Zou Run

Zou Run is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Single Horned Dragon", he ranks 91st of the 108 Stars of Destiny and 55th of the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

The novel describes Zou Run as an odd-looking man with a big stature. He is nicknamed "Single Horned Dragon" because he has a large tumour on his head. On one occasion, when he got into a heated argument, he rammed his head against a tree trunk and bent the tree trunk. Everyone was stunned by his extraordinary ability.

Zou Run and his uncle Zou Yuan, who is around the same age as him, lead a group of outlaws based on Mount Dengyun (登雲山) near Laizhou, where they rob the rich to help the poor. The Zous are also close friends of Sun Xin, Yang Lin, Deng Fei and Shi Yong.

Joining Liangshan

When the Xie brothers (Xie Zhen and Xie Bao) are wrongly imprisoned and sentenced to death in Dengzhou (登州; in present-day eastern Shandong), Sun Xin and his wife Gu Dasao approach the Zous and enlist their help in staging a prison raid to save the Xie brothers. After the successful raid, they flee to Liangshan Marsh and join the outlaw band there.

During the battle between Liangshan and the Zhu Family Village, the Zous join Sun Li's team on an espionage mission in the village. The success of their mission is instrumental to the Liangshan outlaws' eventual victory over the Zhus.

Campaigns

Zou Run becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry 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.

Zou Run is one of the few surviving Liangshan heroes after the final campaign against Fang La's rebel forces. The emperor awards him the title of "Martial Gentleman of Grace" (武奕郎) to honour him for his service to the Song Empire during the campaigns. However, Zou Run declines the honour and returns home to live as a commoner for the rest of his life.

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. 185. 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.