In the Water Margin
Du Qian is one of the earliest chiefs of Liangshan, so tall that he is called Touching the Sky. When Lin Chong arrives on the mountain, the lake fortress is held by the Scholar in White Wang Lun, with Du Qian second and Song Wan third. Wang Lun, jealous of anyone more able than himself, makes Lin Chong prove himself and keeps him at arm's length.
When Chao Gai's band arrives after the birthday-gift robbery and Wang Lun tries to send them away, Lin Chong kills him at the banquet. Du Qian and Song Wan kneel and accept the new leadership, and Du Qian stays on as a chief under Chao Gai and later Song Jiang. He takes seat eighty-three beneath the Diyao star.
