Background
The Water Margin describes Chai Jin as having eyebrows like those of a dragon's, eyes like a phoenix's, red lips and white teeth. His ancestor is Chai Rong, Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou Dynasty. During the Chenqiao Mutiny, Zhao Kuangyin's followers dressed him in an emperor's robe and urged him to take the throne of the weakening Later Zhou Dynasty, to which Zhao agreed reluctantly. Zhao Kuangyin founded the Song Dynasty later and became Emperor Taizu of Song. However, Zhao Kuangyin felt guilty over seizing the Chai family's throne, so he treated the Chais well and bestowed them with a danshu tiequan (丹書鐵券; literally: iron certificate inscribed in red ink). Holders of danshu tiequans are seen as excluded from the jurisdiction of the government, as they are entitled to certain special privileges, such as being spared the death penalty for committing capital crimes. Chai Jin inherits his ancestors' residence and the danshu tiequan.
Some of the 108 outlaws, who were forced to become fugitives, often seek refuge in his residence before making their way to Liangshan Marsh. For example, Song Jiang once hid in Chai Jin's residence after killing Yan Poxi to evade arrest, since Chai's house is protected from the authorities by his danshu tiequan. Lin Chong also received financial aid from Chai Jin before and stayed in his residence temporarily after the burning of the fodder storage field. Wu Song also stayed in Chai Jin's residence after thinking that he had killed someone by accident. The outlaws regard Chai Jin as an ally and close friend.
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