Qin Ming

Qin Ming
Water Margin character
An illustration of Qin Ming by Chen Hongshou
First appearance	Chapter 34
Nickname	"Fiery Thunderbolt" 霹靂火
Rank	7th, Fierce Star (天猛星) of 36 Heavenly Spirits
Vanguard General of the Five Tiger Generals of Liangshan
Origin	Imperial general
Ancestral home / Place of origin	Kaizhou (present-day Fengcheng, Liaoning)
Weapon	Wolf-toothed mace
Names
Simplified Chinese	秦明
Traditional Chinese	秦明
Pinyin	Qín Míng
Wade–Giles	Ch'in Ming

Qin Ming is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Fiery Thunderbolt", he ranked seventh among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny.

Background

A native of Kaizhou (開州; present-day Fengcheng, Liaoning), Qin Ming is a high-ranking military commander serving in Qingzhou (青州; in present-day Shandong). He was nicknamed "Fiery Thunderbolt" due to his thunderous voice, fiery temper and impetuousness in battles, which made him a fearsome but reckless warrior. His weapon is a sort of spiked club known in Chinese as "wolf's teeth mace" (狼牙棒).

Conflict with the bandits of Mount Qingfeng

When Murong Yanda, the governor of Qingzhou, was informed that Hua Rong, the garrison commander of Qingfeng Fort (清風寨; in present-day Qingzhou, Shandong), which was in his jurisdiction, had joined the outlaws at nearby Mount Qingfeng (清風山), he ordered Qin Ming to lead a military force to eliminate them. Earlier, Qin's martial arts student Huang Xin, who was sent by Murong to Qingfeng Fort to deal with Hua Rong, had captured Hua. But Hua and Song Jiang, Hua's friend and the source of the row, were rescued from him by the three bandit chiefs of Mount Qingfeng - Yan Shun, Wang Ying and Zheng Tianshou. Huang was forced to hole himself up in the fort. Qin Ming was sent as Mount Qingfeng is deemed hard to suppress.

Qin Ming battled with Hua Rong on horseback but neither prevailed. Hua then feigned defeat and fled. Knowing that Qin easily loses his cool, Hua lured him to gallop round Mount Qingfeng. Finally, madly enraged and tired, Qin fell into a dug pit. He was taken to Song Jiang, who untied him and tried to win him over with warm words. Although Qin takes to Song, he turned down his plea, swearing that he would rather live and die a Song official. But he agreed to rest overnight at the stronghold.

The following day, when Qin Ming returns to Qingzhou, he found the city's suburb razed with the residents killed. When he reached Qingzhou, Murong Yanda barred his entry and accused him from the top of the city's gate of leading the outlaws to commit the carnage. To punish Qin, Murong has executed his entire family, including his wife. Qin tried to force his way into Qingzhou, but gave up under a shower of arrows. As he wondered aimlessly and sorrowfully, he met Song Jiang, Hua Rong and the bandit chiefs of Mount Qingfeng. He was then told the bloodbath was their work, carried out when he spent the night at the stronghold and led by a man disguised as him. Qin is furious but was appeased after Song said that he will arrange for Hua Rong's sister to marry him as compensation.

After defecting to the bandits, Qin Ming convinced Huang Xin to surrender Qingfeng Fort and join the group as well. As Qingzhou is likely to send a bigger force, the group took Song Jiang's advice and abandoned Mount Qingfeng to join the bandits of Liangshan.

Life at Liangshan

Later during Liangshan's battle at Qingzhou, Qin Ming killed Murong Yanda to avenge his family. That came as Huyan Zhuo, after his defeat by Liangshan, has fled to Qingzhou in the hopes of redeeming himself by wiping out the bandits there. One of the strongholds is Mount Twin Dragons, which, having found Huyan a tough opponent, requested help from Liangshan. Song Jiang came to Qingzhou with a force and captured Huyan, who succumbed to Song's warm treatment. Huyan tricked Murong Yanda to open the gate of Qingzhou. Once the governor appeared at the gate, Qin Ming rode forth and smashed him to death.

As one of the best fighters of Liangshan, Qin Ming participated in most of its battles. A few times he almost lost his life due to his impetuous temper.

Death

Qin Ming is appointed as one of the Five Tiger Generals of the Liangshan cavalry after the 108 Stars of Destiny came together in what was called the Grand Assembly, He participated in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in the Song territory following amnesty from Emperor Huizong for Liangshan.

In the attack of Qingxi County (清溪縣; present-day Chun'an County, Zhejiang) in the campaign against the rebel Fang La, Qin Ming fights Fang Jie on horseback. Fang's deputy Du Wei hurled his daggers at Qin. Qin dodged them but Fang seized the chance to spear him to death.

References

• Buck, Pearl S. (2006). All Men are Brothers. Moyer Bell. ISBN 9781559213035.
• Miyazaki, Ichisada (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. 15. 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. 64, 91
• Zhang, Lin Ching (2009). Biographies of Characters in Water Margin. Writers Publishing House. ISBN 978-7506344784.