Chinese Name: Xiao Rang 

Japanese Name: Seishushosei Shōjō

Rank: 46th of the 108 Stars of Destiny 

Nickname: Sacred Handed Calligrapher

Xiao Rang was a scholar who had the ability to perfectly imitate anyone’s handwriting. He was also a very skilled fighter with the spear and the sword. 

When Song Jiang was awaiting execution at Jiangzhou Prison for writing a seditious poem on the wall of a restaurant, the Liangshan bandits recruited Xiao Rang to forge a fake letter from Prime Minister Cai which would enable them to rescue Song Jiang. The plan failed and Liangshan resolved to siege the prison by force (see plate 36 for story details). Song Jiang was rescued and Xiao Rang was enlisted as a member of the Liangshan bandits. 

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Grand Marshal Gao Qiu had petitioned the Emperor to allow himself to lead an army to destroy the forces at Liangshan Marsh. The Emperor was very pleased and agreed to the proposal. Gao Qiu was assigned ten high ranking commandants and a force of 130,000 men. 

Gao Qiu’s first two attempts to reach Liangshan’s stronghold were unsuccessful and he lost many men and three of his top commanders. He had 300 large and fast paddle-wheel ships constructed and again made way towards the bandits’ stronghold.  Liangshan’s best naval men met them head on and began boarding the ships, killing and capturing Gao Qiu’s men. Soon, the entire armada was overtaken by Liangshan’s forces. 

Gao Qiu was captured and taken to Liangshan’s stronghold where Song Jiang treated him with respect. He emphasized how he and his followers had been forced to become bandits and only wished for amnesty from the government. Seemingly impressed and convinced of their sincerity, Gao Qiu agreed to go to the Emperor and petition him to grant their request. Xiao Rang and Yue He (plate 47) went with Gao Qiu to help present their case.

Gao Qiu betrayed them though. After they arrived, he told the Emperor he had only paused his siege of Liangshan because he had fallen ill, and he was holding two Liangshan bandits as prisoners. When Song Jiang received word of this, Dai Zong (plate 97) and Yan Qing (plates 92; 93) were sent to rescue their comrades, and by bribing a guard, they learned they were being held at Gao Qiu’s manor. They threw a long rope over the tall walls surrounding the estate, and the two prisoners, Xiao Rang and Yue He, were able to climb up, over the wall, and make their escape. 

Xiao Rang is shown here descending the outside wall of Gao Qiu’s manor.

Kuniyoshi recreation