Ding Mian

Ding Mian

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Ding Mian (simplified: 丁勉, traditional: 丁勉, pinyin: Dīng Miǎn, jyutping: ding1 min5), known as the Tower-Holding Hand (托塔手), was the leader of the Songshan School’s Thirteen Great Protectors and a junior of Zuo Lengchan. He was a key figure in Zuo Lengchan’s schemes to unify the Five Mountains Sword Schools and was known for his deep neili and his role in various attacks on other schools.

Biography

Role in Liu Zhengfeng’s golden basin hand-washing ceremony

Ding Mian was sent by Zuo Lengchan to Liu Zhengfeng’s golden basin hand-washing ceremony to prevent Liu Zhengfeng from retiring. He led the Songshan School’s attack on Liu Zhengfeng and his family, working alongside Fei Bin and Lu Bai.

Ding Mian was described as being tall and sturdy, and he demonstrated his deep neili when he attacked Dingyi of the North Hengshan School, causing her to retreat three steps and vomit blood.

Attack on Qu Yang and Liu Zhengfeng

After Qu Yang rescued Liu Zhengfeng, Ding Mian and Lu Bai pursued them. The two attacked Qu Yang with four palms, using their combined neili to seriously injure him and simultaneously break Liu Zhengfeng’s heart meridian, causing both to die.

Attack on Huashan School

Ding Mian was involved in Zuo Lengchan’s schemes against the Huashan School. He secretly commanded fifteen black-clad men to attack the Huashan School’s disciples at Medicine King Temple, demonstrating his role in Zuo Lengchan’s plans to weaken the other Five Mountains Sword Schools.

Attempt to prevent Linghu Chong’s succession

When Linghu Chong was about to succeed as the leader of the North Hengshan School, Ding Mian arrived with the Five Mountains Sword Schools command flag, attempting to prevent Linghu Chong from taking office.

However, Ren Yingying used a distraction technique to replace the command flag with the Five Immortals Order’s five-poison flag, and Lan Fenghuang poisoned Ding Mian’s palm. Ding Mian was only able to receive the antidote after Linghu Chong’s intervention, ending the confrontation in embarrassment.

Later years

After Zuo Lengchan was blinded by Yue Buqun using the Evil-Warding Swordplay, Ding Mian worked with Lu Bai and others to manage the Songshan School’s affairs, demonstrating his continued importance in the school’s leadership.

Personality & traits

Ding Mian was portrayed as loyal to Zuo Lengchan and willing to carry out his orders without question. He was described as being skilled in martial arts and having deep neili, making him a formidable opponent.

He was also shown to be pragmatic, willing to work with others to manage the Songshan School after Zuo Lengchan’s defeat, demonstrating his understanding of the need for cooperation in maintaining the school’s position.

Martial arts abilities

Tower-Holding Hand

Ding Mian’s signature technique was the Tower-Holding Hand (托塔手), which emphasised palm power and neili. He was described as having deep neili, demonstrated when he attacked Dingyi and caused her to retreat and vomit blood.

Songshan Swordplay

Ding Mian was skilled in Songshan Swordplay, which was described as being majestic and imposing, like a thousand troops charging forward with long spears and halberds across a thousand miles of yellow sand.

Neili

Ding Mian possessed deep neili that placed him among the top martial artists of the Songshan School. His ability to combine his neili with Lu Bai’s to kill Qu Yang and Liu Zhengfeng demonstrated his skill and power.

Relationships

Ding Mian’s relationship with Zuo Lengchan was one of loyalty and service. He followed Zuo Lengchan’s orders without question and played a key role in his schemes to unify the Five Mountains Sword Schools.

His relationship with Lu Bai was one of cooperation. The two worked together on various missions, including the attack on Qu Yang and Liu Zhengfeng, demonstrating their ability to coordinate their attacks.

His relationship with Lao Denuo was one of master and disciple, though Lao Denuo was actually a spy for the Songshan School who had infiltrated the Huashan School.

Behind the scenes

Ding Mian represents the theme of loyalty to a faction and the ways in which skilled martial artists can be used as tools in political schemes. His character demonstrates that even powerful martial artists can be manipulated by ambitious leaders.

Literary significance

Ding Mian’s character serves to highlight the Songshan School’s power and the ways in which Zuo Lengchan used his subordinates to achieve his goals. His role in various attacks and schemes demonstrates the school’s willingness to use force and intimidation to achieve its objectives.

Portrayals

Ding Mian has been portrayed in various adaptations of Laughing in the Wind:

Laughing in the Wind

See also

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