Chao Gai
| Chao Gai | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
| First appearance | Chapter 14 |
| Nickname | "Pagoda-Wielding Heavenly King" (托塔天王) |
| Also known as | "Heavenly King Chao" (晁天王) |
| Leader of Liangshan | |
| Origin | Headman of Eastern Creek Village |
| Ancestral home / Place of origin | Yuncheng County, Shandong |
| Names | |
| Simplified Chinese | 晁盖 |
| Traditional Chinese | 晁蓋 |
| Pinyin | Cháo Gài |
| Wade–Giles | Ch'ao Kai |
Template:Chinese-name Chao Gai is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He is widely considered as the founding father of the Liangshan outlaws' cause to serve the nation and deliver justice on behalf of Heaven. However, he is not one of the 108 Stars of Destiny due to his premature fatal encounter during a battle with the Zeng Family Fortress before the Grand Assembly in chapter 71.
Background
Chao Gai is nicknamed "Pagoda Wielding Heavenly King", and popularly referred to as "Heavenly King Chao" by his fellows. He is the headman of Eastern Creek Village (東溪村) in Yuncheng County, Shandong. He is a close friend of Wu Yong, Gongsun Sheng, Liu Tang and the Ruan brothers. He maintains close relations with the constables Zhu Tong and Lei Heng as well.
Robbing the convoy of birthday gifts
Once, Liu Tang overhears news that a convoy escorting some birthday gifts for the Imperial Tutor Cai Jing is to pass by Eastern Creek Village. He falls asleep in a run-down temple after getting drunk and is mistaken by Lei Heng's patrol as a wanted criminal and arrested. Lei Heng and his men stop by Eastern Creek Village to have a short break. Chao Gai recognises Liu Tang and lies to Lei Heng that Liu is his nephew and not a wanted criminal. Lei Heng releases Liu Tang but the latter is still unhappy with Lei for arresting him without a valid reason earlier. He tracks down Lei Heng and fights with him but Chao Gai arrives and stops the fight.
Liu Tang tells Chao Gai and the others about the convoy and they decide to rob it. The seven men take an oath of fraternity and disguise themselves as date traders. They succeed in robbing the convoy by following Wu Yong's plan and with some help from Bai Sheng. The authorities send the constable He Tao to investigate the robbery and arrest those responsible. Bai Sheng is arrested after he unknowingly reveals himself as one of the robbers. Despite being subjected to severe torture, Bai Sheng refuses to name his fellows, although the authorities already have an idea of who the other robbers are.
Joining Liangshan
Song Jiang alerts Chao Gai and the others that they are wanted by the government for the robbing incident and they prepare to flee the village. Zhu Tong and Lei Heng are assigned to arrest Chao Gai and the other six men but they help Chao and his friends escape instead, on account of their friendship. Chao Gai and his companions defeat soldiers led by He Tao and flee to Liangshan for refuge. Wang Lun, chief of Liangshan, allows them to stay at Liangshan temporarily as he is worried that Chao Gai and his friends will pose a threat to his position as chief. Wang Lun tries to send them away with valuable gifts but Chao Gai protests that they have nowhere else to seek refuge and begs Wang to allow them to stay. Wu Yong instigates Lin Chong into killing Wang Lun and Chao Gai is then nominated to be the new chief. Chao Gai recruits Wang Lun's former deputies Song Wan, Du Qian and Zhu Gui.
Death and legacy
Chao Gai participates in some campaigns against the enemies of Liangshan but most of the time he lets Song Jiang lead Liangshan's forces into battle while he stays to guard Liangshan and provide reinforcements. Once, he decides to personally lead a campaign against the Zeng Family Fortress after the Zengs provoked Liangshan. The Zengs had robbed a precious steed known as the "Jade Lion" (玉獅子) from Duan Jingzhu, which was originally intended to be presented as a gift to Chao Gai The Zengs had also beaten up Liu Tang and insulted Liangshan. Chao Gai is infuriated and leads Liangshan's forces to attack the fortress. During a battle, he is struck in the forehead by an arrow whose arrowhead is coated with poison. The arrow was fired by Shi Wengong, a martial arts instructor of the fortress. Chao Gai dies from poisoning shortly after. His dying words are: "Whoever captures Shi Wengong shall succeed me as chief." Song Jiang succeeds Chao Gai as chief of Liangshan eventually although Lu Junyi is the one who captured Shi Wengong and avenged Chao.
Chao Gai's character is entirely consistent with the ideas presented in the Liangshan bandits' eventual manifesto, "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf". His personal history as an official-turned-outlaw portended the way of life and recruitment policy of the Liangshan bandits.
References
- Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin. EPB Publishers Pte Ltd, 1992. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3. Template:Zh icon
See also
- List of Water Margin minor characters#Chao Gai's story for a list of supporting minor characters from Chao Gai's story.