An Jianqing (simplified: 安剑清, traditional: 安劍清, pinyin: Ān Jiànqīng, jyutping: on1 gim3 cing1) was the commander of the secret police (锦衣卫指挥使 — Jǐnyīwèi Zhǐhuīshǐ) who served the Chongzhen Emperor (崇祯皇帝), the husband of An Daniang (安大娘), and the father of An Xiaohui (安小慧) in Sword Stained with Royal Blood.
Biography
Early life and training
An Jianqing was originally a disciple of Chu Dadao (楚大刀 — Chǔ Dàdāo), a martial arts master. He was trained in martial arts under Chu Dadao and married Chu Dadao’s daughter, An Daniang, with whom he had a daughter, An Xiaohui.
Initially, An Jianqing lived a normal life with his family, and they were described as having a harmonious and happy family life. However, An Jianqing’s ambition and desire for wealth and status would lead him down a dark path.
Joining the secret police
An Jianqing was driven by ambition and a desire for wealth and status (利禄熏心 — lìlù xūnxīn). He joined the secret police (锦衣卫 — Jǐnyīwèi), the imperial secret service, and rose through the ranks due to his martial arts skills. Eventually, he became the commander of the secret police (指挥使 — Zhǐhuīshǐ), serving directly under the Chongzhen Emperor.
His position as commander of the secret police gave him significant power and authority, but it also required him to carry out the emperor’s orders, which often involved acts of violence and oppression against the emperor’s enemies.
Betrayal and family estrangement
An Jianqing’s pursuit of wealth and status led him to commit terrible acts. In his quest for power, he betrayed his master Chu Dadao, causing Chu Dadao’s family to be destroyed (家破人亡 — jiāpòrénwáng). He also committed many other evil deeds in service of his ambition.
When An Daniang learned of An Jianqing’s betrayal and his evil deeds, she broke off all relations with him (恩断义绝 — ēnduànyìjué) and left with their daughter An Xiaohui. The family was torn apart by An Jianqing’s actions, and he lost the love and respect of his wife and daughter.
Service to the Chongzhen Emperor
As the commander of the secret police, An Jianqing served the Chongzhen Emperor loyally, carrying out the emperor’s orders. He was responsible for hunting down rebels and enemies of the state, and his position gave him significant influence in the imperial court.
However, An Jianqing’s loyalty to the emperor came at the cost of his family and his moral integrity. His service to the emperor required him to commit acts of violence and oppression, and his ambition led him to betray those who had once trusted him.
Participation in Prince Hui’s rebellion
An Jianqing was involved in Prince Hui’s (惠王 — Huìwáng) rebellion, a plot to overthrow the Chongzhen Emperor. During the rebellion, An Jianqing was wounded by Ajiu (阿九), the Chongzhen Emperor’s daughter, who was also known as Princess Changping.
After being wounded, An Jianqing was killed by Cao Huachun (曹化淳 — Cáo Huàchún), a eunuch who was involved in the rebellion. An Jianqing’s death came as a result of his participation in the failed rebellion, ending his life of ambition and betrayal.
Death and reconciliation
In some versions of the story, An Jianqing’s death was more complex. When Prince Hui’s rebellion failed and An Jianqing was dying from his wounds, he asked for forgiveness from his family. Yuan Chengzhi (袁承志) brought the dying An Jianqing to see An Daniang and An Xiaohui, and An Jianqing was able to reconcile with them before his death, receiving their forgiveness.
This reconciliation provided some closure for An Jianqing’s story, allowing him to make peace with his family before his death, despite the terrible acts he had committed in his life.
Personality and character
An Jianqing was characterised by his ambition, greed, and moral corruption. He was driven by a desire for wealth and status (利禄熏心 — lìlù xūnxīn), which led him to betray his master, destroy his family relationships, and commit many evil deeds.
His pursuit of power and status came at the cost of his personal relationships and moral integrity. He was willing to betray those who trusted him, including his master Chu Dadao, and he lost the love and respect of his wife and daughter due to his actions.
However, An Jianqing’s character also showed some complexity. His participation in Prince Hui’s rebellion suggested that he might have had some reservations about the Chongzhen Emperor’s rule, though his primary motivation remained his own ambition and self-interest.
Relationships
Family
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Chu Dadao (楚大刀) — An Jianqing’s master, whom An Jianqing betrayed in his quest for power and status. An Jianqing’s betrayal of Chu Dadao led to the destruction of Chu Dadao’s family.
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An Daniang — An Jianqing’s wife and Chu Dadao’s daughter. She broke off all relations with An Jianqing after learning of his betrayal and evil deeds, leaving with their daughter.
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An Xiaohui — An Jianqing’s daughter, who grew up with her mother after An Daniang left An Jianqing. An Jianqing’s relationship with An Xiaohui was damaged by his actions, though they were able to reconcile before his death.
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Cui Ximin — An Jianqing’s son-in-law, who married An Xiaohui. Cui Ximin comforted An Xiaohui when An Jianqing was dying.
Legacy
An Jianqing’s story served as a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of ambition and the pursuit of power. His betrayal of his master, the destruction of his family relationships, and his participation in political intrigue demonstrated how the desire for wealth and status could lead to moral corruption and personal tragedy.
His character exemplified the complex moral landscape of Sword Stained with Royal Blood, where loyalty to the state could conflict with personal morality, and where ambition could destroy personal relationships and lead to one’s downfall.
An Jianqing’s eventual death and reconciliation with his family provided some closure to his story, showing that even those who had committed terrible acts could seek redemption, though the consequences of their actions could not be undone.