Literary image of Song Jiang
Literary image of Song Jiang · 1830–1850A later literary image, not a contemporary documentary portraitUtagawa Kuniyoshi (Q317736)Source·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Song Jiang宋江

LiangshanHistory × Fiction

A constable in Yuncheng County, generous with money, secretly released Chao Gai.

DIRECT FIGURES
154
RELATION RECORDS
296
SOURCE WORKS
2

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Song Jiang, 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

1 figure · 2 records
02
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

7 figures · 9 records
4 more in the complete record
03
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

9 figures · 15 records
  • Song JiangWu Yongdiscuss

    Read the original source
    宋江开话对吴学究道:“当初军师好意,启请卢员外上山来聚义,今日不想却教他受苦,又陷了石秀兄弟,当用何计可救?”

    Water Margin, ch. 63

  • Song JiangLu Junyicolleague

    Read the original source
    宋江先跪,后面众头领排排地都跪下。

    Water Margin, ch. 62

  • Song JiangLi Kuicommand

    Read the original source
    宋江道:“你可再下去,先把柴大官人放在箩里

    Water Margin, ch. 54

6 more in the complete record
04
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

6 figures · 9 records
3 more in the complete record
05
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

3 figures · 5 records
1 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。
Event · Xuanhe era (fiction)Grand Gathering at LiangshanAfter the 108 heroes received their ranks, they swore to share life, death and hardship, transforming separate outlaw stories into the collective identity of Liangshan.

In history · History of Song

A bandit in Jingdong, Hou Meng suggested pardoning him to fight Fang La. Leader of the Liangshan heroes, surrendered to Zhang Shuye. A bandit in Huainan, attacked Huaiyang Army, later surrendered.

In fiction · Water Margin

A constable in Yuncheng County, generous with money, secretly released Chao Gai. A constable in Yuncheng County, led He Tao to see the county magistrate, devised a plan to let Chao Gai escape. The one entrusted with the lives of Chao Gai and six others, not directly appearing.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Literature / legend

    Water Margin

    165 profile notes
    38 relations105 verified quotations
    • Song JiangsurrenderEmperor Huizong of Song
    • Wu Yongoffer planSong Jiang
    • Song JiangdiscussWu Yong
    • Song Jiangsworn brothersWu Yong
    Verified original text · 105
    1. 俺三个就此告一道招安赦书

      surrender · Water Margin, ch. 72

    2. 吴学究对宋公明说道

      offer plan · Water Margin, ch. 49

    103 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

    Open work page

  2. Official history

    History of Song

    3 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

    Open work page

History vs. fiction

The leader of the 108 heroes

  • In "Water Margin", Song Jiang repelled government troops multiple times before accepting the court's proactive amnesty; however, according to the "History of Song: Biography of Zhang Shuye", Song Jiang was ambushed and defeated by Zhang Shuye at Haizhou, and was forced to surrender. The original text states: "于是募死士得千人,设伏近城,而出轻兵距海,诱之战。" It also says: "擒其副贼,江乃降。" (History of Song: Biography of Zhang Shuye)

  • In the novel, Song Jiang commands 108 heroes of Liangshan Marsh with great momentum; however, the History of Song, Biography of Hou Meng clearly records that 'Jiang with thirty-six men rampaged through Qi and Wei,' far smaller in scale than the novel.

  • novel inventionSuppression of Fang La

    The novel attributes the merit of suppressing Fang La to Song Jiang's army; however, the "History of Song" records that Fang La was suppressed by Tong Guan and others. Although Hou Meng once suggested letting Song Jiang attack Fang La to atone for his crimes, the court did not implement this. The original text records when Fang La was captured: "世忠穷追至睦州清溪峒", and "禽腊以出". (History of Song, Biography of Han Shizhong)

  • In the novel, Song Jiang, following imperial orders, campaigns against the Liao and wins a great victory. The 'History of Song: Annals of Huizong' for the third year of the Xuanhe era only records that 'the Huainan bandit Song Jiang and others attacked Huaiyang Army' and were subsequently surrendered by Zhang Shuye. At that time, the Song and Liao were not at war as described in the novel; the campaign against the Liao is a fictional creation by the novelist to elevate the heroes of Liangshan.

Relationship network

36 figures · 277 links
Song JiangSong JiangEmperor Huizong of SongEmperor Huizong of SongWu YongWu YongLi KuiLi KuiLin ChongLin ChongWu SongWu SongLu ZhishenLu ZhishenLu JunyiLu JunyiHua RongHua RongDai ZongDai ZongGongsun ShengGongsun ShengZhang QingQin MingShi JinChao GaiYan QingHuyan ZhuoLi JunGuan ShengZhang ShunChai JinZhu TongLiu TangShi XiuXu NingYang ZhiYang XiongWang QingRuan XiaoqiRuan Xiao'erGao QiuSun LiDong PingXie ZhenSuo ChaoXiao Rang
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: History of Song, 侯蒙传; Water Margin, ch. 18; History of Song, 张叔夜传; Water Margin, ch. 20; History of Song, 徽宗本纪四; Water Margin, ch. 21; Water Margin, ch. 22; Water Margin, ch. 23

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.