宋(song)(song)清(qing)出(chu)場于《水滸(hu)傳》的第二十二回“閻婆(po)大(da)鬧鄆城(cheng)縣,朱仝義釋(shi)宋(song)(song)公(gong)明”。宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)怒殺了閻婆(po)惜,知縣因為跟宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)有交情(qing),本不想(xiang)追究宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang),但在閻婆(po)惜的情(qing)夫張文遠(yuan)(yuan)多次要求(qiu)下,只得根據張文遠(yuan)(yuan)所說,派幾個(ge)公(gong)人去宋(song)(song)家村勾追宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)之(zhi)父宋(song)(song)太公(gong)和(he)宋(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)之(zhi)弟宋(song)(song)清(qing)來審問。
公(gong)人到了宋(song)(song)(song)家(jia)(jia)村,宋(song)(song)(song)太公(gong)說自己與宋(song)(song)(song)清(qing)“在此荒村,守些田畝過活”,并與宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)脫離了關系。知縣想以此為由不捉拿宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang),但張文遠指使閻婆繼續糾纏,聲稱宋(song)(song)(song)清(qing)藏(zang)匿(ni)了宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)。知縣無法,只能派朱仝(tong)、雷橫再(zai)去宋(song)(song)(song)家(jia)(jia)莊,搜(sou)出(chu)宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)。宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)的確藏(zang)匿(ni)在家(jia)(jia)中(zhong),但朱仝(tong)、雷橫因與宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)有交情,故(gu)意向知縣隱瞞。
宋江擺脫了追捕后,父(fu)子(zi)三人急忙商(shang)議逃亡(wang)之事。宋太公留(liu)在(zai)家中(zhong),宋江與宋清(qing)一同,當晚四更就動身離開。逃亡(wang)前,宋清(qing)做(zuo)了伴(ban)當打扮。這是宋清(qing)第一次正式登場。
宋清(qing)與宋江一(yi)同(tong)離開(kai)宋家村后,不(bu)知投(tou)奔何人(ren)。這時宋清(qing)提出,柴進是江湖(hu)上(shang)出名(ming)的(de)人(ren)物,是大(da)周皇帝(di)的(de)子孫,可(ke)以去投(tou)奔他。宋江表示同(tong)意。于是兩人(ren)一(yi)路到了(le)滄州柴進東莊(zhuang)。
柴進對宋江(jiang)表(biao)示很歡(huan)迎,更擺下酒食。在這過程中,宋清(qing)一直(zhi)是陪同(tong)宋江(jiang)的身(shen)份。并無單獨的表(biao)現(xian)。
在柴進莊(zhuang)上(shang),宋(song)江結識了武松,宋(song)清也因(yin)此與武松認(ren)識。
宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)常常陪伴武松飲酒,兩人建立起交情。一(yi)(yi)(yi)天(tian)武松要回清(qing)(qing)(qing)河縣(xian),宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)送(song)(song)他一(yi)(yi)(yi)程,宋(song)(song)(song)清(qing)(qing)(qing)也陪伴在一(yi)(yi)(yi)旁。臨(lin)別前,三人在一(yi)(yi)(yi)個酒店內一(yi)(yi)(yi)起喝了酒,宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)與武松結拜為(wei)兄弟。宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)又(you)叫宋(song)(song)(song)清(qing)(qing)(qing)取出一(yi)(yi)(yi)錠十兩銀子,送(song)(song)與武松。
此后《水滸傳》進入(ru)著名的(de)“武十回”部分。武松醉(zui)打孔亮,被抓到了(le)孔家(jia)(jia)莊后,恰好又碰見了(le)宋(song)(song)江。這時(shi)宋(song)(song)清的(de)去向才被交(jiao)待出來。原(yuan)來宋(song)(song)江怕父(fu)親煩惱,已經讓(rang)宋(song)(song)清回家(jia)(jia)去了(le)。而(er)宋(song)(song)江的(de)兩個徒(tu)弟孔明(ming)、孔亮之父(fu)孔太公與宋(song)(song)清聯系上,得知宋(song)(song)江去向后,便(bian)把宋(song)(song)江接到了(le)孔家(jia)(jia)莊。
后來(lai)宋(song)江與清(qing)風(feng)山燕順、王英、鄭天壽以(yi)及花榮、秦明、黃信等人(ren)一同(tong)投奔梁山途(tu)中,遇上石(shi)(shi)將軍石(shi)(shi)勇,石(shi)(shi)勇說(shuo)他帶(dai)來(lai)了(le)宋(song)清(qing)的信,宋(song)江看了(le),信上說(shuo)宋(song)太公已經去世(shi),因此(ci)宋(song)江立(li)即轉身回家。
宋(song)(song)江回家后,發現父親(qin)宋(song)(song)太公(gong)什么事(shi)也沒有,便對宋(song)(song)清大怒,罵他(ta)“忤(wu)逆(ni)畜(chu)生”,故意戲弄自己(ji)。宋(song)(song)太公(gong)解釋(shi),這是(shi)他(ta)怕宋(song)(song)江去落草,想他(ta)快點回家,才(cai)讓(rang)宋(song)(song)清這樣寫的信。
