Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Bao Xu is a fictional character in the classical Chinese novel Water Margin. Originally a bandit chieftain operating out of Mount Gu, he joins the Liangshan cause after being defeated and captured by Li Kui (李逵, Lý Quỳ). Renowned for his ferocious appearance and savage fighting style, he is categorized as one of the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends, ranking 60th. He serves as a close lieutenant to Li Kui, forming a fearsome duo that charges into enemy lines with reckless abandon. His moniker, ‘God of the Funeral Gate’, reflects his terrifying presence on the battlefield, where he functions as an unstoppable force of death.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
‘The axe swings like a falling moon, the sword drinks blood like a starved ghost; none stand before the Funeral Gate when the carnage begins.’
While Bao Xu does not appear in the historical Romance of the Three Kingdoms, within the literary tradition of heroic narratives, he represents the archetype of the ‘berserker’ soldier. His loyalty to the Liangshan brotherhood culminates in the tragic Campaign against Fang La (方腊, Phương Lạp). During the siege of Hangzhou, Bao Xu fought with his usual intensity but was ambushed by enemy soldiers, eventually being shot down by arrows and hacked to pieces. His death, alongside that of many other Liangshan heroes, marks the sorrowful decline of the outlaw brotherhood.
Bao Xu — Historical & Literary Timeline
Chapter 56
The Gathering of the Outlaws
Bao Xu is introduced as the bandit leader of Mount Gu. He is engaged in battle by Li Kui (李逵, Lý Quỳ) and Jiao Ting (焦挺, Tiêu Đĩnh). After being subdued, he pledges his allegiance to the Liangshan Marsh (梁山泊, Lương Sơn Bạc).
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The Fall of the God of the Funeral Gate
During the final campaign against the rebellion of Fang La (方腊, Phương Lạp), Bao Xu serves in the vanguard. In the intense urban combat of Hangzhou, he is lured into a trap and killed by the defenders.
Key Relationships
- Li Kui (李逵, Lý Quỳ)
- Bao Xu shares a deep bond of camaraderie with Li Kui. They are frequently paired together during combat due to their shared temperament and mutual reliance on brute force, often coordinating their attacks to break enemy formations.
- Song Jiang (宋江, Tống Giang)
- As the leader of Liangshan, Song Jiang (宋江, Tống Giang) provides the central command to which Bao Xu offers his absolute loyalty, accepting his position within the 108 stars as a divine duty.
