Ma Lin (Water Margin)

Ma Lin
Water Margin character
First appearance	Chapter 41
Nickname	"Iron Flute Deity" 鐵笛仙
Rank	67th, Bright Star (地明星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends
Tiger Cub Scouting General of Liangshan
Origin	Bandit leader from Mount Yellow Gate
Ancestral home / Place of origin	Jiankang Prefecture (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu)
Weapon	Pair of sabres
Names
Simplified Chinese	马麟
Traditional Chinese	馬麟
Pinyin	Mǎ Lín
Wade–Giles	Ma Lin

Ma Lin is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Iron Flute Deity", he ranks 67th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 31st among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background[edit]

Ma Lin, a native of Jiankang Prefecture (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), is skilled in martial arts and could fight dozens of men at the same time with a pair of bronze sabres. He is also a good player of dizi (Chinese flute), which earns him the nickname "Iron Flute Deity". When he first appears in the book, he is the third-ranking chief of the bandit group at Mount Yellow Gate (黃門山), positioned below Ou Peng and Jiang Jing and above Tao Zongwang.

Joining Liangshan[edit]

When Song Jiang is following the outlaws of Liangshan Marsh back to their stronghold after they rescued him at Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), he comes by Mount Yellow Gate with the group. They are blocked by the four bandit chiefs, who demands to know whether Song is among them. When he steps out to show himself, the four comes forward to pay him homage. Their request to join Liangshan is welcomed by Song.

Song Jiang applauds Ma Lin's fighting skill during Liangshan's second offensive on the Zhu Family Manor when he has a dazzling fight with Hu Sanniang.

Campaigns and death[edit]

Ma Lin is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry after all the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan.

In the attack on Black Dragon Ridge (烏龍嶺; northeast of present-day Meicheng Town, Jiande, Zhejiang) in the campaign against Fang La, Ma Lin is knocked off his horse by the enemy general Bai Qin. Shi Bao, Bai's comrade, slices him in two before he could get back on his feet.

References[edit]

• Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Ichisada, Miyazaki (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. 135. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
• Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
• Shibusawa, Kou (1989), Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Koei, p. 98
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.