Chinese Name: Song Qing 

Japanese Name: Tetsusenshi Sōsei

Rank: 76th of the 108 Stars of Destiny

Nickname: Iron Fan

Song Qing was the younger brother of Song Jiang (plate 107). He spent most of his time taking care of their father and working the family farm. He was forced to join the Liangshan bandits in order to evade the authorities who were pursuing Song Jiang, as they would likely go after his family members as well. 

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The Liangshan bandits were eventually granted amnesty by the Emperor and were sent to fight Fang La and his bandit army in the south. In the end Liangshan proved victorious, though the majority of the 108 chieftains died during the campaign—over half were killed in battles and many more succumbed to injuries or illness sustained during the prolonged fighting. When the fighting was finally over, Song Jiang and Song Qing went back to their home to visit their father, but upon arrival they discovered he had recently passed. Together, they buried him, and Song Qing stayed behind to maintain the family farm. 

Song Jiang was given an official post as the governor of Chuzhou for successfully defeating Fang La. When Song Jiang died, the Emperor offered his position to Song Qing, but he declined saying he wished only to remain at his home and work his family’s farm. The Emperor appreciated Song Qing’s sentimentality and sent him 100,000 strings of coin and gave him 500,000 new acres of land. When Song Qing’s son was of age, the Emperor appointed him as Secretary Scholar. 

Song Qing is depicted here in his old age working his farm.

Isaac Nichols Original