宋(song)(song)(song)(song)清(qing)出場于《水滸傳》的(de)第二(er)十二(er)回“閻婆(po)(po)大鬧(nao)鄆城縣,朱仝(tong)義釋宋(song)(song)(song)(song)公明”。宋(song)(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)怒(nu)殺了閻婆(po)(po)惜,知縣因為(wei)跟宋(song)(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)有交情(qing),本(ben)不(bu)想追究(jiu)宋(song)(song)(song)(song)江(jiang),但在閻婆(po)(po)惜的(de)情(qing)夫張文遠(yuan)(yuan)多次要求下(xia),只得根據(ju)張文遠(yuan)(yuan)所說,派幾個公人去宋(song)(song)(song)(song)家村(cun)勾追宋(song)(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)之(zhi)父宋(song)(song)(song)(song)太公和宋(song)(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)之(zhi)弟宋(song)(song)(song)(song)清(qing)來(lai)審問。
公(gong)人(ren)到了(le)宋(song)(song)(song)家村,宋(song)(song)(song)太公(gong)說自己(ji)與宋(song)(song)(song)清(qing)“在此荒村,守(shou)些田畝過活”,并與宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)脫離了(le)關系。知(zhi)(zhi)縣想以此為由(you)不捉拿宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang),但張文遠指使閻婆繼續糾(jiu)纏,聲(sheng)稱宋(song)(song)(song)清(qing)藏匿(ni)了(le)宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)。知(zhi)(zhi)縣無法(fa),只能派朱仝、雷橫再去宋(song)(song)(song)家莊,搜(sou)出宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)。宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)的確藏匿(ni)在家中,但朱仝、雷橫因與宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)有(you)交情,故意向知(zhi)(zhi)縣隱瞞。
宋(song)江擺脫了追捕后(hou),父子三人急忙商議逃亡之事。宋(song)太公留在家中,宋(song)江與宋(song)清(qing)一(yi)(yi)同,當(dang)晚(wan)四(si)更就動(dong)身(shen)離開。逃亡前(qian),宋(song)清(qing)做了伴當(dang)打扮。這是(shi)宋(song)清(qing)第一(yi)(yi)次正式登場。
宋清與宋江一同離開(kai)宋家村(cun)后,不知投奔何(he)人。這(zhe)時(shi)宋清提出,柴(chai)進是江湖(hu)上出名(ming)的(de)人物,是大周皇帝的(de)子(zi)孫,可以去(qu)投奔他。宋江表(biao)示(shi)同意。于是兩人一路到了(le)滄(cang)州柴(chai)進東(dong)莊。
柴進對宋(song)江(jiang)表示很歡(huan)迎,更(geng)擺下酒食。在這(zhe)過(guo)程中(zhong),宋(song)清一直是陪同(tong)宋(song)江(jiang)的(de)身份(fen)。并無單獨的(de)表現。
在柴(chai)進莊上,宋(song)江結(jie)識了武松(song),宋(song)清(qing)也(ye)因此與武松(song)認識。
宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)常(chang)常(chang)陪(pei)伴(ban)武(wu)(wu)(wu)松飲酒(jiu)(jiu),兩人(ren)建立起(qi)交(jiao)情。一(yi)(yi)天(tian)武(wu)(wu)(wu)松要回(hui)清河縣,宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)送他一(yi)(yi)程,宋(song)(song)(song)清也陪(pei)伴(ban)在一(yi)(yi)旁。臨(lin)別前,三(san)人(ren)在一(yi)(yi)個(ge)酒(jiu)(jiu)店內一(yi)(yi)起(qi)喝了酒(jiu)(jiu),宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)與(yu)武(wu)(wu)(wu)松結拜為(wei)兄弟。宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)又叫宋(song)(song)(song)清取(qu)出一(yi)(yi)錠(ding)十兩銀(yin)子,送與(yu)武(wu)(wu)(wu)松。
