Shi Qian

Shi Qian is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Flea on a Drum", he ranks 107th among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 71st among the 72 Earthly Fiends.

Background

Shi Qian is a thief from Gaotangzhou (高唐州; present-day Gaotang County, Shandong). Thin and small-sized, he is very agile and nimble. He is nicknamed "Flea on a Drum" for his excellent skills in scaling walls and moving on rooftops, which are requisite skills for burglary. He is active in the area around Jizhou (蓟州; present-day Ji County, Tianjin). He once ran into trouble with the authorities but was saved by the jailer Yang Xiong.

Joining Liangshan

One day, after robbing a tomb, he spots Yang Xiong killing his adulterous wife Pan Qiaoyun but remains hidden and continues observing. After overhearing Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu's conversation about joining the outlaw band at Liangshan Marsh, he shows himself and asks them to bring him along. On the way, the three men stop at an inn in the Zhu Family Village for a break.

A fight breaks out between Shi Qian and the innkeeper after the former steals a rooster from the inn and cooks it. After the furious innkeeper threatens to report them to the authorities for being in league with the Liangshan outlaws, the three men attempt to flee but Shi Qian falls into a trap and ends up being captured by the Zhus. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu encounter Du Xing, who leads them to his master Li Ying. Li Ying agrees to help them by writing an apology letter on their behalf and asking the Zhus to release Shi Qian. However, the Zhus not only refuse to release Shi Qian, but also hurl insults at Li Ying's messenger. When Li Ying goes to confront them, Zhu Biao fires an arrow and injures him. Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu then travel to Liangshan to seek help.

After some deliberation, the Liangshan outlaws decide to rescue Shi Qian and go to war with the Zhus, who have already been provoking Liangshan for some time. After three battles, the Liangshan outlaws defeat the Zhu forces and take over the village. Shi Qian gets rescued and he decides to join the outlaw band.

Life at Liangshan

During his life at Liangshan, Shi Qian makes a number of contributions, most notably his role in recruiting Xu Ning to join the outlaw band. Shi Qian breaks into Xu Ning's house at night and steals his lightweight armoured vest to lure him into a trap. Xu Ning falls for the ruse and goes after Shi Qian to retrieve his vest. He unsuspectingly consumes wine spiked with drugs and ends up becoming unconscious. While he is out cold, the outlaws bring him and his family to Liangshan. Xu Ning reluctantly joins the outlaw band and plays a significant role in training the Liangshan outlaws in the use of the hooked lance to defeat Huyan Zhuo's chain-linked armoured cavalry.

Shi Qian also plays a key role in rescuing Lu Junyi from the prison in Daming Prefecture. During the Lantern Festival, he infiltrates the city and starts a fire to create havoc and spark off fear and panic among the people. While the government forces are thrown into disarray, the Liangshan outlaws launch an attack on the city and succeed in saving Lu Junyi and their captured comrades.

Campaigns and death

Shi Qian becomes one of the scout leaders of Liangshan after the 108 Stars of Destiny come together in what is called the Grand Assembly. He follows the heroes on their campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces on Song territory after they received amnesty from Emperor Huizong. Although he is one of the few surviving Liangshan heroes after the final campaign against Fang La's rebel forces, he dies from an intestinal disease on the journey back to the imperial capital Dongjing.

References

• Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Ichisada, Miyazaki (1993). Suikoden: Kyoko no naka no Shijitsu (in Japanese). Chuo Koronsha. 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. 217. 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. 68, 94
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.