An Fengtian (simplified: 安奉日, traditional: 安奉日, pinyin: Ān Fèngtián, jyutping: on1 fung3 tin4) was the leader of the Golden Saber Stronghold. He led his men to Houjianji to search for the Mysterious Iron Token and fought with Shi Qing.
Biography
Searching for the Mysterious Iron Token
When An Fengtian learned that Wu Daotong possessed a Mysterious Iron Token, he led over two hundred men from the Golden Saber Stronghold to Houjianji to capture Wu Daotong and retrieve the token.
Attack on Wu Daotong
An Fengtian’s men attacked Wu Daotong, who was disguised as a pancake seller. Despite Wu Daotong’s skill, he was ultimately killed by Zhou Mu and another member of the Golden Saber Stronghold. However, the token was not found on Wu Daotong’s person, as he had hidden it inside a pancake.
Encounter with Shi Qing
After Wu Daotong’s death, An Fengtian and his men encountered Shi Qing and Min Rou, who were also searching for the Mysterious Iron Token. When Zhou Mu found a package on Wu Daotong’s body, Shi Qing and Min Rou pursued him, and An Fengtian arrived with reinforcements.
Duel with Shi Qing
An Fengtian challenged Shi Qing to a duel, using his Golden Saber against Shi Qing’s Black Sword. An Fengtian used his seventy-two-move Split Hexagram Saber technique, which was his life’s work and contained many variations and hidden techniques.
However, Shi Qing was able to counter all of An Fengtian’s moves. After about thirty moves, Shi Qing began to attack, and his swordplay became faster and faster. An Fengtian could no longer see the path of Shi Qing’s sword and could only defend his vital points.
After seventy moves, Shi Qing’s sword touched An Fengtian’s saber and slid down, using the technique “Following the Current Downward.” An Fengtian tried to deflect it, but Shi Qing’s sword was too fast and touched An Fengtian’s index finger.
Shi Qing’s mercy
Shi Qing showed mercy and stopped his attack, even helping An Fengtian keep his saber from falling. He declared that they were evenly matched and that neither had won. An Fengtian was deeply grateful for Shi Qing’s kindness in preserving his honor.
When An Fengtian performed the closing move of his saber technique, “Bowing to Buddha in the South Sea,” he realized with shock that Shi Qing had waited until he had used all seventy-one moves of his technique before defeating him. This demonstrated that Shi Qing was completely familiar with An Fengtian’s technique and could have defeated him much earlier if he had wanted to.
Personality and characteristics
Honor and gratitude
An Fengtian was a man of honor who knew right from wrong. After losing to Shi Qing, he was able to admit defeat and was deeply grateful for Shi Qing’s mercy in preserving his honor. Later, when he encountered Shi Qing again, he never forgot the kindness shown to him.
Martial arts pride
An Fengtian took pride in his martial arts abilities and his seventy-two-move Split Hexagram Saber technique. However, he was also humble enough to recognize when he had been defeated by a superior opponent.
Martial arts abilities
An Fengtian was skilled in the Split Hexagram Saber technique, a seventy-two-move saber method that contained many variations and hidden techniques. He was a capable martial artist, though not on the level of top masters like Shi Qing.
Behind the scenes
An Fengtian represents the theme of honor and respect in Ode to Gallantry. His character demonstrates how martial artists can maintain their dignity even in defeat, and how showing mercy can earn lasting respect.
The character’s name, “An Fengtian” (安奉日), combines “An” (安), meaning “peace” or “safe,” with “Fengtian” (奉日), meaning “serving the sun” or “devoted to the day,” suggesting a character who serves honorably and maintains peace. His role in the novel’s opening helps establish the world of the jianghu and the importance of martial arts honor.