Meng Kang

Meng Kang is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 70th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 34th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Jade Flagpole".

Background

The novel describes Meng Kang as a tall and thin man with a pale complexion. He is nicknamed "Jade Flagpole" for his appearance. He is from Zhending Prefecture (真定府; around present-day Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang, Hebei).

Becoming an outlaw

Having heard of his expertise in shipbuilding, the government recruits Meng Kang to construct a vessel for transporting tribute to the imperial court in Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan). However, after getting punished for failing to meet the deadline and having already felt disgruntled with the supervising officer's demanding attitude, he kills the officer in anger and goes on the run. He meets Deng Fei, who leads a group of bandits active in the Yinma River (飲馬川; in present-day Ji County, Tianjin) region, and becomes one of the gang's leaders together with Deng and Pei Xuan (who joins them later).

While Dai Zong and Yang Lin are searching for Gongsun Sheng, they pass by Yinma River, meet the three bandit chiefs, and invite them to join the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh. The bandits accept the offer, disguise themselves as soldiers, and make their way to Liangshan.

Campaigns and death

Meng Kang is placed in charge of overseeing the construction of battleships for the Liangshan navy after the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny. He follows the Liangshan 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, while attacking Black Dragon Ridge (烏龍嶺; northeast of present-day Meicheng Town, Jiande, Hangzhou, Zhejiang), he gets trapped by enemy forces and ends up being blasted into bits by cannon fire.

References

• Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035. 
• Ichisada, Miyazaki (1993). Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu (in Japanese). Chuo Koronsha. ISBN 978-4122020559. 
• Keffer, David. "Outlaws of the Marsh: A Somewhat Less Than Critical Commentary". Poison Pie Publishing House. Retrieved 19 December 2016. 
• Li, Mengxia (1992). 108 Heroes from the Water Margin (in Chinese). EPB Publishers. p. 141. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3. 
• Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Retrieved 19 December 2016. 
• Shibusawa, Kou (1989), Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Koei 
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.