodge Guan's attacks. Bao Daoyi uses magic to summon a knight in golden armour to assist Zheng Biao. Fan Rui uses orthodox Taoist magic, which he learnt from his mentor Gongsun Sheng, to summon a more powerful magic warrior, who eventually defeats Bao Daoyi's knight. Guan Sheng uses the opportunity to slay Zheng Biao. Bao Daoyi is blasted into bits by cannon fire from Ling Zhen later.

References

• (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 217. EPB Publishers Pte Ltd, 1992. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
• Buck, Pearl. All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell Ltd, 2006. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Zhang, Lin Ching. Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House, 2009. ISBN 978-7506344784.
• Keffer, David. Outlaws of the Marsh.
• Miyamotois, Yoko. Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits.
• (Japanese) Ichisada, Miyazaki. Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu. Chuo Koronsha, 1993. ISBN 978-4122020559.
• Shibusawa, Kou. Bandit Kings of Ancient China. KOEI, 1989.