Gong Wang

Gong Wang is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 78th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 42nd of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Flowery Necked Tiger".

Background

Gong Wang sports tattoos resembling a tiger's stripes all over his body and has a tattoo of a tiger's head on his neck, which earns him the nickname of "Flowery Necked Tiger". He excels in martial arts and fights well both on foot and on horseback. He serves the imperial court as a military general in Dongchang Prefecture. Together with Ding Desun, he serves as Zhang Qing's deputy.

Joining Liangshan

Zhang Qing defeats the outlaws from Liangshan Marsh twice, who are led by Lu Junyi. Song Jiang's army arrives to reinforce Lu Junyi. Zhang Qing defeats more than 15 of the best warriors of Liangshan in combat single-handedly while Gong Wang and Ding Desun always stood by, ready to capture any enemy general who is dismounted by Zhang Qing. Gong Wang engages Liangshan's Lin Chong and Hua Rong in battle by he is no match for them. He is trapped and becomes confused. He hurls a javelin at them but misses and is knocked off his horse and captured by them. Zhang Qing is defeated and captured by the outlaws later as well. Gong Wang and Ding Desun follow suit after Zhang Qing decides to surrender and join the Liangshan cause of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf".

Campaigns and death

Gong Wang becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the Grand Assembly. He 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, Gong Wang follows Huyan Zhuo to attack the enemy territory of Deqing County. He pursues the enemy general Huang Ai but falls into a stream by accident along the way. He is speared to death by enemy soldiers after he is down.

References

• (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 157. 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 93. 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.