Qiao Feng
Encyclopedia
Qiao Feng, birth name Xiao Feng (蕭峰), is one of the three protagonists in Jin Yong's wuxia
novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
.
by birth and he is from the same clan as Empress Xiao of the Liao Dynasty
. When he was still an infant, his parents brought him on a journey to the Song Dynasty
's territory, but the family is ambushed by a group of masked pugilists at Yanmen Pass. Xiao's mother is brutally killed while his father, Xiao Yuanshan, continues to battle the attackers but suffers grave wounds. Xiao Yuanshan carves a message in the Khitan language
on a rock before committing suicide by leaping off a cliff, carrying his wife and child with him. However, he regrets as he falls and tosses his son up the cliff, before plunging to his apparent death below. The infant Xiao Feng is saved by the attackers, who are reluctant to kill an innocent child, and they entrust him to the care of a peasant named Qiao Sanhuai. Qiao and his wife adopt the infant and name him "Qiao Feng".
When Qiao becomes older, he is accepted as a disciple by a Shaolin
monk called Xuanku. Xuanku tutors the young Qiao in martial arts and the morals ethics of Han Chinese
society. Qiao joins the Beggars' Sect
later and serves the Song Dynasty by fighting invaders from Liao and upholding justice. As his fame and popularity grows, Qiao earns himself the nickname of "Northern Qiao Feng" (北喬峰). Upon the death of the Beggars' Sect chief Wang Jiantong, Qiao is nominated by his fellows to succeed Wang and he inherits his predecessors' legacy.
Qiao finds the company of A'zhu, a servant of the Murong family, who is attracted to him for his heroic traits. When A'zhu is critically wounded after a visit to Shaolin Monastery, Qiao risks his life to save her, braving danger at Heroes-gathering Manor; the masters of the manor were hosting a feast and had invited famous pugilists to attend and discuss plans to deal with Qiao. Qiao turns up and toasts to his former fellows and old friends, drinking as a mark of severing his ties with them. After that, he engages dozens of pugilists in an epic battle, in which he slays many foes, including some of his old friends. While Qiao is cornered, he is rescued by a masked man in black and they escape from the manor. The man leaves him later and Qiao makes a long journey to Yanmen Pass to find the carvings left behind by his father.
With A'zhu accompanying him, Xiao seeks clues from Ma Dayuan's widow, Kang Min, the last known surviving person who knows the "Leading Big Brother"'s identity. A'zhu disguises herself and tries to trick Kang into revealing the truth, but Kang sees through the guise and directs Xiao and A'zhu wrongly to Duan Zhengchun
. Xiao mistakenly believes that Duan is the "Leading Big Brother", clearing his mind of all doubts about him and makes his plans to kill Duan's family.
When Xiao and A'zhu arrive at Ruan Xingzhu's house, they witness a fight between Duan Zhengchun's subjects and the Four Evils. Xiao admires Duan's selflessness and strong sense of brotherhood with his subjects, after seeing how Duan risks his life to save Chu Wanli. He decides to spare Duan's family and challenges Duan to a midnight duel. However, A'zhu also makes a stunning discovery during their brief stay with the Duan family: Duan is actually her father and she is torn between her father and lover. She disguises herself as her father and takes his place. In the tragic incident, Xiao kills A'zhu by mistake and regrets bitterly. Before dying, A'zhu tells Xiao to take care of her younger sister, A'zi. Xiao leaves Song territory with A'zi and journeys to the Jurchens' land in the northeast, where Xiao befriends the chieftain's son, Wanyan Aguda. Xiao meets Yelü Hongji
, ruler of the Liao Dynasty
, by coincidence later and they become sworn brothers. Yelü grants Xiao a title of nobility after Xiao helps him suppress a coup.
and Xuzhu. After the great battle, Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo appear and reveal the truth behind the mysterious murders. Actually, Xiao Yuanshan survived the fall three decades ago and he swears vengeance on the attackers. He is responsible for killing the pugilists to prevent his son from discovering the truth before him, because he wants to disgrace the "Leading Big Brother" in public, who is revealed to be Abbot Xuanci of Shaolin. Xiao Feng's name is cleared and he is invited by his Beggars' Sect fellows to become chief again but he declines the offer.
