Jiang Jing (Water Margin)

Fictional character in the Chinese novel Water Margin

This article is about the fictional character. For the racewalker, see Jiang Jing.

Jiang Jing

Water Margin character
First appearance| Chapter 41
Nickname| "Divine Mathematician"
神算子
Rank| 53rd, Meet Star (地會星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends
Accountant of Liangshan
Origin| Bandit leader from Mount Yellow Gate
Ancestral home / Place of origin| Tanzhou (around present-day Changsha, Hunan)
Names
Simplified Chinese| 蒋敬
Traditional Chinese| 蔣敬
Pinyin| Jiǎng Jìng
Wade–Giles| Chiang Ching

In this Chinese name, the family name is  Jiang.

Jiang Jing is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Divine Mathematician," he ranks 53rd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 17th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

## Background

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Jiang Jing, a native of Tanzhou (潭州; around present-day Changsha, Hunan), is a scholar who has repeatedly failed imperial examinations \-- the conventional route to become government official in ancient China. Frustrated and disappointed, he shifts to concentrating on military-related subjects. After years of hard work, he is not just skilled in martial arts but also good in military tactics and numerical calculations. His mathematical talent earns him the nickname "Divine Mathematician".

When he first appears in the book, he is one of the fours chiefs leading the bandit group at Mount Yellow Gate (黃門山), ranked below Ou Peng and above Ma Lin and Tao Zongwang

## Joining Liangshan

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When Song Jiang is following the outlaws of Liangshan Marsh back to their stronghold after they and some heroes of the Jieyang region saved him in Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), he comes by Mount Yellow Gate with the group. They are blocked by the four bandit chiefs who demanded to know whether Song is among them. When he steps out to show himself, they come forward to pay homage to him. When they learn that the group is heading for Liangshan, they wanted in and are accepted.

## Campaigns and resignation

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Jang Jing is appointed to keep accounts of the grain stock, finance and logistics of Liangshan after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory following amnesty by Emperor Huizong for Liangshan.

Jiang Jing is one of the Liangshan heroes who survives all the campaigns. Though given an official appointment, he quits soon and goes back to his hometown Tanzhou, where he lives as a commoner for the rest of his life.

## References

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* 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. 107\. 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
* Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.

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* t
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Water Margin characters

Founding father|

Chao Gai

108 Stars of Destiny|

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

Antagonists (Song imperial court)|

* Gao Qiu
* Cai Jing
* Tong Guan
* Yang Jian

Antagonists (rebel leaders)|

* Fang La
* Tian Hu
* Wang Qing

Other characters|

* Ximen Qing
* Pan Jinlian
* Wu Dalang
* Yan Poxi
* Emperor Huizong
* Li Shishi
* Zhou Tong
* others

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