Yan Shun
Encyclopedia
Yan Shun is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He ranks 50th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 14th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Multicoloured Tiger".
). He excels in martial arts and the use of the saber
and earns himself the nickname "Multicoloured Tiger".
and Zheng Tianshou. Song Jiang
passes by their stronghold on the way to Qingfeng Fort to join Hua Rong
. Yan Shun's followers capture Song Jiang and want to kill him and use his heart and liver to make soup. Song Jiang sighs, "Am I, Song Jiang, destined to die just like that?" Yan Shun overhears Song Jiang and is stunned when he hears the name "Song Jiang". He recognises Song Jiang as the famous philanthropist and releases him immediately. Yan Shun and his men apologise to Song Jiang and treat him like a guest. Meanwhile, the lustful Wang Ying has just kidnapped a woman and wants to rape her. She turns out to be the wife of Liu Gao, the official in charge of Qingfeng Fort. Song Jiang sympathises with her and manages to persuade Wang Ying to let her go.
Song Jiang leaves the stronghold later and makes his way to the fort. Liu Gao's wife recognises him when he is touring the fort later and she repays his kindness with evil by accusing him of attempting to rape her. Liu Gao believes his wife and has Song Jiang arrested and imprisoned. Hua Rong intervenes and attempts to free Song Jiang but he is tricked by Huang Xin
and captured as well. Liu Gao has Song Jiang and Hua Rong escorted as prisoners by Huang Xin's men back to Qingzhou (in present-day Shandong). Yan Shun and the bandits from Mount Qingfeng ambush the convoy along the way and succeed in rescuing the prisoners. Yan Shun follows the outlaws back to Liangshan Marsh
after the battle of Qingfeng Fort.
invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the Fang La
campaign, Yan Shun is assigned to attack Black Dragon Ridge. He is shocked to see Ma Lin die at the hands of the enemy general Shi Bao
and attempts to avenge Ma Lin. He fights with Shi Bao but he is no match for Shi and dies after being struck by Shi's spiked mace.
Water Margin
Water Margin , also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, All Men Are Brothers, Men of the Marshes, or The Marshes of Mount Liang, is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.Attributed to Shi Nai'an and written in vernacular Chinese, the story, set in the Song Dynasty,...
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
Four Great Classical Novels
The Four Great Classical Novels, or the Four Major Classical Novels of Chinese literature, are the four novels commonly regarded by scholars to be the greatest and most influential of pre-modern Chinese fiction. Dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties, they are well known to most Chinese readers...
of Chinese literature
Chinese literature
Chinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
. He ranks 50th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 14th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Multicoloured Tiger".
Background
The Water Margin describes Yan Shun as a man with red hair, a yellow beard, round eyes, long arms and a wide waist. He is from Laizhou (in present-day ShandongShandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
). He excels in martial arts and the use of the saber
Dao (sword)
Daois a category of single-edge Chinese swords primarily used for slashing and chopping , often called a broadsword in English translation because some varieties have wide blades. In China, the dao is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the gun , qiang , and the jian , and referred...
and earns himself the nickname "Multicoloured Tiger".
Meeting Song Jiang
Yan Shun was initially a trader but he suffered a great loss and decided to become a bandit leader on Mount Qingfeng together with Wang YingWang Ying (Water Margin)
Wang Ying is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 58th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 22nd of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Stumpy Tiger".-Background:...
and Zheng Tianshou. Song Jiang
Song Jiang
Song Jiang was the leader of a group of outlaws who lived during the Song Dynasty. The outlaws were active in the present-day provinces of Shandong and Henan before their eventual surrender to the government. Song Jiang is also featured as a character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great...
passes by their stronghold on the way to Qingfeng Fort to join Hua Rong
Hua Rong
Hua Rong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 9th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Little Li Guang".-Background:...
. Yan Shun's followers capture Song Jiang and want to kill him and use his heart and liver to make soup. Song Jiang sighs, "Am I, Song Jiang, destined to die just like that?" Yan Shun overhears Song Jiang and is stunned when he hears the name "Song Jiang". He recognises Song Jiang as the famous philanthropist and releases him immediately. Yan Shun and his men apologise to Song Jiang and treat him like a guest. Meanwhile, the lustful Wang Ying has just kidnapped a woman and wants to rape her. She turns out to be the wife of Liu Gao, the official in charge of Qingfeng Fort. Song Jiang sympathises with her and manages to persuade Wang Ying to let her go.
Song Jiang leaves the stronghold later and makes his way to the fort. Liu Gao's wife recognises him when he is touring the fort later and she repays his kindness with evil by accusing him of attempting to rape her. Liu Gao believes his wife and has Song Jiang arrested and imprisoned. Hua Rong intervenes and attempts to free Song Jiang but he is tricked by Huang Xin
Huang Xin
Huang Xin is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 38th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 2nd of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Guardian of Three Mountains".-Background:...
and captured as well. Liu Gao has Song Jiang and Hua Rong escorted as prisoners by Huang Xin's men back to Qingzhou (in present-day Shandong). Yan Shun and the bandits from Mount Qingfeng ambush the convoy along the way and succeed in rescuing the prisoners. Yan Shun follows the outlaws back to Liangshan Marsh
Mount Liang
Mount Liang is a mountain in Liangshan County, Shandong province, China which rises to 197.9 m above sea level. It is well known as the stronghold of the 108 legendary Song Dynasty heroes of the classic Chinese novel Water Margin...
after the battle of Qingfeng Fort.
Campaigns and death
Yan Shun becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan cavalry after the Grand Assembly. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the LiaoLiao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the Fang La
Fang La
Fang La was a rebel leader who lived during the Song Dynasty. He is also featured as one of the antagonists and nemesis of the 108 Liangshan heroes in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.-Biography:...
campaign, Yan Shun is assigned to attack Black Dragon Ridge. He is shocked to see Ma Lin die at the hands of the enemy general Shi Bao
Shi Bao (Water Margin)
Shi Bao is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Shi Bao is the South Departing Great General serving under the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws...
and attempts to avenge Ma Lin. He fights with Shi Bao but he is no match for Shi and dies after being struck by Shi's spiked mace.