Shi Yong
| Shi Yong | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
| Nickname | "Stone General" 石將軍 |
| Rank | 99th, Ugly Star (地丑星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
| Infantry leader of Liangshan | |
| Origin | Gambler |
| Ancestral home / Place of origin | Daming Prefecture (in present-day Handan, Hebei) |
| First appearance | Chapter 35 |
| Names | |
| Simplified Chinese | 石勇 |
| Traditional Chinese | 石勇 |
| Pinyin | Shí Yǒng |
| Wade–Giles | Shih Yung |
Shi Yong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 99th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 63rd of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Stone General".
Background
The novel describes Shi Yong as a man eight chi tall with a pale yellowish complexion, sharp eyes and clean shaven face. He is from Daming Prefecture (大名府; in present-day Handan, Hebei) and spends most of his time gambling. He once killed someone in anger during a gambling session and took refuge in Chai Jin's residence for some time.
Joining Liangshan
Shi Yong goes to find Song Jiang later and discovers that Song is also on the run from the authorities after killing Yan Poxi. He meets Song Jiang's younger brother, Song Qing, who asks him to help him deliver a letter to his brother, who is taking shelter with the outlaws on Mount Qingfeng (清風山; in present-day Qingzhou, Weifang, Shandong). In the letter, Song Qing writes that their father had died and he wants Song Jiang to return home to attend the funeral. Song Jiang weeps after reading the letter and rushes home immediately, while Shi Yong follows the other outlaws to Liangshan Marsh.
Campaigns and death
Shi Yong becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by Emperor Huizong. During the campaign against the rebel leader Fang La, Shi Yong and Li Yun are assigned to attack the enemy at Shezhou (歙州; present-day She County, Huangshan City, Anhui). They encounter Fang La's military secretary, Wang Yin, and engage him in battle. Li Yun is trampled to death by Wang Yin's horse while Shi Yong is speared to death by Wang.
References
- (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 199. 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.