Zhang shun

First appearance Chapter 37 Nickname "White Stripe in the Waves" 浪裏白條 Rank 30th, Damage Star (天損星)

Zhang shun is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "General of Double Spears", he ranks 30th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

目錄

Background

The novel depicts Zhang Shun as six chi tall, fair in complexion and having a beautiful beard. Nicknamed "White Stripe in the Waves", he is a consummate swimmer who could stay under water for long periods of time.

Zhang Shun and his elder brother Zhang Heng live at Jieyang Ridge (揭陽嶺; believed to be in present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi) near the Xunyang River. They use a trick to rob travellers who take their boat without taking lives. Zhang Shun would disguise himself as a passenger whom Zhang Heng would throw overboard when he pretends to be unwilling to hand over his valuables. Zhang Shun would make it to shore while the other travellers are so frightened that they surrender all they have. Zhang Shun later moves to Jiangzhou alone (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi) where he becomes a fishmonger.

Becoming an outlaw

Song Jiang is arrested and sentenced to death for composing a seditious poem, which he wrote on the wall of a restaurant after getting drunk. The outlaws from Liangshan Marsh hurry to Jiangzhou, storm the execution ground and rescue him and Dai Zong, who is implicated following his attempt to rescue Song. After fleeing Jiangzhou, the group is stranded at a riverbank. Luckily, Zhang Shun, Zhang Heng and other friends of Song Jiang from the Jieyang region arrive in boats on their way to rescue him. Determined to get back at Huang Wenbing, the minor official who reported the seditious poem to the authorities, Song plans an attack on the Wuwei Garrison where Huang lives. Huang is not at home but he runs into Zhang Shun while crossing a river as he hurries back upon seeing his town is on fire. Zhang overturns the boat and captures him in water. Song Jiang kills Huang and joins Liangshan, taking with him the Zhang brothers and others.

Campaigns and death

Zhang Shun is appointed as one of the commanders of Liangshan『s flotilla after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly.

Zhang Shun's swimming skills are pivotal in Liangshan's battle against the army led by Grand Marshal Gao Qiu to wipe out the stronghold. He and his men manage to reach Gao's ships unnoticed by swimming underwater, and proceed to knock holes in their hulls, causing them to sink. As a result, Gao is captured.

After the Liangshan outlaws received amnesty from Emperor Huizong, Zhang Shun participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces on Song territory ordered by the court. In the battle of Hangzhou in the campaign against Fang La, Zhang Shun attempts to sneak into the city by climbing over the sluice gate of Yongjin (湧金門). However, Fang Tianding, Fang La's son, spots him and orders his archers to rain arrows on him. Though killed, Zhang Shun possesses Zhang Heng's body, seeks out Fang Tianding and kills him with the hand of his brother. His spirit leaves Zhang Heng's body after the revenge.