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Ma Qingxiong

Ma Qingxiong

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Ma Qingxiong (simplified: 马青雄, traditional: 馬青雄, pinyin: Mǎ Qīngxióng, jyutping: maa5 cing1 hung4) was a martial artist and one of the Four Ghosts of the Yellow River during the late Song Dynasty. As a member of this notorious group, he served Wanyan Honglie and was involved in the attempt to capture Temüjin during the confrontation at the cliff.

Biography

Service to Wanyan Honglie

Ma Qingxiong and his fellow Four Ghosts of the Yellow River were employed by Wanyan Honglie to capture Temüjin. They accompanied the Jin prince during the confrontation at the cliff, where Wanyan Honglie demanded Temujin’s surrender.

Attempt to capture Temujin

When Wanyan Honglie ordered the capture of Temüjin, Ma Qingxiong and his three companions rushed up the mountain using their qinggong skills. They were skilled martial artists, not ordinary soldiers, and were able to deflect the arrows shot by Zhebie and Borchu using soft shields.

Defeat by Ke Zhen’e

Ma Qingxiong and his companions were defeated by Ke Zhen’e, who threw them down the mountain one by one. Despite their martial arts skills, they were no match for the Jiangnan Seven Eccentrics member’s superior abilities.

Escape with Wanyan Honglie

After the defeat of Wang Khan and Jamukha’s forces, Ma Qingxiong and the other Four Ghosts fought their way out of the chaos, protecting Wanyan Honglie as they fled back to Zhongdu.

Skirmish at Niujia Village

Ma Qingxiong resurfaced at Niujia Village, where he wielded his Soul-Stealing Whip to snare Guo Jing’s ankles while the other ghosts pressed in. Guo Jing seized the whip and used Ma’s own momentum to smash him into a stone wall, forcing the ghosts to retreat in disarray.

Divergent endings

Later accounts diverge on Ma Qingxiong’s death. In the newspaper serial, he tried to withdraw from the Taihu bandit alliance and was ambushed by Lu Guanying, who killed him and dumped the body in the lake. The third-edition revision instead states that his subordinates accidentally struck him down during a chaotic melee after Guo Jing shattered their formation. Either way, he disappears from the narrative after the failed ambush on Tolui’s envoy party.

Personality and traits

Loyalty to employer

Ma Qingxiong demonstrated unwavering loyalty to Wanyan Honglie, willing to undertake dangerous missions to capture Temüjin and protect his employer during their escape.

Professional mercenary

As a member of the Four Ghosts of the Yellow River, Ma Qingxiong operated as a professional mercenary, willing to work for various employers who could pay for their services.

Practical approach to conflicts

Ma Qingxiong’s approach to conflicts reflected his practical nature and his focus on achieving concrete results rather than pursuing abstract principles or moral considerations.

Martial arts abilities

Qinggong skills

Ma Qingxiong possessed excellent qinggong skills, allowing him to rush up the mountain quickly and evade arrows shot by skilled archers like Zhebie and Borchu.

Soul-Stealing Whip

His Soul-Stealing Whip combined chain-whip mechanics with a weighted hook that could latch onto shields or weapons. The original serial described it as a segmented iron whip, while later editions lightened it so his advantage depended on teamwork with the other ghosts rather than raw striking power.

Defensive techniques

He was skilled in using soft shields to deflect incoming arrows, demonstrating his defensive martial arts abilities.

Combat coordination

Ma Qingxiong’s effectiveness was enhanced when fighting alongside his fellow Four Ghosts of the Yellow River. Their coordinated attacks and mutual support made them a dangerous group.

Relationships

Four Ghosts membership

Ma Qingxiong’s closest relationships were with his fellow Four Ghosts of the Yellow River: Shen Qinggang, Wu Qinglie, and Qian Qingjian. They worked together as a team and supported each other in various missions.

Wanyan Honglie

Ma Qingxiong was employed by Wanyan Honglie and demonstrated loyalty to the Jin prince, protecting him during their escape from the battlefield.

Behind the scenes

Ma Qingxiong’s character represents the professional mercenaries who operated in the jianghu during the late Song Dynasty, willing to serve various masters for payment. The serial edition killed him off at Lake Tai under Lu Guanying’s strike, whereas later book edits softened the scene to an accidental death. These tweaks highlight how the “Soul-Stealing Whip” primarily exists to showcase Guo Jing’s growth rather than to anchor a long-running subplot.

See also