Han Tao
Han Tao | |
---|---|
Water Margin character | |
First appearance | Chapter 55 |
Nickname | "General of a Hundred Victories" 百勝將 |
Rank | 42nd, Majestic Star (地威星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
Tiger Cub Scouting General of Liangshan | |
Origin | Imperial drill instructor |
Ancestral home / Place of origin | Dongjing (present-day Kaifeng, Henan) |
Weapon | Jujube Wood Lance (棗木槊) |
Names | |
Simplified Chinese | 韩滔 |
Traditional Chinese | 韓滔 |
Pinyin | Hán Tāo |
Wade–Giles | Han T'ao |
Han Tao is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "General of Hundred Victories", he ranks 42nd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and sixth among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Background
A native of Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan), the imperial capital of the Song Empire, Han Tao is a skilled warrior who serves as a military instructor in Chenzhou (陳州; present-day Huaiyang County, Henan). Nicknamed "General of Hundred Victories" as he is purportedly unbeatable in combat. he fights with a lance made of jujube wood.
Becoming an outlaw
After Liangshan defeated and killed Gao Lian, the governor of Gaotangzhou (高唐州; present-day Gaotang County, Shandong) to rescue Chai Jin, Emperor Huizong appoints the general Huyan Zhuo at the recommendation of Grand Marshal Gao Qiu, who is Gao Lian's cousin, to command an army to stamp out the stronghold. Huyan in turn asks for Han Tao and Peng Qi to be his lieutenants.
In the first clash with Liangshan, Huyan Zhuo and his two assistants run into a marathon fight with a succession of Liangshan warriors. Han Tao engages Qin Ming but apparently could not live up to his nickname. Putting on the defensive, Han escapes when Huyan Zhuo comes to take on Qin. In that clash, Peng Qi is captured by Hu Sanniang. Huyan then sends out his cavalry consisting of groups of chain-linked armoured horses, which charges forth in combined ferocity. Overwhelmed, the outlaws hole up in Liangshan with the marsh as buffer as they work out a counter-attack.
Tang Long recommends that his cousin Xu Ning could beat Huyan's cavalry with his expertise in hooked lance. After being trained by Xu, who is recruited through an elaborate trick, the hooked lancer squad of Liangshan fell the cavalry of Huayan routing his force. Captured, Han Tao surrenders upon the advice of Peng Qi, who has transferred his allegiance to Liangshan.
Campaigns and death
Han Tao is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry after the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny. 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 Changzhou in the campaign against Fang La, Han Tao fights the enemy commander Gao Keli. He falls off his steed when Gao hits him in the face with an arrow, thereupon he is killed by the latter's comrade Zhang Jinren, who spears him in his throat.
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. 85. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
- Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- Shibusawa, Kou (1989), Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Koei, pp. 91–93
- Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.
- v
- t
- e
- 36 Heavenly Spirits
- Song Jiang
- Lu Junyi
- Wu Yong
- Gongsun Sheng
- Guan Sheng
- Lin Chong
- Qin Ming
- Huyan Zhuo
- Hua Rong
- Chai Jin
- Li Ying
- Zhu Tong
- Lu Zhishen
- Wu Song
- Dong Ping
- Zhang Qing
- Yang Zhi
- Xu Ning
- Suo Chao
- Dai Zong
- Liu Tang
- Li Kui
- Shi Jin
- Mu Hong
- Lei Heng
- Li Jun
- Ruan Xiao'er
- Zhang Heng
- Ruan Xiaowu
- Zhang Shun
- Ruan Xiaoqi
- Yang Xiong
- Shi Xiu
- Xie Zhen
- Xie Bao
- Yan Qing
- 72 Earthly Fiends
- Zhu Wu
- Huang Xin
- Sun Li
- Xuan Zan
- Hao Siwen
- Han Tao
- Peng Qi
- Shan Tinggui
- Wei Dingguo
- Xiao Rang
- Pei Xuan
- Ou Peng
- Deng Fei
- Yan Shun
- Yang Lin
- Ling Zhen
- Jiang Jing
- Lü Fang
- Guo Sheng
- An Daoquan
- Huangfu Duan
- Wang Ying
- Hu Sanniang
- Bao Xu
- Fan Rui
- Kong Ming
- Kong Liang
- Xiang Chong
- Li Gun
- Jin Dajian
- Ma Lin
- Tong Wei
- Tong Meng
- Meng Kang
- Hou Jian
- Chen Da
- Yang Chun
- Zheng Tianshou
- Tao Zongwang
- Song Qing
- Yue He
- Gong Wang
- Ding Desun
- Mu Chun
- Cao Zheng
- Song Wan
- Du Qian
- Xue Yong
- Shi En
- Li Zhong
- Zhou Tong
- Tang Long
- Du Xing
- Zou Yuan
- Zou Run
- Zhu Gui
- Zhu Fu
- Cai Fu
- Cai Qing
- Li Li
- Li Yun
- Jiao Ting
- Shi Yong
- Sun Xin
- Gu Dasao
- Zhang Qing
- Sun Erniang
- Wang Dingliu
- Yu Baosi
- Bai Sheng
- Shi Qian
- Duan Jingzhu