Ding Desun

Ding Desun is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 79th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 43rd of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Arrow-hit Tiger".

Background

Ding Desun's face and neck are covered with battle scars; he is thus nicknamed "Arrow-hit Tiger". He excels in martial arts and fights well on foot and horseback. He serves the imperial army as a general in Dongchang Prefecture (東昌府; in present-day Liaocheng, Shandong). He and Gong Wang serve as Zhang Qing's deputies.

Joining Liangshan

Zhang Qing defeats the outlaws from Liangshan Marsh twice, who are led by Lu Junyi. Song Jiang's army arrives to reinforce Lu Junyi. Zhang Qing defeats more than 15 of the best warriors of Liangshan in combat single-handedly while Gong Wang and Ding Desun always stand by, ready to capture any enemy general who is dismounted by Zhang Qing.

Ding Desun is fighting with Liangshan's Lü Fang and Guo Sheng when Yan Qing fires an arrow, which hits Ding's horse in the leg. Ding's wounded steed throws him to the ground and Ding ends up being captured by Lü Fang and Guo Sheng. Zhang Qing is eventually defeated and captured by the outlaws, after which he decides to surrender and join the outlaw band at Liangshan. Gong Wang and Ding Desun follow suit.

Campaigns and death

Ding Desun becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan infantry after the Grand Assembly of the 108 Stars of Destiny. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and southern rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by Emperor Huizong. During the campaign against the rebel leader Fang La, Ding Desun follows Lu Junyi to attack the enemy city of Shezhou (歙州; present-day She County, Huangshan City, Anhui). They lose the battle and are forced to retreat. Zhu Wu predicts that Fang La's forces will launch a sneak attack that night and suggests that they wait in ambush for the enemy. He is proven right: The Liangshan heroes score a major victory over Fang La's forces in the battle that night. However, Ding Desun is bitten by a venomous snake in the bushes and dies from poisoning.

References

• (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 159. 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.
• Shibusawa, Kou. Bandit Kings of Ancient China, page 93. KOEI, 1989.
• (Japanese) Ichisada, Miyazaki. Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu. Chuo Koronsha, 1993. ISBN 978-4122020559.
• Miyamotois, Yoko. Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits.
• Keffer, David. Outlaws of the Marsh.