Shi Song (simplified: 史松, traditional: 史松, pinyin: Shǐ Sōng, jyutping: si2 cung4), nicknamed Black Dragon Whip (黑龙鞭 — Hēilóng Biān), is an imperial guard who is killed by Wei Xiaobao (韦小宝) while trying to arrest Mao Shiba (茅十八) in The Deer and the Cauldron.
Biography
Service as imperial guard
Shi Song serves as an imperial guard in the Qing court, responsible for palace security and the enforcement of imperial law. His nickname “Black Dragon Whip” reflects his expertise with the whip as a weapon and his reputation as a skilled guard.
As an imperial guard, Shi Song is part of the broader security apparatus of the Qing court, working to maintain order and enforce imperial authority.
Attempt to arrest Mao Shiba
Shi Song attempts to arrest Mao Shiba, an outlaw who helps Wei Xiaobao. This encounter occurs early in the novel, when Wei Xiaobao is still a young boy and Mao Shiba is his first friend and protector.
Shi Song’s attempt to arrest Mao Shiba demonstrates how imperial guards were responsible for enforcing imperial law and capturing outlaws and criminals.
Death at the hands of Wei Xiaobao
Shi Song is killed by Wei Xiaobao during the confrontation over Mao Shiba’s arrest. This is one of Wei Xiaobao’s early acts of violence and demonstrates his willingness to protect his friends, even at the cost of killing imperial guards.
Shi Song’s death represents the theme of the vulnerability of imperial guards and the dangerous consequences of confronting individuals like Wei Xiaobao, who are willing to use violence to protect their friends.
Significance
Shi Song represents the theme of the vulnerability of imperial guards and the dangerous nature of enforcing imperial law. His death at the hands of Wei Xiaobao demonstrates how guards like Shi Song could become victims when they attempted to carry out their duties, even against relatively minor threats.
His character also highlights the theme of early character development, showing how Wei Xiaobao’s first act of killing an imperial guard sets the stage for his later adventures and demonstrates his willingness to use violence when necessary.
Shi Song’s character contributes to the broader theme of the dangerous nature of imperial service and the various threats that imperial guards faced, showing how guards like Shi Song could become victims when they attempted to enforce imperial law against determined opponents.