Han Tao is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Classic Chinese Novels. Nicknamed "General of Hundred Victories", he ranks 42nd among the 108 Heroes and sixth among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
| Han Tao | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
 a Qing dynasty illustration of Han Tao | |
| First appearance | Chapter 55 |
| In-universe information | |
| Nicknames | "General of a Hundred Victories" 百勝將 |
| Weapon | jujube wood lance (棗木槊) |
| Origin | military officer |
| Designation | Tiger Cub Patrol Commander of Liangshan |
| Rank | 42nd, Majestic Star (地威星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
| Ancestral home / Place of origin | Dongjing (present-day Kaifeng, Henan) |
| Chinese names | |
| Simplified Chinese | 韩滔 |
| Traditional Chinese | 韓滔 |
| Pinyin | Hán Tāo |
| Wade–Giles | Han T'ao |
Background
editOriginally from the capital Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan), Han Tao is a highly-skilled warrior serving as a military officer in Chenzhou (陳州; present-day Huaiyang County, Henan). He is nicknamed "General of a Hundred Victories" as he is purportedly unbeatable in combat, wielding a lance made of jujube wood.
Becoming an outlaw
editHan Tao is first introduced in the novel when the Song government is discussing how to deal with the outlaws at Liangshan Marsh after they attacked and captured Gaotangzhou (高唐州; present-day Gaotang County, Shandong). Along with Peng Qi, Han Tao is appointed as a lieutenant of Huyan Zhuo, who is tasked with leading government forces to destroy the outlaws.
In their first battle against Liangshan, Peng Qi is captured by Hu Sanniang and ends up joining the outlaws. Huyan Zhuo then deploys his special cavalry comprising groups of heavily armoured horsemen connected by chains. The combined might of the horsemen charging forward overwhelms the Liangshan forces.
The outlaws eventually recruit Xu Ning, who trains their infantry in using the hooked lance, targeting the armoured cavalry's weak point: the horses' legs. The method works out and the outlaws defeat Huyan Zhuo, completely destroying his chain-linked armoured cavalry. Han Tao gets captured during the battle and ends up joining the outlaws after Peng Qi convinces him to. Huyan Zhuo himself is ultimately defeated by the outlaws and agrees to surrender and join them too.
Campaigns and death
editHan Tao is appointed as a Tiger Cub Patrol Commander of the Liangshan cavalry after the 108 Heroes are fully assembled. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory after the outlaws receive amnesty from Emperor Huizong.
During the final campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Han Tao and Peng Qi are assigned to attack Changzhou, where they face the enemy warriors Gao Keli and Zhang Jinren. Han Tao falls off horseback when Gao Keli fires an arrow that hits him in the cheek. After that, Zhang Jinren charges forward and kills Han Tao by spearing him in the throat.
References
edit- 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. 85. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
- Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- Shibusawa, Kou (1989), Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Koei, pp. 91–93
- Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.