Yang Xiong (Water Margin)

Yang Xiong (zh-cpw|c=楊雄/杨雄|p=Yáng Xióng|w=Yang Hsiung) is a character in the epic Chinese novel, the "Water Margin".

Yang Xiong was from Henan, and served as a jailer and executioner there. Yang was good-looking, and had flowery tattoos all over his body. He had thick eyebrows, phoenix-like eyes and a few strands of beard. He resembled Guan Suo, the 3rd son of Guan Yu, but was paler in complexion than Guan Suo so his was nicknamed the 'Sick Guan Suo' (病关索).

One day, after Yang Xiong had performed an execution, he was awarded with many gifts from the people. On the way, he met a group of trouble-seeking hooligans and they had a fight. Shi Xiu appeared in the nick of time and helped Yang chase away the hooligans. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu felt a special affection towards each other and they became sworn brothers.

Yang Xiong brought Shi Xiu home with him and let him work as a butcher. Yang Xiong's wife Pan Qiaoyun committed adultery with a monk named Pei Ruhai, but was discovered by Shi Xiu. Shi Xiu informed Yang Xiong about the incident, but Pan Qiaoyun accused Shi Xiu of molesting her instead. Yang believed his wife and chased Shi Xiu away in anger. Shi Xiu was unhappy and decided to show his sworn brother the truth. Thus, he laid an ambush and killed Pei Ruhai. Yang Xiong realised that he had wronged Shi Xiu so he brought his adulteress wife to Cuiping Mountain and questioned her. In the end, Pan confessed and Yang Xiong killed her.

After that, Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu decided to go to Liangshan for refuge and they met Shi Qian on the way. The trio made their way to Liangshan together, and passed by the Zhu Family Village on the way. Shi Qian stole the innkeeper's chicken and was caught by the Zhus. They had Shi Qian locked up, but Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu escaped. They sought help from the Liangshan heroes, and conquered Zhu Family Village. Shi Qian was then rescued.

Yang Xiong became one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry and 36 Heavenly Chieftains. He followed the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao Tartars and southern rebels, making great contributions, such as killing Zheng Mojun. He was one of the few lucky surviving heroes after the campaigns, but he died of illness on the way back.

Films and TV adaptations

In the 1997 TV serial from Mainland China based on the novel, Yang Xiong was played by Chen Zhihui. He was Zhu Fu's teacher, but in the novel Zhu Fu's teacher was Li Yun. He was Xu Ning's friend and contributed to Xu Ning's recruiment to Liangshan, but in the novel the actual person was Xu's cousin Tang Long. Also, he was the one who offered to sneak into the Zhu Family Village as a spy disguised as a priest but was caught. In the novel, however, Yang Lin was the one who dressed up as a priest to sneak into the Zhu Family Village and act as a spy, but was caught.