Xiao continues to join his sworn brothers on his adventures briefly before returning to Liao. By then, Yelü Hongji is planning an invasion on the Song Dynasty and he wants Xiao to lead his army. Xiao refuses, as he still feels indebted to the Han Chinese society, where he was raised and educated. In anger, Yelü has Xiao imprisoned, but Xiao's brothers and several pugilists rescue him out of admiration for his sense of righteousness. The heroes are cornered at Yanmen Pass by Yelü and his troops. Xiao manages to capture Yelü and hold him hostage, and he forces Yelü to swear that he will never invade Song territory for as long as he lives. Yelü agrees and keeps his promise. However, Xiao feels guilty for holding the ruler hostage, as he sees it as an act of treason. Xiao eventually commits suicide to keep his honour and prove that his actions are for the greater good.
, having studied under Xuanku of the Shaolin Sect
and Wang Jiantong of the Beggars' Sect
. He is able to master the "Eighteen Dragon-subduing Palms" and the "Dog Beating Staff Technique", the two most powerful skills of the Beggars' Sect. There are no detailed descriptions about his qinggong and neigong
, but his formidable prowess is demonstrated in the descriptions of his fights with opponents.
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong. It was first serialized concurrently from September 3, 1963 to May 27, 1966 in Ming Pao in Hong Kong and Nanyang Siang Pau in Singapore....
.
Background
Xiao is a KhitanKhitan people
thumb|250px|Khitans [[Eagle hunting|using eagles to hunt]], painted during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]].The Khitan people , or Khitai, Kitan, or Kidan, were a nomadic Mongolic people, originally located at Mongolia and Manchuria from the 4th century...
by birth and he is from the same clan as Empress Xiao of the Liao Dynasty
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
. When he was still an infant, his parents brought him on a journey to the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
's territory, but the family is ambushed by a group of masked pugilists at Yanmen Pass. Xiao's mother is brutally killed while his father, Xiao Yuanshan, continues to battle the attackers but suffers grave wounds. Xiao Yuanshan carves a message in the Khitan language
Khitan language
The Khitan language is a now-extinct language once spoken by the Khitan people . Khitan is generally deemed to be genetically linked to the Mongolic languages. It was written using two mutually exclusive writing systems known as the Khitan large script and the Khitan small script...
on a rock before committing suicide by leaping off a cliff, carrying his wife and child with him. However, he regrets as he falls and tosses his son up the cliff, before plunging to his apparent death below. The infant Xiao Feng is saved by the attackers, who are reluctant to kill an innocent child, and they entrust him to the care of a peasant named Qiao Sanhuai. Qiao and his wife adopt the infant and name him "Qiao Feng".
When Qiao becomes older, he is accepted as a disciple by a Shaolin
Shaolin Sect
The Shaolin Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several wuxia works. It is one of the largest, most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is at present-day Shaolin Monastery in Henan...
monk called Xuanku. Xuanku tutors the young Qiao in martial arts and the morals ethics of Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
society. Qiao joins the Beggars' Sect
Beggars' Sect
The Beggars' Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured prominently in works of wuxia fiction by writers such as Jin Yong and Gu Long. The sect has also found its way into some Hong Kong martial arts films such as King of Beggars....
later and serves the Song Dynasty by fighting invaders from Liao and upholding justice. As his fame and popularity grows, Qiao earns himself the nickname of "Northern Qiao Feng" (北喬峰). Upon the death of the Beggars' Sect chief Wang Jiantong, Qiao is nominated by his fellows to succeed Wang and he inherits his predecessors' legacy.
