Zhang Qing

Zhang Qing is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Featherless Arrow", he ranks 16th among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Background The novel depicts Zhang Qing as a handsome, energetic and agile warrior with waist like that of a wolf, arms like those of an ape and a body like that of a tiger. Originally from Zhangde Prefecture (彰德府; present-day Anyang, Henan), he serves as the garrison commandant of Dongchang Prefecture (東昌府; present-day Liaocheng, Shandong). He is nicknamed "Featherless Arrow" because he can fling stones with deadly accuracy. Joining Liangshan When a force from Liangshan Marsh led by Lu Junyi comes to demand food from Dongchang, Zhang Qing rides out to fight them. He awes the outlaws when he injures Hao Siwen with a stone. Song Jiang comes to reinforce Lu Junyi. As Zhang Qing takes on one after another on horseback some of Liangshan's top warriors, he again displays his deadly stone-hurling skill. He injures or shocks Xu Ning, Yan Shun, Han Tao, Peng Qi, Xuan Zan, Huyan Zhuo, Yang Zhi, Zhu Tong, Lei Heng, and Suo Chao with his stones. He even captures Liu Tang, who, challenging him on foot, is knocked over with a stone. Guan Sheng could feel the impact of Zhang's stone when his sabre quivers as he whacks it away. Dong Ping, who knows Zhang Qing well having been the commandant in neighbouring Dongping prefecture, manages to dodge his stones and gets close to him. The two tussle on horseback when Zhang, abandoning his spear, seizes the far ends of Dong's two spears. Meanwhile, Gong Wang and Ding Desun, Zhang's two lieutenants, are captured, the first by Lin Chong and Hua Rong and the other by Lü Fang and Guo Sheng. Finding himself now unaided, Zhang feels nervous and gallops back to his own ranks. Dong pursues him and, forgetting to dodge, is nearly hit by a stone which scrapes past his ear.