Bao Xiruo (pinyin: Bāo Xīruò, jyutping: Baau1 Sik1 Joek6, simplified: 包惜弱, traditional: 包惜弱) was a Song dynasty1 woman whose fate became tragically intertwined with the political turmoil of her era. Originally the wife of Yang Tiexin from Ox Village in Lin’an Prefecture,2 she later became the second wife of Jin prince Wanyan Honglie and mother of Yang Kang.
Her name literally means “pitying the weak,” reflecting her compassionate nature that ultimately led to both her greatest act of mercy and her family’s destruction. Her story exemplifies the tragic consequences of kindness in a world torn by war and political intrigue.
Biography
Early life
Bao Xiruo grew up in Red Plum Village3 as the daughter of a failed scholar who worked as a teacher. From childhood, she displayed extraordinary kindness towards all living creatures, unable to bring herself to harm even the smallest animals. She would rescue injured sparrows, frogs, and insects, nursing them back to health and weeping over those she could not save.
Her tender-hearted nature was so pronounced that her family could not slaughter their own chickens and ducks for meals, instead purchasing meat from the market. Their backyard became a sanctuary for various small creatures that chose to make their home there, all living out their natural lives under her protection.
Marriage to Yang Tiexin
Bao Xiruo married Yang Tiexin, a descendant of the famed general Yang Zaixing4 who had fled southward with his sworn brother Guo Xiaotian when the Jin Empire5 invaded northern China. The couple settled in Ox Village, where they lived peacefully alongside Guo Xiaotian and his wife Li Ping.
Both women became pregnant around the same time, and their husbands made a pact that their children would either be married (if of opposite sexes) or become sworn siblings (if of the same sex). When the Quanzhen Order6 Daoist priest Qiu Chuji visited their village in 1205, he named the unborn children Guo Jing and Yang Kang after the humiliating Jingkang Incident.7
The fateful act of mercy
That same evening, Bao Xiruo heard the bleating of sheep in the middle of the night and went to investigate. In their woodshed, she discovered a severely wounded man in black clothing. Despite the potential danger and knowing that Qiu Chuji had recently been pursued by Jin forces, her compassionate nature compelled her to tend to his wounds and care for him.
The wounded man was Wanyan Honglie, the Sixth Prince of the Jin Empire, who had been injured during his confrontation with Qiu Chuji. Unaware of his true identity or the consequences of her actions, Bao Xiruo nursed him back to health. Her beauty and gentle care captivated the prince, who fell deeply in love with her.
Torn between her natural compassion and her loyalty to her husband, Bao Xiruo chose not to reveal the man’s presence to Yang Tiexin, knowing he would likely kill any enemy of Qiu Chuji. When Yang Tiexin went to the woodshed the next day, the mysterious man had already disappeared.
Tragedy and separation
Three months later, the tragic consequences of her mercy became apparent when government troops led by Duan Tiande arrived at Ox Village, falsely accusing Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian of rebellion. The attack was orchestrated by Wanyan Honglie as part of his plan to obtain Bao Xiruo.
During the violent confrontation, Guo Xiaotian was killed defending the families. Yang Tiexin fought valiantly but was severely wounded and presumed dead. In the chaos, Bao Xiruo was separated from her husband and captured by the attacking forces.
The wounded man she had saved—Wanyan Honglie—appeared as her “rescuer,” taking her to safety while concealing his role in orchestrating the attack. Believing her husband was dead and that Wanyan Honglie had saved her life, the pregnant Bao Xiruo felt profound gratitude towards him.
Life in the Jin Empire
Wanyan Honglie brought Bao Xiruo to the Jin capital, where he revealed his true identity as the Sixth Prince. Overwhelmed by grief for her presumably dead husband and gratitude towards her “saviour,” she agreed to marry him. However, she insisted on living alone in a simple cottage rather than in the palace, unable to fully embrace her new life.
Her son Yang Kang was born and raised in the palace, treated by Wanyan Honglie as his own flesh and blood. Despite being provided with every luxury, Bao Xiruo remained emotionally distant, mourning her first husband and the life she had lost. She spent eighteen years in this state, never fully recovering from the trauma of that fateful night.
Reunion and final tragedy
Years later, during a martial arts contest organised by a performer calling himself Mu Yi,8 Bao Xiruo encountered her son Yang Kang, who had grown up believing himself to be a Jin prince. When she arrived to break up a fight between Yang Kang and Guo Jing, she was stunned to see Mu Yi—who was actually her husband Yang Tiexin in disguise.
Yang Tiexin had survived the attack and spent eighteen years searching for his family while living under an assumed identity. He had recognised his son immediately but chose not to reveal himself initially. Later that night, when he met privately with Bao Xiruo to reveal his true identity, Yang Kang discovered them together.
Learning that Yang Tiexin was his true father devastated Yang Kang, who had grown accustomed to life as a Jin prince. Despite his mother’s pleas to acknowledge his heritage, Yang Kang initially refused to accept the truth. When Wanyan Honglie discovered Bao Xiruo’s plans to flee with her first husband, he pursued them with his army.
Death
Cornered by Wanyan Honglie’s forces and knowing they had no hope of escape from the Jin capital alive, Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo made the ultimate sacrifice. Taking up an iron spear, they simultaneously pierced each other’s hearts, choosing to die together rather than be separated again.
Their tragic end came just as Yang Kang had begun to accept his true heritage and fallen in love with Mu Nianci, Yang Tiexin’s adopted daughter. The couple’s sacrifice served as a final testament to their enduring love and their refusal to compromise their principles, even in the face of death.
