Quick Facts
Biography
Zhang Shun is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "White Stripe in the Waves", he ranks 30th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Background
The novel describes Zhang Shun as a man six chi tall with a fair complexion and a beautiful beard. He is nicknamed "White Stripe in the Waves" because of his powerful swimming and diving skills.
Zhang Shun and his elder brother, Zhang Heng, live in Jieyang Ridge (揭陽嶺; believed to be in present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi) near the Xunyang River. He moves to Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi) and earns a living as a fishmonger there.
Fight with Li Kui
When Song Jiang is exiled to a prison camp in Jiangzhou for murdering Yan Poxi, he befriends the wardens Dai Zong and Li Kui and leads an easy life in prison. On one occasion, while feasting with Dai Zong and Li Kui, Song Jiang has a sudden craving for fish so Li Kui immediately goes to the market to get fresh fish. Li Kui's hot temper gets him into a fight with the fishmongers, who turn to Zhang Shun for help. After losing to Li Kui in a fight on land, a dissatisfied Zhang Shun challenges Li Kui to fight him in the water. Li Kui eagerly accepts the challenge but loses the fight because he cannot swim. Song Jiang and Dai Zong show up in time and stop the fight.
Earlier on, during his journey to Jiangzhou, Song Jiang met Zhang Heng, who sought his help in passing a message to his brother. Upon realising that the man fighting with Li Kui is Zhang Shun, Song Jiang introduces himself to Zhang Shun and passes Zhang Heng's message to him. Zhang Shun is surprised because he has heard of Song Jiang's reputation and has been wanting to meet him. He makes peace with Li Kui, has a good laugh with him over their fight, and then befriends him, Song Jiang and Dai Zong.
Joining Liangshan
Song Jiang later gets into trouble in Jiangzhou after writing a seditious poem under the influence of alcohol. When he is arrested and sentenced to death, the outlaws from Liangshan Marsh show up in Jiangzhou, storm the execution ground and successfully save him. Zhang Shun, Zhang Heng and their friends fetch Song Jiang and the outlaws at the riverbank and ferry them safely back to the outlaw stronghold at Liangshan. Zhang Shun and his brother then join the outlaw band there.
Recruiting An Daoquan
On one occasion, Song Jiang becomes critically ill after getting a tumour on his back, Zhang Shun recommends An Daoquan, a famous physician from Jiankang Prefecture (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), to heal him. He then makes a long journey from Liangshan to Jiankang Prefecture to find the physician.
Along the way, Zhang Shun unsuspectingly boards a boat operated by the pirate Zhang Wang, who has disguised himself as a ferryman. Zhang Wang catches him off guard, robs him and then ties him up and throws him overboard. However, Zhang Shun manages to free himself underwater and swim towards the riverbank, where he meets and receives help from Wang Dingliu.
After Zhang Shun finds An Daoquan and asks him to go to Liangshan with him, the physician is reluctant to leave because Li Qiaonu, his secret lover, does not allow him to. Zhang Shun then murders Li Qiaonu and writes "An Daoquan is the killer" in blood on the wall near the crime scene. An Daoquan has no choice but to agree to follow Zhang Shun back to Liangshan and join the outlaw band.
On the way back, Zhang Shun meets Wang Dingliu again and manages to persuade him to join Liangshan as well. He also encounters Zhang Wang, catches him off guard, and takes his revenge by tying him up and throwing him into the river. At Liangshan, after An Daoquan successfully cures Song Jiang of his tumour, Zhang Shun receives credit for saving Song Jiang's life and recruiting An Daoquan.
Campaigns and death
Zhang Shun plays a major role during the battle between the Liangshan outlaws and government forces led by Grand Marshal Gao Qiu. He goes underwater with his fellow marines to knock holes in the hulls of Gao Qiu's ships and sink them. The outlaws score a decisive victory over the government forces in the battle and even capture Gao Qiu. Zhang Shun and the other naval leaders receive top credit for the victory.
After the Liangshan outlaws received amnesty from Emperor Huizong, Zhang Shun follows them on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces on Song territory.
During the campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Zhang Shun attempts to sneak into the enemy-controlled city of Hangzhou by climbing over the Yongjin Gate (湧金門). However, Fang Tianding, Fang La's son, spots Zhang Shun and orders his archers to kill him. After Zhang Shun dies, his spirit possesses Zhang Heng's body and kills Fang Tianding in battle later. Zhang Shun's spirit leaves his brother's body after taking his revenge.