Ban Shuxian

Ban Shuxian (simplified: 班淑娴, traditional: 班淑嫻, pinyin: Bān Shūxián, jyutping: baan1 suk1 haan4) was the wife of He Taichong, leader of the Kunlun School. She was a formidable martial artist whose abilities were comparable to her husband’s, and she played a crucial role in helping him attain the leadership position. Known for her fierce, domineering personality, she maintained strict control over her husband throughout their marriage, despite his multiple infidelities. She participated in the Six Schools expedition to Bright Peak and was ultimately killed alongside her husband by the Three Elders of the Bodhidharma Hall while attempting to steal the Dragon-slaying Sabre.

Biography

Early years and supporting He Taichong

Ban Shuxian was two years older than He Taichong and had entered the Kunlun School earlier, making her his senior disciple. She was recognised as one of the most outstanding members of the school, with martial arts abilities that matched those of He Taichong. When He Taichong was young, he was handsome and dashing, and Ban Shuxian was attracted to him.

When their master Bailuzi (白鹿子) died in battle against a Ming Order master without naming a successor, the disciples began competing for the leadership position. Ban Shuxian actively supported He Taichong in this struggle, using her influence and martial arts abilities to help him gain the advantage. With their combined strength, He Taichong’s faction became dominant, and the other disciples, each pursuing their own interests, were unable to compete. Eventually, He Taichong was selected as the new leader of the Kunlun School.

In gratitude for her assistance, He Taichong married Ban Shuxian. However, as they aged, Ban Shuxian appeared significantly older than her husband—looking more than ten years older—which contributed to the growing tension in their relationship.

Marriage and control

Ban Shuxian maintained strict control over her husband throughout their marriage. Through her decades of accumulated authority and prestige, combined with He Taichong’s awareness of his indebtedness to her and his own sense of guilt, she was able to keep him in a state of both respect and fear. However, despite his fear of her, He Taichong continued to take concubines, eventually accumulating five, with each new concubine increasing his fear of his wife.

Ban Shuxian’s physical appearance was described as tall and imposing. In her later years, she appeared as a middle-aged woman with grey hair, fierce eyes, and a stern expression that showed signs of her domineering personality.

Poisoning Wugu

He Taichong’s favorite concubine was Wugu (五姑), the fifth concubine, who was a beautiful woman. Driven by jealousy and anger over her husband’s infidelity, Ban Shuxian secretly poisoned Wugu over an extended period. She added poison to Wugu’s food, causing toxins to accumulate in Wugu’s bloodstream. This attracted venomous snakes known as gold-silver blood snakes (金银血蛇), which thrived on the toxins.

The poisoning caused Wugu’s face to swell dramatically, making her appear like the legendary pig-like character Zhu Bajie (猪八戒), with her eyes sunken so deeply into her flesh that they could barely open. Wugu became severely disfigured, and her mysterious illness puzzled all the local doctors who attempted to treat her.

When Zhang Wuji arrived and successfully treated Wugu, revealing that she had been poisoned, Ban Shuxian responded with fury. She burst into the room, filled a cup with poisoned wine, and demanded that someone drink it, demonstrating her willingness to harm others to assert her authority and protect her position.

Six Schools expedition to Bright Peak

Ban Shuxian participated alongside her husband in the Six Schools expedition to Bright Peak (光明顶), joining the coordinated attack on the Ming Order headquarters. During the battle, she and He Taichong used the Two Yi Sword Technique (两仪剑法) together, coordinating perfectly to create a formidable combination. They also joined forces with the Huashan School’s high and short elders (高矮二老) to use the Positive and Negative Two Yi Sabre and Sword Technique (正反两仪刀剑法), a combined technique that created a powerful formation to attack Zhang Wuji.

Despite their combined efforts, Zhang Wuji was able to counter their techniques, demonstrating his superior martial arts abilities and understanding of the formation’s principles.

Death at Slaying Lion Heroes Assembly

Ban Shuxian’s final appearance came at the Slaying Lion Heroes Assembly (屠狮大会), where Xie Xun was being held prisoner by the Shaolin Order. Driven by greed and the desire to obtain the Dragon-slaying Sabre (屠龙刀), Ban Shuxian and He Taichong attempted to break through the Diamond Vajra Array (金刚伏魔圈) of the Three Elders of the Bodhidharma Hall to capture Xie Xun and steal the sabre.

