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Qian Qingjian

Qian Qingjian

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Qian Qingjian (simplified: 钱青健, traditional: 錢青健, pinyin: Qián Qīngjiàn, jyutping: cin4 cing1 gin6), known as the Funeral Axe, was one of the Four Ghosts of the Yellow River and a disciple of Sha Tongtian. He served Wanyan Honglie and was involved in the attempt to capture Temüjin during the confrontation at the cliff.

Biography

Service to Wanyan Honglie

Qian Qingjian 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, Qian Qingjian 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

Qian Qingjian 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, Qian Qingjian 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

Qian Qingjian next appeared at Niujia Village, where he swung his Funeral Axe in wide arcs to support Yang Kang. Guo Jing disrupted the formation, forced Qian to hack at empty air, and sent the four ghosts tumbling across the courtyard.

Ambush aftermath

He later helped ambush the Mongol envoys led by Tolui and Zhebie, but once Guo Jing broke the siege he fled with Wanyan Honglie. The novel never revisits him; supplemental notes imply that he faded from the prince’s retinue after the failure.

Personality and traits

Loyalty to employer

Qian Qingjian 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, Qian Qingjian operated as a professional mercenary, willing to work for various employers who could pay for their services.

Persistent and determined

Despite repeated defeats and setbacks, Qian Qingjian remained determined to complete his missions, showing his tenacity and unwillingness to give up easily.

Martial arts abilities

Funeral Axe techniques

Qian Qingjian specialised in the Funeral Axe, a paired-axe style that alternated chopping blows with hooking motions aimed at shields and spear shafts. Early serial chapters depicted heavy iron blades, while the revised editions changed them to lighter axes so that his speed—and reliance on coordinated attacks with the other ghosts—stood out more than raw strength.

Qinggong skills

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

Defensive techniques

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

Combat coordination

Qian Qingjian’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

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

Sha Tongtian

Qian Qingjian was a loyal disciple of Sha Tongtian, the “Dragon King of Devil’s Gate.” His respect and loyalty to his master was evident in his willingness to undertake dangerous missions and face powerful opponents.

Wanyan Honglie

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

Behind the scenes

Qian Qingjian’s character represents the professional mercenaries who operated in the jianghu during the late Song Dynasty, willing to serve various masters for payment. Television adaptations from 1983 and 2008 both retain him as the axe-wielding member of the Four Ghosts, reinforcing how his function is to highlight Guo Jing’s rapid progression while giving Wanyan Honglie a distinctive entourage.

See also