Ding Minjun

Ding Minjun (simplified: 丁敏君, traditional: 丁敏君, pinyin: Dīng Mǐnjūn, jyutping: ding1 man5 gwan1) was the first disciple of Miejue, leader of the Emei Order, and the senior sister of Zhou Zhiruo and Ji Xiaofu. Despite her beauty, she was known for her narrow-mindedness, arrogance, and jealousy. She constantly schemed against her junior sisters and coveted the leadership position of the Emei Order, particularly resenting Zhou Zhiruo and Ji Xiaofu for being favoured by Miejue and considered potential successors.

Biography

Early life and discipleship

Ding Minjun became a disciple of Miejue and rose to become her first disciple (首徒), making her the most senior among Miejue’s students. This position gave her authority over the other disciples, particularly her junior sisters, and she frequently abused this authority to bully and suppress them.

As the first disciple, Ding Minjun might have expected to inherit the leadership of the Emei Order. However, Miejue’s favouritism toward her other disciples, particularly Ji Xiaofu and later Zhou Zhiruo, created resentment and jealousy in Ding Minjun.

Conflict with Ji Xiaofu

Ding Minjun’s jealousy toward Ji Xiaofu, who was considered Miejue’s most beloved disciple and potential successor, led to constant conflict between them. Ding Minjun frequently looked for opportunities to undermine Ji Xiaofu and damage her relationship with Miejue.

Ding Minjun’s most significant act against Ji Xiaofu came when she discovered that Ji Xiaofu’s guardian red dot (守宫砂), which indicated virginity, was missing. This revelation exposed Ji Xiaofu’s relationship with Yang Xiao and led to Ji Xiaofu leaving the Emei Order. Ding Minjun’s discovery was likely motivated by her desire to eliminate a rival for Miejue’s favour.

During the incident in which Peng Yingyu, a Ming Order member, was being tortured, Ding Minjun demonstrated her cruel nature by attempting to extract information through torture. Ji Xiaofu repeatedly intervened to stop the torture, showing compassion and principle, while Ding Minjun showed no such restraint.

Conflict with Zhou Zhiruo

After Ji Xiaofu’s death and Miejue’s decision to make Zhou Zhiruo her successor, Ding Minjun’s jealousy shifted to Zhou Zhiruo. She constantly tried to undermine Zhou Zhiruo and damage her relationship with Miejue, frequently speaking ill of Zhou Zhiruo to Miejue and looking for material to use against her.

After Miejue’s death, Ding Minjun used public pressure and public opinion to attack Zhou Zhiruo and attempt to force her to give up the leadership position. However, after Zhou Zhiruo mastered the Nine Yin White Bone Claw (九阴白骨爪) and demonstrated her superior martial arts abilities, Ding Minjun realised the significant gap in power between them and gave up her attempts to claim the leadership position.

Ding Minjun challenged Zhou Zhiruo for leadership, but Zhou Zhiruo defeated her using the Nine Yin White Bone Claw, establishing her authority over the Emei Order and ending Ding Minjun’s ambitions for leadership.

The “Poisonous Hand Wuyan” nickname

Ding Minjun’s narrow-minded and jealous nature earned her the nickname “Poisonous Hand Wuyan” (毒手无盐, Dúshǒu Wúyán) from Peng Yingyu. The name “Wuyan” refers to Zhong Wuyan (钟无艳), a famously ugly but capable woman from Chinese history, and the nickname was meant as an insult, comparing Ding Minjun’s ugly character to Wuyan’s ugly appearance despite Ding Minjun’s actual physical beauty.

Personality & traits

Narrow-mindedness and jealousy

Ding Minjun’s most defining characteristic was her narrow-mindedness and jealousy. Despite her position as first disciple, she was consumed by envy toward her junior sisters who were favoured by Miejue. This jealousy drove her to constantly scheme against Zhou Zhiruo and Ji Xiaofu, looking for opportunities to undermine them and damage their relationships with Miejue.

Her narrow-minded nature prevented her from recognising her own limitations and understanding why others might be more suitable for leadership. Instead of improving herself or accepting her position, she focused on tearing down her rivals.

Arrogance and abuse of authority

As the first disciple, Ding Minjun frequently abused her authority to bully and suppress her junior sisters. She took advantage of her position to act tyrannically, using her seniority to intimidate and control others rather than to guide and support them.

