Literary image of Lu Zhishen
Literary image of Lu Zhishen · 1843–1847A later literary image, not a contemporary documentary portraitUtagawa KuniyoshiSource·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Lu Zhishen鲁智深

LiangshanFiction

A military officer (提辖) of the Weizhou Military Commission, who meets Shi Jin and later financially supports the old man Jin and his daughter.

DIRECT FIGURES
37
RELATION RECORDS
56
SOURCE WORKS
1

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Lu Zhishen, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
MENTORSHIP

Mentorship

Teachers, disciples and transmission

2 figures · 3 records
  • Elder ZhizhenisLu Zhishen’s teacher

    Read the original source
    智深道:“师父教弟子那里去安身立命?愿听俺师四句偈言。”

    Water Margin, ch. 4

  • Lu ZhishenLin Chongsenior fellow

    Read the original source
    且和师兄一同上街间玩一遭

    Water Margin, ch. 7

02
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

7 figures · 7 records
4 more in the complete record
03
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

3 figures · 5 records
04
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

17 figures · 18 records
  • Song JiangLu Zhishensave

    Read the original source
    既然两个兄弟有难,如何不救?

    Water Margin, ch. 59

  • Shi XiuLu Zhishenkill

    Read the original source
    被石秀都剥了衣裳,赤条条不著一丝,悄悄去屈膝边拔出刀来,三四刀搠死了

    Water Margin, ch. 45

15 more in the complete record
05
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

6 figures · 7 records
4 more in the complete record

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

FeatureHistory vs. Fiction: The Truth Behind the 108 Heroes of the Water Margin《水浒传》一百二十回写了一百零八个人,《宋史》给这件事的篇幅是几行字。《侯蒙传》说宋江「以三十六人横行齐魏」,《张叔夜传》说他被设伏击败后投降,《徽宗本纪》只有一句「淮南盗宋江等犯淮阳军」。三十六人怎么变成一百零八人,招安与征方腊在正史里是什么样子,这篇对着两边看。

History vs. fiction

Flower Monk

  • The Water Margin depicts Lu Zhishen's astonishing divine strength, uprooting the weeping willow at Xiangguo Temple; this is pure literary fiction, as the official history "History of Song" contains no such person as Lu Zhishen. The original text reads: "把直裰脱了,用右手向下,把身倒缴著,却把左手拔住上截,把腰只一趁,将那株绿杨树带根拔起。" (Chapter 007 of The Water Margin)

  • Some versions of the novel (such as the 120-chapter edition) claim that Lu Zhishen captured Fang La alive, which likewise contradicts the historical fact recorded in the History of Song, Biography of Han Shizhong, that Han Shizhong's troops captured Fang La. The original text records that Han Shizhong pursued him to Qingxi Gorge, "即挺身仗戈直前,渡险数里,𢭏其穴,格杀数十人,禽腊以出。" (History of Song, Biography of Han Shizhong)

Relationship network

36 figures · 158 links
Lu ZhishenLu ZhishenSong JiangSong JiangWu YongWu YongLin ChongLin ChongWu SongWu SongLu JunyiLu JunyiZhang QingZhang QingShi JinShi JinHuyan ZhuoHuyan ZhuoShi XiuShi XiuYang ZhiYang ZhiSun ErniangQiao DaoqingZhang QingLiang ZhongshuFang LaZhou TongMa LingLi ZhongElder ZhizhenPan QiaoyunDeng YuanjueDong ChaoZhang SanXue BaChen ZongshanPrefect HeToutuoPan GongZheng TuNiu WenzhongZen Master ZhiqingNiu ErLiu TaigongOld JinZhao Yuanwai
historyliteraturedual
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To keep this page fast, the 40 most important records are shown here.View all 56 relationships in the atlas →

Sources: Water Margin, ch. 4; Water Margin, ch. 5; Water Margin, ch. 6; Water Margin, ch. 7; Water Margin, ch. 9; Water Margin, ch. 17; Water Margin, ch. 27; Water Margin, ch. 31

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.