Wang Jin is a character in the classical novel Water Margin. Wikidata writes the Chinese name in traditional characters, and the Chinese Wikipedia article is titled Wang Jin (Song dynasty), so the heading stays the personal name. The story is set in the Song dynasty, and he is recorded as male.[1][2]
Appearance
According to the Chinese Wikipedia article, Wang Jin is first mentioned in chapter two of the book, titled Instructor Wang Secretly Goes to Yan'an and the Nine-Dragon Shi Jin Makes Trouble at the Shi Estate. He is the instructor of the eight-hundred-thousand imperial guards at Dongjing and Bianliang, a master of all eighteen weapons and above all of the staff. When Gao Qiu took office as grand commandant, he invited the whole court to a feast, and the officials, afraid of his power, all attended. Only Wang Jin, who was gravely ill, could not come. Gao Qiu had him carried from his sickbed and wanted to give him twenty blows, then found that the man who had once humbled him in the street when he was a ruffian was Wang Jin's father. With old and new grudges he wanted to kill Wang Jin, and only the pleas of civil and military officers saved him from punishment.[2]
Flight and the pupil
The article says Wang Jin, knowing he had offended a petty man, deceived the guards who attended him by saying that he would fulfil a vow and be first to burn incense, and sent them to the Dongyue temple to arrange offerings. In fact he left his post and fled Dongjing by night with his mother toward Yan'an. On the way he stayed at the Shi estate, where old Shi received him warmly. One day he saw Shi Jin practising with a staff and could not help pointing out its flaws. The proud young Shi Jin was angry and demanded a bout, but was easily beaten, and realized that this man was far beyond himself and his former teachers, and hurried to take him as master. To repay the Shi family's kindness, Wang Jin gladly agreed. Half a year later, when Shi Jin had mastered all he knew, Wang Jin took leave of the Shis, and although they urged him to stay he insisted on going so as not to draw them into his trouble with Gao Qiu.[2]
End
The article says that after Shi Jin killed officials and left home, he hoped to find Wang Jin, and with the help of Lu Zhishen, who had some contacts through his work, learned that Wang Jin had gone to Yan'an to join the elder Marshal Zhong. But when Shi Jin reached Yan'an he still could not find him, and no one there knew where he was. After that the name Wang Jin never appears again in the book. Later film and television adaptations either have him live under an assumed name or already dead.[2]
The historical Wang Jin
The article says that Northern Song records contain this account: a guard officer named Wang Jin offended a high official in the capital and fled to the old acquaintance of the Younger Zhong's headquarters in Yan'an to defend the border. In the northwest he led troops in small battles with the Western Xia and won them all. He then joined the headquarters of Zhong Shizhong and Zhong Shidao in Hebei as a vanguard, and died fighting beside Zhong Shizhong in the later battle at Taiyuan. The article notes that these records do not say he was an instructor or name Gao Qiu as the official he offended.[2]
Basic facts
- Description: character in Water Margin, instructor of the eight-hundred-thousand imperial guards[1]
- Setting recorded on this entry: the Song dynasty[1]
- Appears in: Water Margin[2]