Xiaolongnü
Encyclopedia
Xiaolongnü is the fictional female protagonist of Jin Yong's wuxia
novel The Return of the Condor Heroes
. The author describes her physical appearances as "skin as white as snow, beautiful and elegant beyond convention and cannot be underestimated, but appears cold and indifferent" (全身雪白，面容秀美絕俗，清麗秀雅，莫可逼視，神色間卻是冰冷淡漠).
, according to the Chinese zodiac
. Her real name is unknown and is never mentioned in the novel; she is simply known as Xiaolongnü (to other people) or Long'er (to Yang Guo
, her teacher and Granny Sun).
) by an unknown figure. Her cries broke the silence of the night and drew the attention of the Quanzhen priests. Before the priests could decide what to do with the baby girl as the sect does not accept female members, a middle-aged woman known as Granny Sun appeared and took the baby girl away with her to the nearby Ancient Tomb.
Xiaolongnü is raised as a disciple of the Ancient Tomb Sect
by the disciple of Lin Chaoying, the sect's founder. As a child, she was taught all the sect's martial arts and mastered all of them after many years. She starts learning the sect's highest order skill Jade Maiden Heart Manual, but since her teacher's understanding of the skill was incomplete, her own understanding is even more limited.
Xiaolongnü has an older disciple sister called Li Mochou, who was expelled from the sect for poor conduct. After Li left, Xiaolongnü is made the successor to the sect's position of leader. Unlike Li, Xiaolongnü never left the tomb and grows up to be an innocent, seemingly vulnerable great beauty with inborn calmness, coldness (to the point of being unsociable), incurious and emotionless characteristics. Evidently, these are the prerequisites to master the martial arts which Li lacked. She wears white long dresses which makes her pale and bloodless features appear even paler and distinctively prettier.
Xiaolongnü inherited the sect's leadership position when she was 14 after her teacher died. She is accompanied by Granny Sun only. Meanwhile, Li Mochou spread rumours in the jianghu
that when Xiaolongnü turned 18, she will offer her hand in marriage to any man who can defeat her. In addition, the lucky man will claim possession of the tomb, rumored to contain great treasures and martial arts scriptures. The Mongol prince Huodu believes the tale and journeys to the Ancient Tomb, hoping to meet Xiaolongnü. He brings his lackeys and they raid Chongyang Palace along the way. Coincidentally, Guo Jing
arrives at Chongyang Palace together with Yang Guo
and he drives away Huodu and his men.
. However, she does not allow him to stay and asks Granny Sun to send him back to Quanzhen and tell the Quanzhen priests not to mistreat him anymore.
However, the Quanzhen priests begin insulting Yang when they see him return. Sun is furious and she fights with them. She is mortally wounded by Hao Datong of Quanzhen. At the critical moment, Xiaolongnü appears and defeats Hao. Before her death, Sun makes Xiaolongnü promise her to take care of Yang. She wants both of them, orphans, to have each other as companions after her death. The Quanzhen priests oblige and allow Yang to leave with Xiaolongnü.
Xiaolongnü accepts Yang as her disciple and they live together in the Ancient Tomb for several years. During these years, Xiaolongnü imparts most of her martial arts and skills to Yang. Yang does not like to address her as "Teacher" or "Master" and prefers to call her "Aunt" (姑姑) instead. Both of them fall in love with each other but their relationship is viewed as taboo and equivalent to incest in the Confucianist
society of China at that time. They encounter several tribulations after leaving the tomb and numerous tests of their love for each other. Although they are eventually married in Chongyang Palace, they are separated for 16 years later until their final reunion at the end of the novel.
s and stun them.
to instruct the bees and she also carries a bottle of honey with her.
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 The Return of the Condor Heroes
The Return of the Condor Heroes
The Return of the Condor Heroes is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong, and the second part of the Condor Trilogy. It was first serialized between May 20, 1959 and July 5, 1961 on Ming Pao. The story revolves around Yang Guo and his lover Xiaolongnü in their adventure in the wulin fraternity, which does not...
. The author describes her physical appearances as "skin as white as snow, beautiful and elegant beyond convention and cannot be underestimated, but appears cold and indifferent" (全身雪白，面容秀美絕俗，清麗秀雅，莫可逼視，神色間卻是冰冷淡漠).
Name
It is believed that the name of Xiaolongnü (literally "Little Dragon Maiden") is taken from the year that she is born in - the Year of the DragonDragon (zodiac)
The Dragon , is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar, and the only animal that is legendary...
, according to the Chinese zodiac
Chinese zodiac
The Shēngxiào , better known in English as the Chinese Zodiac, is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, according to a 12-year mathematical cycle...
. Her real name is unknown and is never mentioned in the novel; she is simply known as Xiaolongnü (to other people) or Long'er (to Yang Guo
Yang Guo
Yang Guo, style name Gaizhi , is the fictional protagonist of the wuxia novel The Return of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong....
, her teacher and Granny Sun).
Early life
Xiaolongnü was abandoned as an infant outside Chongyang Palace (headquarters of the Quanzhen SectQuanzhen School
The Quanzhen School of Taoism originated in Northern China. It was founded by the Taoist Wang Chongyang in the 12th century, during the rise of the Jin Dynasty...
) by an unknown figure. Her cries broke the silence of the night and drew the attention of the Quanzhen priests. Before the priests could decide what to do with the baby girl as the sect does not accept female members, a middle-aged woman known as Granny Sun appeared and took the baby girl away with her to the nearby Ancient Tomb.
