Qiao Feng

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Qiao Feng, born Xiao Feng (蕭峰), is one of the main protagonists in Jin Yong's wuxia novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. He was the leader of Beggars' Sect. Qiao Feng is a tragic hero whose tragedy resembles that of ancient Greek hero Oedipus.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Biography[]

Background[]

Xiao is a Khitan by birth and he is from the same clan as the empress Xiao Yanyan of the Liao Dynasty. When he was still an infant, his parents brought him on a trip to Song territory. The family was ambushed by a group of masked assailants at Yanmen Pass. During this incident, Xiao's mother was killed while his father - Xiao Yuanshan - suffered grave wounds. Xiao Yuanshan carved a message in the Khitan language on a rock before committing suicide by leaping off a cliff, carrying both his wife and child with him. In his last moments, Yuanshan regretted this decision and decided to tossed his son to safety before plunging to his death below. The infant Xiao Feng was saved by the surviving assailants, who were reluctant to kill an innocent child, and they entrusted him to the care of a peasant called Qiao Sanhuai. Qiao and his wife adopted the infant and named him "Qiao Feng".^[6]

When Qiao became older, he was accepted as a disciple by a Shaolin monk called Xuanku. Xuanku taught the boy martial arts and ethics of Han Chinese society. Qiao joined the Beggars' Sect later and helped defend Song by fighting invaders from Liao, and upheld justice within Song. As his fame and popularity grew, Qiao earned himself the nickname "Qiao Feng of the North" (北喬峰) as the most powerful martial artist in northern China. Upon the death of the Beggars' Sect chief Wang Jiantong, Qiao was nominated by his fellows to succeed Wang.

Becoming an outcast[]

Qiao's life is affected by a series of incidents after a meeting in Apricot Forest. Qiao is accused of murdering the Beggars' Sect's deputy chief Ma Dayuan in order to hide his origin. Qiao is revealed to be a Khitan (considered an enemy by the Han Chinese), and a number of his peers turn against him. Qiao willingly gives up his position as chief and leaves. He attempts to find out the identity of the "Leading Big Brother," the man who led the attack on his parents at Yanmen Pass. However as he tries to track down the truth, he is faced with dead ends. Everyone with information regarding "Leading Big Brother"'s identity are found dead. Qiao's teacher Xuanku and his adoptive parents are not spared by the murderer either. Qiao is blamed for their deaths and becomes a common enemy of the Han Chinese wulin (martial artists' community).^[7]

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 attempting to steal the Yijin Jing from Shaolin Monastery, Qiao risks his life to save her, braving danger at Heroes Gathering Manor; the masters of the manor were hosting a feast for the wulin to discuss plans to counter Qiao. Qiao shows up to find the physician Xue Muhua to heal A'zhu, and also toasts to break ties with his old friends and acquaintances. Thereafter, he engages dozens of pugilists in a battle and slays many. While Qiao is cornered, he is rescued by a masked man in black and they successfully escape. After recovering, Qiao makes a long journey to Yanmen Pass to find the carvings left behind by his father.^[7]

Relationship with A'zhu[]

Qiao is reunited with A'zhu at Yanmen Pass. While Qiao is troubled over his heritage, A'zhu stands by him and comforts him. They gradually develop a romantic relationship. Qiao later confirms that he is indeed a Khitan and starts to use his birth name "Xiao Feng".^[8]

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" and plans to kill Duan.^[7]

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 camaraderie with his men, after seeing how Duan risked his life to save Chu Wanli. He decides to spare Duan's family and confronts Duan about the wrongs he had committed many years ago. Duan misunderstands and thinks that Xiao is referring to his philandering ways, and the abandoning of the children he fathered with his mistresses. He admits to those "mistakes", and Xiao challenges him to a midnight duel. However, A'zhu also makes a stunning discovery that Duan Zhengchun is actually her father. She is torn between her father and lover. She disguises herself as her father and takes his place in the duel. Xiao inflicts A'zhu with a mortal blow, thinking that she is Duan Zhengchun, which he bitterly regrets after realizing the truth. 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 northeastern China, where Xiao befriends a Jurchen chieftain's son, Wanyan Aguda. Xiao meets the Liao emperor Yelü Hongji by coincidence later and they become sworn brothers and helps him suppress a rebellion. In return, Yelü Hongji makes Xiao Feng a powerful King of Northern and gives him a large princely state.^[7]

Revelation[]

Xiao returns to Song territory later to attend the heroes' gathering at Shaolin Monastery. He confronts his foes together with Duan Yu and Xuzhu. After the battle, Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo appear and reveal the truth behind the mysterious murders. Xiao Yuanshan had survived the fall three decades ago and he swore vengeance on the attackers. He was the one who killed the people who know the "Leading Big Brother"'s identity, because he did not want his son to know the truth early and because he wants to publicly disgrace the "Leading Big Brother", who is revealed to be Shaolin's abbot Xuanci. Xiao Feng's name is cleared and he is invited by his Beggars' Sect fellows to become chief again but declines.

Xiao continues to join his sworn brothers on their adventures briefly before returning to Liao. By then, Yelü Hongji is planning an invasion on Song and he wants Xiao to lead his army. Xiao refuses, as he still feels indebted to Han Chinese society, where he was raised and educated. In anger, Yelü Hongji has Xiao imprisoned, but Xiao's sworn brothers and fellows rescue him out of admiration for his chivalry. The heroes are cornered at Yanmen Pass by Liao forces but Xiao manages to capture Yelü Hongji 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 emperor hostage, as he sees it as an act of treason. He commits suicide to keep his honour and prove that his actions are for the greater good.^[7]

References[]

Further reading[]

• (in Chinese) 萧峰：近乎完美的第一大英雄 (1) (2) (3) (4) - extracts about Qiao Feng from Rankings of Characters in Jin Yong's Works (金庸人物排行榜) by Tan Xianmao (覃贤茂)