Song Qing
| Song Qing | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
| Nickname | "Iron Fan" 鐵扇子 |
| Rank | 76th, Handsome Star (地俊星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
| Banquet organiser of Liangshan | |
| Origin | Farmer |
| Hometown | Yuncheng County, Shandong |
| First appearance | Chapter 18 |
| Names | |
| Simplified Chinese | 宋清 |
| Traditional Chinese | 宋清 |
| Pinyin | Sòng Qīng |
| Wade–Giles | Sung Ch'ing |
Song Qing is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 76th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 40th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Iron Fan".
Background
Song Qing is the younger brother of Song Jiang. In contrast with his brother (a former magistrate's clerk and a famous philanthropist), Song Qing is less known and leads a simpler life as a farmer.
After Song Jiang is forced to flee from home and become an outlaw, Song Qing writes a letter to his brother, telling him that their father had died. Shi Yong helps to deliver the letter to Song Jiang on Mount Qingfeng. Song Jiang weeps after reading his brother's letter and rushes home immediately. However, he discovers later that Song Qing had lied to him and their father is still alive and well. Actually, Song Qing was following their father's instruction to write the letter, because their father misses Song Jiang and wants him to come home soon. Unfortunately, Song Jiang is arrested by the authorities after returning home. He is convicted of murdering Yan Poxi and sentenced to exile in Jiangzhou (present-day Jiangxi).
Joining Liangshan
Song Jiang joins the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh after escaping death in Jiangzhou. He returns to Yuncheng County to fetch his family to Liangshan with him. However, he is being watched by the government, who send soldiers to surround his house and arrest him when he returns home. Luckily, the outlaws have been following him secretly and they help him drive away the soldiers. The outlaws help to escort Song Jiang and his family safely back to Liangshan.
Song Qing is placed in charge of organising banquets at Liangshan after the Grand Assembly. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces after they have been granted amnesty by the emperor. He is one of the few survivors from Liangshan after the campaigns and the emperor offers him an official post in recognition of his contributions. However, Song Qing declines the offer and returns home to lead a simple peasant life.
References
- (Chinese) Li, Mengxia. 108 Heroes from the Water Margin, page 153. 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.