However, the Three Elders—Du’e, Dujie, and Dunan—were far superior in martial arts ability. In a brief confrontation, they severely injured both Ban Shuxian and He Taichong. Cheng Kun (Yuanzhen), who was present, then finished them off with his sword, killing both husband and wife. Their bodies were thrown down the mountain, ending Ban Shuxian’s life.

Personality & traits

Domineering and fierce

Ban Shuxian’s most defining characteristic was her fierce, domineering personality. Through her accumulated authority over decades and her role in helping He Taichong become leader, she maintained strict control over her husband. Her fierce eyes and stern expression reflected her authoritative nature, and she was willing to use any means necessary to protect her position and assert her authority.

Jealousy and vindictiveness

Ban Shuxian’s jealousy over her husband’s concubines, particularly his favorite Wugu, drove her to extreme measures. Her decision to slowly poison Wugu over an extended period, causing severe disfigurement and suffering, demonstrated her vindictive nature and her willingness to harm others to achieve her goals.

Martial arts pride

Despite her personal flaws, Ban Shuxian was a skilled martial artist who took pride in her abilities. Her martial arts skills were comparable to He Taichong’s, and she could coordinate perfectly with him when using the Two Yi Sword Technique together. This demonstrated that while she had significant personal failings, she maintained competence and professionalism in her martial arts practice.

Martial arts abilities

Sword techniques

Ban Shuxian was a master of sword techniques, particularly the Two Yi Sword Technique (两仪剑法), which she practiced together with He Taichong. This technique, which had been famous in jianghu for hundreds of years, contained 64 variations based on the principle of taiji transforming into the two yi (阴阳) of positive and negative forces. The technique was characterised by its subtlety and precision, with each move containing multiple hidden variations and lethal attacks.

When she and He Taichong used the Two Yi Sword Technique together, they could coordinate perfectly, creating a formidable combination. They also combined this technique with the Huashan School’s Two Yi Sabre Technique to form the Positive and Negative Two Yi Sabre and Sword Technique, which they used against Zhang Wuji at Bright Peak.

Internal energy and cultivation

Ban Shuxian possessed strong internal energy and martial arts cultivation that matched her husband’s abilities. Her skills were recognised as among the best in the Kunlun School, and her support was crucial in helping He Taichong secure the leadership position.

Relationships

With He Taichong

Ban Shuxian’s relationship with He Taichong was complex and problematic. While she had helped him attain the leadership position and he had married her out of gratitude, their marriage became increasingly strained as He Taichong took multiple concubines. Her domineering personality and his fear of her created a dynamic where he was both dependent on her and resentful of her control.

Despite their personal conflicts, they worked together effectively in martial arts, particularly when using the Two Yi Sword Technique in combination. Their partnership ended tragically when they were both killed by the Three Elders while attempting to steal the Dragon-slaying Sabre.

Their relationship has been compared to that of Gongsun Zhi and Qiu Qianchi from The Return of the Condor Heroes, though their conflicts had not reached the same extreme level. The comparison highlights how relationships based on indebtedness and control can create unhealthy dynamics that undermine both partners’ happiness and moral integrity.

With Wugu

Ban Shuxian’s relationship with Wugu, He Taichong’s favorite concubine, was characterised by intense jealousy and vindictiveness. Her decision to poison Wugu over an extended period, causing severe disfigurement and suffering, demonstrated her willingness to harm others to protect her position and express her anger over her husband’s infidelity.

Behind the scenes

Character significance

Ban Shuxian represents a cautionary example of how power and control can corrupt relationships and lead to destructive behavior. Despite her impressive martial arts abilities and her legitimate role in helping He Taichong become leader, her domineering personality, jealousy, and vindictiveness prevented her from achieving true happiness or maintaining healthy relationships.

Her character serves as a contrast to other female characters in the novel who, despite their flaws, maintain some sense of moral principle. Her ultimate death while attempting to steal the Dragon-slaying Sabre demonstrates the consequences of greed and the pursuit of power at any cost.

Role in the narrative

Ban Shuxian’s story provides insight into the dynamics of the Kunlun School and illustrates the complexity of relationships within martial arts organisations. Her participation in major events like the Six Schools expedition connects her to the novel’s broader narrative, while her personal story offers a smaller-scale drama about power, control, jealousy, and the destructive consequences of unhealthy relationships.