Ruan Xiaowu, also known as Ruan the Fifth, is a fictional character in the 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...

. He ranks 29th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Short-lived Second Brother".

Background

The Water Margin describes Ruan Xiaowu as a man with eyes resembling bells, arms like iron staffs and a tattoo of a leopard on his chest. Although Ruan Xiaowu always wears a smile on his face, one can detect his murderous advances. His nickname "Short-lived Second Brother" does not imply that he is short-lived. Rather, it means that his enemies are short-lived when they meet him and his murderous smile.

Ruan Xiaowu is the second oldest of the three Ruan brothers (Ruan Xiaoer

Ruan Xiaoer

Ruan Xiaoer, also known as Ruan the Second, is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature...

, himself and Ruan Xiaoqi

Ruan Xiaoqi

Ruan Xiaoqi, also known as Ruan the Seventh, is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 31st of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Living King Yama".-Background:The Water Margin describes...

). The brothers live in Shijie Village, Shandong

Shandong

' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...

, and earn a living by fishing on the river.

Becoming an outlaw

Wu Yong

Wu Yong

Wu Yong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 3rd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Resourceful Star".-Background:...

 recommends the brothers to Chao Gai

Chao Gai

Chao Gai is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He is widely considered as the founding father of the Liangshan outlaws' cause to serve the nation and deliver justice on behalf of Heaven...

 and they join Chao's team to rob the convoy of birthday gifts for the Imperial Tutor Cai Jing

Cai Jing

Cai Jing , style name Yuanchang , was a government official and calligrapher who lived during the Northern Song Dynasty. Cai Jing is also featured as one of the antagonists and nemesis of the 108 Liangshan heroes in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese...

. The government orders their arrest after the robbery but they manage to flee to Liangshan Marsh

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...

 for refuge after defeating a group of soldiers sent to arrest them.

On Liangshan, Wang Lun, the incompetent and selfish leader of the outlaws, refuses to accept the seven men and tries to send them away with gifts. Lin Chong

Lin Chong

Lin Chong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 6th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Panther Head"...

 kills Wang Lun through Wu Yong's instigation and Chao Gai takes over the position of chief. Ruan Xiaowu becomes an important member of the Liangshan band and makes several contributions to Liangshan in the subsequent battles against the enemies of Liangshan. For his expertise in naval warfare, he is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan navy.

Campaigns and death

After the outlaws are granted amnesty by the emperor, Ruan Xiaowu follows them on their campaigns against the Liao

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...

 invaders and rebel forces. During the Fang La

Fang La

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.-Biography:...

 campaign, Ruan Xiaowu and Li Jun pretend to defect to Fang La and work as spies for Liangshan. The spies make a major achievement by setting Qingxi County on fire and opening the gates for the heroes to enter and defeat Fang La's army. Ruan Xiaowu is discovered and killed by Fang La's premier, Lou Minzhong, in the ensuing battle.