Becoming an outcast
However, Qiao's life is affected by a series of incidents after the Beggars' Sect meeting in Apricot Forest. Qiao is accused of murdering the sect's deputy chief, Ma Dayuan, in order to hide a secret. The secret lies in a letter addressed to Ma by Wang Jiantong, and the letter contains details about Qiao's birth and heritage. Qiao is revealed to be a Khitan (considered to be an enemy by the Han Chinese) and a number of his fellows turn against him after that. Qiao willingly gives up his position as chief and leaves. He attempts to find out the identity of a mysterious man known as "Leading Big Brother", who led the attack on his parents at Yanmen Pass. However, as he tries to track down the people who know the truth and find clues, his trail always leads him to dead ends. Shan Zheng, the Tan couple, Zhao Qiansun and Reverend Zhiguang, the only people who know the "Leading Big Brother"'s identity, die mysterious deaths consecutively. Qiao's teacher Xuanku and his adoptive parents are not spared by the murderer either. Qiao is blamed for their deaths and he becomes a common enemy of the Han Chinese pugilists' community.Qiao finds the company of A'zhu, a servant of the Murong family, who is attracted to him for his heroic traits. When A'zhu is critically wounded after a visit to Shaolin Monastery, Qiao risks his life to save her, braving danger at Heroes-gathering Manor; the masters of the manor were hosting a feast and had invited famous pugilists to attend and discuss plans to deal with Qiao. Qiao turns up and toasts to his former fellows and old friends, drinking as a mark of severing his ties with them. After that, he engages dozens of pugilists in an epic battle, in which he slays many foes, including some of his old friends. While Qiao is cornered, he is rescued by a masked man in black and they escape from the manor. The man leaves him later and Qiao makes a long journey to Yanmen Pass to find the carvings left behind by his father.
Relationship with A'zhu
At Yanmen Pass, Qiao reunites with A'zhu. While Qiao is troubled over his ancestry, A'zhu stands by him and provides him with moral support. This deeply comforts Qiao, who finds hope and support in A'zhu, marking the start of the romance between them. Qiao later learns from Reverend Zhiguang that he is indeed a Khitan and he adopts his ancestral name "Xiao Feng".With A'zhu accompanying him, Xiao seeks clues from Ma Dayuan's widow, Kang Min, the last known surviving person who knows the "Leading Big Brother"'s identity. A'zhu disguises herself and tries to trick Kang into revealing the truth, but Kang sees through the guise and directs Xiao and A'zhu wrongly to Duan Zhengchun
Duan Zhengchun
Duan Zhengchun was the 15th emperor of the Kingdom of Dali. He reigned from 1096 to 1108. He was the younger brother of Duan Zhengming, and the first ruler of the Later Dali Kingdom....
. Xiao mistakenly believes that Duan is the "Leading Big Brother", clearing his mind of all doubts about him and makes his plans to kill Duan's family.
When Xiao and A'zhu arrive at Ruan Xingzhu's house, they witness a fight between Duan Zhengchun's subjects and the Four Evils. Xiao admires Duan's selflessness and strong sense of brotherhood with his subjects, after seeing how Duan risks his life to save Chu Wanli. He decides to spare Duan's family and challenges Duan to a midnight duel. However, A'zhu also makes a stunning discovery during their brief stay with the Duan family: Duan is actually her father and she is torn between her father and lover. She disguises herself as her father and takes his place. In the tragic incident, Xiao kills A'zhu by mistake and regrets bitterly. Before dying, A'zhu tells Xiao to take care of her younger sister, A'zi. Xiao leaves Song territory with A'zi and journeys to the Jurchens' land in the northeast, where Xiao befriends the chieftain's son, Wanyan Aguda. Xiao meets Yelü Hongji
Emperor Daozong of Liao
Emperor Daozong of Liao , born Yelü Hongji or Yehlu Hongji , was an emperor of the Liao dynasty, a kingdom of the Khitan people in what is now northeastern China. Succeeding his father, Xingzong, in 1055, Daozong ruled until he was murdered in 1101. He was succeeded by his grandson, Tianzuodi...
, ruler of the Liao Dynasty
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
, by coincidence later and they become sworn brothers. Yelü grants Xiao a title of nobility after Xiao helps him suppress a coup.
