Introduction
Gao Qiu (died 1126) was a government official who lived during the Song dynasty of China and served in the court of Emperor Huizong. In the classical novel Water Margin, he is fictionalised as one of the primary antagonists and a nemesis of the protagonists, the 108 Stars of Destiny.
Life
According to the Chinese historical text Huizhulu (揮麈錄) by Wang Mingqing, Gao Qiu was from Kaifeng and his father was Gao Dunfu (高敦復). He had two brothers and four sons.
Gao Qiu used to be a servant of the poet and statesman Su Shi (Song Dongpo) before moving on to serve the artist Wang Shen. During the reign of Emperor Huizong, he participated in battles under Liu Zhongwu's command and followed Lin Shu on a diplomatic mission to the Khitan-led Liao dynasty. As Emperor Huizong highly favoured him, he rose through the ranks quickly and became a Grand Marshal (太尉).
After Emperor Huizong's abdication on 18 January 1126, Gao Qiu's influence in the Song imperial court decreased and he died of illness in 1126.