Characters
Due to the existence of many versions including novels and different local Chinese opera, the names of some characters vary among versions, particularly those in the second generation of the Yang family. However, the basic Yang family tree holds. Female characters (shown in pink) are more likely to be omitted in any particular version.
| Yang Ye (楊業) |
She Saihua (佘賽花) |
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| Yang Yanping (楊延平) 1st son |
Yang Yanding (楊延定) 2nd son |
Yang Yan'an (楊延安) 3rd son |
Yang Yanhui (楊延輝) 4th son |
Yang Yande (楊延德) 5th son |
Yang Yanzhao (楊延昭) 6th son |
Yang Yansi (楊延嗣) 7th son |
Yang Yanqi (楊延琪) 8th child |
Yang Yanying (楊延瑛) 9th child |
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| Zhou Yunjing (周雲鏡) |
Geng Jinhua (耿金花) |
Dong Yue'e (董月娥) |
Meng Jinbang (孟金榜) |
Ma Saiying (馬賽英) |
Du Jin'e (杜金娥) |
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| Yelü Qiong'e (耶律瓊娥) |
Chai Qingyun (柴清雲) |
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| Yang Zongbao (楊宗保) |
Mu Guiying (穆桂英) |
Yang Qiuju (楊秋菊) |
Yang Qiulan (楊秋蘭) |
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| Yang Wenguang (楊文廣) |
Yang Jinhua (楊金花) |
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In some versions of the story, Yang Ye and She Saihua have an adopted son (called "8th son") Yang Yanshun (楊延順), birth name Wang Ying (王英), son of Yang Ye's late friend Wang Ziming (王子明), who married Jiang Cuiping (姜翠屏) and Yelü Yao'e (耶律瑤娥). In most versions this character is omitted due to similarities with "4th son" Yang Yanhui.
Other important protagonists include
- Yang Hong (楊洪), the butler of the Yang family
- Yang Paifeng (楊排風), a maid in the Yang family
- Jiao Zan (焦贊), a former bandit who became an important subordinate of Yang Yanzhao's
- Meng Liang (孟良), a former bandit who became an important subordinate of Yang Yanzhao's
- Jiao Tinggui (焦廷貴), Jiao Zan's son
- Meng Dingguo (孟定國), Meng Liang's son
- Eighth Prince, based on the historical character Zhao Defang
- Kou Zhun, Song minister
- Huyan Zan, Song general
- Bao Zheng, Song minister
Important antagonists include
- Pan Renmei (潘仁美), based on the historical character Pan Mei, Song minister/general
- Wang Qin (王钦), based on the historical character Wang Qinruo, Song minister
- Empress Dowager Xiao of Liao Dynasty
- Xiao Tianzuo (蕭天左), Liao general
- Xiao Tianyou (蕭天右), Liao general
Read more about this topic: Yang Jia Jiang
Famous quotes containing the word characters:
“A criminal trial is like a Russian novel: it starts with exasperating slowness as the characters are introduced to a jury, then there are complications in the form of minor witnesses, the protagonist finally appears and contradictions arise to produce drama, and finally as both jury and spectators grow weary and confused the pace quickens, reaching its climax in passionate final argument.”
—Clifford Irving (b. 1930)
“What makes literature interesting is that it does not survive its translation. The characters in a novel are made out of the sentences. That’s what their substance is.”
—Jonathan Miller (b. 1936)