Du Qian
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摸着天
| Du Qian | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
 A depiction of Du Qian by Utagawa Kuniyoshi | |
| First appearance | Chapter 11 |
| Nickname | "Touching the Sky" 摸着天 |
| Rank | 83rd, Demon Star (地妖星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
| Infantry leader of Liangshan | |
| Origin | Bandit leader from Liangshan Marsh |
| Names | |
| Simplified Chinese | 杜迁 |
| Traditional Chinese | 杜遷 |
| Pinyin | Dù Qiān |
| Wade–Giles | Tu Ch'ien |
Du Qian is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Touching the Sky", he ranks 83rd among the 108 Stars of Destiny and 47th among the 72 Earthly Fiends.
When Liangshan Marsh is first mentioned in Water Margin, it is occupied by bandits led by Wang Lun, Du Qian and Song Wan. Before coming to this water-locked place, Wang and Du apparently had been drifting around together and were once sheltered by the nobleman Chai Jin. After setting up a stronghold at Liangshan, they expand their band to about 800 men. Wang Lun takes the place of chief, with Du Qian as his top assistant. Song Wan subsequently joins them and takes the third position.
Lin Chong joins Liangshan
Du Qian, along with Wang Lun and Song Wan, is first mentioned when the nobleman Chai Jin suggests to the former imperial troops instructor Lin Chong, who has killed three men sent by Grand Marshal Gao Qiu to murder him in Cangzhou, that he could take refuge in Liangshan. However, when Lin Chong arrives at the stronghold, Wang Lun is worried that Lin, a good fighter, would usurp his place. He tries to send him away with gifts and excuses. But Du Qian, Song Wan and Zhu Gui, who runs an outlying inn which acts as a lookout for Liangshan, pleads on Lin's behalf. Wang Lun eventually allows Lin Chong to stay but keeps him at a low position.