Yang Chun is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Nicknamed "White Flower Serpent", he ranks 73rd among the 108 Heroes and 37th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
Background
Yang Chun is first introduced in the novel as one of three leaders of an outlaw band based at Mount Shaohua (; southeast of present-day Hua County, Shaanxi), taking the third position of leadership after his sworn brothers Zhu Wu and Chen Da. Nicknamed "White Flower Serpent", he is described as having a slender build with long, skinny arms, and being a skilled fighter who uses a long sabre. He is originally from Jieliang (; in present-day Yuncheng, Shanxi).
Befriending Shi Jin
On one occasion, Chen Da leads his men to plunder Huayin County for supplies when the outlaw stronghold is experiencing a shortage. En route, he passes by the Shi Family Village and encounters the headman Shi Jin, a formidable martial artist. Despite being warned earlier by Zhu Wu about Shi Jin's prowess, Chen Da pushes his luck, challenges Shi Jin to fight him on horseback, and ends up being defeated and captured.
Realising that they stand no chance against Shi Jin in combat, Zhu Wu and Yang Chun come to the village and beg Shi Jin to release their sworn brother, whom they have pledged to live and die together with. Touched by their strong sense of brotherhood, Shi Jin frees Chen Da and befriends the three outlaw chiefs. Since then, they have been exchanging gifts and taking turns to host each other.
One day, a hunter finds a letter sent to Shi Jin by the outlaws, and reports it to the authorities. Hoping to capture the outlaw leaders, the authorities send soldiers to surround the village when Shi Jin is hosting a feast for them. When the three leaders advise Shi Jin to turn them in so that he will not be implicated, Shi Jin refuses and sides with the outlaws instead. He joins them in fighting their way out after setting fire to the village. After they have safely retreated to their stronghold on Mount Shaohua, the trio invites Shi Jin to be the outlaw band's chief but he declines and leaves to find his master, Wang Jin.
After wandering around for some time, Shi Jin heads back to Mount Shaohua and accepts the trio's invitation to take the first position of leadership in the outlaw band.
Joining Liangshan
One day, Shi Jin learns that Prefect He, the governor of Huazhou, has abducted a painter's daughter to force her to be his concubine, and decides to intervene. While sneaking into the governor's residence to save the woman, he falls into a trap and gets captured.
Around the time, Shi Jin's friend Lu Zhishen, who has joined the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh, has travelled to Mount Shaohua to find Shi Jin and invite him to join Liangshan. Upon learning of what happened, he infiltrates Huazhou alone in an attempt to rescue Shi Jin, but ends up being lured into an ambush and gets taken captive as well.
The Mount Shaohua outlaws turn to their Liangshan counterparts for assistance, so the Liangshan outlaws travel to Huazhou, where they disguise themselves as officials sent by the emperor. Prefect He falls for the ruse and comes out of the city to welcome the "officials", who then reveal their true identities and kill him. The outlaws then break into Huazhou and rescue Shi Jin and Lu Zhishen, after which the Mount Shaohua outlaws decide to join the larger outlaw band at Liangshan.
Campaigns and death
Yang Chun is appointed as a Tiger Cub Patrol Commander of the Liangshan cavalry after the 108 Heroes are fully assembled. He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory after the outlaws receive amnesty from Emperor Huizong.
During the final campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, Yang Chun and five other Liangshan heroes (Shi Jin, Shi Xiu, Chen Da, Li Zhong and Xue Yong) are assigned to assault Yuling Pass (; near present-day Zhupu Village, She County, Anhui), which is guarded by Pang Wanchun. Pang Wanchun kills Shi Jin with a single arrow shot, while his archers rain arrows on Yang Chun and the other four, killing them all.