Song Qing

Song Qing (宋清) is a character in the "Water Margin".

Song Qing was the younger brother of Song Jiang, and he lived together with his aged father and elder brother in the Song Family Village in Yuncheng Prefecture. He worked in the fields as a farmer, leading a simple life. Song Qing was nicknamed 'Iron Fan' (铁扇子).

Once, Song Jiang killed Yan Poxi and he fled to Chai Jin's residence for refuge, with his younger brother escorting him. Later after Song Jiang conquered Qingfeng Fort with the Qingfeng bandits, Song Qing wrote a letter to him, telling him that their father had died, then he asked Shi Yong to send the letter for him. Song Jiang wept after reading the letter and immediately set off for home.

Upon reaching home, Song Jiang discovered that his brother had lied to him and that their father was still alive and well. Actually, it was Song Jiang's father who missed Song Jiang deeply after he had left home and asked Song Qing to write the letter. Unfortunately, the authorities knew about Song Jiang's return and had him arrested for murdering Yan Poxi earlier. Song Jiang was exiled to Jiangzhou, and before he left, he asked his brother to take good care of their father.

Song Jiang returned home once again, this time to fetch his family to Liangshan with him, but was surrounded by government troops the moment he stepped into his house. Luckily, Chao Gai and the Liangshan heroes had followed Song Jiang and they chased off the troops, then brought Song Jiang and his family to Liangshan.

Song Qing became in charge of organising banquets in Liangshan, and he did participate in the campaigns against the enemies of Liangshan before. After the heroes had obtained amnesty from the emperor, Song Qing followed them on their campaigns against the Liao Tartars and southern rebels, and was one of the few lucky survivors after the campaigns. He was offered an official post for his contributions, but he declined the offer and returned home to be a farmer once again.