Song Jiang
Song Jiang was the leader of a group of Chinese outlaws who lived in the Song dynasty. The outlaws were active in the present-day provinces of Shandong and Henan before their eventual surrender to the Song government. Song Jiang is also featured as a character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 1st of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Protector of Justice".
Life
Song Jiang is mentioned in historical texts dating from the end of the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song. His place of birth and base of activity are disputed. One account from Pi Ling Ji says that Song Jiang rallied some fugitives to form a bandit army and they attacked travellers on the roads of Shandong. Another account from an unknown source says Song Jiang and his bandits originated from the north of the Yellow River and moved south towards the Huai River Valley. They invaded some ten commanderies and were evidently regarded as being more than merely a nuisance by the Song imperial court in Kaifeng.