Revelation
Xiao returns to Song territory later to attend the heroes' gathering at Shaolin Monastery. He confronts his foes together with Duan YuDuan Yu (Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils)
Duan Yu is one of the three protagonists in Jin Yong's wuxia novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. He is the sworn brother of Qiao Feng and Xuzhu, and their individual, but intertwining storylines form the plot of the novel.-Biography:...
and Xuzhu. After the great battle, Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo appear and reveal the truth behind the mysterious murders. Actually, Xiao Yuanshan survived the fall three decades ago and he swears vengeance on the attackers. He is responsible for killing the pugilists to prevent his son from discovering the truth before him, because he wants to disgrace the "Leading Big Brother" in public, who is revealed to be Abbot Xuanci of Shaolin. Xiao Feng's name is cleared and he is invited by his Beggars' Sect fellows to become chief again but he declines the offer.
Xiao continues to join his sworn brothers on his adventures briefly before returning to Liao. By then, Yelü Hongji is planning an invasion on the Song Dynasty and he wants Xiao to lead his army. Xiao refuses, as he still feels indebted to the Han Chinese society, where he was raised and educated. In anger, Yelü has Xiao imprisoned, but Xiao's brothers and several pugilists rescue him out of admiration for his sense of righteousness. The heroes are cornered at Yanmen Pass by Yelü and his troops. Xiao manages to capture Yelü and hold him hostage, and he forces Yelü to swear that he will never invade Song territory for as long as he lives. Yelü agrees and keeps his promise. However, Xiao feels guilty for holding the ruler hostage, as he sees it as an act of treason. Xiao eventually commits suicide to keep his honour and prove that his actions are for the greater good.
Personality
Qiao possesses several traits that wulin pugilists might regard as "heroic" in his time. He is observant, thoughtful, charismatic and righteous. He adheres to the code of xia, by upholding justice and holding on to his moral principles firmly and doing anything necessary to keep his honour. He is fond of befriending other pugilists and becomes sworn brothers with others after a first meeting. Qiao's affinity for alcohol is also legendary, as he can still remain clear and alert after having several cups of wine, as observed during his drinking competition with Duan Yu.Martial arts and skills
Qiao is one of the most powerful pugilists in the jianghuJianghu
The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set.In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set...
, having studied under Xuanku of the Shaolin Sect
Shaolin Sect
The Shaolin Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several wuxia works. It is one of the largest, most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is at present-day Shaolin Monastery in Henan...
and Wang Jiantong of the Beggars' Sect
Beggars' Sect
The Beggars' Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured prominently in works of wuxia fiction by writers such as Jin Yong and Gu Long. The sect has also found its way into some Hong Kong martial arts films such as King of Beggars....
. He is able to master the "Eighteen Dragon-subduing Palms" and the "Dog Beating Staff Technique", the two most powerful skills of the Beggars' Sect. There are no detailed descriptions about his qinggong and neigong
Neigong
Neigong, also spelled nei kung, neigung, or nae gong, refers to any of a set of Chinese breathing, meditation and spiritual practice disciplines associated with Daoism and especially the Chinese martial arts...
, but his formidable prowess is demonstrated in the descriptions of his fights with opponents.
- List of martial arts and skills
- "Twenty Eight Dragon-subduing Palms" (降龍廿八掌) – the final installment of the novel mentions that there were originally 28 stances. Qiao made adjustments and the skill evolved to become the famous "Eighteen Dragon-subduing Palms".
- "Dog Beating Staff Technique" (打狗棒法) – a set of staff techniques. This skill is known only to the chief of the Beggars' Sect.
- "Taizu's Long FistChangquanChángquán refers to a family of external martial arts styles from northern China.The forms of the Long Fist style emphasize fully extended kicks and striking techniques, and by appearance would be considered a long-range fighting system...
" (太祖長拳) – a basic technique in Chinese martial arts. The skill is said to be invented by Emperor Taizu of SongEmperor Taizu of SongEmperor Tàizǔ , born Zhao Kuangyin , was the founder of the Song Dynasty of China, reigning from 960 to 976.-Ancestry and early life:...
. - "Evil-subduing Palm" (降魔掌)
- "Dragon-capturing Skill" (擒龍功)
- "Dragon Claw Hand" (龍爪手)
External links
Qiao Feng on Baidu BaikeBaidu Baike
Baidu Encyclopedia is a Chinese language collaborative Web-based encyclopedia provided by the Chinese search engine Baidu. Like Baidu itself, the encyclopedia is heavily self-censored in line with government regulations....