Zhang Qing (Featherless Arrow)
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Zhang Qing | |
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Water Margin character | |
![]() Zhang Qing | |
First appearance | Chapter 70 |
Nickname | "Featherless Arrow" 沒羽箭 |
Rank | 16th, Agile Star (天捷星) of the 36 Heavenly Spirits |
Tiger Cub Vanguard General of Liangshan | |
Origin | Imperial general |
Ancestral home / Place of origin | Zhangde Prefecture (present-day Anyang, Henan) |
Weapon | Spear, stones |
Names | |
Simplified Chinese | 张清 |
Traditional Chinese | 張清 |
Pinyin | Zhāng Qīng |
Wade–Giles | Chang Ch'ing |
Zhang Qing is a fictional character in
Background
The novel depicts Zhang Qing as a handsome, energetic and agile warrior with waist like that of a wolf, arms like those of an ape and a body like that of a tiger. Originally from Zhangde Prefecture (彰德府; present-day Anyang, Henan), he serves as the garrison commandant of Dongchang Prefecture (東昌府; present-day Liaocheng, Shandong). He is nicknamed "Featherless Arrow" because he can fling stones with deadly accuracy.
Joining Liangshan
When a force from Liangshan Marsh led by Lu Junyi comes to demand food from Dongchang, Zhang Qing rides out to fight them. He awes the outlaws when he injures Hao Siwen with a stone.
Song Jiang comes to reinforce Lu Junyi. As Zhang Qing takes on one after another on horseback some of Liangshan's top warriors, he again displays his deadly stone-hurling skill. He injures or shocks Xu Ning, Yan Shun, Han Tao, Peng Qi, Xuan Zan, Huyan Zhuo, Yang Zhi, Zhu Tong, Lei Heng, and Suo Chao with his stones. He even captures Liu Tang, who, challenging him on foot, is knocked over with a stone. Guan Sheng could feel the impact of Zhang's stone when his sabre quivers as he whacks it away. Dong Ping, who knows Zhang Qing well having been the commandant in neighbouring Dongping prefecture, manages to dodge his stones and gets close to him. The two tussle on horseback when Zhang, abandoning his spear, seizes the far ends of Dong's two spears. Meanwhile, Gong Wang and Ding Desun, Zhang's two lieutenants, are captured, the first by Lin Chong and Hua Rong and the other by Lü Fang and Guo Sheng. Finding himself now unaided, Zhang feels nervous and gallops back to his own ranks. Dong pursues him and, forgetting to dodge, is nearly hit by a stone which scrapes past his ear.
Angry over the injuries of his men but appreciative of Zhang's stone-flinging skill, Song Jiang is determined to capture and win over the commandant. Wu Yong, Liangshan's chief strategist, proposes setting up an ambush. When told that a convoy of ration is approaching Song Jiang's camp, Zhang, seeing a chance to cut off Liangshan's food supply, leaves the city to intercept it. Lu Zhishen, who is leading the convoy, is knocked over by Zhang's stone. Wu Song drags Lu away. Thinking he could succeed a second time, Zhang Qing moves to attack Liangshan's ration-loaded boats moored at a riverbank. But Gongsun Sheng engulfs him in darkness with his magic. Losing his way, Zhang Qing falls into the river and is captured.
Song Jiang's sincere and warm treatment convinces Zhang Qing to surrender. Zhang then tricks the prefect of Dongchang to open the city's gate, causing its fall. Zhang also recommends
Campaigns and death
Zhang Qing is appointed as one of the Eight Tiger Cub Vanguard Generals of the Liangshan cavalry after the
Zhang Qing scores the top credit in the campaign against
In the battle of Dusong Pass (獨松關; located south of present-day
References
- ISBN 9781559213035.
- ISBN 978-4122020559.
- Keffer, David. "Outlaws of the Marsh: A Somewhat Less Than Critical Commentary". Poison Pie Publishing House. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- Li, Mengxia (1992). 108 Heroes from the Water Margin (in Chinese). EPB Publishers. p. 33. ISBN 9971-0-0252-3.
- Miyamoto, Yoko (2011). "Water Margin: Chinese Robin Hood and His Bandits". Demystifying Confucianism. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- Shibusawa, Kou (1989), Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Koei, pp. 89–90, 93
- Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.