Shi Xiu
Encyclopedia
Shi Xiu is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He ranks 33rd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Daredevil Third Brother".
). He travels with his uncle to trade. When his uncle dies, Shi Xiu makes a huge loss from the business. He has no money to travel home and wanders into Jizhou (present-day Ji County, Tianjin
), where he earns a living by selling firewood. As a child, Shi Xiu has been well trained in martial arts. He is brave, daring, and has a strong sense of righteousness and justice. He always helps those who are oppressed or in need and even risks his life to do that sometimes. He is thus nicknamed "Daredevil Third Brother".
However, Shi Xiu's nickname does not personify him fully. Besides being humble, he is also witty and sharp. During the battle between the Liangshan
outlaws and the Zhu Family Village, Shi Xiu acts as a spy for Liangshan and evades capture from the enemy. He disguises himself as a firewood seller and persuades an old man into telling him about the traps set by the enemy. He reports the traps to Liangshan forces and leads them out of the danger zone safely. He rescues that old man after the battle.
Shi Xiu discovers Pan Qiaoyun (Yang Xiong's wife)'s extramarital affair with a monk called Pei Ruhai. He informs Yang Xiong about it and Yang questions his wife. Pan Qiaoyun accuses Shi Xiu of molesting her instead and Yang Xiong believes his wife instead and drives Shi away in anger. Shi Xiu is unhappy and he is determined to reveal the truth to Yang Xiong. He ambushes Pei Ruhai and kills him and shows Yang Xiong the monk's dead body. Yang Xiong brings his wife to Mount Cuiping and interrogates her. Pan Qiaoyun confesses her affair after seeing that her lover is dead. Yang Xiong kills his wife and decides to travel with Shi to Liangshan Marsh to join the outlaw band there.
and the trio make their way to Liangshan. They pass by the Zhu Family Village along the way. Shi Qian steals the innkeeper's hen and is captured. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu fight their way out and seek help from Li Ying. Li Ying writes an apology letter to the Zhus on behalf of them and requests that the Zhus release Shi Qian. The Zhus refuse and insult Li Ying. Li Ying is furious and he confronts the Zhus. He is wounded in battle and rescued in time by Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu.
Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu travel to Liangshan to seek further help. The outlaws attack the Zhu Family Village under the leadership of Song Jiang
and succeed in defeating the enemy after three battles. Shi Xiu contributes greatly to the victory for his espionage mission. He leads the outlaws safely out of the danger zone and tricks the Zhus into believing that Sun Li is on their side.
In another act of bravery, Shi Xiu attempts to save Lu Junyi
from execution in Daming Prefecture
(in present-day Handan
). He runs into Yan Qing
and learns from the latter that Lu Junyi has been arrested and sentenced to death. Shi Xiu storms the execution ground alone but he is outnumbered and is captured as well. He is only released from prison after the outlaws defeat imperial forces and capture Daming Prefecture.
Shi Xiu becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the Grand Assembly. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao
invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the Fang La
campaign, Shi Xiu is killed in an ambush at Yuling Pass by Pang Wanchun
's archers.
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 33rd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Daredevil Third Brother".
Background
Shi Xiu's ancestors are from Jiankang, Jinling (present-day NanjingNanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
). He travels with his uncle to trade. When his uncle dies, Shi Xiu makes a huge loss from the business. He has no money to travel home and wanders into Jizhou (present-day Ji County, Tianjin
Ji County, Tianjin
Ji County is a county in the far north of Tianjin municipality, China of cultural and historical significance . The administration of the county was transferred from Hebei province to Tianjin in 1973...
), where he earns a living by selling firewood. As a child, Shi Xiu has been well trained in martial arts. He is brave, daring, and has a strong sense of righteousness and justice. He always helps those who are oppressed or in need and even risks his life to do that sometimes. He is thus nicknamed "Daredevil Third Brother".
However, Shi Xiu's nickname does not personify him fully. Besides being humble, he is also witty and sharp. During the battle between 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 and the Zhu Family Village, Shi Xiu acts as a spy for Liangshan and evades capture from the enemy. He disguises himself as a firewood seller and persuades an old man into telling him about the traps set by the enemy. He reports the traps to Liangshan forces and leads them out of the danger zone safely. He rescues that old man after the battle.
Meeting Yang Xiong
One day in Jizhou, Shi Xiu chances upon a gang of hooligans who are cornering Yang Xiong. He dislikes people who bully others in numbers and he helps Yang Xiong fend off the hooligans. They feel a special affinity for each other and thus become sworn brothers. Yang Xiong brings Shi Xiu home and lets Shi work in his butcher stall.Shi Xiu discovers Pan Qiaoyun (Yang Xiong's wife)'s extramarital affair with a monk called Pei Ruhai. He informs Yang Xiong about it and Yang questions his wife. Pan Qiaoyun accuses Shi Xiu of molesting her instead and Yang Xiong believes his wife instead and drives Shi away in anger. Shi Xiu is unhappy and he is determined to reveal the truth to Yang Xiong. He ambushes Pei Ruhai and kills him and shows Yang Xiong the monk's dead body. Yang Xiong brings his wife to Mount Cuiping and interrogates her. Pan Qiaoyun confesses her affair after seeing that her lover is dead. Yang Xiong kills his wife and decides to travel with Shi to Liangshan Marsh to join the outlaw band there.
Becoming an outlaw
Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu meet Shi QianShi Qian
Shi Qian is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 107th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 71st of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Flea on a Drum".-Background:...
and the trio make their way to Liangshan. They pass by the Zhu Family Village along the way. Shi Qian steals the innkeeper's hen and is captured. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu fight their way out and seek help from Li Ying. Li Ying writes an apology letter to the Zhus on behalf of them and requests that the Zhus release Shi Qian. The Zhus refuse and insult Li Ying. Li Ying is furious and he confronts the Zhus. He is wounded in battle and rescued in time by Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu.
Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu travel to Liangshan to seek further help. The outlaws attack the Zhu Family Village under the leadership of Song Jiang
Song Jiang
Song Jiang was the leader of a group of outlaws who lived during the Song Dynasty. The outlaws were active in the present-day provinces of Shandong and Henan before their eventual surrender to the government. Song Jiang is also featured as a character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great...
and succeed in defeating the enemy after three battles. Shi Xiu contributes greatly to the victory for his espionage mission. He leads the outlaws safely out of the danger zone and tricks the Zhus into believing that Sun Li is on their side.
In another act of bravery, Shi Xiu attempts to save Lu Junyi
Lu Junyi
Lu Junyi is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 2nd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Jade Unicorn"...
from execution in Daming Prefecture
Daming County
Daming County is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of Handan city.-Administrative Divisions:Daming County has 6 towns and 14 townships.Towns:...
(in present-day Handan
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...
). He runs into 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"....
and learns from the latter that Lu Junyi has been arrested and sentenced to death. Shi Xiu storms the execution ground alone but he is outnumbered and is captured as well. He is only released from prison after the outlaws defeat imperial forces and capture Daming Prefecture.
Shi Xiu becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the Grand Assembly. He follows the heroes 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 after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. 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, Shi Xiu is killed in an ambush at Yuling Pass by Pang Wanchun
Pang Wanchun
Pang 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...
's archers.