Shi Yong
Shi Yong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Stone General", he ranks 99th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 63rd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
| Shi Yong | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
| First appearance | Chapter 35 |
| 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 (present-day Daming County, Hebei) |
| Names | |
| Simplified Chinese | 石勇 |
| Traditional Chinese | 石勇 |
| Pinyin | Shí Yǒng |
| Wade–Giles | Shih Yung |
Background
The novel depicts Shi Yong as eight chi tall and having a pale yellowish complexion, sharp eyes and a clean shaven face. Shi Yong, who was born and lives in Daming Prefecture (大名府; present-day Daming County, Hebei), is a hardcore gambler. He flees Daming and hides in the house of the nobleman Chai Jin after killing a man in a fit of anger over some gambling matter.
Joining Liangshan
Shi Yong later goes to seek refuge under Song Jiang, but the latter has run away after killing his mistress Yan Poxi. Shi stays for a while entertained by Song Jiang's younger brother Song Qing. When he leaves, Song Qing asks him to deliver a letter to Song Jiang should he run into him. Meanwhile, Song Jiang has assembled a group of heroes at Qingzhou, Shandong, after getting into trouble with the local government. He decides to take them to join the outlaws of Liangshan Marsh for fear that Qingzhou would send a big force to exterminate them.
On the way to Liangshan, Song Jiang and his men come to a village inn and have their meal there. Shi Yong is occupying the biggest table alone in the inn which he refuses to concede to the group. A quarrel ensues and Shi Yong proclaims that he would only give way to only two persons, dismissing even the emperor as a nobody. Those two persons, he declares, are Chai Jin and Song Jiang. Shi Yong is shocked when Song discloses his identity and apologises for being mean. He then hands over the letter from Song Qing, which conveys to Song Jiang the false news that his father has died and urges him to rush home for the funeral. Song Jiang thus breaks away from the group leaving them, including Shi Yong, to go to Liangshan without him.
Campaigns and death
Shi Yong is appointed as one of the leaders of Liangshan's infantry after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan.
In the attack on Shezhou in the campaign against Fang La, Shi Yong and Li Yun together encounter Wang Yin, one of Fang's key lieutenants. Both are killed by Wang.
References
- Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035.
- Miyazaki, Ichisada (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. 201. 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.