Product Code Database
Ruan Xiaoqi, also known as Ruan the Seventh, is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Living King Yama", he ranks 31st among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Ruan Xiaoqi is the youngest of the three Ruan brothers (his seniors being Ruan Xiaoer and Ruan Xiaowu). They live in Shijie Village (石碣村; in present-day Liangshan County, Shandong), where they make a living by fishing in waters near the Mount Liang. Like his brothers, Ruan Xiaoqi is a good swimmer and fights well under water.
But the authorities soon tracks down essential clues and an arrest party is sent to seize Chao Gai at his house. Chao, Wu Yong, Gongsun Sheng and Liu Tang flees to Shijie village. The Ruan brothers, familiar with the surrounding waters, lures the soldiers who have come for them into the waterways to wipe them out. The seven men then seek refuge in the bandit stronghold of Liangshan Marsh.水滸傳第十八回「美髯公智穩插翅虎，宋公明私放晁天王綱」。See
Wang Lun, the leader of Liangshan, tries to send them away with gifts fearing that they might usurp his position. Wu Yong, sensing Lin Chong's unhappiness with Wang, instigates him to kill the leader. Chao Gai is then elected the new chief of Liangshan, with Ruan Xiaoqi taking the eighth position. The Ruan brothers are appointed commanders of the Liangshan flotilla.
When Guan Sheng leads an imperial force to attack Liangshan, Zhang Heng launches a raid on his camp with a small band without informing any of the chieftains except Ruan Xiaoqi. He is ambushed and captured. Ruan takes some men to rescue him but is also seized. Both are freed after Guan Sheng defects to Liangshan.
Ruan Xiaoqi's two elder brothers are killed in the campaign against Fang La. When Fang's palace falls, Ruan Xiaoqi finds the crown and the dragon robe of the rebel leader, which are symbols of an emperor, and puts them on out of mischief. He is reprimanded by Song Jiang for the lese majeste offence.
Back in Dongjing the remaining Liangshan heroes are each conferred a position. When it comes Ruan Xiaoqi's turn, Grand Marshal Gao Qiu and Grand Tutor Cai Jing raise objections, citing his offence of putting on Fang La's "illegal" articles. Although Ruan Xiaoqi is let off on account of his service, he receives no reward. He goes back to Shijie Village where he lives happily to the age of 70.
In Peking opera A Fisherman Kills A Family, part of The Qing Ding Pearl routine, Ruan Xiaoqi moved to the region of Lake Tai upon retirement from his military career, adopting the name Xiao En to avoid detection by his former enemies. Xiao En and his daughter became involved in a conflict against a local mafia boss; the father-daughter duo killed the mafia boss and once again went into pseudonymous exile.
|
|
