Bencan (simplified: 本参, traditional: 本參, pinyin: Běn Cān) was a senior monk of Heavenly Dragon Monastery, serving alongside his monastic brothers in maintaining the monastery’s spiritual and martial traditions.
Biography
Role and position
Bencan held the position of senior monk within Heavenly Dragon Monastery, the national temple of the Dali Kingdom. As one of the monastery’s senior monks, he played a crucial role in maintaining the temple’s spiritual practices and martial arts traditions.
Position in monastic hierarchy
Bencan served in the senior ranks of the monastery alongside other senior monks. The monastery’s leadership structure included Kurong (枯荣 – Kūróng) as the most senior monk and master, Benyin (本因 – Běnyīn) as the monastery abbot, and several senior monks including Bencan, Benguan (本观 – Běnguān), and Benxiang (本相 – Běnxiāng).
Physical appearance and characteristics
Bencan was described as a “魁梧的僧人” (stout and robust monk), distinguishing him from his fellow monks Benguan and Benxiang, who were described as “枯黄精瘦” (withered, yellow, and thin). This physical description suggested he possessed considerable strength and martial prowess, which was reflected in his combat abilities.
Martial arts abilities
One Yang Finger
Bencan was skilled in the One Yang Finger (一阳指 – Yīyáng Zhǐ), the signature martial art technique of the Dali royal family and their monastic order. This technique demonstrated his high level of martial arts cultivation and his connection to the royal family’s martial heritage.
Spirit Blades of Six Meridians
Bencan’s most significant martial arts achievement was his mastery of the Left Little Finger Shaoze Sword (左手小指少泽剑) from the Spirit Blades of Six Meridians technique. This placed him among the six most skilled martial artists in the monastery, each specializing in one of the six meridians.
His Shaoze Sword technique was characterized by its “忽来忽去，变化精微” (sudden coming and going, with subtle and refined changes), making it distinct from the more straightforward and majestic Zhongchong Sword technique practiced by Benguan.
Combat tactics and positioning
During the confrontation with Qiu Mo Zhi, Bencan demonstrated sophisticated combat tactics. When he realized that remaining seated limited his sword technique’s effectiveness, he strategically moved three steps to the left, allowing him to unleash his Shaoze Sword technique with full power from his left little finger.
This tactical awareness showed his deep understanding of martial arts principles and his ability to adapt to combat situations.
Healing Duan Yu
One of Bencan’s most significant contributions occurred when he joined four other masters to heal Duan Yu from the poisonous internal energy he had absorbed. Bencan specifically targeted the Yinwei Meridian’s Daheng Acupoint (阴维脉大横穴), using his One Yang Finger technique to channel pure yang energy into Duan Yu’s body.
This healing session demonstrated not only his medical knowledge but also his willingness to sacrifice his own internal energy for the benefit of others, even if it temporarily hindered his progress in mastering the Spirit Blades of Six Meridians.
Confrontation with Qiu Mo Zhi
Bencan played a crucial role in the monastery’s defense against Qiu Mo Zhi’s attempt to steal the Spirit Blades of Six Meridians manual. During this confrontation, he demonstrated his mastery of the Shaoze Sword technique:
- Initial Defense: He extended his left little finger, releasing a stream of energy from the Shaoze acupoint
- Counterattack: His energy successfully pushed back Qiu Mo Zhi’s “Flame Blade” technique
- Tactical Movement: He strategically repositioned himself to maximize his technique’s effectiveness
- Coordinated Defense: He worked in perfect harmony with his fellow monks to create a unified defense
Destruction of the sword manual
When the monastery faced defeat at Qiu Mo Zhi’s hands, Bencan witnessed the destruction of the Spirit Blades of Six Meridians manual. His reaction, described as showing “大显悲愤” (great indignation and grief), demonstrated his deep emotional investment in preserving the monastery’s martial heritage.
Personality and traits
Protective and defensive nature
Bencan showed strong protective instincts toward the monastery and its treasures. His immediate reaction to Qiu Mo Zhi’s demands was one of righteous anger, as he exclaimed about the disrespect shown to Heavenly Dragon Monastery.
Strategic thinking
Bencan demonstrated strategic intelligence in combat situations. His decision to move during the battle with Qiu Mo Zhi showed his understanding that static positioning can limit martial arts effectiveness, revealing his tactical acumen.
Emotional depth
Unlike some of his more stoic fellow monks, Bencan showed visible emotional responses to threats against the monastery. His passionate defense of the monastery’s honourand his grief at the loss of the sword manual revealed a monk who was deeply invested in his spiritual home.
Collaborative spirit
Bencan worked seamlessly with his fellow monks, particularly during the coordinated healing of Duan Yu and the defense against Qiu Mo Zhi. His ability to function as part of a unified team demonstrated his commitment to collective success over individual achievement.
Relationships
Monastic brotherhood
Bencan maintained close relationships with his fellow senior monks, particularly Benguan and Benxiang. Their coordinated efforts in both healing and combat situations showed a deep bond of trust and mutual understanding.
Master-disciple relationship
As a disciple of Kurong, Bencan demonstrated deep respect for his master’s wisdom and authority. He followed Kurong’s guidance in critical decisions, particularly regarding the monastery’s defense strategies.
Royal connections
Through his position in the monastery and his mastery of the One Yang Finger technique, Bencan maintained connections with the Dali royal family. His participation in healing Duan Yu demonstrated this relationship and his commitment to serving the kingdom.
Behind the scenes
Buddhist cultivation
As a senior monk, Bencan maintained high standards of Buddhist practice and spiritual development. His position reflected both his martial abilities and his spiritual achievements within the monastery. His ability to coordinate complex martial arts techniques while maintaining Buddhist composure demonstrated his spiritual discipline. His emotional responses, while passionate, remained within the bounds of righteous defense rather than uncontrolled anger. His willingness to sacrifice his own internal energy to heal Duan Yu showed the practical application of Buddhist compassion, demonstrating his commitment to the Buddhist principle of helping others, even at personal cost.
Literary significance
Bencan represented the type of supporting character who, while not central to the main plot, contributed significantly to the story’s world-building and thematic development. His character illustrated how even secondary figures can embody important values and contribute to major story events. His combination of martial prowess, spiritual discipline, and emotional depth made him a well-rounded character who added authenticity to the monastery setting and demonstrated the complex nature of monastic life in the martial world.
Character representation
Bencan’s character served several important narrative functions in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: demonstrating monastic unity by showing how the monastery’s senior monks worked together as a cohesive unit, highlighting martial arts sophistication through his Shaoze Sword technique, illustrating Buddhist values through his actions, and adding world depth by contributing to the rich tapestry of martial arts schools and traditions in the jianghu.
Martial arts assessment
Based on the available information, Bencan’s martial arts level placed him among the upper tier of practitioners in the jianghu. His mastery of the One Yang Finger technique and the Shaoze Sword from the Spirit Blades of Six Meridians placed him among the most skilled martial artists in Heavenly Dragon Monastery. However, his defeat at the hands of Qiu Mo Zhi demonstrated the limitations that even highly skilled practitioners face when confronting truly exceptional opponents, serving as a reminder of the hierarchical nature of the martial world and the vast differences in ability that can exist between different levels of practitioners.