Song Jiang

Opening Cutscene in Suikoden: Tenmei no Chikai PS

Song Jiang (宋江, onyomi: Sō Kō) was a important character in the novel Water Margin. In which he has the role of gather 107 other brave heroes and gather the group at Mount Liang.

Role in Games

He first appeared in Suikoden: Tenmei no Chikai. In which he is a official and has the nickname is Welcome Rain. Which he is not good at fighting but there is a special have mercy and very high popularity.

In Suikoden: Tendou 108 Sei, he seems more like a leader and use the spear as a weapon.

Historical Information

Song Jiang is mentioned in the History of Song, the most authoritative record on the history of the Song dynasty. The biography of Emperor Huizong (reign during 1100–1126) states:

"In the second month of the third year of the Xuanhe era, Song Jiang, a bandit from Huainan, led an attack on government forces in Huaiyang. The Emperor sent troops to put down the uprising and arrest the bandit leader. Song Jiang then attacked the east side of the capital and Hebei before moving to the borders of Chu and Haizhou. The Emperor ordered Zhang Shuye, the Prefect of Haizhou, to offer them amnesty."

Another account, from Zhang Shuye's biography in the History of Song, records the following:

"Song Jiang started a rebellion in Heshuo and conquered some ten commanderies. Government forces dare not battle with him. When Zhang Shuye received news that Song Jiang was approaching, he asked his scouts where the rebels were heading. They told him that the rebels had made it to the coast and seized more than ten large vessels to transport their loots. Zhang recruited about 1,000 warriors and set up an ambush in a nearby city. He then sent lightly-armed troops to lure the rebels to attack. He also stationed his best soldiers along the coast. When the rebels came out, these soldiers sneaked onto their vessels and set them on fire, thus destroying their morale. The other warriors waiting in ambush seized the opportunity to attack the rebels and capture their leaders. Song Jiang surrendered."

The History of Song also recorded a memorial from the official Hou Meng to Emperor Huizong. It says:

"Song Jiang and 36 others cross Qi and Wei at will. Government forces, although numbering tens of thousands, dare not stand up to him. Therefore, there must be something extraordinary about this man. Since the rebels from Qingxi County also pose a threat to us, we should grant amnesty to Song Jiang and let him attack Fang La to redeem himself."

In Water Margin

He first appeared in chapter 18 as magistrate's clerk of Yuncheng County. He is a virtue and likes to help people. But then he has a problem with Yan Poxi, causing him to accidentally kill her. For this reason, he fled to various locations and met with many brave heroes. Later, he agreed to surrender to the case kill Yan Poxi and punished with exile to Jiangzhou. But was criticized by Huang Wenping to compose poems for treason, causing him to be imprisoned for the day of his execution but was still Chao Gai able to help. Song Jiang joins Liangshan in chapter 41.

When Chao Gai died in the chapter 60, Song Jiang became the leader of Liangshan in chapter 70 after having Lu Junyi assaulted the Zeng Family Fortress and attack Dongping and Dongchang prefectures. Afterwards, Song Jiang and 107 other heroes received forgiveness from the emperor and exterminate the three rebels, including Tian Hu, Wang Qing and Fang La. During the campaign against Fang La, more than half of the heroes died in the battle. Until only 38 survived heroes. Song Jiang is appointed governor of Chuzhou but was poisoned in wine by corrupt officials. Emperor Huizong only confers posthumous title on Song Jiang to honour him for his loyalty.