Duan Jingzhu

Duan Jingzhu is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Golden Haired Hound", he ranks 108th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 72nd among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Duan Jingzhu
Water Margin character
Duan Jingzhu
First appearance	Chapter 60
Nickname	"Golden Haired Hound" 金毛犬
Rank	108th, Hound Star (地狗星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends
Scout leader of Liangshan
Origin	Horse thief
Ancestral home / Place of origin	Zhuozhou, Hebei
Weapon	Horsewhip
Names
Simplified Chinese	段景住
Traditional Chinese	段景住
Pinyin	Duàn Jǐngzhù
Wade–Giles	Tuan Ching-chu

In this Chinese name, the family name is Duan.

Background

The novel depicts Duan Jingzhu as having red hair and a yellow beard, which earns him the nickname "Golden Haired Dog". A native of Zhuozhou, he rustles horses for a living on the northern frontier of the Song Empire.

Joining Liangshan

One day Duan Jingzhu steals a precious swift steed called "Jade Lion" (玉獅子) which belongs to a Jurchen prince. He intends to present it to Song Jiang, then the second-in-command of Liangshan Marsh, as his ticket to join the band. But on the way, he is intercepted by men from the Zeng Family Fortress, who snatches away the horse. They also mock Liangshan when he tells them the horse is meant for the stronghold.

Duan Jingzhu darts out to kneel before Song Jiang when the latter is riding back to Liangshan with his men after a battle at Mount Mangdang with Fan Rui. Impressed with Duan's looks, Song accepts him into his band. When Duan recounts the insults of the Zeng Family Fortress, Chao Gai, the chief of Liangshan, is mad with rage and decides to personally lead a force to attack the Zengs. For the first time Chao commands a military expedition of Liangshan in place of Song Jiang. However, the attack ends in disaster as Chao is shot dead by Shi Wengong, the martial arts instructor of the fortress. After some distractions, the outlaws eventually turn their attention to the Zeng Family Fortress. They capture Shi and avenge Chao's death.

Campaigns and death

Duan Jingzhu is appointed as one of the scout leaders of Liangshan after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan.

In the attack on the Qiantang River in the campaign against Fang La, Duan Jingzhu, who is in the squad of Ruan Xiaoqi and a non-swimmer, drowns when his boat overturns after being swept into the open sea by strong winds.

References

• Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Miyazaki, Ichisada (1993). Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu (in Japanese). Chuo Koronsha. ISBN 978-4122020559.
• Keffer, David. "Outlaws of the Marsh: A Somewhat Less Than Critical Commentary". Poison Pie Publishing House. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
• Li, Mengxia (1992). 108 Heroes from the Water Margin (in Chinese). EPB Publishers. p. 219. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
• Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
• Shibusawa, Kou (1989), Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Koei
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.