Li Ying (Water Margin)

Li Ying
Water Margin character
An illustration of Li Ying, by Chen Hongshou.
Nickname	"Striking Hawk" 撲天雕
Rank	11th, Wealth Star (天富星) of the 36 Heavenly Spirits
Chief accountant of Liangshan
Origin	Master of the Li Family Village
Ancestral home / Place of origin	Yunzhou, Zhongshan Prefecture (around present-day Dongping County, Tai'an, Shandong)
First appearance	Chapter 47
Weapon	Steel alloy spear (渾鐵點鋼槍); Flying daggers (飛刀)
Names
Simplified Chinese	李应
Traditional Chinese	李應
Pinyin	Lǐ Yìng
Wade–Giles	Li Ying

Li Ying is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 11th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Striking Hawk".

The novel describes Li Ying as a unique-looking man with eyes like those of a hawk, a head like a tiger's, arms like an ape's and a waist like a wolf's. He dons a red robe, rides on a white stallion and wields a steel spear in battle. He is best known for using his flying daggers, which he uses to accurately strike enemies a distance away from him. He is nicknamed "Striking Hawk" for his superb accuracy and speed with using his daggers and for his prowess in combat skills.

Li Ying is from Yunzhou (鄆州), Zhongshan Prefecture (中山府), which is around present-day Dongping County, Tai'an, Shandong. He is the master of the Li Family Village, one of the three villages near Lone Dragon Ridge (獨龍崗); the other two villages are the Zhu and Hu family villages. A wealthy squire with scores of servants and a small militia under his command, he is friendly and always willing to use his wealth to help those in need.

When Shi Qian is captured by the Zhu brothers from the Zhu Family Village after causing trouble there, his companions Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu travel to the neighbouring Li Family Village to seek help from Li Ying. They meet Li Ying's steward, Du Xing, who brings them to his master. Li Ying sympathises with Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu and decides to help them after hearing about the incident. He writes an apology letter to the Zhus on behalf of Yang Xiong, Shi Xiu and Shi Qian, and requests that the Zhus release Shi Qian on account of their relationship as neighbours. However, the Zhus not only refuse to release Shi Qian, but also insult Li Ying. Li Ying is angered and he goes to confront the Zhus and demand Shi Qian's immediate release. Zhu Biao, the youngest of the Zhu brothers, shoots Li Ying in the arm with an arrow. Li Ying is wounded and falls off his horse. He is saved in time by Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu, who bring him back to his village.

Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu travel to Liangshan Marsh to seek help from the outlaws there. Chao Gai sends Song Jiang to lead the outlaws to attack the Zhu Family Village. The outlaws launch three consecutive assaults on the village and the village eventually falls. Li Ying does not participate in the three battles because he is staying at home to recuperate.