Chinese Name: Sun Erniang 

Japanese Name: Boyasha Sonnijō

Rank: 103rd of the 108 Stars of Destiny 

Nickname: Night Witch 

Sun Erniang and her husband Zhang Qing (plate 17) ran an inn they had built outside a village. They served drugged wine to some of their customers, then robbed them, killed them, and used their flesh as meat. The walls of their kitchen were lined with stretched human skins, and limbs hung from the rafters. The smaller pieces of flesh would go into dumplings which they would sell to other customers, the larger pieces Zhang Qing would take to the village and sell as beef. Sun Erniang is described as being a very strong woman as well as an impetuous, somewhat sadistic killer.

Zhang Qing met Sun Erniang when, while living as a highwayman, he’d tried to rob her father as he traveled along the road. Her father was a retired highwayman himself and after twenty bouts he defeated Zhang Qing. The old man then took him on as his protégé and introduced him to Sun Erniang.

Lu Zhishen (plates 6; 10) nearly met his end when he stopped at Sun Erniang and Zhang Qing’s inn. He was rendered unconscious by her poisoned wine, but was saved when her husband noticed Lu Zhishen’s unusual monk’s staff, and was revived and invited to stay with them at the inn. When he decided to continue on his way, Zhang Qing suggested he go to Mount Lianglong and seek refuge with the gang of monks—who had turned to brigandry— residing there. Lu Zhishen took his advice and went to Lianglong where he killed their leader and took command of the bandits’ mountain stronghold. Later when Mount Lianglong was absorbed into the legions at Liangshan Marsh (see plate 55 for details), Sun Erniang and  Zhang Qing went with them.

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As the story of the Liangshan bandits continued, Lu Junyi (plate 68) was imprisoned and awaiting execution in the city of Daming. They devised a plan to rescue him during the city’s annual lantern festival. The large crowds drawn to the festival provided the perfect opportunity to sneak many of the bandits into the city disguised as merchants. As the rest of the troops—including Sun Erniang—waited outside the city walls, the Blue Cloud Tower inside the city was set on fire as a signal for everyone to attack simultaneously.

Sun Erniang is depicted here capturing a soldier as he tries to flee from Daming while Liangshan forces sack the city. However in the novel she is not mentioned during this scene. 

Kuniyoshi recreation