此后(hou)(hou)(hou)《水(shui)滸傳》進入著名的(de)(de)“武十回”部分。武松醉打孔亮,被(bei)抓到了孔家莊后(hou)(hou)(hou),恰好又(you)碰見(jian)了宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)。這時宋(song)清(qing)的(de)(de)去(qu)(qu)向(xiang)才(cai)被(bei)交待(dai)出來(lai)。原(yuan)來(lai)宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)怕父親煩惱,已經(jing)讓宋(song)清(qing)回家去(qu)(qu)了。而宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)的(de)(de)兩個徒弟孔明、孔亮之(zhi)父孔太公與宋(song)清(qing)聯系上,得知宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)去(qu)(qu)向(xiang)后(hou)(hou)(hou),便把宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)接到了孔家莊。
后(hou)來宋(song)(song)江(jiang)與清風山燕順(shun)、王英、鄭天壽以及花榮、秦明、黃信(xin)(xin)等人一(yi)同投奔梁山途中,遇上石(shi)將軍石(shi)勇,石(shi)勇說他帶來了宋(song)(song)清的(de)信(xin)(xin),宋(song)(song)江(jiang)看了,信(xin)(xin)上說宋(song)(song)太公已經去世,因此宋(song)(song)江(jiang)立即轉身回家。
宋江回(hui)家(jia)后,發現父親宋太公(gong)什(shen)么事也沒(mei)有,便對宋清大怒,罵他(ta)“忤(wu)逆畜生”,故意(yi)戲弄(nong)自己。宋太公(gong)解釋,這是(shi)他(ta)怕(pa)宋江去落草(cao),想他(ta)快點回(hui)家(jia),才讓宋清這樣(yang)寫的信。
宋江向(xiang)官府自首,獲得赦宥(you),只判了發配江州。宋清送了宋江一程路。
在第四十二(er)回“還(huan)道村受三卷天(tian)書,宋(song)(song)(song)(song)公明(ming)遇(yu)(yu)九天(tian)玄女(nv)”中,宋(song)(song)(song)(song)江已上(shang)梁(liang)(liang)山(shan)(shan)(shan),要下(xia)山(shan)(shan)(shan)去搬取宋(song)(song)(song)(song)太公上(shang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)來(lai)。到宋(song)(song)(song)(song)家村后,宋(song)(song)(song)(song)清告訴他,因為江州劫法場一事,父(fu)子(zi)二(er)人(ren)已被官(guan)府盯緊,并讓(rang)宋(song)(song)(song)(song)江趕緊叫(jiao)梁(liang)(liang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)派人(ren)來(lai)救。宋(song)(song)(song)(song)江經過(guo)還(huan)道村遇(yu)(yu)九天(tian)玄女(nv)的(de)奇(qi)遇(yu)(yu)后,梁(liang)(liang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)好漢(han)終于來(lai)救,宋(song)(song)(song)(song)清和宋(song)(song)(song)(song)太公都得以安全上(shang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)。
不久以(yi)后,宋清被(bei)吳用安排了(le)“專管(guan)筵宴”的(de)差事。
此后,宋(song)清在多次職務(wu)分配中,都被安排了(le)排設筵席的職務(wu)。
梁(liang)山大聚義(yi)時(shi),宋(song)清(qing)位列一百(bai)單八將(jiang)中,在石碣上的名號為“地俊星(xing)鐵(tie)扇子宋(song)清(qing)”,排(pai)第(di)76位。職(zhi)務為“掌管專一排(pai)設筵宴”
