Fang La
Encyclopedia
Fang La was a rebel leader who lived during the Song Dynasty
. He is also featured as one of the antagonists and nemesis of the 108 Liangshan
heroes in Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
.
, Hangzhou
). In 1120, Fang La led an uprising against the Song Dynasty
in Qixian Village, Shezhou. Others claimed that he started the rebellion in Wannian Village, Chun'an County. Fang La's forces conquered Hangzhou
and subsequently took control over parts of present-day Jiangsu
, Zhejiang
, Anhui and Jiangxi
, with a total of 52 counties and six administrative divisions.
In 1121, the imperial court sent general Wang Yuan to lead an army to crush the rebellion. Wang Yuan's subordinate, Han Shizhong
, disguised himself and infiltrated Qingxi and captured Fang La. Later, Xin Xingzong, defending general of Zhongzhou, led his army to block the exit route of Qingxi and took control of Qingxi. Fang La and 52 of his subordinates were captured and escorted to the capital city of Kaifeng
by Tong Guan
. Four months later, Fang La was executed in Kaifeng on a charge of treason.
By 1132-1133 or later the rebellion was linked to Manichaeism
. Though not having original connection, in the public and historical conscience it became confused with the Taizhou
unrest of April–June 1121, where Manichaeism was widespread.
presents a semi-fictional account of Fang La and his battle with the Liangshan
outlaws. The outlaws are granted amnesty by Emperor Huizong of Song after defeating the imperial army five times. The emperor sends the Liangshan heroes on military campaigns to suppress rebel forces within the empire and defeat the Liao Dynasty
in the north. Fang La is one of the rebel leaders based in the Jiangnan
region.
Whilst the Liangshan forces suffered hardly any casualties in the campaigns against the Liao Dynasty, Tian Hu
and Wang Qing
, the campaign against Fang La proved to be calamitous. 59 of the original 108 heroes were killed in action, mostly by Fang's warriors, whose combat skills and abilities rival the best of Liangshan. Unlike the other rebels who do not have good leadership and experience, Fang La has rebelled for a long time and rivals the power of the Liangshan heroes.
Fang La is eventually captured by the Liangshan heroes after an elaborate infiltration scheme involving Chai Jin
and Yan Qing
. During his escape attempt, he is defeated by Lu Zhishen
and escorted back to the capital by imperial troops under the command of Tong Guan
. Four months later, Fang La is found guilty of treason and executed by slow slicing in Kaifeng
.
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
. He is also featured as one of the antagonists and nemesis of the 108 Liangshan
Mount Liang
Mount Liang is a mountain in Liangshan County, Shandong province, China which rises to 197.9 m above sea level. It is well known as the stronghold of the 108 legendary Song Dynasty heroes of the classic Chinese novel Water Margin...
heroes in Water Margin
Water Margin
Water Margin , also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, All Men Are Brothers, Men of the Marshes, or The Marshes of Mount Liang, is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.Attributed to Shi Nai'an and written in vernacular Chinese, the story, set in the Song Dynasty,...
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
Four Great Classical Novels
The Four Great Classical Novels, or the Four Major Classical Novels of Chinese literature, are the four novels commonly regarded by scholars to be the greatest and most influential of pre-modern Chinese fiction. Dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties, they are well known to most Chinese readers...
of Chinese literature
Chinese literature
Chinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
.
Biography
Fang La was a native of Shezhou (present-day She County, Anhui). However, some claimed that he was from Qingxi, Muzhou (present-day Chun'an CountyChun'an County
Chun'an County is a county under charge of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province of China. It has a land area of 4,452 square kilometers and a population of 450,000...
, Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
). In 1120, Fang La led an uprising against the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
in Qixian Village, Shezhou. Others claimed that he started the rebellion in Wannian Village, Chun'an County. Fang La's forces conquered Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
and subsequently took control over parts of present-day Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
, Anhui and Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
, with a total of 52 counties and six administrative divisions.
In 1121, the imperial court sent general Wang Yuan to lead an army to crush the rebellion. Wang Yuan's subordinate, Han Shizhong
Han Shizhong
Han Shizhong was a Chinese general of the late Northern Song Dynasty and the early Southern Song Dynasty. He dedicated his whole life to serving the Song Dynasty, and performed many legendary deeds. It is said that he had scars all over his body and, by the time he retired, there were only four...
