Chinese Name: Yan Qing 

Japanese Name: Rōshi Ensei 

Rank: 36th of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: The Prodigy 

Yan Qing (see also plate 93) was from the northern capital of Daming. He was over six feet tall, handsome, and of a very thin but muscular build. His skin was porcelain white and covered in flower tattoos. Orphaned at a young age, Yan Qing was adopted by the wealthy and well respected Lu Junyi, and grew up to be his top advisor. He was an excellent problem solver, could speak multiple dialects, and was said to be the smartest, most knowledgeable, and most adaptable of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Yan Qing was highly skilled in various forms of combat, especially wrestling, and his hunting skills were unparalleled. He was gifted musically and could play various instruments as well as sing and dance. 

Lu Junyi had been arrested under false charges and was being held at the Daming Prison awaiting execution (see plate 68 for story details). Song Jiang had wanted Lu Junyi to join the ranks at Liangshan, so when news reached the bandit stronghold that he was in trouble, they mounted a rescue mission. After Lu Junyi was rescued by Song Jiang and his men, he accepted the offer to join their legions and Yan Qing went with him. 

. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *.*

Yan Qing had been at Liangshan for some time when he heard of a wrestling match being held at the temple in Tai’an Prefecture. The reigning champion was a ten foot tall man—undefeated for two years—named Ren Yuan, who was known as, “Sky-Supporting Pillar”. Despite Yan Qing’s much smaller stature, he was confident he could best the giant man. When Li Kui (plates 36; 81; 107) heard of Yan Qing’s plan, he insisted on going as back up. 

Arriving at the temple, Yan Qing signed up to fight Ren Yuan. When the match began, Yan Qing quickly grabbed the massive wrestler, hoisted him onto his shoulders, spun him around five times, and threw him to the ground. Seeing their master had lost, Ren Yuan’s students went to steal the wrestling trophies and fights soon broke out among the audience. In the midst of the chaos, Li Kui went to Ren Yuan, who still lay on the ground in a daze, and beat him to death with a stone slab. 

The police arrived and the two bandits fought their way out and onto the roof of the temple. Lu Junyi had come to the match with 1000 Liangshan soldiers expecting there may be trouble, and arrived at the city gates just in time to see Yan Qing and Li Kui throwing roof tiles down on their attackers. Yan Qing and Li Kui jumped down from the roof to join their comrades, and they all escaped back to Liangshan Marsh. 

Yan Qing is shown here using a large post from the temple to fight Ren Yuan’s students. 

Kuniyoshi recreation