宋(song)清出場于《水滸傳》的(de)第二十二回“閻婆大鬧鄆城縣,朱仝義釋宋(song)公明”。宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)怒殺了閻婆惜(xi),知縣因為(wei)跟宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)有交(jiao)情(qing),本不想追(zhui)究宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang),但在閻婆惜(xi)的(de)情(qing)夫張(zhang)文遠多次(ci)要求下,只得根據張(zhang)文遠所(suo)說,派幾個公人去宋(song)家村勾追(zhui)宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)之父宋(song)太公和宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)之弟(di)宋(song)清來(lai)審問。
公人到了(le)(le)宋(song)家(jia)村(cun),宋(song)太公說自己與宋(song)清“在(zai)(zai)此荒村(cun),守(shou)些田畝過(guo)活”,并與宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)脫離(li)了(le)(le)關系。知縣(xian)想(xiang)以此為由不(bu)捉拿宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang),但張文遠指使閻婆繼續糾纏,聲稱宋(song)清藏(zang)匿了(le)(le)宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)。知縣(xian)無法(fa),只能(neng)派朱仝(tong)、雷(lei)橫再(zai)去宋(song)家(jia)莊,搜出宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)。宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)的(de)確(que)藏(zang)匿在(zai)(zai)家(jia)中,但朱仝(tong)、雷(lei)橫因(yin)與宋(song)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)有(you)交情,故意向知縣(xian)隱(yin)瞞。
宋(song)江擺脫了(le)追捕后,父子三人急(ji)忙商(shang)議逃亡之事。宋(song)太公留在家中,宋(song)江與宋(song)清一同,當(dang)晚(wan)四(si)更就動(dong)身離開(kai)。逃亡前,宋(song)清做了(le)伴(ban)當(dang)打(da)扮。這是(shi)宋(song)清第一次正式登場。
宋(song)清與宋(song)江一同離開宋(song)家(jia)村后,不知投奔何人(ren)(ren)。這(zhe)時宋(song)清提出(chu),柴進是(shi)(shi)江湖(hu)上(shang)出(chu)名的(de)(de)人(ren)(ren)物,是(shi)(shi)大周皇帝的(de)(de)子孫(sun),可(ke)以去投奔他。宋(song)江表示同意。于是(shi)(shi)兩人(ren)(ren)一路到了滄州柴進東莊(zhuang)。
柴進對宋(song)江表示很歡迎,更擺(bai)下酒食。在這(zhe)過程中,宋(song)清一直是陪同宋(song)江的身份(fen)。并(bing)無單獨的表現。
在柴進莊上,宋江結識了(le)武松(song),宋清也因此與武松(song)認識。
宋(song)(song)江常(chang)常(chang)陪伴武松(song)飲酒,兩(liang)人建立起交(jiao)情(qing)。一天武松(song)要回清河縣(xian),宋(song)(song)江送他一程,宋(song)(song)清也陪伴在一旁。臨別前,三人在一個(ge)酒店內一起喝(he)了酒,宋(song)(song)江與武松(song)結拜為兄(xiong)弟。宋(song)(song)江又(you)叫宋(song)(song)清取(qu)出一錠(ding)十兩(liang)銀子,送與武松(song)。
此(ci)后《水滸傳(chuan)》進入著(zhu)名的“武十回(hui)”部(bu)分。武松醉(zui)打孔(kong)亮(liang),被(bei)抓到(dao)了孔(kong)家莊(zhuang)后,恰好又碰見了宋(song)(song)江(jiang)。這時宋(song)(song)清的去(qu)(qu)向才被(bei)交(jiao)待出來。原(yuan)來宋(song)(song)江(jiang)怕父(fu)親煩惱,已經(jing)讓宋(song)(song)清回(hui)家去(qu)(qu)了。而宋(song)(song)江(jiang)的兩個徒弟孔(kong)明、孔(kong)亮(liang)之父(fu)孔(kong)太公與(yu)宋(song)(song)清聯系上(shang),得知宋(song)(song)江(jiang)去(qu)(qu)向后,便把宋(song)(song)江(jiang)接到(dao)了孔(kong)家莊(zhuang)。
后(hou)來宋江(jiang)(jiang)與清風山燕順、王(wang)英(ying)、鄭天(tian)壽(shou)以及花榮、秦明(ming)、黃信(xin)等人(ren)一(yi)同投奔梁山途(tu)中(zhong),遇(yu)上石(shi)將軍石(shi)勇,石(shi)勇說他帶來了(le)宋清的(de)信(xin),宋江(jiang)(jiang)看了(le),信(xin)上說宋太公已經去世,因此宋江(jiang)(jiang)立即(ji)轉(zhuan)身回(hui)家。
宋(song)江(jiang)回家后,發現(xian)父親宋(song)太公什么(me)事也沒(mei)有,便對宋(song)清(qing)大怒,罵他“忤逆(ni)畜生”,故意戲(xi)弄自己(ji)。宋(song)太公解釋,這是他怕宋(song)江(jiang)去落草,想他快點回家,才讓宋(song)清(qing)這樣寫的信。
宋(song)(song)江(jiang)向(xiang)官府自首,獲(huo)得赦宥,只判了(le)發配江(jiang)州。宋(song)(song)清送了(le)宋(song)(song)江(jiang)一(yi)程路。
在(zai)第四十二回“還(huan)道村受三卷天書,宋(song)(song)公明(ming)遇(yu)九天玄女”中,宋(song)(song)江(jiang)已(yi)上(shang)梁山(shan),要下山(shan)去搬(ban)取宋(song)(song)太公上(shang)山(shan)來。到宋(song)(song)家村后(hou),宋(song)(song)清告訴他,因為江(jiang)州劫法(fa)場(chang)一事,父子二人已(yi)被官府盯緊(jin),并讓宋(song)(song)江(jiang)趕緊(jin)叫(jiao)梁山(shan)派(pai)人來救。宋(song)(song)江(jiang)經過還(huan)道村遇(yu)九天玄女的(de)奇遇(yu)后(hou),梁山(shan)好漢終于來救,宋(song)(song)清和宋(song)(song)太公都得以安全上(shang)山(shan)。
