Ding Tong (simplified: 丁同, traditional: 丁同, pinyin: Dīng Tóng, jyutping: ding1 tung4) was one of the bandits who participated in the pursuit and killing of Li Wenxiu’s parents as part of the Three Heroes of Lüliang’s group in White Horse Neighing in the West Wind.
Biography
Participation in the pursuit
Ding Tong was one of the sixty bandits led by the Three Heroes of Lüliang—Huo Yuanlong (the Divine Sabre Shakes Guanxi), Shi Zhongjun (the Plum Blossom Spear), and Chen Dahai (the Green Python Sword)—in their pursuit of Li San the White Horse and Shangguan Hong the Three Lady of the Gold and Silver Swords.
The bandits sought a map to the legendary Gaochang Maze that was in the couple’s possession. The pursuit lasted from the Gansu-Liangzhou road (甘凉道) all the way to the Western Regions (回疆), covering vast distances and difficult terrain.
Role in the killing
Ding Tong participated in the final confrontation that resulted in the deaths of Li San and Shangguan Hong. While the Three Heroes were the primary figures in the pursuit, Ding Tong was part of the larger group that contributed to the couple’s deaths and the destruction of their family.
Behind the scenes
Ding Tong represents one of the many bandits who followed the Three Heroes, showing how criminal groups in the jianghu could attract numerous followers. While he is not as prominent as the Three Heroes themselves, his participation in the pursuit demonstrates the scale of the threat faced by Li San and Shangguan Hong.
His character also serves to illustrate how individual actions, even by less prominent figures, can contribute to tragedy, and how groups of bandits could operate across vast territories in pursuit of their goals.
See also
- White Horse Neighing in the West Wind characters
- Three Heroes of Lüliang — The group Ding Tong served
- Huo Yuanlong — Leader of the Three Heroes
- Shi Zhongjun — One of the Three Heroes
- Chen Dahai — One of the Three Heroes
- Li Wenxiu — The daughter of Ding Tong’s victims
- Li San — One of Ding Tong’s victims
- Shangguan Hong — One of Ding Tong’s victims
- White Horse Neighing in the West Wind