, disguised himself and infiltrated Qingxi and captured Fang La. Later, Xin Xingzong, defending general of Zhongzhou, led his army to block the exit route of Qingxi and took control of Qingxi. Fang La and 52 of his subordinates were captured and escorted to the capital city of Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
by Tong Guan
Tong Guan
Tong Guan , style name Daofu , was a court eunuch, military general, political adviser, and Council of State to Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty. In the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, Tong Guan is featured as an antagonist and enemy of the 108...
. Four months later, Fang La was executed in Kaifeng on a charge of treason.
By 1132-1133 or later the rebellion was linked to Manichaeism
Manichaeism
Manichaeism in Modern Persian Āyin e Māni; ) was one of the major Iranian Gnostic religions, originating in Sassanid Persia.Although most of the original writings of the founding prophet Mani have been lost, numerous translations and fragmentary texts have survived...
. Though not having original connection, in the public and historical conscience it became confused with the Taizhou
Taizhou, Zhejiang
Taizhou is a prefecture-level city in middle eastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China...
unrest of April–June 1121, where Manichaeism was widespread.
In fiction
The classical novel Water MarginWater Margin
Water Margin , also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, All Men Are Brothers, Men of the Marshes, or The Marshes of Mount Liang, is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.Attributed to Shi Nai'an and written in vernacular Chinese, the story, set in the Song Dynasty,...
presents a semi-fictional account of Fang La and his battle with the Liangshan
Mount Liang
Mount Liang is a mountain in Liangshan County, Shandong province, China which rises to 197.9 m above sea level. It is well known as the stronghold of the 108 legendary Song Dynasty heroes of the classic Chinese novel Water Margin...
outlaws. The outlaws are granted amnesty by Emperor Huizong of Song after defeating the imperial army five times. The emperor sends the Liangshan heroes on military campaigns to suppress rebel forces within the empire and defeat the Liao Dynasty
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
in the north. Fang La is one of the rebel leaders based in the Jiangnan
Jiangnan
Jiangnan or Jiang Nan is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of the Yangtze Delta...
region.
Whilst the Liangshan forces suffered hardly any casualties in the campaigns against the Liao Dynasty, Tian Hu
Tian Hu
Tian Hu is one of the antagonists in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Tian Hu is one of the three rebel leaders in China, together with Fang La and Wang Qing, that the Liangshan heroes have to defeat in the final chapters of the novel.-Biography:Tian...
and Wang Qing
Wang Qing
Wang Qing is one of the antagonists in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Wang Qing is one of the three rebel leaders in China, together with Fang La and Tian Hu, that the Liangshan heroes have to defeat in the final chapters of the novel.-Early life:The...
, the campaign against Fang La proved to be calamitous. 59 of the original 108 heroes were killed in action, mostly by Fang's warriors, whose combat skills and abilities rival the best of Liangshan. Unlike the other rebels who do not have good leadership and experience, Fang La has rebelled for a long time and rivals the power of the Liangshan heroes.
Fang La is eventually captured by the Liangshan heroes after an elaborate infiltration scheme involving Chai Jin
Chai Jin
Chai Jin is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 10th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Little Whirlwind"...
and Yan Qing
Yan Qing
Yan Qing is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 36th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Wanderer" or "Prodigal"....
. During his escape attempt, he is defeated by Lu Zhishen
Lu Zhishen
Lu Zhishen, nicknamed "Flowery Monk", or Sagacious Lu , is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He is the lead character in the first major story cycle of the novel, in which he comes to epitomize loyalty, strength, justice but...
and escorted back to the capital by imperial troops under the command of Tong Guan
Tong Guan
Tong Guan , style name Daofu , was a court eunuch, military general, political adviser, and Council of State to Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty. In the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, Tong Guan is featured as an antagonist and enemy of the 108...
. Four months later, Fang La is found guilty of treason and executed by slow slicing in Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
.
Nobles
- Fang TiandingFang TiandingFang Tianding is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Fang Tianding is a son of the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws.-Biography:...
