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This is a Chinese name; the family name is Yang.

Yáng Chūn (陳達) is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 73rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 37th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "White Flower Serpent" (白花蛇).

Background

Yang Chun is from Jieliang (解良), Puzhou (蒲州; present-day Yongji). The Water Margin describes Yang Chun as a man with a lean build and long skinny arms. Despite his appearance, Yang possesses great strength and excels in martial arts. He wields a long saber in combat. He is nicknamed "White Flower Serpent".

Yang Chun becomes one of the leaders of a bandit group on Mount Shaohua (少華山) together with Zhu Wu and Chen Da. The local government is afraid of them. Once, the stronghold lacks provisions and the bandits decide to raid and loot the nearby Huayin County for supplies. They have to pass by Shi Jin's village along the way. Zhu Wu has reservations about the attack as Shi Jin has a reputation for being a powerful martial artist and he may stand in their way. Chen Da ignores Zhu Wu's warnings and leads his men to attack Shi Jin's village. He is defeated by Shi Jin and captured.

Zhu Wu and Yang Chun travel to Shi Jin's village and plead with him to release Chen. Shi Jin is moved by their strong sense of brotherhood and he releases Chen. The three bandit leaders become fast friends with Shi Jin and they visit and send gifts to each other often. The hunter Li Ji discovers Shi Jin's relationship with the outlaws and he reports to the county magistrate for a reward. The magistrate sends soldiers to surround the village and arrest the four men. Shi Jin burns down his village and joins the three heroes in fighting their way back to Mount Shaohua where they are safe.

Joining Liangshan

Later, Lu Zhishen goes to invite the four heroes to join the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh. He learns that Shi Jin has been captured by Prefect He and attempts to rescue Shi but fails and he is captured as well. Zhu Wu notifies the Liangshan outlaws who come to the rescue. After the victory, Zhu Wu, Chen Da and Yang Chun follow the heroes back to Liangshan and join the band there.

Yang Chun becomes one of the leaders of the Liangshan calvary after the Grand Assembly. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and southern rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the Imperial Court. During the Fang La campaign, Yang Chun is assigned to attack the enemy territory of Yuling Pass (昱岭關) with Shi Jin and another four heroes. Shi Jin is killed by the enemy general Pang Wanchun and the rest of them are killed by dozens of arrows fired at them.

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