Zhang Qing (Featherless Arrow)
Encyclopedia
Zhang Qing is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He ranks 16th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Featherless Arrow".
, Henan
), and is first introduced in the novel as a general from Dongchang Prefecture
. Zhang Qing's famous "flying stones" technique earns him the nickname "Featherless Arrow".
When the Liangshan outlaws attack Dongchang Prefecture, the prefect sends Zhang Qing to lead Dongchang's army to counter the attack. Zhang Qing wins the first battle by injuring Hao Siwen with his flying stones. Song Jiang
leads the other outlaws to reinforce Lu Junyi
. In the subsequent battles, Zhang Qing injures Liangshan's Xu Ning
, Yan Shun
, Han Tao
, Peng Qi
, Xuan Zan
, Huyan Zhuo, Liu Tang
, Yang Zhi, Zhu Tong
, Lei Heng
and Suo Chao
with his flying stones. Liu Tang is captured after his defeat. The only two Liangshan warriors who manage to put up a fight against Zhang Qing's flying stones are Guan Sheng
and Dong Ping
, due to their quick reflexes. Guan Sheng succeeds in defending himself from the stones with his guan dao
but is unable to switch from defence to attack. Dong Ping succeeds in blocking the stones with his spears but forgets about them when he pursues Zhang Qing after the latter feigns defeat and retreats.
devises a plan to lure Zhang Qing into a trap by the riverbank to seize their supplies. As Wu Yong predicted, Zhang Qing leads his men to attack the convoy protecting the supplies. He stuns Lu Zhishen
with his stones but Lu is saved by Wu Song
in time. After Zhang Qing enters the trap, Gongsun Sheng
uses his magic powers to make the sky overcast. Zhang Qing loses his way in the darkness and falls into the river, where he is captured by Zhang Shun
and the Liangshan navy. Song Jiang treats Zhang Qing with respect and manages to persuade him to join their cause of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf". Zhang Qing tricks the prefect of Dongchang into opening the city gates and the Liangshan forces swarm in and capture the city. Zhang Qing recommends Huangfu Duan
, a famous veterinarian, to join Liangshan.
invaders and other rebel forces. Zhang Qing strikes fear in the hearts of the Liao army for slaying several Liao generals in battle with his "flying stones" technique. During the Tian Hu
campaign, Zhang Qing earns the highest credit of victory for capturing Tian Hu with the help of Chou Qiongying
when Tian tried to escape after his defeat. Qiongying is the foster daughter of Wu Li, one of Tian Hu's generals. Zhang Qing had met Qiongying earlier in mystical dreams, and was asked by a mysterious spirit to teach her his "flying stones" technique. In a ruse by Wu Yong
, An Daoquan takes on the alias "Quan Ling" and gains entry into Wu Li (Qiongying's stepfather)'s residence in order to heal his arrow wounds, while Zhang Qing accompanies An Daoquan in disguise as his brother "Quan Yu". After gaining the trust of Wu Li with Zhang Qing's handsome appearance and expertise in martial arts, Zhang and Qiongying are married. On their wedding night, Zhang Qing reveals to Qiongying that he is actually one of the Liangshan generals, and Qiongying reveals that she is desperately trying to organize her own forces in order to avenge her parents, whom Tian Hu murdered, and that she is only fighting for Tian to gain the trust of his soldiers.
During the Fang La
campaign, Zhang Qing and Dong Ping are assigned to attack Dusong Pass. Fang La's general Li Tianrun
fights with Dong Ping and Dong is forced to retreat as his arm has been injured by cannon fire. Zhang Qing replaces Dong Ping and continues the fight with Li Tianrun. He attempts to spear Li Tianrun but misses and the sharp end of his spear is stuck in a tree. Zhang Qing tries to pull his spear out but fails and Li Tianrun seizes the opportunity to stab him in the abdomen and kill him. Upon hearing news of his death, Qiongying cried for days and later brings his body back to his hometown in Zhangde for a proper burial.
Water Margin
Water Margin , also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, All Men Are Brothers, Men of the Marshes, or The Marshes of Mount Liang, is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.Attributed to Shi Nai'an and written in vernacular Chinese, the story, set in the Song Dynasty,...