(方天定) - Fang La's oldest son and crown prince
- Fang Jinzhi (方金芝) - Fang La's daughter and princess. She marries Ke Yin. She commits suicide by hanging herself after the fall of Fang La's palace in the final battle.
- Fang JieFang JieFang Jie is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Fang Jie is the nephew of the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws. He is best known for slaying Liangshan's Qin Ming in a duel with...
(方傑) - Fang La's nephew
- Ke Yin (柯引) - Fang La's son-in-law. He is actually Chai JinChai JinChai Jin is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 10th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Little Whirlwind"...
in undercover.
Premiers, civilian officials, magicians
- Lou Minzhong (婁敏中) - the left premier of Fang La's kingdom. Originally a schoolteacher, Lou Minzhong supported Fang La during his early stages of rebellion and rose through the ranks. He refers Ke Yin (Chai JinChai JinChai Jin is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 10th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Little Whirlwind"...
's undercover identity) to Fang La after being pleased with Ke's appearance, wisdom and personality. He kills Liangshan's Ruan XiaowuRuan XiaowuRuan Xiaowu, also known as Ruan the Fifth, is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature...
after discovering Ruan's undercover identity as a mole attempting to sabotage Fang La's navy. He commits suicide after Fang La's fortress was taken by the Song army in the final battle.
- Zu Shiyuan (祖世遠) - the right premier of Fang La's kingdom. He suggests with Shi Bao and Deng Yuanjue to Fang La to send reinforcements to Muzhou when it is besieged by Liangshan forces, as it is a key barrier to Fang's palace. However Fang La cannot relocate any soldiers and refuses to send his royal palace army to help defend Muzhou. This resulted in the fall of Muzhou and Zu Shiyuan is captured by the Liangshan heroes.
- Bao DaoyiBao DaoyiBao Daoyi is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Bao Daoyi is the imperial sorcerer of the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws....
(包道乙) - a Taoist magician serving under Fang La
- Zheng BiaoZheng BiaoZheng Biao, also known as "Demon Lord Zheng" , is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Zheng Biao is a servant of the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws. He is also an apprentice of...
(鄭彪) - Bao Daoyi's student
- Deng YuanjueDeng YuanjueDeng Yuanjue is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Deng Yuanjue is the Royal Advisor serving under the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws...
(鄧元覺) - Fang La's royal advisor
- Wang YinWang YinWang Yin is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Wang Yin is the Secretary of Military Affairs serving under the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws...
(王寅) - Fang La's secretary of military affairs
Generals
- Shi BaoShi Bao (Water Margin)Shi Bao is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Shi Bao is the South Departing Great General serving under the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws...
(石寶) and deputies:- Wen Kerang (溫克讓)
- Zhao Yi (趙毅)
- Leng Gong (冷恭)
- Wang Ren (王仁)
- Zhang Daoyuan (張道原)
- Wu Zhi (吳值)
- Lian Ming (廉明)
- Feng Yi (鳳儀)
- Pang WanchunPang WanchunPang Wanchun is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Pang Wanchun is one of the military generals serving under the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws...
(龐萬春) and deputies:- Lei Jiong (雷炯)
- Ji Ji (計稷)
- Li TianrunLi TianrunLi Tianrun is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Li Tianrun is the Kingdom Stabilising Great General serving under the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws...
(厲天閏) and deputies:- Zhang Tao (張韜) - slays Liangshan's Dong PingDong PingDong Ping is a character from the epic Chinese novel The Water Margin. He is nicknamed "General of Double Spears" and ranks 15th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes.-Background:...
in an ambush when Dong was distracted by Li Tianrun. - Li Tianyou (厲天佑)
- Zhang Jian (張儉)
- Yao Yi (姚義)
- Zhang Tao (張韜) - slays Liangshan's Dong Ping
- Si XingfangSi XingfangSi Xingfang is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Si Xingfang is the Kingdom Protecting Great General serving under the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws...
(司行方) and deputies:- Xue Dounan (薛斗南)
- Huang Ai (黃愛)
- Xu Bai (徐白)
- Mi Quan (米泉)
- Lü ShinangLü ShinangLü Shinang was the leader of a Chinese Manichaean cult who led an uprising against the Song Dynasty in Taizhou, Zhejiang.Lü Shinang is also featured as a character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature...
