Chinese Name: Ma Lin

Japanese Name: Tettekisen Barin

Rank: 67th of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: Iron Flute Immortal

Ma Lin had been a man of leisure from Jinling. He could play two flutes at the same time and was so fast and adept with his swordsmanship, he could fend off one hundred men at a time. When introduced in the story he was one of the four chiefs leading the bandit gang at Huangmen Mountain alongside Ou Peng (plate 60), Jiang Jing (plate 37), and Tao Zongwang (plate 38).

Song Jiang was returning to Liangshan with his comrades after he’d been rescued from execution at Jiangzhou Prison (see plates 34; 36 for details). Along the way, they came across Ma Lin and the other three chiefs at Huangmen Mountain. The four chieftains had been informed of their approach and were waiting for them so they could show their respects and throw them a banquet. After much eating and drinking, Song Jiang invited their outlaw army to join with Liangshan’s to which they heartily agreed.

*. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *.*

As the story of the Liangshan bandits unfolded, Chai Jin (plate 11) was arrested unjustly by the corrupt Prefect, Gao Lian. When the Liangshan bandits heard the news of Chai Jin’s arrest, the leaders immediately assembled an army of 5000 men to rescue him. Gao Lian assembled his own troops and rode out to meet them. When the battle began, Gao Lian used a magic spell to conjure up a dust storm as well as an array of dangerous animals and insects. The Liangshan army was thrown into disarray and forced to retreat (see plate 52 for details).

Gongsun Sheng (plate 15) had left to visit his elderly mother. He was finally located by the Liangshan bandits and returned with them to repel the invaders. His magical abilities surpassed Gao Lian’s and the Liangshan bandits emerged victorious. Gao Lian was run down and killed, and Chai Jin was rescued.

Ma Lin is depicted here using a deer to fight a giant monkey, both of which Gao Lian had conjured up using his sorcery. 

Kuniyoshi recreation