Sun Xin (Water Margin)

For other people named Sun Xin, see Sun Xin (disambiguation).

Sun Xin is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Little Yuchi", he ranks 100th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 64th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Sun Xin
Water Margin character
First appearance	Chapter 49
Nickname	"Little Yuchi" 小尉遲
Rank	100th, Number Star (地數星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends
Scout leader of Liangshan
Origin	Tavern owner
Names
Simplified Chinese	孙新
Traditional Chinese	孫新
Pinyin	Sūn Xīn
Wade–Giles	Sun Hsin

In this Chinese name, the family name is Sun.

Background

Tall and strong with shiny eyes, Sun Xin is the younger brother of Sun Li, garrison commandant of Dengzhou (登州; in present-day eastern Shandong). Sun Li is nicknamed "Sick Yuchi" as he resembles the Tang dynasty general Yuchi Gong in looks although they definitely differ in complexion as Sun's is pale, and also in that one of his favourite weapons is a steel club. That nickname spilled over to Sun Xin, who is called "Little Yuchi", The Sun brothers' ancestral home is in Qiongzhou (瓊州; present-day Hainan).

Sun Xin's wife is Gu Dasao, a cousin of the hunter brothers Xie Zhen and Xie Bao. The couple run an inn in Dengzhou (登州; in present-day eastern Shandong), not far from the rural home of the Xies.

Prison raid in Dengzhou

Gu Dasao receives news from the jailer Yue He of Dengzhou prison, whose sister is married to Sun Li, that Xie Zhen and Xie Bao have been jailed and might be murdered because the Xies have smashed up the house of one Squire Mao after failing to find a tiger they shot that had fallen into the old man's garden. In fact, the squire had already sent the tiger to the prefecture office to claim the reward.

Gu consults with Sun Xin, who enlists the help of the outlaws Zou Yuan and Zou Run. Gu is worried that her brother-in-law Sun Li would stand in their way. So she pretends to be ill and gets Sun Li to visit her. When Sun appears, the couple threaten him to decide either to join them or fight them. Sun reluctantly signs on to their plan. With the help of Yue He, the group breaks into the prison and free the Xie brothers. They then flee to join the outlaws of Liangshan Marsh.

Battle against the Zhu Family Village

Before going up to the stronghold, Sun Li volunteers to infiltrate the Zhu Family Manor, which Liangshan has failed to take in two offensives. As Sun Li has learnt combat from the same teacher as Luan Tingyu, the martial arts instructor of the village, he wins the confidence of the Zhus. As soon as Sun Li gives his signal, Sun Xin, together with his wife, Zou Yuan, Zou Run, the Xie brothers and Yue He, goes on a rampage inside the manor, taking it by surprise. The fall of the Zhu Family Manor is a huge contribution of the group before their acceptance into Liangshan.

Campaigns and later life

Sun Xin and his wife are put in charge of an inn which acts as a lookout of Liangshan after 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what is called the Grand Assembly. The couple participate in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan.

Sun Xin and Gu Dasao survive the campaigns. Although conferred the title Martial Gentleman of Grace (武奕郎), he does not want to serve the government and returns to Dengzhou with his wife and his brother, where he lives as a commoner.

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. 203. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
• Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. 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.