Du Xing
| Du Xing | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
| Nickname | "Demon Face" 鬼臉兒 |
| Rank | 89th, Complete Star (地全星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
| Scout leader of Liangshan | |
| Origin | Li Ying's steward |
| Hometown | Zhongshan (present-day Dingzhou, Hebei) |
| First appearance | Chapter 46 |
| Names | |
| Simplified Chinese | 杜兴 |
| Traditional Chinese | 杜興 |
| Pinyin | Dù Xīng |
| Wade–Giles | Tu Hsing |
Du Xing is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 89th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 53rd of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Demon Face".
Background
Du Xing is from Zhongshan (present-day Dingzhou, Hebei). He has an ugly appearance and is thus nicknamed "Demon Face". He goes to Jizhou (present-day Ji County, Tianjin) to trade and he kills a fellow trader in a heated argument. He is arrested and imprisoned. During his incarceration, he develops a close friendship with Yang Xiong, then a prison warden. Yang Xiong helps Du Xing secure his release from prison.
Zhu Family Village
Yang Xiong kills his adulterous wife and decides to join the outlaws at Liangshan Marsh with Shi Xiu and Shi Qian. They pass by the Zhu Family Village along the way and run into some trouble there. Shi Qian steals the innkeeper's hen and the Zhus capture him. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu go to the neighbouring Li Family Village to seek help from Li Ying. Du Xing has become Li Ying's steward after his release and he introduces them to his master.
Li Ying writes an apology letter to the Zhus on behalf of Yang Xiong and his companions, requesting that they release Shi Qian, and asks Du Xing to deliver the letter. The Zhus refuse to release Shi Qian and they tear the letter and hurl abusive remarks at Li Ying. Du Xing returns and reports to his master. Li Ying is furious and confronts the Zhus personally. Li Ying is wounded in the arm by an arrow fired by Zhu Biao and escapes narrowly with the help of Yang Xiong, Shi Xiu and Du Xing. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu go to Liangshan to seek help and Song Jiang leads the outlaws to attack the Zhu Family Village and succeed in rescuing Shi Qian.
Joining Liangshan
Song Jiang is eager to recruit Li Ying and Du Xing to join the Liangshan cause. He sends Xiao Rang in disguise as an imperial official to lead soldiers to arrest Li Ying and Du Xing. The outlaws pretend to attack the soldiers and rescue Li Ying and Du Xing along the way, after which Li and Du join Liangshan.
Du Xing becomes one of the scout leaders of Liangshan after the Grand Assembly and stationed in the tavern south of Liangshan. He is tasked with making preparations to receive the imperial envoy from the emperor, who grants the outlaws amnesty. Subsequently, he follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces.
Du Xing is one of the few survivors after the campaigns and the emperor grants him the official post of "Martial Gentleman of Grace" (武奕郎) in recognition of his contributions to the nation during the campaigns. When Du Xing hears that Li Ying has resigned from his civil career, he follows suit and returns home, where he enjoys a luxurious life until the end of his days.
References
- (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 177. 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.
- Shibusawa, Kou. Bandit Kings of Ancient China, page 68. KOEI, 1989.
- (Japanese) Ichisada, Miyazaki. Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu. Chuo Koronsha, 1993. ISBN 978-4122020559.
- Miyamotois, Yoko. Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits.
- Keffer, David. Outlaws of the Marsh.