不久(jiu)以后,宋清被吳用(yong)安排了“專管筵宴”的差事。
此(ci)后,宋清(qing)在多(duo)次職務(wu)分配中,都被安(an)排了排設筵席的職務(wu)。
梁山大聚義時,宋清(qing)位列一(yi)百(bai)單八將中(zhong),在石(shi)碣上(shang)的名號為(wei)“地俊(jun)星鐵扇(shan)子宋清(qing)”,排(pai)第76位。職務為(wei)“掌管專一(yi)排(pai)設筵宴(yan)”
梁山受(shou)招安后,宋(song)清跟(gen)隨大軍南征(zheng)北戰,參(can)與了征(zheng)遼、征(zheng)田虎、征(zheng)王慶、征(zheng)方臘(la)全部四(si)次戰爭,期(qi)間有時在(zai)(zai)宋(song)江(jiang)部下擔(dan)任“偏(pian)將(jiang)”,但(dan)更主(zhu)要的職責仍然是在(zai)(zai)慶功等場(chang)合(he)排設(she)筵(yan)席。在(zai)(zai)征(zheng)遼期(qi)間,宋(song)清還(huan)曾受(shou)命與蕭讓一(yi)同回東京(jing)買(mai)藥。
征方臘(la)結束后,宋(song)(song)清(qing)(qing)得(de)以(yi)幸存(cun),并成為回(hui)東京受封的偏將(jiang)之一,被封“武(wu)奕郎”。后來(lai)與宋(song)(song)江(jiang)一同(tong)回(hui)鄉(xiang),這時宋(song)(song)太(tai)公(gong)已(yi)經(jing)去世,宋(song)(song)江(jiang)把家業交給(gei)宋(song)(song)清(qing)(qing)管理。宋(song)(song)清(qing)(qing)雖受了官爵,但留在家中務農,奉祀宗親香(xiang)火。又將(jiang)將(jiang)多余錢(qian)帛散給(gei)民眾。
宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)被奸臣用毒酒害死后,宋(song)(song)(song)清承襲宋(song)(song)(song)江(jiang)名爵(jue),但仍(reng)在(zai)鄆城(cheng)為農,朝廷(ting)又賞他(ta)錢(qian)十萬貫,田三千畝。后來(lai)宋(song)(song)(song)清得一子宋(song)(song)(song)安平(ping),應過科舉(ju),官(guan)至(zhi)秘書學士。
宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)清(qing)在(zai)征(zheng)方臘(la)結束后幸存,因此(ci)在(zai)明(ming)末清(qing)初陳忱(chen)著名的(de)百回本(ben)水滸(hu)續書(shu)《水滸(hu)后傳(chuan)》中(zhong),宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)清(qing)與其子宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)安平(ping)(ping)都(dou)有登場。在(zai)此(ci)書(shu)中(zhong),宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)清(qing)與宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)安平(ping)(ping)歷盡磨難,終于與在(zai)暹羅創業的(de)李俊(jun)會(hui)合,宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)清(qing)被(bei)封為(wei)光祿(lu)寺正(zheng)卿,宋(song)(song)(song)(song)(song)安平(ping)(ping)為(wei)翰林(lin)院學士。
此外,在70回本續書(shu)《蕩寇(kou)志》《殘(can)水滸(hu)》《水滸(hu)新傳》《賊三國》等小說中,宋(song)清(qing)都(dou)有登場。
袁闊成的長篇評書《水(shui)泊梁山》,宋清(qing)是一(yi)(yi)位武功高手,掌中一(yi)(yi)把鑌鐵扇子。
20世紀80年代初山東版電視劇《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(ju)覺亮導演版電視劇《水(shui)滸傳》:李小龍(與同名(ming)已(yi)故功夫巨星無(wu)關)飾(shi)宋清
對(dui)(dui)宋清的(de)(de)評價,多從(cong)其綽號“鐵扇子”入手,因為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)這(zhe)個綽號意義(yi)不明,所以(yi)對(dui)(dui)此綽號的(de)(de)理(li)解也直(zhi)接影響(xiang)到了對(dui)(dui)宋清這(zhe)個人(ren)物(wu)的(de)(de)評價。有人(ren)認(ren)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)他是一個“飯桶”,正如不能(neng)(neng)扇風的(de)(de)“鐵扇子”,完全靠著宋江(jiang)的(de)(de)關系才能(neng)(neng)在(zai)108將中(zhong)占一個位(wei)置,還得到了排(pai)設筵席的(de)(de)肥差。也有人(ren)認(ren)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)宋清實際上善于(yu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)人(ren)處事,低調做人(ren),雖(sui)然沒(mei)有打打殺殺的(de)(de)本領(ling),卻能(neng)(neng)在(zai)險(xian)惡的(de)(de)綠林叢中(zhong)占有一席之地,并不是等閑(xian)之輩。如金圣嘆(tan)(tan)金圣嘆(tan)(tan)在(zai)點(dian)評《水滸(hu)傳》時,曾寫道:“宋清不是公(gong)弟,亦復(fu)胸中(zhong)自有一片(pian)。” 而現代學者馬幼垣(yuan)則評價宋清為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)梁山上“最(zui)本領(ling)隱晦的(de)(de)人(ren)”,甚至認(ren)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)他應該進入天罡(gang)星的(de)(de)行列。