Xue Dingshan

Xue Dingshan's Western Campaign (Temple mural artwork, photographed at Dong'an Temple in Caiyuan, Penghu, Taiwan)

Xue Dingshan (Chinese: 薛丁山; pinyin: Xuē Dīngshān) is a fictional heroine in Chinese folklore and historical fiction, often depicted as a valiant general of the early Tang dynasty. He is commonly portrayed as the son of famed general Xue Rengui (薛仁貴) and the husband of Fan Lihua (樊梨花), a female warrior of Xiliang. While there is limited historical evidence for his existence, Xue Dingshan appears as a prominent character in Chinese popular literature, particularly in vernacular novels, operas, and storytelling traditions.

Legend and literary origins

He first appeared in the mid-Ming dynasty chuanqi drama The Golden Sable (金貂记), and later became the protagonist in the Qing dynasty storyteller's scripts Xue Dingshan's Western Expedition (薛丁山征西) and The Biography of Fan Lihua (樊梨花傳). These works are part of a broader genre known as gongting xiaoshuo (宮廷小說), or court novels, blending romanticized historical settings with elements of fantasy, martial arts, and filial piety.

In September 1958, during an inspection tour in Hunan, Chairman Mao Zedong attended a performance of the Xiang opera Da Yan Hui Yao (打雁回窑) staged by the Hunan Provincial Xiang Opera Troupe. In a discussion held the following day, Mao remarked, "That is unofficial history. In the official records, there was a Xue Rengui, a great general of the Tang dynasty, but he did not shoot his own son, nor did he have a son named Xue Dingshan. He had only one son, named Xue Ne." Based on this statement, some scholars have suggested that the character of Xue Dingshan is likely a fictional composite, inspired by historical figures such as Xue Ne and Xue Chuyu.

Legends

According to the novels, when Xue Rengui enlisted in the army, his wife, Liu Jinhua, was already pregnant. As there was a mountain named "Dingshan" in front of their home, they named their son Xue Dingshan. As a child, Xue Dingshan believed that his father had abandoned him. In a tragic encounter, he was accidentally killed by Xue Rengui but was later revived by the immortal Wang Ao Laozu (王敖老祖), who accepted him as a disciple. When Xue Rengui was besieged in Suoyang City, Xue Dingshan received orders from his master to rescue his father and launch a campaign against the Western tribes. During his expeditions, he successively married Dou Xiantong, a skilled warrior trained by Huanghua Shengmu (黄花圣母), and Chen Jinding, daughter of former Sui general Chen Yun and disciple of Wudang Shengmu (武当圣母).

After years of cultivation and military training, Xue Dingshan became a general in the Tang army and was sent to campaign against the Western Liang. During the campaign, he was repeatedly defeated and captured by Fan Lihua, a warrior princess who initially opposed the Tang forces but eventually fell in love with him. Despite her saving his life and defecting to support the Tang, Xue Dingshan's pride caused him to reject and humiliate her multiple times. This led to the well-known episode of "Three Rejections and Three Pleas", in which his superiors compelled him to seek her assistance in leading the army. Although he often doubted her loyalty and resented her superior skills—honed under the Taoist immortal Lishan Laomu—after many trials, he ultimately recognized her value and accepted her as his equal and wife.

After Fan Lihua attempted to persuade her father, Fan Hong, to surrender to the Tang dynasty, a violent confrontation broke out, resulting in her killing both her father and brothers. Left with no other option, she surrendered to the Tang and continued to support her husband, Xue Dingshan, in the western campaigns. Alongside allies such as Cheng Yaojin and Luo Tong, they confronted formidable opponents—including sorcerers and supernatural beasts—and ultimately secured the region for the Tang. These tales often incorporate elements of magic and divine intervention, influenced by Daoist and Buddhist cosmologies.

Following the capture of White Tiger Pass, Xue Dingshan and Fan Lihua led Tang forces in a successful campaign to pacify the Western Barbarians. Key adversaries, including Su Baotong, the Flying Cymbal Monk, and the Iron Plaque Taoist, were executed during the campaign. In recognition of their contributions, Emperor Gaozong of Tang bestowed a series of noble titles: Xue Dingshan was enfeoffed as the King of the Two Liaos; his first wife, Dou Xiantong, was granted the title of Lady Dingguo ("Defender of the Nation"); his second wife, Chen Jinding, received the title of Lady Baoguo ("Protector of the Nation"); and his third wife, Fan Lihua, was enfeoffed as Marquis Weining and elevated to the rank of First-Class Lady.

Later, Xue Dingshan met his tragic end when his son Xue Gang, in a drunken stupor during the Lantern Festival, accidentally killed an imperial prince. This shocking incident caused Emperor Gaozong to die of fright, leading Empress Wu Zetian to order Xue Dingshan's execution.

Some folktales say that Xue Dingshan and Fan Lihua were originally the Golden Boy and Jade Girl. The Jade Emperor was furious with them for breaking celestial utensils during the Peach Banquet and sought to punish them. Fortunately, the Old Man of the South Pole interceded, but as a result, they were demoted to the mortal world. On her way down, the Jade Maiden smiled at an unattractive immortal known as Wuguixing (五鬼星; Five Ghost Star), aware that he too would descend to earth and become entangled with her fate. Meanwhile, the Golden Boy expressed disgust at her flirtatiousness. This is said to explain Xue Dingshan's dislike for Fan Lihua and their three divorces. Wuguixing was reincarnated as the Tartar general Yang Fan, who became Fan Lihua's fiancé. During the final battle, Fan Lihua killed Yang Fan. His vengeful soul was believed to have reincarnated as Xue Dingshan and Fan Lihua's son, Xue Gang. Later, under the influence of alcohol, Xue Gang killed the Seventh Prince of Tang during the Lantern Festival, leading to the downfall and near annihilation of the Xue family.

In popular culture

Fan Lihua and Xue Dingshan in an opera portraying the legend.

Stories about Xue Dingshan have been widely adapted into various forms of Chinese opera, including Peking opera, Yue opera, and regional folk dramas. His character is portrayed as brave, filial, and sometimes hot-tempered—contrasting with his father Xue Rengui’s calm and strategic demeanor. The legends of the Xue family have also been used in folk rituals, particularly in northern China, where they are venerated as martial gods or heroic ancestors.

The story of Xue Dingshan has served as inspiration for numerous film and television productions. Notable examples include Xue Dingshan Campaigns to the West portrayed by Felix Wong in 1986, Xue Dingshan portrayed by Chi Shuai in 2013, and Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties 4 portrayed by Ye Zuxin in 2014.

A grey clay sculpture titled Xue Dingshan's Third Visit to the Fan Family Village (薛丁山三探樊家庄) is located above the east gate tower of Wanfutai (万福台). Created by artist Bu Jinting (布锦庭) in the early Republic of China period, the sculpture measures 4.1 meters in length and 2.3 meters in width. It is a multi-layered three-dimensional relief that vividly depicts the dramatic scene of Xue Dingshan’s third attempt to approach the Fan family, a well-known episode in the popular legend.

The legend of Xue Dingshan has not only enjoyed widespread popularity in China but has also exerted significant cultural influence in neighboring countries. Korean scholar Min Kwandong, in his works The Publication of Chinese Classical Novels in the Joseon Era and The Dissemination of Chinese Classical Novels in Korea, documents how the "Xue Family Generals" novels were widely circulated in ancient Korea. Additionally, during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V of Siam, 1868–1910), the "Xue Family Generals" tales were translated and disseminated in Thailand through handwritten manuscripts. This evidence indicates that the "Xue Family Generals" stories had already spread beyond China’s borders by the Qing dynasty.