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The novel describes Lei Heng as about seven ''[[Chi (unit)|chi]]'' tall'','' having a purplish face and sporting a big fan-like beard. He is strong and excels in martial arts. He is a good jumper who could leap across wide bodies of water and relatively high walls with ease. This talent earns him the nickname "Winged Tiger".
The novel describes Lei Heng as about seven ''[[Chi (unit)|chi]]'' tall'','' having a purplish face and sporting a big fan-like beard. He is strong and excels in martial arts. He is a good jumper who could leap across wide bodies of water and relatively high walls with ease. This talent earns him the nickname "Winged Tiger".


One night while out on patrol, Lei Heng happens upon [[Liu Tang]], who has fallen asleep in a rundown temple after getting drunk. Believing Liu, with his strange and vagabond looks, is up to no good in the neighbourhood, he orders his men to pounce on him before he could put up a fight. The party then stops for a rest in Chao Gai's manor. Chao secretly checks out on Liu Tang, who tells him he has come to seek his collaboration to hijack a convoy of valuables. Chao lies to Lei Heng that Liu is his nephew, winning the man's release. However, Liu Tang is still angry with Lei Heng for arresting him, so he catches up with him and challenges him to a fight. Chao Gai arrives at the scene and stops the clash.
One night while out on patrol, Lei Heng happens upon [[Liu Tang]], who has fallen asleep in a rundown temple after getting drunk. Believing Liu, with his strange and vagabond looks, is up to no good in the neighbourhood, Lei orders his men to tie him up before he could put up a fight. The party then stops for a rest in Chao Gai's manor. Chao secretly checks out on Liu Tang, who tells him he has come to seek his collaboration to hijack a convoy of valuables. Chao lies to Lei Heng that Liu is his nephew, winning the man's release. However, Liu Tang is still angry with Lei Heng over the arrest, so he catches up with him and challenges him to a fight. Chao Gai arrives at the scene and stops the clash.


Later Chao Gai and six others, including Liu Tang, are identified as the robbers who hijacked the birthday gifts meant for the Imperial Tutor [[Cai Jing]]. Zhu Tong and Lei Heng are assigned to arrest Chao Gai at his house. Lei and Zhu conceal from each other their intent to help Chao escape. Zhu Tong prevails on Lei Heng to take the part of cornering Chao through the front door, while he himself guards the back knowing Chao would come that way. Lei nevertheless makes noise to forewarn Chao Gai, who as expected leaves by the back. Zhu tactfully ensures Chao and his gang make their way through the soldiers massed there.
Later Chao Gai and six others, including Liu Tang, are identified as the robbers who hijacked the birthday gifts meant for the Imperial Tutor [[Cai Jing]]. Zhu Tong and Lei Heng are assigned to arrest Chao Gai at his house. Lei and Zhu conceal from each other their intent to help Chao escape. Zhu Tong prevails on Lei Heng to take the part of cornering Chao through the front door, while he himself guards the back knowing Chao would come that way. Lei nevertheless makes noise to forewarn Chao Gai, who as expected leaves by the back. Zhu tactfully ensures Chao and his gang make their way through the soldiers massed there.

Revision as of 09:07, 3 January 2020

Lei Heng
Water Margin character
First appearanceChapter 13
Nickname"Winged Tiger"
插翅虎
Rank25th, Defence Star (天退星) of the 36 Heavenly Spirits
Infantry leader of Liangshan
OriginBlacksmith, constable
Ancestral home / Place of originYuncheng County (in present-day Heze, Shandong)
WeaponPudao
Names
Simplified Chinese雷横
Traditional Chinese雷橫
PinyinLéi Héng
Wade–GilesLei Heng

Template:Chinese-name

Lei Heng is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 25th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Liangshan heroes, and is nicknamed "Winged Tiger".

Background

Lei Heng is from Yuncheng County (in present-day Heze, Shandong). Originally a blacksmith and butcher, he subsequently becomes a chief constable of Yuncheng. He is a close friend of Zhu Tong, his senior colleague, and Chao Gai, the headman of a local village.

The novel describes Lei Heng as about seven chi tall, having a purplish face and sporting a big fan-like beard. He is strong and excels in martial arts. He is a good jumper who could leap across wide bodies of water and relatively high walls with ease. This talent earns him the nickname "Winged Tiger".

One night while out on patrol, Lei Heng happens upon Liu Tang, who has fallen asleep in a rundown temple after getting drunk. Believing Liu, with his strange and vagabond looks, is up to no good in the neighbourhood, Lei orders his men to tie him up before he could put up a fight. The party then stops for a rest in Chao Gai's manor. Chao secretly checks out on Liu Tang, who tells him he has come to seek his collaboration to hijack a convoy of valuables. Chao lies to Lei Heng that Liu is his nephew, winning the man's release. However, Liu Tang is still angry with Lei Heng over the arrest, so he catches up with him and challenges him to a fight. Chao Gai arrives at the scene and stops the clash.

Later Chao Gai and six others, including Liu Tang, are identified as the robbers who hijacked the birthday gifts meant for the Imperial Tutor Cai Jing. Zhu Tong and Lei Heng are assigned to arrest Chao Gai at his house. Lei and Zhu conceal from each other their intent to help Chao escape. Zhu Tong prevails on Lei Heng to take the part of cornering Chao through the front door, while he himself guards the back knowing Chao would come that way. Lei nevertheless makes noise to forewarn Chao Gai, who as expected leaves by the back. Zhu tactfully ensures Chao and his gang make their way through the soldiers massed there.

Becoming an outlaw

One day Lei Heng goes to watch a woman sing at a tea house without taking along his wallet. So when the singer Bai Xiuying comes round to him to collect tips for her performance, Lei, who takes the best seat in the front row, could not produce a cent. Bai Xiuying and her father Bai Yuqiao pass some unkind remarks at Lei, who loses his temper and hits the old man in anger. But he does not know Bai Xiuying is having an affair with Yuncheng's magistrate. So, Lei Heng is arrested following complaint by Bai. With a cangue fastened around his neck, he is subject to public humiliation by being made to stand outside the county office.

Lei Heng's elderly mother brings food to him and a quarrel with Bai Xiuying erupts when the singer refuses to let the elderly lady unties his son. Bai slaps Lei Heng's mother, provoking Lei into slamming his cangue onto her head, killing the woman. The magistrate sentences Lei Heng to prison exile in Jizhou (薊州; present-day Ji County, Tianjin), with Zhu Tong to escort him there. On the way Zhu releases Lei Heng. Lei takes his mother along to Liangshan Marsh where he joins the outlaw band led by Chao Gai.

Campaigns and death

Lei Heng is appointed one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He joins the Liangshan heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders as well as rebel forces following amnesty from Emperor Huizong.

During the campaign against the rebel leader Fang La, Lei Heng is assigned to attack Deqing County (in present-day Huzhou, Zhejiang). There he is slain by the enemy general Si Xingfang. He is posthumously awarded the title "Martial Gentleman of Loyalty" (忠武郎).

See also

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. 51. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
  • Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  • Shibusawa, Kou (1989), Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Koei, pp. 72–74, 93, 95
  • Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.