Ding Desun is a fictional character in ''

Water Margin ''Water Margin'' (''Shuihu zhuan'') is one of the earliest Chinese novels written in vernacular Mandarin, and is attributed to Shi Nai'an. It is also translated as ''Outlaws of the Marsh'' and ''All Men Are Brothers''. The story, which is s ...

'', one of the

Four Great Classical Novels Classic Chinese Novels () are the best-known novels of pre-modern Chinese literature. These are among the world's longest and oldest novels. They represented a new complexity in structure and sophistication in language that helped to establish t ...

in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Arrow-hit Tiger", he ranks 79th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 43rd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Ding Desun is nicknamed "Arrow-hit Tiger" as his face and body bear multiple scars. A good fighter, he uses a forked

spear A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fasten ...

which he sometimes hurls to kill. Together with

Gong Wang Gong Wang is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Flowery Necked Tiger", he ranks 78th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 42nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Backgroun ...

, he is a lieutenant of Zhang Qing, the garrison commandant of Dongchang (東昌府; in present-day

Liaocheng Liaocheng (), is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, China. It borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the southeast, Dezhou to the northeast, Tai'an to the south, and the provinces of Hebei and Henan to the west. The Grand ...

Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...

Joining Liangshan

With his deadly stone-flinging skill, Zhang Qing keeps at bay a force from

Liangshan Marsh Mount Liang (, often referred to in Chinese as ) is a mountain in Liangshan County, Shandong, China which rises to 197.9 metres above sea level. It is well known as the stronghold of the 108 Heroes in the classic Chinese novel ''Water Margin ...

under

Lu Junyi Lu Junyi is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels, four great classical novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Jade Qilin", he ranks second among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 S ...

that has come to seize the grain stock of Dongchang.

Song Jiang A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetition ...

, who has just overrun Dongping prefecture, comes to reinforce Lu with his force. Zhang Qing further injures some of Liangshan's best warriors with his stones as they take turn to fight him on horseback or on foot. Ding Desun and Gong Wang stay in the wings preparing to capture any one whom Zhang fells. When Zhang Qing and

Dong Ping Dong Ping is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "General of Double Spears", he ranks 15th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. ...

grapple with each other on horseback, with their spears discarded, Ding Desun moves to intercept

Lü Fang Lü Fang is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Little Marquis of Wen", he ranks 54th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 18th among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Backgr ...

and

Guo Sheng Guo Sheng is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Comparable to Rengui", he ranks 55th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 19th among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Backgro ...

as they rush to Dong's help. Ding manages to hold his own against the two. But

Yan Qing Yan Qing is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "''Langzi''" (浪子; meaning "the Wanderer" or "the Prodigal"), he ranks last among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the fir ...

fires an arrow hitting his horse in the leg, causing it to throw off its rider, who is then captured. Ding and Gong Wang, who is also taken, beaten by

Lin Chong Lin Chong is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels Classic Chinese Novels () are the best-known novels of pre-modern Chinese literature. These are among the world's longest and oldest novels. They ...

and

Hua Rong Hua Rong is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Little Li Guang", he ranks ninth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Backgro ...

, are sent in captivity back to Liangshan. After Zhang Qing is captured and won over by Liangshan, Ding and Gong also join Liangshan.

Campaigns and death

Ding Desun is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in

Song A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetitio ...

territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan. In the first attack on Shezhou in the campaign against

Fang La Fang La (; died 1121) was a Chinese rebel leader who led an uprising against the Song dynasty. In the classical novel ''Water Margin'', he is fictionalised as one of the primary antagonists and nemeses of the 108 Stars of Destiny. He is sometime ...

, Lu Junyi is defeated and orders his men to withdraw some distance from the city.

Zhu Wu Zhu Wu is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Resourceful Strategist", he ranks 37th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and first among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Backgroun ...

suggests setting up an ambush as the enemy would launch a sneak attack. The enemy comes and is routed. But in pursuing them, Ding Desun is bitten by a poisonous snake in a bush and dies.

References

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ding, Desun 72 Earthly Fiends Fictional characters from Shandong