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
Four Great Classical Novels
The Four Great Classical Novels, or the Four Major Classical Novels of Chinese literature, are the four novels commonly regarded by scholars to be the greatest and most influential of pre-modern Chinese fiction. Dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties, they are well known to most Chinese readers...
of Chinese literature
Chinese literature
Chinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
. He ranks 16th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Featherless Arrow".
Background
The Water Margin describes Zhang Qing as having a waist like a wolf's, arms like those of an ape's and a body like a tiger's. He has a handsome and energetic appearance and is very agile in battle. He is a native of Zhangde Prefecture (present-day AnyangAnyang
Anyang is a prefecture-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the east, Hebi and Xinxiang to the south, and the provinces of Shanxi and Hebei to its west and north respectively....
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
), and is first introduced in the novel as a general from Dongchang Prefecture
Dongchangfu District
Dongchangfu is a district of the Chinese province of Shandong. It is administered by Liaocheng. It has an area of 1,254 square kilometres and around 1 million inhabitants .-External links:*...
. Zhang Qing's famous "flying stones" technique earns him the nickname "Featherless Arrow".
When the Liangshan outlaws attack Dongchang Prefecture, the prefect sends Zhang Qing to lead Dongchang's army to counter the attack. Zhang Qing wins the first battle by injuring Hao Siwen with his flying stones. Song Jiang
Song Jiang
Song Jiang was the leader of a group of outlaws who lived during the Song Dynasty. The outlaws were active in the present-day provinces of Shandong and Henan before their eventual surrender to the government. Song Jiang is also featured as a character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great...
leads the other outlaws to reinforce Lu Junyi
Lu Junyi
Lu Junyi is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 2nd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Jade Unicorn"...
. In the subsequent battles, Zhang Qing injures Liangshan's Xu Ning
Xu Ning
Xu Ning is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 18th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Gold Lancer".-Background:...
, Yan Shun
Yan Shun
Yan Shun is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 50th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 14th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Multicoloured Tiger".-Background:...
, Han Tao
Han Tao
Han Tao is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 42nd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 6th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "General of Hundred Victories".-Background:...
, Peng Qi
Peng Qi
Peng Qi is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 43rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 7th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "General of Heavenly Vision".-Background:...
, Xuan Zan
Xuan Zan
Xuan Zan is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 40th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 4th of the 72 Earthly Fiends...
, Huyan Zhuo, Liu Tang
Liu Tang
Liu Tang is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 21st of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Red Haired Devil".-Background:...
, Yang Zhi, Zhu Tong
Zhu Tong
Zhu Tong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 12th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Lord of the Beautiful Beard".-Background:...
, Lei Heng
Lei Heng
Lei Heng is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 25th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Winged Tiger".-Background:...
and Suo Chao
Suo Chao
Suo Chao is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 19th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Impatient Vanguard".-Background:...
with his flying stones. Liu Tang is captured after his defeat. The only two Liangshan warriors who manage to put up a fight against Zhang Qing's flying stones are Guan Sheng
Guan Sheng
Guan Sheng is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 5th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Great Blade".-Background:...
and Dong Ping
Dong Ping
Dong Ping is a character from the epic Chinese novel The Water Margin. He is nicknamed "General of Double Spears" and ranks 15th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes.-Background:...
, due to their quick reflexes. Guan Sheng succeeds in defending himself from the stones with his guan dao
Guan dao
A Guan Dao, Kwan Dao, or Kuan Tao is a type of Chinese pole weapon that is currently used in some forms of Chinese martial arts. In Chinese it is properly called a 偃月刀 yan yue dao , the name under which it always appears in texts from the Song to Qing dynasties such as the Wujing Zongyao and...
but is unable to switch from defence to attack. Dong Ping succeeds in blocking the stones with his spears but forgets about them when he pursues Zhang Qing after the latter feigns defeat and retreats.
