Chinese Name: Li Kui 

Japanese Name: Kokusenpū Riki

Rank: 22nd of the 108 Stars of Destiny 

Nickname: Black Whirlwind 

Li Kui (see also plates 81; 107) is described as being very large and strong, dark complexioned, ugly, and with eyes that struck fear into most everyone. He loved to drink and his temper while drunk was legendary. His weapon of choice was his pair of twin battle-axes. He had fled his village after killing a man, and although he was later pardoned for the murder, he had no money to return home. He settled in Jiangzhou where he found work as a jailer under chief warden Dai Zong (plate 97). The two became close friends despite Dai Zong’s constant frustration with him for his poor manners and endless brawling.

Li Kui and Dai Zong met and befriended Song Jiang (plate 107) at Jiangzhou Prison. Song Jiang was there for the murder of his mistress, and soon after arriving, was sentenced to death for writing a seditious poem on the wall of a restaurant. Dai Zong was to be executed as well for attempting to help Song Jiang escape. 

Chao Gai (see plate 14) had organized a rescue party of Liangshan bandits to save the two men. They gained access to the execution by disguising themselves as merchants, and moments before the beheadings, from out of nowhere, Li Kui leapt from the rooftop of a tea house overlooking the execution grounds. He killed the executioners with his axes, then went after the other soldiers standing guard. The Liangshan bandits did not know who Li Kui was or why he was helping, but they took advantage of the chaos and attacked the troops surrounding the execution grounds. 

Li Kui began massacring soldier and civilian alike. Chao Gai watched bewildered at the sight of this stranger covered in blood, ripping through the crowd. He shouted out to him that civilians played no part in the matter, but Li Kui ignored him and continued to strike down anyone in his way. The Liangshan bandits grabbed Song Jiang and Dai Zong and followed behind Li Kui in his path of carnage. 

They fled Jiangzhou to a temple at the end of the road on the banks of the Yangtze River. The doors were locked and Li Kui began chopping them down with his axes. Once inside he went in search of the caretakers to kill them for keeping the doors locked in the middle of the day. There were no boats to cross the river, though, and no other routes of escape—they were trapped. Suddenly, three boats arrived captained by Zhang Shun (plate 99), carrying many friends of Song Jiang’s coming to aid in his rescue. They crossed the river and continued to the stronghold at Liangshan, and Li Kui and the rest were enlisted as outlaws of Liangshan Marsh. 

Li Kui is depicted here about to chop down the temple doors.

Kuniyoshi recreation