Hua Rong
Encyclopedia
Hua Rong is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He ranks 9th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Little Li Guang
".
, a famous general and archer of the Han Dynasty
. Besides, Hua Rong is an excellent tamer of wild horses as well.
Hua Rong serves as a military officer under the official Liu Gao in Qingfeng Fort, Qingzhou (in present-day Shandong
). Song Jiang
comes to join him after leaving Chai Jin
's residence. Liu Gao's wife repays Song Jiang's kindness with evil and frames him for being in league with the outlaws from Mount Qingfeng. Song Jiang is arrested and thrown into prison. When Hua Rong learns that Song Jiang has been wrongly imprisoned, he writes a letter to Liu Gao demanding Song's release. Liu Gao refuses and Hua Rong leads his men to the prison and frees Song Jiang by force.
to lead an army to Qingfeng Fort. Huang Xin tricks Hua Rong into an ambush and Hua is captured along with Song Jiang. Huang Xin is assigned to escort the captives back to Qingzhou. Along the way, the outlaws led by Yan Shun
from Mount Qingfeng attack the convoy and succeed in rescuing the captives. Hua Rong joins the outlaws as they battle enemy reinforcements led by Qin Ming
. Qin Ming decides to join the outlaws after his return route is sealed when they attack Qingzhou in disguise as his men. Murong Yanda has Qin Ming's entire family killed when he learns of Qin's apparent defection. Qin Ming is left deeply embattled for some time as he is still sore about being compelled to join the outlaws and also due to the loss of his family. Later, with Song Jiang as the matchmaker, Qin Ming marries Hua Rong's younger sister.
invaders and the rebel forces of Tian Hu
, Wang Qing
and Fang La
. He is one of the few survivors after the campaigns. He takes up a military post offered to him by the emperor in recognition of his contributions. He is overwhelmed with grief when he learns that Song Jiang and Li Kui have been murdered by the corrupt officials. He travels to Chuzhou and finds Wu Yong
already there. The two commit suicide together by hanging themselves on a tree near Song Jiang's grave.
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 9th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Little Li Guang
Li Guang
Lĭ Guăng , born in Tianshui, Gansu, was a famous general of the Han Dynasty. Nicknamed The Flying General by his Xiongnu enemies , he fought primarily in the campaigns against the Xiongnu peoples to the north of Han China...
".
Background
The Water Margin describes Hua Rong as a handsome youth with red lips, white teeth, a narrow waist and broad shoulders. He is renowned for his skill in archery as he can fire an arrow that pierces through a willow leaf from a distance of more than a 100 paces. He is nicknamed "Little Li Guang" after Li GuangLi Guang
Lĭ Guăng , born in Tianshui, Gansu, was a famous general of the Han Dynasty. Nicknamed The Flying General by his Xiongnu enemies , he fought primarily in the campaigns against the Xiongnu peoples to the north of Han China...
, a famous general and archer of the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
. Besides, Hua Rong is an excellent tamer of wild horses as well.
Hua Rong serves as a military officer under the official Liu Gao in Qingfeng Fort, Qingzhou (in present-day 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...
). 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...
comes to join him after leaving Chai Jin
Chai Jin
Chai Jin is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 10th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Little Whirlwind"...
's residence. Liu Gao's wife repays Song Jiang's kindness with evil and frames him for being in league with the outlaws from Mount Qingfeng. Song Jiang is arrested and thrown into prison. When Hua Rong learns that Song Jiang has been wrongly imprisoned, he writes a letter to Liu Gao demanding Song's release. Liu Gao refuses and Hua Rong leads his men to the prison and frees Song Jiang by force.
Battle of Qingfeng Fort
Liu Gao seeks help from governor Murong Yanda of Qingzhou, who sends the general Huang XinHuang Xin
Huang Xin is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 38th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 2nd of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Guardian of Three Mountains".-Background:...
to lead an army to Qingfeng Fort. Huang Xin tricks Hua Rong into an ambush and Hua is captured along with Song Jiang. Huang Xin is assigned to escort the captives back to Qingzhou. Along the way, the outlaws led by Yan Shun
Yan Shun
Yan Shun is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 50th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 14th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Multicoloured Tiger".-Background:...
from Mount Qingfeng attack the convoy and succeed in rescuing the captives. Hua Rong joins the outlaws as they battle enemy reinforcements led by Qin Ming
Qin Ming
Qin Ming is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 7th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Fiery Thunderbolt".-Background:...
. Qin Ming decides to join the outlaws after his return route is sealed when they attack Qingzhou in disguise as his men. Murong Yanda has Qin Ming's entire family killed when he learns of Qin's apparent defection. Qin Ming is left deeply embattled for some time as he is still sore about being compelled to join the outlaws and also due to the loss of his family. Later, with Song Jiang as the matchmaker, Qin Ming marries Hua Rong's younger sister.
Joining Liangshan
Hua Rong follows the heroes back to Liangshan after they capture Qingfeng Fort. He becomes one of the Eight Tiger Cub Vanguard Generals of the Liangshan cavalry. He is actively involved in numerous battles between Liangshan and its enemies and his prowess in archery always proved to be a blessing to his fellows. For example, he once shot down a lantern far away, which acts a signal for enemy forces, and allowed Liangshan forces to retreat safely. In another incident, Hua Rong shoots down an eagle high up in the sky with a single arrow. Hua Rong's charisma has also made him an important figure in persuading several other heroes to join the Liangshan cause of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf".Death
After the outlaws have been granted amnesty by the emperor, Hua Rong follows them on their subsequent campaigns against the LiaoLiao 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 the rebel forces of Tian Hu
Tian Hu
Tian Hu is one of the antagonists in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Tian Hu is one of the three rebel leaders in China, together with Fang La and Wang Qing, that the Liangshan heroes have to defeat in the final chapters of the novel.-Biography:Tian...
, Wang Qing
Wang Qing
Wang Qing is one of the antagonists in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Wang Qing is one of the three rebel leaders in China, together with Fang La and Tian Hu, that the Liangshan heroes have to defeat in the final chapters of the novel.-Early life:The...
and 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:...
. He is one of the few survivors after the campaigns. He takes up a military post offered to him by the emperor in recognition of his contributions. He is overwhelmed with grief when he learns that Song Jiang and Li Kui have been murdered by the corrupt officials. He travels to Chuzhou and finds 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:...
already there. The two commit suicide together by hanging themselves on a tree near Song Jiang's grave.