Zhang Shun

Nicknamed the 'White Streak in the waves (浪里白条)', Zhang Shun (张顺), brother of Zhang Heng, was one of the 108 heroes of Liangshan in the epic Chinese tale, the "Water Margin".

Zhang Shun was about 6 feet tall, had a nice beard, and a fair complexion. He could swim for up to 25 kilometres and stay submerged for seven days and seven nights. This was how he earned his nickname.

Zhang and his brother lived at the foot of Mount Gushan, and used to trade illegally on the river or rob ships. After that, Zhang Shun changed his career and became a fisherman in Jiangzhou. Once, Song Jiang had a sudden craving for fish, Li Kui immediately went to the riverbank to get fresh fish, but had a fight with the fishermen. Zhang Shun challenged Li Kui but was defeated. Then Zhang was not satisfied so he lured Li Kui to the middle of the river. Li Kui, not being a swimmer, was defeated by Zhang Shun in the water and drank litres of river water. In the end, the fight was stopped by Song Jiang and Dai Zong.

Song Jiang brought with him Zhang Heng's letter and he showed it to Zhang Shun. After that, they became fast friends. After the Liangshan heroes stormed the execution ground in Jiangzhou and rescued Song Jiang, Zhang Shun and his friends picked them at the riverbank and ferried them all the way back to Liangshan. There, Zhang Shun decided to join the band.

Another time, Song Jiang contracted a growth on his back and was down with illness. Zhang Shun immediately sped all the way to find the reowned doctor An Daoquan. On the way there, Zhang Shun boarded Zhang Wang's pirate vessel by mistake and was robbed. They tied up Zhang Shun and threw him overboard but Zhang Shun managed to break his bonds and escape. An refused to join the band so Zhang Shun killed a prostitute and wrote 'An Daoquan is the killer' on the wall near the crime scene. An Daoquan was then forced to join Liangshan. On the way back, Zhang Shun boarded Zhang Wang's vessel again and he recognised the pirate. Zhang Shun grabbed Zhang Wang, tied him up and threw him overboard for revenge. After that, An Daoquan cured Song Jiang and Zhang Shun was given credit.

Gao Qiu, the enemy of the Liangshan rebels, led 300 imperial ships to attack Liangshan. Zhang Shun and the Liangshan navy went underwater and created holes in the ships. Gao's entire fleet was defeated, and Zhang Shun made a great contribution.

Zhang Shun followed the heroes on their campaigns and made great contributions to the imperial court. During the Fang La campaign, Zhang Shun tried to sneak into Hangzhou by climbing over the Yongjin Gate. He was shot down by dozens of enemy arrows. It was said that after his death, Zhang Shun's spirit possessed Zhang Heng and killed Fang Tianding at Wuyun Mountain for revenge.

Films and TV adaptations

In the 1997 TV serial from Mainland China based on the novel, Zhang Shun was played by Zhang Yakun and he was killed by archers under Fang Mao's command, not Fang Tianding.