Personality and traits
Physical appearance
Bao Xiruo was described as exceptionally beautiful, with a face “as lovely as a cotton rose hibiscus, rosy cheeks, and eyes like twinkling stars.” Her beauty was compared to “jade or fresh flowers,” reflecting both her physical attractiveness and her pure, gentle nature.
Character traits
Bao Xiruo’s defining characteristic was her extraordinary compassion for all living creatures. This trait, while admirable, proved to be both her greatest virtue and the source of her family’s tragedy. Her inability to harm even the smallest animals extended to her relationships with people, making her vulnerable to manipulation despite her good intentions.
She was described as soft-hearted and empathetic, as implied by her name “Xiruo,” which literally means “pity the weak.” This compassionate nature made her beloved by those who knew her well but also made her susceptible to being deceived by those who would exploit her kindness.
Despite her gentle nature, Bao Xiruo showed remarkable strength of character in her final moments. Her decision to die with Yang Tiexin rather than continue living a lie demonstrated the depth of her love and her ultimate commitment to her true husband.
Relationships
Yang Tiexin
Bao Xiruo’s relationship with Yang Tiexin was marked by deep mutual affection and respect. Unlike his sworn brother’s plain-featured but strong-willed wife, Bao Xiruo was known for her beauty and gentle nature, qualities that attracted Yang Tiexin.
Their marriage was characterised by harmony and understanding. Yang Tiexin appreciated her tender-hearted nature, even when it meant their household could not slaughter their own poultry for food. He understood and accepted her compassionate quirks, such as allowing all their domestic animals to live out their natural lives.
Despite eighteen years of separation during which she remarried, their love remained constant. Upon their reunion, they chose to die together rather than live apart, demonstrating the strength of their bond and their unwillingness to compromise their principles.
Wanyan Honglie
Bao Xiruo’s relationship with Wanyan Honglie was founded on deception and manipulation, though she was unaware of this for many years. Believing him to be her saviour after her husband’s supposed death, she married him out of gratitude rather than love.
Wanyan Honglie genuinely loved Bao Xiruo and treated her with great respect and tenderness throughout their marriage. He never forced himself upon her and allowed her to live separately from him, understanding her grief and reluctance to embrace their union fully.
Despite his genuine affection, the relationship was ultimately built on lies. When the truth was revealed, Bao Xiruo immediately chose to return to her true husband, demonstrating that her loyalty had never truly transferred to Wanyan Honglie.
Yang Kang
As a mother, Bao Xiruo’s relationship with Yang Kang was complicated by their circumstances. Raised in the palace by Wanyan Honglie, Yang Kang grew up believing himself to be a Jin prince, while Bao Xiruo lived separately in her cottage.
Her influence on Yang Kang’s upbringing was limited, as she spent eighteen years mourning her first husband rather than actively raising her son. This emotional distance may have contributed to Yang Kang’s later character flaws and his difficulty in accepting his true heritage.
When she finally revealed the truth about his parentage, Yang Kang’s initial rejection caused her great pain. However, she continued to love him unconditionally and hoped he would choose to acknowledge his true father and heritage.
Li Ping and Guo Xiaotian
As the wives of sworn brothers, Bao Xiruo and Li Ping shared a close sisterly relationship before the attack on Ox Village. Their families lived as one, sharing meals and supporting each other through daily life.
Guo Xiaotian treated Bao Xiruo as a sister-in-law, and she held great respect for his righteousness and patriotism. His death during the attack on their village marked the end of their peaceful shared life and the beginning of her tragic separation from Yang Tiexin.
Behind the scenes
Bao Xiruo’s character serves as a tragic example of how individual acts of kindness can have far-reaching consequences in times of political turmoil. Jin Yong used her story to explore themes of mercy, loyalty, and the price of compassion in a world dominated by violence and political manipulation.
Her name “Xiruo” (惜弱), meaning “pity the weak,” perfectly encapsulates her character’s central trait and foreshadows the tragic consequences of her compassionate nature. Through her story, Jin Yong demonstrates how even the most virtuous qualities can become sources of vulnerability when exploited by those with malicious intent.
The character also serves to highlight the contrast between different approaches to adversity—while Li Ping became stronger and more resolute after losing her husband, Bao Xiruo never fully recovered from her trauma and remained emotionally fragile throughout her second marriage.
Portrayals
Bao Xiruo has been portrayed by various actresses in film and television adaptations:
Television
- 1983 TVB series – Yeung Ching-ching
- 1994 TVB series – Lau Dan
- 2003 series – Dong Jie
- 2008 series – Kathy Chow
- 2017 series – Liu Qianhan
- 2024 series – [Name not confirmed]
The character has remained a poignant figure across all adaptations, with actresses emphasising her gentle nature and the tragedy of her circumstances.
External links
Footnotes
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宋朝 – Sòng Cháo. A Chinese dynasty that ruled from 960 to 1279. See Wikipedia. ↩
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临安 – Lín’ān. Modern-day Hangzhou, capital of the Southern Song dynasty. See Wikipedia. ↩
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红梅村 – Hóngméi Cūn. A village near Ox Village where Bao Xiruo’s family lived. ↩
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杨再兴 – Yáng Zàixīng. A general who served under Yue Fei during the Southern Song dynasty. ↩
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金 – Jīn. A dynasty ruled by the Jurchen people under the Wanyan clan from 1115 to 1234. See Wikipedia. ↩
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全真教 – Quánzhēn Jiào. A Daoist school founded by Wang Chongyang. See Wikipedia. ↩
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靖康事变 – Jìngkāng Shìbiàn. A humiliating incident in 1127 when the Jin Empire captured two Song emperors. ↩
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穆易 – Mù Yì. The name Yang Tiexin adopted after surviving the attack on Ox Village. ↩