Zhang Qing (Gardener)

Zhang Qing is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 102nd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 66th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Gardener".

Background

Zhang Qing is from Mengzhou, Jiaozuo, Henan. The novel describes him as a man with a weird looking face and thin facial hair. He used to work as a gardener in Guangming Monastery. He has a violent quarrel with the monks and kills them in a fit of anger and burns down the monastery. He goes to Cross Slope and becomes an outlaw there.

One day, he attempts to rob an old man but the man defeats him in a fight. The old man recognises Zhang Qing's interest in martial arts and accepts him as his disciple. Zhang Qing marries the old man's daughter, Sun Erniang. The couple run a tavern at Cross Slope. They lure unwary travelers into their tavern for drinks and knock them out using drugs. They kill their victims and rob them of their valuables. They also make meat buns with human flesh fillings from their victims and serve them to customers. Zhang Qing travels around the area and mingles with other pugilists. He earns himself the nickname "Gardener".

Meeting Wu Song

Lu Zhishen passes by Cross Slope after seeing Lin Chong safely to Cangzhou and he stops at the tavern for a rest. He is served with drugged wine by Sun Erniang and becomes unconscious. Zhang Qing returns home and he saves Lu Zhishen from his grisly fate. They become sworn brothers.

In a later chapter, Wu Song passes by Cross Slope on his way to exile in Mengzhou and he stops at the tavern for a break. The unsuspecting guards are knocked out after drinking the drugged wine. Wu Song is more wary and he sees through Sun Erniang's designs. He pretends to be unconscious as well. He awakes and attacks Sun Erniang when she is about to kill him. Wu Song defeats Sun Erniang in a fight easily. Just then, Zhang Qing returns home and he stops the fight. Zhang Qing and Sun Erniang apologise to Wu Song and Zhang becomes sworn brothers with Wu as well.

Wu Song flees from Mengzhou after killing Jiang Zhong and Inspector Zhang. He reaches the tavern at Cross Slope and receive help from Zhang Qing and Sun Erniang. They disguise him as a travelling monk and recommend him to join the outlaw band on Mount Twin Dragons. The couple join them later. They follow the outlaws back to Liangshan Marsh after the great battle at Qingzhou (in present-day Shandong).

Campaigns and death

Zhang Qing becomes one of the scout leaders of Liangshan after the Grand Assembly and stationed in the tavern west of Liangshan. He is tasked with making preparations to receive the imperial envoy from the emperor, who grants the outlaws amnesty. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty. He is killed in the battle of Shezhou (present-day She County, Anhui) during the Fang La campaign.

References

• (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 205. EPB Publishers Pte Ltd, 1992. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.