梁(liang)山受招安后,宋清跟隨(sui)大軍南征(zheng)北戰,參與了征(zheng)遼(liao)、征(zheng)田虎、征(zheng)王(wang)慶(qing)、征(zheng)方(fang)臘全(quan)部(bu)四次(ci)戰爭,期間有時在(zai)宋江部(bu)下擔任“偏將”,但(dan)更主要的(de)職責仍然是(shi)在(zai)慶(qing)功等場合(he)排設筵席。在(zai)征(zheng)遼(liao)期間,宋清還(huan)曾受命與蕭讓一同回東京買藥(yao)。
征方(fang)臘結束后,宋(song)清(qing)得以幸存(cun),并成為回東(dong)京(jing)受封的偏(pian)將(jiang)之一(yi),被封“武奕(yi)郎(lang)”。后來與宋(song)江(jiang)一(yi)同回鄉,這時宋(song)太公已經去世,宋(song)江(jiang)把家業交給宋(song)清(qing)管(guan)理(li)。宋(song)清(qing)雖受了官爵,但留在家中務農(nong),奉(feng)祀(si)宗親香火(huo)。又將(jiang)將(jiang)多余錢帛散(san)給民眾。
宋(song)江被奸臣用毒酒害死后(hou),宋(song)清承襲宋(song)江名(ming)爵,但仍在鄆(yun)城(cheng)為農,朝廷又(you)賞他錢十萬(wan)貫,田三千畝。后(hou)來宋(song)清得一子宋(song)安平,應過科(ke)舉,官至秘(mi)書學(xue)士。
宋(song)清(qing)在征方(fang)臘結束后幸(xing)存,因此在明末清(qing)初陳忱著名(ming)的百回(hui)本水滸(hu)續書(shu)《水滸(hu)后傳》中,宋(song)清(qing)與(yu)其子宋(song)安(an)平都(dou)有登(deng)場。在此書(shu)中,宋(song)清(qing)與(yu)宋(song)安(an)平歷盡磨難,終于(yu)與(yu)在暹(xian)羅創業(ye)的李俊會合(he),宋(song)清(qing)被封為光祿寺(si)正卿,宋(song)安(an)平為翰林院(yuan)學士(shi)。
此外,在70回本續書《蕩寇志》《殘(can)水(shui)滸(hu)》《水(shui)滸(hu)新傳(chuan)》《賊(zei)三國》等小(xiao)說中,宋清都有登場(chang)。
袁闊成(cheng)的長篇評書《水泊梁(liang)山》,宋清是(shi)一(yi)位(wei)武功高手,掌中一(yi)把鑌鐵扇子。
20世紀80年代初山東版電視(shi)劇《水滸(hu)傳》:李健國飾宋清
1998年央視版電視劇《水滸傳》:李寶軍飾宋(song)清
2011年鞠覺亮導演版電視劇《水滸傳》:李小龍(與同(tong)名已(yi)故(gu)功夫巨星無關)飾宋清(qing)
對(dui)宋清(qing)(qing)的(de)評價(jia),多從其綽(chuo)號“鐵扇(shan)子(zi)(zi)”入手(shou),因(yin)為(wei)這個綽(chuo)號意義不(bu)明,所(suo)以對(dui)此綽(chuo)號的(de)理解也直接影響到了對(dui)宋清(qing)(qing)這個人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)物的(de)評價(jia)。有(you)(you)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)認(ren)為(wei)他(ta)是(shi)一個“飯桶”,正(zheng)如不(bu)能(neng)扇(shan)風的(de)“鐵扇(shan)子(zi)(zi)”,完全(quan)靠著宋江的(de)關(guan)系才(cai)能(neng)在108將(jiang)中(zhong)占一個位置,還(huan)得到了排設(she)筵(yan)席的(de)肥差。也有(you)(you)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)認(ren)為(wei)宋清(qing)(qing)實(shi)際上善于為(wei)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)處(chu)事,低調做人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren),雖(sui)然沒有(you)(you)打打殺殺的(de)本(ben)領,卻能(neng)在險(xian)惡的(de)綠林叢(cong)中(zhong)占有(you)(you)一席之(zhi)(zhi)地,并不(bu)是(shi)等閑之(zhi)(zhi)輩。如金圣(sheng)嘆金圣(sheng)嘆在點評《水滸傳》時,曾寫(xie)道:“宋清(qing)(qing)不(bu)是(shi)公弟,亦(yi)復胸中(zhong)自有(you)(you)一片。” 而現代學者馬幼垣則評價(jia)宋清(qing)(qing)為(wei)梁山上“最本(ben)領隱晦的(de)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)”,甚至認(ren)為(wei)他(ta)應該進入天(tian)罡星的(de)行列。