Jiang Jing (Water Margin)

Jiang Jing is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 53rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 17th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Divine Mathematician".

Background

Jiang Jing is from Tanzhou (潭州; around present-day Changsha, Hunan). He attempted the imperial examination in his younger days but was not a successful candidate. He shifted his focus from academics and literature to military studies instead. He achieves great success after years of effort and becomes an expert in martial arts, mathematics and military strategy. He earns himself the nickname "Divine Mathematician". Later, he joins a bandit gang based on Mount Yellow Gate (黃門山) and becomes one of their leaders, alongside Ou Peng, Tao Zongwang and Ma Lin.

Joining Liangshan

After saving Song Jiang and Dai Zong in Jiangzhou (江州; east of present-day Chongzuo, Guangxi), the outlaws from Liangshan Marsh are making their way back to base when they passed by Mount Yellow Gate along the way. The four bandit chiefs stop the Liangshan outlaws and request to join them. Song Jiang agrees and they return to Liangshan together.

Jiang Jing becomes an accountant in Liangshan after the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny. He is in charge of keeping records of exports and imports of provisions. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by Emperor Huizong and is one of the few lucky survivors after the final campaign against the rebel leader Fang La.

He returns to the capital with the remaining Liangshan heroes after the victory over Fang La, and assumes an official post offered to him by the emperor in recognition of his contributions during the campaigns. However, after holding office for some time, he feels homesick and resigns. He returns to Tanzhou and leads a peaceful life as a commoner for the rest of his days.

References

• (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 107. EPB Publishers Pte Ltd, 1992. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
• Buck, Pearl. All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell Ltd, 2006. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Zhang, Lin Ching. Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House, 2009. ISBN 978-7506344784.
• Keffer, David. Outlaws of the Marsh.
• Miyamotois, Yoko. Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits.
• (Japanese) Ichisada, Miyazaki. Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu. Chuo Koronsha, 1993. ISBN 978-4122020559.
• Shibusawa, Kou. Bandit Kings of Ancient China. KOEI, 1989.