Tao Zongwang is a fictional character inWater Margin, one of theFour Great Classical Novels ofChinese literature. Nicknamed "Nine Tailed Turtle", he ranks 75th among the108 Stars of Destiny and 39th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Born into a peasant family in Guangzhou (光州; around present-dayHuangchuan County,Henan), Tao Zongwang is physically well-built. He could fight well usingspear orsword. When he first appears in the book, he is the fourth-ranking chief in the bandit group at Mount Yellow Gate (黃門山) led byOu Peng,Jiang Jing andMa Lin.

WhenSong Jiang is following the outlaws ofLiangshan Marsh back to their stronghold after they rescued him at Jiangzhou (江州; present-dayJiujiang,Jiangxi), he comes by Mount Yellow Gate with the group. They are blocked by the four bandit chiefs, who demand to know whether Song is among them. When he steps out to show himself, the four come forward to pay him homage. Their request to join Liangshan is welcomed by Song.

Tao Zongwang is placed in charge of construction of forts and digging of ditches at Liangshan after the108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in the campaigns against theLiao invaders and rebel forces inSong territory following amnesty fromEmperor Huizong for Liangshan.

Tao Zongwang is killed in the battle of Runzhou (潤州; present-dayRunzhou District,Zhenjiang,Jiangsu) in the campaign againstFang La.

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• Water Margin characters
• 72 Earthly Fiends
• Fictional farmers
• Fictional characters from Henan

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Articles containing Chinese-language text
• CS1 Japanese-language sources (ja)
• CS1 Chinese-language sources (zh)