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Tang Long
Tang Long
Water Margin character
	Tang Long
First appearance	Chapter 54
Nickname	"Gold Coin Spotted Leopard"; 金錢豹子
Rank	88th, Solitary Star (地孤星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends
Chief armourer of Liangshan
Origin	Blacksmith
Ancestral home / Place of origin	Yan'an Prefecture (present-day Yan'an, Shaanxi)
Names
Simplified Chinese	汤隆
Traditional Chinese	湯隆
Pinyin	Tāng Lóng
Wade–Giles	T'ang Lung

Tang Long is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Gold Coin Spotted Leopard", he ranks 88th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 52nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Seven-chi-tall Tang Long is nicknamed "Gold Coin Spotted Leopard" as he is dappled with freckles from head to feet. After his father, an official at Yan'an Prefecture (延安府; present-day Yan'an, Shaanxi), died, he drifts from place to place working as a blacksmith. Tang, a hardcore gambler, knows some martial arts and fights mainly with spear or staff.

Joining Liangshan

Dai Zong and Li Kui are sent to fetch the magician Gongsun Sheng from his home in Jizhou (薊州; present-day Ji County, Tianjin) as Liangshan could not counter the sorcery of Gao Lian, the prefect of Gaotangzhou (高唐州; present-day Gaotang County), in their military attack on the city to rescue Chai Jin. Gongsun has been away for a long time to visit his mother.

As Dai Zong and Li Kui return to Gaotangzhou with Gongsun Sheng, they come to an inn to have their meal. As Gongsun is a vegetarian, Li Kui volunteers to go find something that suits him. Li comes upon Tang Long on a busy street, who has attracted a cheering crowd as he swings a huge mallet to smash a huge stone. Li Kui is impressed but he tells Tang he could easily do the same. Tang, who was initially doubtful, is surprised when Li wields the mallet with little effort. After mutually introducing themselves, Tang is asked to join Liangshan as Li sees great value in his metalworking skill. Tang gladly agrees.

Recruiting Xu Ning

To retaliate against Liangshan for killing his cousin Gao Lian, Grand Marshal Gao Qiu sends imperial general Huyan Zhuo on a military attack to wipe out the outlaws. Huyan has the upper hand when he deploys his cavalry consisting of groups of chain-linked armoured horses which charge as one at the Liangshan force. The outlaws have to hole up behind the marsh as they work out how to counter-attack. As no one has a solution, Tang Long steps forth to recommend his cousin Xu Ning, an imperial troops instructor at the imperial capital Dongjing, who he says is able to fall Huyan's cavalry with his skillful use of the hooked lance.

Song Jiang sanctions the plan devised by Tang Long to recruit Xu Ning. Shi Qian, who could scale walls and move on rooftops to get into premises, sneaks into Xu's house after nightfall to steal a precious family heirloom of his – an impenetrable lightweight golden armoured vest. Tang Long then pretends to call on Xu the next morning. Upset with the loss of the vest, Xu believes Tang's claim that he has just seen a man carrying a box like the one containing his prized heirloom. So Xu embarks on a long chase after Shi Qian, accompanied by Tang Long, which takes him to the vicinity of Liangshan. He is then drugged and taken to the stronghold. When he comes to, he has no choice but to join Liangshan.

Tang Long, who is skilled in metalwork, oversees the making of hooked lances while Xu Ning trains a squad to use the weapon. The Liangshan outlaws then falls Huyan Zhuo's cavalry causing his army to collapse.

Campaigns and death

Tang Long is appointed as the chief armourer of Liangshan after 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 battle of Qingxi County (清溪縣; present-day Chun'an County, Zhejiang) in the campaign against Fang La, Tang Long is severely injured. He soon succumbs to his wounds.

References

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. 179. 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
Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.