Duan Jingzhu

Duan Jingzhu is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 108th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 72nd of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Golden Haired Hound".

Background

The novel describes Duan Jingzhu as a man with red hair and a yellow beard, which earns him the nickname "Golden Haired Dog". He is from Zhuozhou, Hebei, and used to be a horse thief. He steals horses in the north and sells them in the south. He manages to get his hands on the "Jade Lion" (玉獅子), a precious steed belonging to a Jurchen prince.

Duan Jingzhu intends join the outlaws at Liangshan Marsh and present the steed to Chao Gai. He passes by the Zeng Family Fortress along the way and the Jade Lion is stolen from him by the Zengs. The Zengs hurl abusive remarks at Liangshan and taunt Liangshan to attack them.

Joining Liangshan

At the same time, Song Jiang and the outlaws are returning to Liangshan after a campaign and they meet Duan Jingzhu. Song Jiang sends Duan Jingzhu back to Liangshan and Duan tells Chao Gai everything. Chao Gai is furious and wants to teach the Zengs a lesson. The Zengs had wounded Liu Tang earlier and Chao Gai wants to avenge Liu. He personally leads the outlaws to attack the fortress but is killed in the battle by a poisoned arrow from Shi Wengong.

Duan Jingzhu, Yang Lin and Shi Yong travel north to purchase horses for Liangshan's forces later. Their horses are stolen by Yu Baosi and his gang when they stop at Qingzhou (in present-day Shandong) for a rest. Yu Baosi presents the stolen horses to the Zengs. Song Jiang, who succeeds Chao Gai as chief of Liangshan, leads the outlaws to attack the fortress once more. They score a victory over the Zengs and succeed in killing Shi Wengong and avenging their former chief.

Campaigns and death

Duan Jingzhu becomes one of the scout leaders of Liangshan after the Grand Assembly. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. During the Fang La campaign, Duan Jingzhu follows Ruan Xiaoqi and the Liangshan navy on a marine assault on the Qiantang River. Strong winds sweep the fleet far out into the open sea and the boats sink. Duan Jingzhu is not a good swimmer and he drowns eventually.

References

• (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 217. EPB Publishers Pte Ltd, 1992. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
• Buck, Pearl. All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell Ltd, 2006. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Zhang, Lin Ching. Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House, 2009. ISBN 978-7506344784.
• Keffer, David. Outlaws of the Marsh.
• Miyamotois, Yoko. Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits.
• (Japanese) Ichisada, Miyazaki. Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu. Chuo Koronsha, 1993. ISBN 978-4122020559.
• Shibusawa, Kou. Bandit Kings of Ancient China. KOEI, 1989.