Chinese Name: Yan Shun

Japanese Name: Kinmōko Enjun 

Rank: 50th of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: Elegant Tiger 

Yan Shun was from Shandong Province and had originally been a sheep and horse dealer. When he lost all of his money, he resorted to brigandry and amassed a bandit army at Mount Qingfeng. His two top commanding officers were Wang Ying (plate 25) and Zheng Tianshou (plate 98).   

Yan Shun and the bandits at Mount Qingfeng had captured Song Jiang (plate 107) when he fell into a trap they’d set for wandering travelers. Their intention was to kill and eat him, until Yan Shun realized he was the famous Song Jiang. From then on they treated him as their honored guest, and Song Jiang became their sworn brother.  

As the story unfolded, Song Jiang was falsely accused of attempting to rape the wife of a civil magistrate while in Qingfeng Town. He was exiled to Qingzhou Prison, and the bandits at Mount Qingfeng rescued him as he was being escorted to his destination (see plate 25 for story details). After his rescue, Song Jiang suggested the bandits of Mount Qingfeng should relocate and join with Chao Gai (see plate 14) and the bandits of Liangshan Marsh, to which they all agreed. 

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As the saga of the Liangshan bandits continued, Song Jiang and his legions were granted amnesty by the Emperor. To prove their merit they were sent to battle the rebel leader Fang La; he had amassed his own large bandit army and taken control of several prefectures, appointing himself king of the region. 

During a battle with Fang La’s forces on Black Dragon Ridge, Ma Lin (plate 54) was cut in half by Fang La’s soldier, Shi Bao. Seeing Ma Lin fall, Yan Shun ran to avenge him but was struck by Shi Bao’s mace and killed.  

Yan Shun is shown here bringing his sword down to kill Shi Bao as Shi Bao swings the fatal blow that dispatches Yan Shun. 

Isaac Nichols original