宋江(jiang)向官府自首(shou),獲(huo)得赦宥,只判了發配江(jiang)州。宋清送了宋江(jiang)一(yi)程(cheng)路(lu)。
在第四十(shi)二回“還道村受三卷天(tian)書,宋(song)(song)(song)公(gong)明(ming)遇九天(tian)玄女(nv)”中(zhong),宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)已(yi)上梁山,要(yao)下山去搬(ban)取宋(song)(song)(song)太公(gong)上山來。到(dao)宋(song)(song)(song)家村后(hou),宋(song)(song)(song)清告(gao)訴(su)他,因為江(jiang)州劫法場一(yi)事,父子二人已(yi)被官府盯緊(jin),并(bing)讓宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)趕緊(jin)叫梁山派人來救。宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)經過還道村遇九天(tian)玄女(nv)的奇遇后(hou),梁山好漢(han)終于來救,宋(song)(song)(song)清和宋(song)(song)(song)太公(gong)都(dou)得(de)以安(an)全上山。
不久以后(hou),宋清被吳用安排了“專管筵宴(yan)”的差事。
此后,宋清(qing)在(zai)多次職務(wu)分(fen)配中,都被安排了排設(she)筵(yan)席的(de)職務(wu)。
梁山大聚(ju)義時,宋(song)(song)清(qing)位(wei)列一(yi)百單八將中,在石碣上(shang)的(de)名(ming)號(hao)為“地俊星鐵扇子宋(song)(song)清(qing)”,排第(di)76位(wei)。職務(wu)為“掌管專(zhuan)一(yi)排設筵宴(yan)”
梁(liang)山(shan)受招(zhao)安后,宋(song)清跟隨大軍南征(zheng)(zheng)北戰,參與了(le)征(zheng)(zheng)遼、征(zheng)(zheng)田虎、征(zheng)(zheng)王慶(qing)、征(zheng)(zheng)方臘全部(bu)四(si)次戰爭,期(qi)間有時在(zai)(zai)宋(song)江部(bu)下擔(dan)任(ren)“偏將”,但更主要的職責(ze)仍然是在(zai)(zai)慶(qing)功(gong)等場合(he)排(pai)設筵席。在(zai)(zai)征(zheng)(zheng)遼期(qi)間,宋(song)清還曾受命與蕭(xiao)讓一同回(hui)東(dong)京買藥。
征(zheng)方臘結束后,宋清(qing)得(de)以幸存,并成為回(hui)東京受封的偏將之一,被封“武奕郎(lang)”。后來與宋江(jiang)(jiang)一同回(hui)鄉,這時宋太公已經去世(shi),宋江(jiang)(jiang)把家業交給宋清(qing)管理。宋清(qing)雖受了(le)官爵,但留在家中務農(nong),奉(feng)祀宗親(qin)香火。又將將多余(yu)錢帛散給民眾。
宋江被(bei)奸(jian)臣用毒酒(jiu)害死后,宋清承襲宋江名爵(jue),但仍在鄆城為農,朝廷又賞他錢(qian)十萬貫,田三千(qian)畝(mu)。后來(lai)宋清得一子宋安平,應過科舉(ju),官(guan)至秘書學士。
宋(song)清(qing)在征方臘結束后幸存(cun),因此(ci)在明末清(qing)初陳忱著(zhu)名的百(bai)回本(ben)水(shui)滸續書(shu)《水(shui)滸后傳》中(zhong),宋(song)清(qing)與其子宋(song)安(an)平(ping)都有登(deng)場(chang)。在此(ci)書(shu)中(zhong),宋(song)清(qing)與宋(song)安(an)平(ping)歷盡(jin)磨(mo)難,終于(yu)與在暹羅(luo)創業(ye)的李(li)俊會合(he),宋(song)清(qing)被封(feng)為光祿寺正(zheng)卿,宋(song)安(an)平(ping)為翰林院學士(shi)。
此(ci)外,在70回本續書(shu)《蕩寇志》《殘水滸》《水滸新(xin)傳》《賊三國(guo)》等小(xiao)說中,宋清都(dou)有(you)登(deng)場。
袁闊(kuo)成的長(chang)篇評書《水泊梁山》,宋清是一位武功高手,掌(zhang)中(zhong)一把鑌(bin)鐵扇子。
20世紀80年(nian)代初山東版電視劇《水滸傳》:李健國飾宋清
1998年央視版(ban)電視劇(ju)《水滸(hu)傳》:李(li)寶軍飾宋清
2011年鞠覺(jue)亮導演版電(dian)視劇《水(shui)滸傳》:李小龍(與同(tong)名已故功夫巨星無關(guan))飾宋(song)清
對宋(song)清(qing)的(de)(de)評價(jia),多從其綽號“鐵扇子(zi)”入手,因為這個綽號意義不明,所以對此(ci)綽號的(de)(de)理解也(ye)(ye)直(zhi)接影響到了(le)對宋(song)清(qing)這個人物的(de)(de)評價(jia)。有(you)人認(ren)(ren)為他是一個“飯桶”,正如(ru)不能扇風的(de)(de)“鐵扇子(zi)”,完(wan)全靠著宋(song)江的(de)(de)關(guan)系才(cai)能在108將(jiang)中(zhong)占(zhan)一個位(wei)置,還得到了(le)排(pai)設(she)筵席的(de)(de)肥(fei)差(cha)。也(ye)(ye)有(you)人認(ren)(ren)為宋(song)清(qing)實際上善于為人處事,低(di)調做人,雖(sui)然(ran)沒有(you)打打殺殺的(de)(de)本領,卻能在險惡的(de)(de)綠林叢中(zhong)占(zhan)有(you)一席之(zhi)地(di),并不是等閑之(zhi)輩。如(ru)金圣(sheng)嘆金圣(sheng)嘆在點評《水滸傳》時,曾寫道:“宋(song)清(qing)不是公弟,亦(yi)復胸中(zhong)自有(you)一片。” 而現代學者馬幼(you)垣則評價(jia)宋(song)清(qing)為梁山(shan)上“最本領隱(yin)晦(hui)的(de)(de)人”,甚至認(ren)(ren)為他應該進入天罡星的(de)(de)行列。