宋(song)清出場于《水(shui)滸傳》的(de)第二十(shi)二回“閻(yan)婆(po)大鬧鄆城(cheng)縣,朱仝義釋宋(song)公(gong)明”。宋(song)江(jiang)怒(nu)殺了閻(yan)婆(po)惜(xi),知縣因(yin)為(wei)跟宋(song)江(jiang)有交情,本不想追(zhui)(zhui)究宋(song)江(jiang),但在閻(yan)婆(po)惜(xi)的(de)情夫張文遠(yuan)多(duo)次要求下,只(zhi)得根(gen)據張文遠(yuan)所(suo)說,派幾(ji)個(ge)公(gong)人去宋(song)家村勾追(zhui)(zhui)宋(song)江(jiang)之父宋(song)太(tai)公(gong)和宋(song)江(jiang)之弟宋(song)清來審問。
公人到了宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)家(jia)村,宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)太公說自己與宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)清“在此荒(huang)村,守(shou)些田畝過活”,并與宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)脫(tuo)離了關系。知(zhi)(zhi)縣(xian)想以此為由不捉拿宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)江(jiang),但(dan)張文遠指使閻婆繼(ji)續糾纏,聲稱宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)清藏匿了宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)。知(zhi)(zhi)縣(xian)無法(fa),只能派朱(zhu)仝、雷橫再去宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)家(jia)莊,搜出宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)。宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)的(de)確藏匿在家(jia)中,但(dan)朱(zhu)仝、雷橫因與宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)有交情,故意向(xiang)知(zhi)(zhi)縣(xian)隱瞞。
宋江擺脫了(le)(le)追捕后,父(fu)子三人急忙(mang)商議逃亡之事。宋太公(gong)留在家中,宋江與(yu)宋清(qing)一同,當晚四更就動身離開。逃亡前,宋清(qing)做了(le)(le)伴當打(da)扮。這是宋清(qing)第一次正(zheng)式登場。
宋(song)(song)清與宋(song)(song)江(jiang)一同離開宋(song)(song)家(jia)村后,不知投奔(ben)何人。這時(shi)宋(song)(song)清提出,柴(chai)進是(shi)(shi)江(jiang)湖上出名的人物(wu),是(shi)(shi)大(da)周(zhou)皇帝的子孫,可以去投奔(ben)他(ta)。宋(song)(song)江(jiang)表(biao)示同意(yi)。于是(shi)(shi)兩人一路到了滄州柴(chai)進東莊。
柴進對宋江(jiang)表示(shi)很歡(huan)迎,更擺下酒食。在這(zhe)過(guo)程中,宋清一直是陪同宋江(jiang)的身份。并無單獨(du)的表現。
在(zai)柴(chai)進莊上(shang),宋江結識了武(wu)(wu)松(song),宋清(qing)也因(yin)此與武(wu)(wu)松(song)認識。
宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)常常陪伴(ban)武(wu)松(song)飲酒(jiu),兩人建(jian)立起交情(qing)。一(yi)(yi)天武(wu)松(song)要(yao)回(hui)清(qing)河縣,宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)送他(ta)一(yi)(yi)程,宋(song)(song)(song)清(qing)也(ye)陪伴(ban)在一(yi)(yi)旁。臨別前(qian),三人在一(yi)(yi)個(ge)酒(jiu)店(dian)內一(yi)(yi)起喝了(le)酒(jiu),宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)與武(wu)松(song)結拜為兄弟。宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)又叫(jiao)宋(song)(song)(song)清(qing)取出一(yi)(yi)錠十兩銀子,送與武(wu)松(song)。
