Li Jun (Water Margin)
| Li Jun | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
| First appearance | Chapter 36 |
| Nickname | "River Dragon" (混江龍) |
| Rank | 26th, Longevity Star (天壽星) of the 36 Heavenly Spirits |
| Navy leader of Liangshan | |
| Origin | Pirate |
| Ancestral home / Place of origin | Luzhou (present-day Hefei, Anhui) |
| Weapon | Sword |
| Names | |
| Simplified Chinese | 李俊 |
| Traditional Chinese | 李俊 |
| Pinyin | Lǐ Jùn |
| Wade–Giles | Li Chün |
Template:Chinese-name Li Jun is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "River Dragon", he ranks 26th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Background
The novel describes Li Jun as eight chi tall and having thick eyebrows, large eyes, a reddish face, wire-like whiskers and a booming voice. He was born in Luzhou (蘆州; present-day Hefei, Anhui), but moves to Jieyang Ridge (揭陽嶺; believed to be in present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi) near the Xunyang River with his close friend Li Li. Besides being good in fighting, he is an excellent swimmer. As he takes to water as if it is his natural habitat, he is nicknamed "River Dragon".
Li Jun engages in illegal smuggling of salt by boat while Li Li runs an inn near the riverbank where he drugs, robs and butchers customers. Li Jun is assisted by the Tong brothers - Tong Wei and Tong Meng - in his illicit trade.
to prison exile in Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), Song Jiang passes by Jieyang Ridge and takes a rest in Li Li's inn with his two escorts. Li Li drugs the three and is about to butcher them when Li Jun and the Tong brothers come to his inn. Li Jun verifies that the convict is Song Jiang through the documents found on the escorts. In fact, having heard so much of Song's chivalrous reputation, Li Jun has been waiting by the riverbank for days with the Tongs, hoping to meet him. Upon learning that the man is Song Jiang, Li Li revives him. Song Jiang is glad to make friends with the group, who treats him as an honoured guest before seeing him off.
to prison exile in Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), Song Jiang passes by Jieyang Ridge and takes a rest in Li Li's inn with his two escorts. Li Li drugs the three and is about to butcher them when Li Jun and the Tong brothers come to his inn. Li Jun verifies that the convict is Song Jiang through the documents found on the escorts. In fact, having heard so much of Song's chivalrous reputation, Li Jun has been waiting by the riverbank for days with the Tongs, hoping to meet him. Upon learning that the man is Song Jiang, Li Li revives him. Song Jiang is glad to make friends with the group, who treats him as an honoured guest before seeing him off.
Song Jiang antagonises the Mu brothers (Mu Hong and Mu Chun) in the nearby Jieyang Town and is pursued by them. In desperation, he and the two escorts board the boat of Zhang Heng, who is a river pirate. Halfway across the river, Zhang Heng tells the trio they must meet their end there. Again Li Jun appears as he happens to be out on the river that night. He recognises Song Jiang and stops Zhang Heng. He then introduces Song Jiang to Zhang Heng and then the Mu brothers, all of whom are sorry for having caused much distress to the man. Song Jiang again is treated with hospitality before he continues his journey.
In Jiangzhou, Song Jiang gets into trouble after writing a seditious poem on a wall in a restaurant while drunk. He is arrested and sentenced to death. The outlaws from Liangshan Marsh hurry to Jiangzhou, storm the execution ground, and rescue him. But they are stranded at a river bank. Fortunately, Li Jun, leading Zhang Heng and others, has also come by boat to Jiangzhou to save Song Jiang. They ferry the group across the river. Finally, the whole lot return to Liangshan, where Li Jun joins the outlaw band.
Contributions to Liangshan
Li Jun is appointed one of the leaders of the Liangshan flotilla after all the 108 stars of destiny came together in what is called the General Assembly. Following amnesty from Emperor Huizong, Li Jun participates with the pardoned outlaws in campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces on Song territory.
When combating the rebel forces of Tian Hu, Li Jun suggests flooding the city of Taiyuan to trap the enemy. The plan is instrumental in vanquishing Tian Hu.
In a battle against Fang La's rebel forces, Li Jun dives into Lake Tai to slip onto the enemy battleships from underwater. At Lake Tai he befriends some scofflaws and they become sworn brothers. He also infiltrates Suzhou, helping the Liangshan forces capture the city. During the battle of Qingxi County (清溪縣; present-day Chun'an County, Zhejiang), he pretends to defect to Fang La's side and then cripples the enemy forces by sabotaging it from within.
Later life
When the Liangshan heroes who survive all the campaigns return to the imperial capital in expectation of being rewarded positions, Li Jun has other thoughts. Reluctant to serve the government, he feigns illness and remains in Suzhou. The Tong brothers stay to take care of him. They are never seen again.
It is said that Li Jun, the Tong brothers, and the friends they made at Lake Tai travelled to the port city of Taicang, where they sailed into the open sea. They eventually arrived in Siam, where Li Jun became king and his friends his officials.
See also
- List of Water Margin minor characters#Li Jun's story for a list of supporting minor characters from Li Jun's story.
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. 53. 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, pp. 82–84, 96
- Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.