Xiaolongnü is raised as a disciple of the Ancient Tomb Sect
Ancient Tomb Sect
The Ancient Tomb Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in Jin Yong's wuxia novel The Return of the Condor Heroes. It plays a significant role in the character development of the protagonists, Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü...
by the disciple of Lin Chaoying, the sect's founder. As a child, she was taught all the sect's martial arts and mastered all of them after many years. She starts learning the sect's highest order skill Jade Maiden Heart Manual, but since her teacher's understanding of the skill was incomplete, her own understanding is even more limited.
Xiaolongnü has an older disciple sister called Li Mochou, who was expelled from the sect for poor conduct. After Li left, Xiaolongnü is made the successor to the sect's position of leader. Unlike Li, Xiaolongnü never left the tomb and grows up to be an innocent, seemingly vulnerable great beauty with inborn calmness, coldness (to the point of being unsociable), incurious and emotionless characteristics. Evidently, these are the prerequisites to master the martial arts which Li lacked. She wears white long dresses which makes her pale and bloodless features appear even paler and distinctively prettier.
Xiaolongnü inherited the sect's leadership position when she was 14 after her teacher died. She is accompanied by Granny Sun only. Meanwhile, Li Mochou spread rumours in the jianghu
Jianghu
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...
that when Xiaolongnü turned 18, she will offer her hand in marriage to any man who can defeat her. In addition, the lucky man will claim possession of the tomb, rumored to contain great treasures and martial arts scriptures. The Mongol prince Huodu believes the tale and journeys to the Ancient Tomb, hoping to meet Xiaolongnü. He brings his lackeys and they raid Chongyang Palace along the way. Coincidentally, Guo Jing
Guo Jing
Guo Jing is the fictional protagonist of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, a wuxia novel by Jin Yong. He plays a supporting role in the sequel novel The Return of the Condor Heroes as well...
arrives at Chongyang Palace together with Yang Guo
Yang Guo
Yang Guo, style name Gaizhi , is the fictional protagonist of the wuxia novel The Return of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong....
and he drives away Huodu and his men.
As Yang Guo's teacher and lover
Xiaolongnü meets Yang Guo for the first time when he ventures into the Ancient Tomb while escaping from the bullies at Quanzhen SectQuanzhen School
The Quanzhen School of Taoism originated in Northern China. It was founded by the Taoist Wang Chongyang in the 12th century, during the rise of the Jin Dynasty...
. However, she does not allow him to stay and asks Granny Sun to send him back to Quanzhen and tell the Quanzhen priests not to mistreat him anymore.
However, the Quanzhen priests begin insulting Yang when they see him return. Sun is furious and she fights with them. She is mortally wounded by Hao Datong of Quanzhen. At the critical moment, Xiaolongnü appears and defeats Hao. Before her death, Sun makes Xiaolongnü promise her to take care of Yang. She wants both of them, orphans, to have each other as companions after her death. The Quanzhen priests oblige and allow Yang to leave with Xiaolongnü.
Xiaolongnü accepts Yang as her disciple and they live together in the Ancient Tomb for several years. During these years, Xiaolongnü imparts most of her martial arts and skills to Yang. Yang does not like to address her as "Teacher" or "Master" and prefers to call her "Aunt" (姑姑) instead. Both of them fall in love with each other but their relationship is viewed as taboo and equivalent to incest in the Confucianist
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
society of China at that time. They encounter several tribulations after leaving the tomb and numerous tests of their love for each other. Although they are eventually married in Chongyang Palace, they are separated for 16 years later until their final reunion at the end of the novel.
Martial arts and skills
- Jade Maiden Heart Sutra (玉女心經)
- Jade Maiden Swordplay (玉女素心劍法)
- Fist of Beauties (美女拳法)
- Palm of Infinity Web (天羅地網式)
- Qinggong of the Ancient Tomb Sect (古墓派輕功)
- Technique of Ambidexterity (雙手互搏)
- Nine Yin Manual (九陰真經)
Gloves of White Silver
Xiaolongnü wears a pair of gloves made from white silver. It is said that no sharp weapons and blades are able to penetrate them. As such, Xiaolongnü can grab hold of enemies' weapons and break them.Long Sash of Gold Bells
Xiaolongnü's weapon. She uses her skills to manipulate this long and flexible weapon for both long and short distance attacks. Two gold bells are tied at each end of the sash and hidden in the sleeves. The bells are only unsheathed by flapping the sleeves. The rhythmic and random ringing sound of the bells serve as distraction while the bells are used to attack the enemy's exposed acupuncture pointAcupuncture point
Acupuncture points are locations on the body that are the focus of acupuncture, acupressure, sonopuncture and laser acupuncture treatment. Several hundred acupuncture points are considered to be located along meridians...
s and stun them.
Gold Needles of Jade Bee
This dart-throwing technique is one of the traditional skills of the Ancient Tomb Sect. The poison of a rare breed of bees known as the Jade Bees, is carefully coated onto needles made from heavy gold and steel. The needles are fired towards an enemy just like dart-throwing. The degree of poison is higher than Li Mochou's "Soul Freezing Needles" as the poison causes excruciating pain to the enemy and eventual death after a long period of time. The cure to the poison is the Jade Bee's honey, which has health benefits too.Jade Bees
The Jade Bees (玉蜂) are Xiaolongnü's only "living" weapon. The special breed of bees can make formations and attack enemies when instructed by playing a musical instrument, rhythmic whistles and honey. Xiaolongnü plays the guqinGuqin
The guqin is the modern name for a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family...
to instruct the bees and she also carries a bottle of honey with her.
External links
Xiaolongnü 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....