Yan Shun
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Yan Shun 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 "Multicoloured Tiger", he ranks 50th 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 14th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.


Background

Yan Shun, who is nicknamed "Multicoloured Tiger", has reddish brown hair, a yellowish beard, round eyes, long arms, and a wide waist. He fights well, especially with
sabre A sabre ( French: ˆsabÊ 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 ...
. Initially a trader from Laizhou (èŠå·ž; around present-day
Yantai Yantai, Postal Map Romanization, formerly romanization of Chinese, known as Chefoo, is a coastal prefecture-level city on the Shandong Peninsula in northeastern Shandong province of People's Republic of China. Lying on the southern coast of ...
,
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 forms a bandit gang at Mount Qingfeng (清風山; in present-day
Qingzhou Qingzhou () Wade–Giles: Tsing-chou, sometimes written as Ching-chow-fu, formerly Yidu County (Yitu) (), is a county-level city, which is located in the west of the prefecture-level city of Weifang, in the central part of Shandong Province, Chin ...
, Shandong). He is subsequently assisted by Wang Ying and Zheng Tianshou.


Meeting Song Jiang

When
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 ...
, on the run from the law after killing his mistress Yan Poxi, is going to Qingfeng Fort (清風寨; near Mount Qingfeng) to take shelter under his friend
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. Backgr ...
, he comes by Mount Qingfeng and is captured in a trap by the bandits. They intend to kill him and use his heart to make soup. Just as he is about to be sliced up, Song sighs loudly, "Am I, Song Jiang, destined to die just like this?" Surprised to hear the name of a person he admires for chivalry, Yan Shun interrupts in time to inquire. After confirming Song's identity, the three bandit chiefs quickly free him, apologise to him and treat him as an honoured guest. As they drink, Wang Ying, who desires pretty women, goes to intercept a group crossing Mount Qingfeng that consists of a sedan chair, which apparently carries a female. Finding the woman attractive, Wang wants to rape her. When the woman says she is the wife of Liu Gao, the governor of Qingfeng Fort, Song Jiang feels obliged to persuade Wang to let her go as Liu is the colleague of Hua Rong, the fort's garrison commandant. Yan Shun agrees with him and pressures Wang to comply. Wang reluctantly agrees.


Joining Liangshan

On the Lantern Festival night, Song Jiang, who is then living in Hua Rong's house, goes outdoor to enjoy the celebrations. Liu Gao's wife spots him and lies to her husband that Song has abducted her at Mount Qingfeng and tried to rape her. Believing his wife, Liu orders Song arrested. After Hua Rong saved Song by force, Liu seeks help from Murong Yanda, the governor of
Qingzhou Qingzhou () Wade–Giles: Tsing-chou, sometimes written as Ching-chow-fu, formerly Yidu County (Yitu) (), is a county-level city, which is located in the west of the prefecture-level city of Weifang, in the central part of Shandong Province, Chin ...
, which oversees Qingfeng Fort.
Huang Xin Huang Xin is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Guardian of the Three Mountains", he ranks 38th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and second among the 72 Earthly Fien ...
, who is sent to handle the matter, lures Hua to a feast and captures him. Meanwhile, Liu has seized Song again as he tried to sneak to Mount Qingfeng. When Huang Xin is taking Song Jiang and Hua Rong back to Qingzhou, the bandits of Mount Qingfeng, led by Yan Shun, waylay the escort party, rescue the two prisoners and kill Liu Gao. The bandits later defeat an army sent from Qingzhou led by
Qin Ming Qin may refer to: Dynasties and states * Qin (state) (秦), a major state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China * Qin dynasty (秦), founded by the Qin state in 221 BC and ended in 206 BC * Daqin (大秦), ancient Chinese name for the Roman Emp ...
and seize Mrs Liu after breaking into Qingfeng Fort. Wang Ying again intends to keep Mrs Liu for himself. But he is prevented by Song, who believes she would ruin Wang. Yan Shun, in agreement with Song, decisively draws a sabre and kills the woman. He nearly has an armed fight with Wang, who is placated only after Song promised to find him a pretty and virtuous wife. As Qingzhou is likely to send a larger force to exterminate them, Song suggests that the group decamp to join
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 ...
. Yan is thus absorbed into the larger band.


Campaigns and death

Yan Shun is appointed as one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry after 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 ...
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 Black Dragon Ridge (çƒé¾å¶º; northeast of present-day Meicheng Town,
Jiande is a county-level city of Zhejiang Province, East China, it is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Hangzhou. History During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Jiande was the capital of Yanzhou Prefecture. On account of this, Jiand ...
,
Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiang ...
) 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 ...
, Yan Shun faces Shi Bao, one of Fang's better warriors who fights with a spiked mace. After Ma Lin was killed by Shi, Yan is eager to avenge his comrade but is fatally smashed by the mace wielder and dies.


References

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Yan, Shun 72 Earthly Fiends Fictional cannibals Fictional characters from Shandong