This arrogance and abuse of authority made her unpopular among the Emei Order disciples, who recognised her selfish motivations and lack of genuine concern for the Order’s well-being.

Lack of compassion

Ding Minjun demonstrated a notable lack of compassion and principle. During the incident with Peng Yingyu, she showed no hesitation in using torture to extract information, in stark contrast to Ji Xiaofu’s principled stand against such methods.

This lack of compassion extended to her treatment of her fellow disciples, whom she viewed primarily as rivals to be eliminated rather than as sisters to be supported.

Political manipulation

Ding Minjun was skilled at political manipulation and using public opinion to achieve her goals. After Miejue’s death, she used public pressure and gossip to attack Zhou Zhiruo and attempt to force her to give up the leadership position.

However, her political skills were ultimately insufficient when faced with Zhou Zhiruo’s superior martial arts abilities and determination. After Zhou Zhiruo’s demonstration of power, Ding Minjun recognised her limitations and abandoned her ambitions.

Martial arts abilities

Emei Swordplay

As a disciple of the Emei Order and Miejue’s first disciple, Ding Minjun was skilled in Emei Swordplay. However, her abilities were not exceptional, and she was clearly inferior to Zhou Zhiruo, who was able to defeat her easily after mastering the Nine Yin White Bone Claw.

Emei Nine Yang Power

Ding Minjun cultivated the Emei Nine Yang Power, the Emei Order’s internal energy technique. However, her cultivation was likely not as advanced as that of her more talented junior sisters.

Overall level

Ding Minjun’s martial arts abilities were adequate for her position as first disciple but were not exceptional. She was clearly inferior to Zhou Zhiruo after the latter mastered the Nine Yin White Bone Claw, and her defeat by Zhou Zhiruo ended her ambitions for leadership.

Relationships

Miejue

Ding Minjun’s relationship with Miejue was defined by her position as first disciple and her desire for Miejue’s favour and approval. However, Miejue’s preference for other disciples, particularly Ji Xiaofu and Zhou Zhiruo, created resentment and jealousy in Ding Minjun.

Ding Minjun frequently attempted to use her relationship with Miejue to undermine her rivals, speaking ill of them and looking for material to use against them. However, these efforts ultimately failed to change Miejue’s preferences.

Zhou Zhiruo

Ding Minjun’s relationship with Zhou Zhiruo was characterised by jealousy and conflict. She resented Zhou Zhiruo for being favoured by Miejue and considered a potential successor. After Miejue’s death, she actively tried to force Zhou Zhiruo to give up the leadership position, but her efforts were unsuccessful.

After Zhou Zhiruo’s demonstration of superior martial arts abilities, Ding Minjun was forced to abandon her ambitions and accept Zhou Zhiruo’s leadership.

Ji Xiaofu

Ding Minjun’s relationship with Ji Xiaofu was marked by jealousy and conflict. She resented Ji Xiaofu for being Miejue’s most beloved disciple and potential successor. Her discovery of Ji Xiaofu’s missing guardian red dot led to Ji Xiaofu leaving the Emei Order, eliminating one of Ding Minjun’s rivals.

During the incident with Peng Yingyu, Ding Minjun’s lack of compassion contrasted sharply with Ji Xiaofu’s principled stand, further highlighting their different characters.

Fellow disciples

Ding Minjun’s relationships with her fellow disciples were generally poor due to her arrogance, abuse of authority, and jealousy. She was not well-liked among the Emei Order disciples, who recognised her selfish motivations and lack of genuine concern for the Order’s well-being.

Behind the scenes

Ding Minjun represents a classic archetype in Jin Yong’s works—the jealous, scheming character who uses political manipulation and abuse of authority to pursue personal ambitions. Her character serves as a contrast to more principled characters like Ji Xiaofu and demonstrates how jealousy and narrow-mindedness can corrupt even those in positions of authority.

Her nickname “Poisonous Hand Wuyan” reflects both her character’s ugliness (despite her physical beauty) and her connection to a historical figure known for capability despite appearance. This ironic contrast between physical beauty and ugly character is a recurring theme in Jin Yong’s characterisation.

Ding Minjun’s ultimate failure to achieve her ambitions despite her scheming demonstrates that political manipulation alone is insufficient without genuine ability and character. Her character serves as a cautionary example of how jealousy and ambition, when divorced from principle and compassion, lead to failure and isolation.