Chen Da (''Water Margin'')

Chen Da is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Stream Leaping Tiger", he ranks 72nd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 36th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Originally from Ye (present-day Handan, Hebei), Chen Da is described in the novel as an impatient and hot-tempered man with a loud, booming voice. Nicknamed "Stream Leaping Tiger", he excels in combat skills and specialises in using an iron spear.

Chen Da and his friends Zhu Wu and Yang Chun lead a band of outlaws based on Mount Shaohua (少華山; southeast of present-day Hua County, Shaanxi). Whenever their supplies run low, they raid the surrounding areas; the local government cannot do anything to stop them.

Befriending Shi Jin

One day, when Chen Da wants to raid Huayin County for supplies, Zhu Wu points out that they will pass by Shi Jin's village along the way. Zhu Wu has reservations about the raid because he has heard of Shi Jin's reputation as a formidable fighter, and he fears that Shi Jin will stand in their way. Chen Da ignores Zhu Wu's warning and leads their men to raid Huayin County.

Just as Zhu Wu foresaw, Shi Jin leads his villagers to block Chen Da's path, engages Chen Da in a one-on-one duel, and defeats and captures him. Upon learning of Chen Da's capture, Zhu Wu and Yang Chun come to the village to beg Shi Jin to release Chen Da. Deeply moved by their strong sense of brotherhood, Shi Jin frees Chen Da and befriends the three outlaw chiefs. From then on, they often exchange gifts and visit each other for drinking parties.

One day, a local hunter Li Ji discovers that Shi Jin has been associating with the Mount Shaohua outlaws, and reports it to the county office. In response, the county magistrate sends soldiers to arrest Shi Jin. Shi Jin is having a party with the three outlaw chiefs when the soldiers show up and surround the village. When the three outlaw chiefs ask Shi Jin to turn them in so that he will not be implicated, Shi Jin refuses, saying that he will stand by his friends, and joins them as they fight their way out and return to the outlaw stronghold on Mount Shaohua.

Joining Liangshan

When Shi Jin tries to save a woman abducted by a corrupt prefectural governor, he falls into a trap and gets captured. Lu Zhishen tries to rescue Shi Jin but also falls into a trap and becomes a captive. The Mount Shaohua outlaws then turn to their fellow outlaws at Liangshan Marsh for help. The Liangshan outlaws show up, defeat the government forces, and save Shi Jin and Lu Zhishen. After the rescue mission, Chen Da and the Mount Shaohua outlaws follow the others back to Liangshan and join the larger outlaw band there.

Campaigns

Chen Da becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry after the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny. He follows the Liangshan heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces on Song territory after they received amnesty from Emperor Huizong.

During the campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Chen Da, Yang Chun, Shi Jin and another three Liangshan heroes are assigned to attack Yuling Pass (昱嶺關; near present-day Zhupu Village, She County, Anhui), which is guarded by Fang La's general Pang Wanchun. In the midst of battle, Pang Wanchun kills Shi Jin with a single arrow shot while his archers shoot down Chen Da, Yang Chun and the others.

References

• Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Ichisada, Miyazaki (1993). Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu (in Japanese). Chuo Koronsha. ISBN 978-4122020559.
• Keffer, David. "Outlaws of the Marsh: A Somewhat Less Than Critical Commentary". Poison Pie Publishing House. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
• Li, Mengxia (1992). 108 Heroes from the Water Margin (in Chinese). EPB Publishers. p. 145. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
• Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
• Shibusawa, Kou (1989), Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Koei, pp. 64, 97
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.