此后(hou)《水滸傳》進入著名(ming)的“武十回(hui)”部分。武松(song)醉(zui)打孔(kong)亮,被抓到了(le)孔(kong)家(jia)(jia)莊后(hou),恰好又碰見了(le)宋(song)江(jiang)。這(zhe)時宋(song)清的去向才被交待出來(lai)。原來(lai)宋(song)江(jiang)怕父(fu)親煩惱,已經讓(rang)宋(song)清回(hui)家(jia)(jia)去了(le)。而(er)宋(song)江(jiang)的兩個徒弟(di)孔(kong)明(ming)、孔(kong)亮之(zhi)父(fu)孔(kong)太公(gong)與宋(song)清聯系上(shang),得(de)知宋(song)江(jiang)去向后(hou),便把(ba)宋(song)江(jiang)接到了(le)孔(kong)家(jia)(jia)莊。
后來(lai)宋(song)(song)江與清(qing)風山燕順、王(wang)英、鄭天壽(shou)以及花(hua)榮(rong)、秦明、黃信(xin)(xin)等(deng)人一同投奔(ben)梁(liang)山途中,遇(yu)上(shang)石將軍石勇(yong)(yong),石勇(yong)(yong)說他(ta)帶來(lai)了宋(song)(song)清(qing)的信(xin)(xin),宋(song)(song)江看(kan)了,信(xin)(xin)上(shang)說宋(song)(song)太公已經去世,因此宋(song)(song)江立即轉(zhuan)身回家(jia)。
宋(song)江回家(jia)后,發(fa)現父親宋(song)太公什么事(shi)也(ye)沒有,便對宋(song)清(qing)大怒,罵(ma)他“忤逆(ni)畜生”,故(gu)意戲(xi)弄自己。宋(song)太公解釋,這(zhe)(zhe)是他怕宋(song)江去落草(cao),想(xiang)他快點回家(jia),才(cai)讓宋(song)清(qing)這(zhe)(zhe)樣寫的信。
宋江(jiang)向官府自(zi)首,獲得(de)赦(she)宥,只(zhi)判了發配江(jiang)州。宋清送了宋江(jiang)一程路(lu)。
在第四十二回“還道(dao)村受(shou)三卷天(tian)(tian)(tian)書,宋(song)(song)公(gong)明遇(yu)九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)玄女”中,宋(song)(song)江已上(shang)梁山(shan)(shan),要下山(shan)(shan)去(qu)搬取宋(song)(song)太公(gong)上(shang)山(shan)(shan)來(lai)。到宋(song)(song)家村后,宋(song)(song)清告訴(su)他(ta),因為(wei)江州劫法場一(yi)事,父子二人(ren)已被官府盯緊,并讓宋(song)(song)江趕(gan)緊叫(jiao)梁山(shan)(shan)派人(ren)來(lai)救(jiu)。宋(song)(song)江經(jing)過(guo)還道(dao)村遇(yu)九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)玄女的奇遇(yu)后,梁山(shan)(shan)好漢終(zhong)于來(lai)救(jiu),宋(song)(song)清和宋(song)(song)太公(gong)都(dou)得以(yi)安全(quan)上(shang)山(shan)(shan)。
不久以(yi)后,宋清被(bei)吳用安排(pai)了“專(zhuan)管筵宴”的差事。
此后(hou),宋清在多(duo)次職(zhi)務分配中,都被安排(pai)了排(pai)設筵席的職(zhi)務。
梁山大(da)聚義時,宋(song)清(qing)位列(lie)一百單八將中(zhong),在石(shi)碣上的(de)名號為“地俊星鐵(tie)扇子宋(song)清(qing)”,排(pai)第(di)76位。職務(wu)為“掌(zhang)管專一排(pai)設(she)筵宴”
