Li Tianrun
| Li Tianrun | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
| Great General Who Stabilises the Empire of Fang La | |
| First appearance | Chapter 115 |
| Names | |
| Simplified Chinese | 厉天闰 |
| Traditional Chinese | 厲天閏 |
| Pinyin | Lì Tiānrùn |
| Wade–Giles | Li Tien-jun |
Li Tianrun is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He serves as a general under Fang La, a rebel leader who established a separatist regime in southern China against the ruling Song Empire. Fang La is one of the rebel leaders that the 108 Liangshan outlaws have to defeat after they have been granted amnesty by the Song government. Li Tianrun holds the position of "Great General Who Stabilises the Empire" in Fang La's rebel state. He is best known for slaying Liangshan's "Featherless Arrow" Zhang Qing and "Little Conqueror" Zhou Tong.
Life
Li Tianrun holds the position of "Great General Who Stabilises the Empire" (鎮國大將軍) in Fang La's rebel state. He is tasked with guarding Dusong Pass (獨松關; located south of present-day Anji County, Huzhou, Zhejiang) when the Liangshan forces loyal to the Song Empire attacked Fang La. During the first skirmish, he takes the enemy by surprise by charging out of the pass and slaying Zhou Tong, who was completely caught off guard. He also injures Li Zhong.
In the next battle, Li Tianrun's subordinate, Zhang Tao, engages Liangshan's Dong Ping in a spear fight. Li Tianrun joins in the fight and fights with Dong Ping for ten rounds before Dong is forced to retreat because his arm has been injured by cannon fire. "Featherless Arrow" Zhang Qing continues the fight with Li Tianrun. They keep shifting around a pine tree because Li uses the tree as a cover to dodge Zhang's attacks. Zhang's spear gets stuck in the tree after he misses his target when he tries to spear Li. Li then seizes the opportunity to spear Zhang in the abdomen and kill him.
When Dusong Pass is overrun by Liangshan forces, Li Tianrun tries to escape but runs into Lu Junyi and fights with him for over 30 rounds. However, as time passes, he grows weary and loses concentration and is eventually slain by his opponent.
References
- (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 217. EPB Publishers Pte Ltd, 1992. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
- Buck, Pearl. All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell Ltd, 2006. ISBN 9781559213035.
- Zhang, Lin Ching. Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House, 2009. ISBN 978-7506344784.
- Keffer, David. Outlaws of the Marsh.
- Miyamotois, Yoko. Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits.
- (Japanese) Ichisada, Miyazaki. Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu. Chuo Koronsha, 1993. ISBN 978-4122020559.
- Shibusawa, Kou. Bandit Kings of Ancient China. KOEI, 1989.