Yan Shun

Yan Shun is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Multicoloured Tiger", he ranks 50th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 14th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Nicknamed "Multicoloured Tiger", Yan Shun is described in the novel as a man with reddish brown hair, a yellowish beard, round eyes, long arms, and a wide waist. He excels in martial arts and specialises in using the sabre. Originally a trader from Laizhou (萊州; around present-day Yantai, Shandong), he decides to become a bandit after suffering losses in his business. Along with Wang Ying and Zheng Tianshou, he leads a group of bandits based on Mount Qingfeng (清風山; in present-day Qingzhou, Shandong).

Meeting Song Jiang

When Song Jiang is on his way to Qingfeng Fort (清風寨; near Mount Qingfeng) to take shelter under his friend Hua Rong, he passes by the mountains and gets captured in an ambush by the bandits, who intend to kill him and use his liver to make soup. Just as Song Jiang is about to be killed, he sighs loudly, "Am I, Song Jiang, destined to die just like this?" Yan Shun, who overhears him, is surprised to hear the name of a generous and chivalrous hero he has long admired. After Song Jiang confirms his identity, the three bandit chiefs are so stunned that they immediately release him, apologise to him, and treat him like an honoured guest.

In the meantime, Wang Ying has abducted a woman and wants to rape her. When she claims that she is the wife of Liu Gao, the government official in charge of Qingfeng Fort, Song Jiang feels obliged to help her so he manages to persuade Wang Ying to let her go.

Joining Liangshan

Song Jiang leaves the bandit stronghold, continues his journey to Qingfeng Fort, and stays there with Hua Rong. One evening, while touring the fort, he encounters Liu Gao's wife, who recognises him and falsely accuses him of being the bandit who abducted her. Liu Gao believes his wife's account and orders Song Jiang's arrest. After Hua Rong intervenes and saves Song Jiang by force, Liu Gao seeks help from his superior Murong Yanda, the governor of Qingzhou. Murong Yanda sends the general Huang Xin to deal with Hua Rong. Huang Xin lures Hua Rong into a trap and captures him and Song Jiang.

When Huang Xin and his troops are escorting Song Jiang and Hua Rong as prisoners back to Qingzhou, the bandits from Mount Qingfeng ambush them along the way and rescue Song Jiang and Hua Rong. The bandits eventually defeat the government forces, break into Qingfeng Fort, and kill Liu Gao and his family in revenge. After the battle, acting on Song Jiang's recommendation, Zheng Tianshou and his fellow bandits from Mount Qingfeng travel to Liangshan Marsh, where they join the larger outlaw band there.

Campaigns and death

Yan Shun 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, Yan Shun is assigned to attack Black Dragon Ridge (烏龍嶺; northeast of present-day Meicheng Town, Jiande, Zhejiang), where he sees Liangshan's Ma Lin being struck down by Shi Bao, one of Fang La's top warriors. Eager to avenge his fallen comrade, Yan Shun fights with Shi Bao but eventually meets his end when Shi Bao fatally wounds him with his spiked mace.

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. 101. 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
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.