梁山受招(zhao)安后,宋(song)清跟隨(sui)大軍南(nan)征(zheng)(zheng)北戰,參與了(le)征(zheng)(zheng)遼、征(zheng)(zheng)田虎、征(zheng)(zheng)王慶、征(zheng)(zheng)方臘全部四次戰爭(zheng),期間(jian)有時(shi)在宋(song)江部下擔任“偏(pian)將(jiang)”,但更主要的職責仍然是(shi)在慶功等場(chang)合(he)排設(she)筵席(xi)。在征(zheng)(zheng)遼期間(jian),宋(song)清還曾受命與蕭讓一同(tong)回東京買藥(yao)。
征方(fang)臘結(jie)束(shu)后,宋(song)(song)(song)清(qing)得以幸存,并成為回東京受(shou)封(feng)(feng)的偏(pian)將(jiang)之一,被(bei)封(feng)(feng)“武奕郎”。后來與宋(song)(song)(song)江一同回鄉,這(zhe)時宋(song)(song)(song)太(tai)公已(yi)經去世,宋(song)(song)(song)江把(ba)家業交給宋(song)(song)(song)清(qing)管理。宋(song)(song)(song)清(qing)雖受(shou)了官爵,但留在家中務(wu)農(nong),奉祀宗親香火。又將(jiang)將(jiang)多余錢帛散給民眾。
宋(song)江被奸臣用毒酒害死后,宋(song)清承襲(xi)宋(song)江名爵,但(dan)仍在鄆城為農(nong),朝(chao)廷又賞他(ta)錢十萬貫,田三千畝。后來宋(song)清得一子(zi)宋(song)安平(ping),應過(guo)科舉(ju),官至秘(mi)書學士。
宋(song)(song)清(qing)(qing)在征(zheng)方臘結束后(hou)幸存,因此在明末清(qing)(qing)初陳忱(chen)著名(ming)的百回本水(shui)滸(hu)續書《水(shui)滸(hu)后(hou)傳》中,宋(song)(song)清(qing)(qing)與其子宋(song)(song)安平都有(you)登場。在此書中,宋(song)(song)清(qing)(qing)與宋(song)(song)安平歷盡磨(mo)難,終于與在暹羅創業(ye)的李俊會合,宋(song)(song)清(qing)(qing)被封為(wei)光祿(lu)寺正卿,宋(song)(song)安平為(wei)翰林院學(xue)士(shi)。
此外,在70回本續書《蕩寇(kou)志(zhi)》《殘水(shui)滸》《水(shui)滸新傳》《賊(zei)三國》等小說(shuo)中,宋清都(dou)有登場。
袁闊成(cheng)的長篇(pian)評書《水泊(bo)梁(liang)山(shan)》,宋(song)清是一位武功(gong)高手,掌中一把鑌鐵扇子。
20世紀80年代初(chu)山東版電視劇《水滸(hu)傳》:李健(jian)國飾宋清
1998年(nian)央視版電視劇《水(shui)滸傳》:李寶軍飾(shi)宋清
2011年鞠覺亮導演版電視劇《水滸傳》:李小龍(與同(tong)名已故功夫(fu)巨星無關(guan))飾宋清
對宋(song)(song)清的(de)評(ping)價,多從其綽(chuo)號“鐵扇子(zi)”入手,因為這(zhe)個綽(chuo)號意義不明,所以對此(ci)綽(chuo)號的(de)理(li)解也直接影響到(dao)了對宋(song)(song)清這(zhe)個人(ren)物的(de)評(ping)價。有(you)人(ren)認(ren)為他是(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)個“飯(fan)桶”,正如不能(neng)扇風的(de)“鐵扇子(zi)”,完全靠著宋(song)(song)江的(de)關系才能(neng)在(zai)108將中占一(yi)(yi)個位置,還得到(dao)了排設筵席(xi)的(de)肥差(cha)。也有(you)人(ren)認(ren)為宋(song)(song)清實際上善(shan)于為人(ren)處事,低調做人(ren),雖然沒(mei)有(you)打打殺(sha)殺(sha)的(de)本(ben)領,卻能(neng)在(zai)險(xian)惡的(de)綠林叢中占有(you)一(yi)(yi)席(xi)之地,并不是(shi)(shi)等閑之輩。如金圣嘆金圣嘆在(zai)點評(ping)《水滸傳》時(shi),曾寫(xie)道:“宋(song)(song)清不是(shi)(shi)公弟,亦復胸中自有(you)一(yi)(yi)片。” 而現代學者馬幼(you)垣則評(ping)價宋(song)(song)清為梁山(shan)上“最本(ben)領隱晦的(de)人(ren)”,甚(shen)至認(ren)為他應(ying)該進入天罡星的(de)行列。