(吕师囊) and deputies ("12 Deities of Jiangnan"):- Shen Gang (沈剛) - from FuzhouFuzhouFuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
, nicknamed "Heaven Supporting Deity" (擎天神) - Pan Wende (潘文得) - from Shezhou, nicknamed "Youyi Deity" (游奕神)
- Ying Ming (應明) - from Muzhou, nicknamed "Armoured Deity" (遁甲神)
- Xu Tong (徐統) - from Mingzhou (present-day NingboNingboNingbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...
), nicknamed "Liuding Deity" (六丁神) - Zhang Jinren (張近仁) - from Yuezhou, nicknamed "Thunderbolt Deity" (霹靂神). He slays Liangshan's Peng QiPeng QiPeng Qi is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 43rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 7th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "General of Heavenly Vision".-Background:...
by sneaking up behind him when Peng rides to fight Gao Keli to attempt to avenge for his fallen comrade Han TaoHan TaoHan Tao is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 42nd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 6th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "General of Hundred Victories".-Background:...
. - Shen Ze (沈澤) - from HangzhouHangzhouHangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, nicknamed "Giant Deity" (巨靈神) - Zhao Yi (趙毅) from HuzhouHuzhouHuzhou is a prefecture-level city in northern Zhejiang province of Eastern China. Lying south of the Lake Tai, it borders Jiaxing to the east, Hangzhou to the south, and the provinces of Anhui and Jiangsu to the west and north respectively.-Administration:...
, nicknamed "TaibaiGreat White PlanetGreat White Planet a high ranking servant under that of the Jade Emperor during the famous Chinese novel, Journey to the West. After hearing of the appearance of the Heaven-born monkey, Sun Wukong, the Jade Emperor assigned for the Great White Planet to be the one to retrieve him. Initially Great...
Deity" (太白神) - Gao Keli (高可立) - from XuanzhouXuanzhou DistrictXuanzhou District is a district in Anhui Province, People's Republic of China, administered by Xuancheng City. It has a population of 840,000 and an area of .Xuanzhou District has jurisdiction over five subdistricts, sixteen towns and eighteen townships....
, nicknamed "Taisui Deity" (太歲神). He kills Liangshan's Han Tao with an arrow when Han was dueling with Zhang Jinren. - Fan Chou (範疇) - from ChangzhouChangzhouChangzhou is a prefecture-level city in southern Jiangsu province of the People's Republic of China. It was previously known as Yanling, Lanling, Jinling, and Wujin. Located on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, Changzhou borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the west, Zhenjiang to the...
, nicknamed "Diaoke Deity" (吊客神) - Zhuo Wanli (卓萬裡) - from Runzhou, nicknamed "Yellow Flagpole Deity" (黃幡神)
- He Tong (和潼) - from Jiangzhou (present-day JiangxiJiangxi' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
), nicknamed "Leopard's Tail Deity" (豹尾神) - Shen Bian (沈抃) - from SuzhouSuzhouSuzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
, nicknamed "Death Deity" (喪門神)
- Shen Gang (沈剛) - from Fuzhou
- Bai Qin (白欽) - one of Fang La's warriors. He fights with Lü FangLu FangLü Fang is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 54th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 18th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Little Marquis of Wen".-Background:...
at Black Dragon Ridge. Both of them roll down the slope to their deaths after losing their balance at the edge of a cliff.
- Guo Shiguang (郭世廣) - one of Fang La's generals. He fights with Xuan ZanXuan ZanXuan Zan is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 40th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 4th of the 72 Earthly Fiends...
and both of them perish together under Yinma Bridge in SuzhouSuzhouSuzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
.
- Chao Zhong (晁中)
- Tang Fengshi (湯逢士)
- Wang Ji (王績)
- Yuan Xing (元興)
- Mao Di (茅迪)
- Cui Yu (崔彧)
- Su Jing (蘇涇)
- Bei Yingkui (貝應夔)
External links
Fang La on Baidu BaikeBaidu Baike
Baidu Encyclopedia is a Chinese language collaborative Web-based encyclopedia provided by the Chinese search engine Baidu. Like Baidu itself, the encyclopedia is heavily self-censored in line with government regulations....