Li Yun 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 ...

of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Green Eyed Tiger", he ranks 97th among the

108 Stars of Destiny The 108 Heroes are the main characters of the Ming dynasty classic Chinese novel the ''Water Margin'', which was written in the 14th century and usually attributed to Shi Nai'an. The heroes are divided into the 36 Heavenly Spirits and 72 Earthly F ...

and 61st among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

The novel depicts Li Yun as having a broad face, thick eyebrows, a red beard and green eyes, which earn him the nickname "Green Eyed Tiger". Skilled in martial arts, especially in the use of

sabre A sabre ( French: �sabʁ or saber in American English) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the early modern and Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such as th ...

, he could fight several men at the same time. He is the chief constable in

Yishui County Yishui County () is a county of south-central Shandong province, People's Republic of China, located in the foothills region of the province. It is the northernmost county-level division of the prefecture-level city of Linyi Linyi () is a p ...

, located in present-day

Linyi Linyi () is a prefecture-level city in the south of Shandong province, China. As of 2011, Linyi is the largest prefecture-level city in Shandong, both by area and population, Linyi borders Rizhao to the east, Weifang to the northeast, Zibo to ...

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 ...

. He has taught

Zhu Fu Zhu Fu is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Sneering Tiger", he ranks 93rd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 57th among the 72 Earthly Fiends. Background Zhu Fu ...

martial arts.

Becoming an outlaw

Li Kui goes back to his home in Yishui county to fetch his mother to Liangshan. But he gets into trouble when his identity is exposed after he killed four tigers on the Yi Ridge which had eaten his mother. Earlier he had killed a highwayman Li Gui who had posed as him, but the impostor's wife got away having learnt that he is the famous outlaw Li Kui. When Li Kui is being acclaimed as a tiger slayer in the village at the foot of Yi Ridge, Li Gui's wife recognises him and informs a Squire Cao. Li Kui is drugged and tied up. The magistrate of Yishui, upon receiving Cao's report, sends an escort party led by chief constable Li Yun to take Li Kui to his office. Zhu Gui, who is sent by

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 ...

to Yishui to keep tabs on Li Kui to ensure his safety, wants to rescue Li by force. But his brother Zhu Fu, who runs an inn in the village, suggests a plan. The brothers pretend to give the escort party a send-off treat in celebration of their big catch. As Zhu Fu has been his martial arts student, Li Yun, together with his men, unsuspectingly drinks the spiked wine he offers. Once the group is out cold, the Zhu brothers free Li Kui, who kills all the constables but spares Li Yun as Zhu Fu intervenes. When Li Yun comes to, he catches up with the three and fights with Li Kui. Then Zhu Fu interposes and convinces Li Yun to join Liangshan by emphasising to him that he has no other choice.

Campaigns and death

Li Yun is put in charge of building houses on Liangshan after the

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 battle of 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 ...

, Li Yun encounters Wang Yin, one of Fang's key lieutenants. Although Li Yun manages to corner Wang, he could not move in to kill the latter as he is on foot and the other on horseback. He is eventually trampled to death by Wang's horse.

References

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Li, Yun (Water Margin) 72 Earthly Fiends Fictional characters from Shandong