Joining Liangshan
The outlaws gather to discuss a strategy to deal with Zhang Qing. Wu YongWu Yong
Wu Yong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 3rd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Resourceful Star".-Background:...
devises a plan to lure Zhang Qing into a trap by the riverbank to seize their supplies. As Wu Yong predicted, Zhang Qing leads his men to attack the convoy protecting the supplies. He stuns Lu Zhishen
Lu Zhishen
Lu Zhishen, nicknamed "Flowery Monk", or Sagacious Lu , is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He is the lead character in the first major story cycle of the novel, in which he comes to epitomize loyalty, strength, justice but...
with his stones but Lu is saved by Wu Song
Wu Song
Wu Song, nicknamed "Pilgrim", is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 14th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes. Wu Song also appears in the novel Jin Ping Mei, a spin-off of Water Margin...
in time. After Zhang Qing enters the trap, Gongsun Sheng
Gongsun Sheng
Gongsun Sheng is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 4th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Dragon in the Clouds".-Background:...
uses his magic powers to make the sky overcast. Zhang Qing loses his way in the darkness and falls into the river, where he is captured by Zhang Shun
Zhang Shun
Zhang Shun is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 30th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "White Stripe in the Waves".-Background:...
and the Liangshan navy. Song Jiang treats Zhang Qing with respect and manages to persuade him to join their cause of "delivering justice on Heaven's behalf". Zhang Qing tricks the prefect of Dongchang into opening the city gates and the Liangshan forces swarm in and capture the city. Zhang Qing recommends Huangfu Duan
Huangfu Duan
Huangfu Duan is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 57th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 21st of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Purple Bearded Count".-Background:...
, a famous veterinarian, to join Liangshan.
Campaigns and death
Zhang Qing becomes one of the Eight Tiger Cub Vanguard Generals of the Liangshan cavalry. After the outlaws are granted amnesty by the emperor, Zhang Qing follows them on their campaigns against the LiaoLiao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
invaders and other rebel forces. Zhang Qing strikes fear in the hearts of the Liao army for slaying several Liao generals in battle with his "flying stones" technique. During the Tian Hu
Tian Hu
Tian Hu is one of the antagonists in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Tian Hu is one of the three rebel leaders in China, together with Fang La and Wang Qing, that the Liangshan heroes have to defeat in the final chapters of the novel.-Biography:Tian...
campaign, Zhang Qing earns the highest credit of victory for capturing Tian Hu with the help of Chou Qiongying
Chou Qiongying
Qiu Qiongying, better known as Qiongying, is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature...
when Tian tried to escape after his defeat. Qiongying is the foster daughter of Wu Li, one of Tian Hu's generals. Zhang Qing had met Qiongying earlier in mystical dreams, and was asked by a mysterious spirit to teach her his "flying stones" technique. In a ruse by Wu Yong
Wu Yong
Wu Yong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 3rd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Resourceful Star".-Background:...
, An Daoquan takes on the alias "Quan Ling" and gains entry into Wu Li (Qiongying's stepfather)'s residence in order to heal his arrow wounds, while Zhang Qing accompanies An Daoquan in disguise as his brother "Quan Yu". After gaining the trust of Wu Li with Zhang Qing's handsome appearance and expertise in martial arts, Zhang and Qiongying are married. On their wedding night, Zhang Qing reveals to Qiongying that he is actually one of the Liangshan generals, and Qiongying reveals that she is desperately trying to organize her own forces in order to avenge her parents, whom Tian Hu murdered, and that she is only fighting for Tian to gain the trust of his soldiers.
During the Fang La
Fang La
Fang La was a rebel leader who lived during the Song Dynasty. He is also featured as one of the antagonists and nemesis of the 108 Liangshan heroes in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.-Biography:...
campaign, Zhang Qing and Dong Ping are assigned to attack Dusong Pass. Fang La's general Li Tianrun
Li Tianrun
Li Tianrun is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Li Tianrun is the Kingdom Stabilising Great General serving under the rebel leader, Fang La, one of the antagonists and enemy of the 108 Liangshan outlaws...
fights with Dong Ping and Dong is forced to retreat as his arm has been injured by cannon fire. Zhang Qing replaces Dong Ping and continues the fight with Li Tianrun. He attempts to spear Li Tianrun but misses and the sharp end of his spear is stuck in a tree. Zhang Qing tries to pull his spear out but fails and Li Tianrun seizes the opportunity to stab him in the abdomen and kill him. Upon hearing news of his death, Qiongying cried for days and later brings his body back to his hometown in Zhangde for a proper burial.