In the Water Margin
Song Qing is the seventy-sixth hero of Liangshan, born under the star Dijun (地俊星). He is Song Jiang's younger brother, a farmer of Song Family Village in Yuncheng who stays at home and cares for their old father, Squire Song, while his famous elder brother serves as a county clerk. His nickname is Iron Fan (铁扇子). He is no fighter, and the novel never pretends otherwise; his story is the story of a family trying to hold together while Song Jiang slides toward outlawry.
When Song Jiang kills Yan Poxi and has to run, Song Qing goes with him, and the two brothers take refuge at Chai Jin's manor. Later it is a letter in Song Qing's hand that calls Song Jiang home, at their father's wish, before he can join the bandits of Mount Qingfeng. In the end Liangshan brings Squire Song and Song Qing up the mountain to keep them safe from the authorities. At the grand assembly Song Qing is put in charge of the band's feasts. He is one of the survivors of the war against Fang La, and goes back to Song Family Village to farm and tend the family graves.
Key episodes
Flight to Chai Jin's manor. Wanted for murder, Song Jiang sets out with Song Qing to the estate of Chai Jin, who shelters fugitives. The brothers spend months there, and it is there that Song Jiang first meets Wu Song.
The letter of mourning. On the road to Liangshan, Song Jiang is handed a family letter in his brother's writing saying their father has died. He collapses in grief and rushes home, only to find the old man alive: Squire Song had Song Qing write the letter to stop him becoming an outlaw.
Master of the feasts. Liangshan is famous for its banquets, for brotherhood sworn over wine and meat. The man who lays out every one of them, by order of the grand assembly, is Song Qing.
