Dunan (simplified: 渡难, traditional: 渡難, pinyin: Dùnàn, jyutping: dou6 naan6) was one of the Three Elders of the Bodhidharma Hall (达摩堂长老) of the Shaolin Order. He was a black-faced monk who, along with Du’e and Dujie, spent over thirty years in seclusion practicing withered meditation (枯禅) and mastering the Diamond Vajra Array (金刚伏魔圈). He was known for his exceptional mastery of Sumeru Mountain Palm (须弥山掌), one of Shaolin’s Seventy-Two Supreme Skills, which he could use instantly without needing to prepare or gather qi, a feat that amazed even the most experienced Shaolin monks.
Biography
Thirty years of seclusion
Following Du’e’s defeat and loss of sight in one eye after a battle with Yang Dingtian, the 33rd leader of the Ming Order, Dunan entered seclusion with Du’e and Dujie. The three elders spent over thirty years practicing withered meditation in a small chamber, focusing on developing their internal energy and the Diamond Vajra Array. This long period of seclusion allowed them to achieve a state of mental unity (心意相通), where their minds and movements became perfectly synchronised, creating an almost telepathic connection that made their combined techniques nearly invincible.
During this period, Dunan developed exceptional internal energy and refined his martial arts to a level that surpassed most masters in jianghu. However, like Dujie, he still maintained attachments to victory and defeat, which prevented him from achieving the complete transcendence that Du’e had reached.
Guarding Xie Xun
When Xie Xun was captured and imprisoned at Shaolin Temple, he was placed under the guard of the Three Elders. Dunan, along with Du’e and Dujie, used their Diamond Vajra Array to guard Xie Xun, making it nearly impossible for anyone to rescue him.
During Xie Xun’s imprisonment, the Three Elders chanted Buddhist sutras daily, which had a profound effect on Xie Xun and gradually led him toward Buddhist enlightenment.
Battles with Zhang Wuji
Zhang Wuji, the 34th leader of the Ming Order, came to Shaolin Temple three times to rescue his godfather Xie Xun. In the first battle, Zhang Wuji faced the Three Elders alone but was unable to break through the Diamond Vajra Array. During this battle, Dunan displayed his skills, but the focus was primarily on the combined power of the three elders working together.
In the second battle, Zhang Wuji was joined by Yang Xiao and Yin Tianzheng. The battle evolved into a complex confrontation where Zhang Wuji fought against Du’e and Dujie, while Dunan fought against Yang Xiao and Yin Tianzheng simultaneously. This battle showcased Dunan’s exceptional abilities, as he used his black whip (黑索) to engage Yang Xiao while simultaneously using his Sumeru Mountain Palm to fight Yin Tianzheng.
Dunan’s ability to use two different techniques simultaneously—the Diamond Vajra Array’s black whip technique against Yang Xiao and the Sumeru Mountain Palm against Yin Tianzheng—demonstrated his extraordinary skill and internal energy. Despite fighting two opponents at once, Dunan remained steady and eventually gained the upper hand. However, the intensity of the battle, particularly his exchange of over thirty palm strikes with Yin Tianzheng, contributed to Yin Tianzheng’s death from exhaustion after the battle concluded.
In the third and final battle, Dunan participated as part of the Three Elders’ Diamond Vajra Array, but the confrontation ended peacefully when Zhang Wuji and Du’e reached an understanding.
Personality & traits
Attachment to victory and defeat
Like Dujie, Dunan maintained attachments to victory and defeat, which, while making him a formidable warrior, prevented the Diamond Vajra Array from reaching its maximum potential. The technique’s full power required transcending the “four marks” (四相): self-mark, other-mark, sentient-being-mark, and life-mark (我相、人相、众生相、寿者相). While Du’e had achieved this transcendence, Dunan and Dujie still had these attachments, which limited the array’s effectiveness.
Exceptional martial arts focus
Dunan’s thirty years of seclusion had refined his martial arts to an extraordinary level. His mastery of Sumeru Mountain Palm was such that he could use it instantly, without the usual preparation time required. This ability amazed observers, including experienced Shaolin monks who understood how difficult the technique was to master and use.
Martial arts abilities
Diamond Vajra Array
Dunan, along with Du’e and Dujie, mastered the Diamond Vajra Array (金刚伏魔圈), a defensive formation that used three black whips (黑索) to create an impenetrable barrier. The technique required the three practitioners to achieve perfect mental unity (心意相通), where their minds and movements were perfectly synchronised. After over thirty years of practice together, the Three Elders had achieved this unity, making their Diamond Vajra Array nearly invincible.
Dunan’s role in the array was crucial. In the second battle with Zhang Wuji, he demonstrated his ability to use the black whip technique while simultaneously employing other techniques, showing the flexibility and power of the array.
Sumeru Mountain Palm
Dunan’s most remarkable achievement was his mastery of Sumeru Mountain Palm (须弥山掌), one of Shaolin’s Seventy-Two Supreme Skills. This palm technique was extremely difficult to master, and even those who succeeded normally required time to prepare—they had to assume the horse stance and concentrate their qi for an extended period before being able to gather their internal energy and strike.
However, Dunan had trained in this technique for decades, achieving a level of proficiency that allowed him to use it instantly, without any preparation. He could launch a Sumeru Mountain Palm strike with just a thought, and the power of his strikes did not diminish with distance, making it an extremely formidable technique.
During the second battle with Zhang Wuji, Dunan used Sumeru Mountain Palm to fight Yin Tianzheng, engaging in over thirty palm exchanges. Each strike demonstrated the technique’s power, and Yin Tianzheng was gradually forced backward, unable to match Dunan’s internal energy and technique refinement.
Great Strength Vajra Finger
Dunan also mastered the Great Strength Vajra Finger (大力金刚指), one of Shaolin’s most powerful finger techniques. This technique was considered one of Shaolin’s secret arts, and only a few monks, including the Four Holy Monks and the Three Elders, had mastered it.
Internal energy
After over thirty years of withered meditation and seclusion, Dunan had developed exceptional internal energy. His cultivation allowed him to maintain perfect coordination with his fellow elders in the Diamond Vajra Array while simultaneously using different techniques against multiple opponents. His internal energy was so refined that he could split his focus and power effectively, engaging in complex multi-opponent battles without losing control.
Relationships
With Du’e and Dujie
Dunan worked closely with Du’e and Dujie as part of the Three Elders. Their thirty years of practice together had created a bond of perfect mental unity, allowing them to coordinate their movements and thoughts almost telepathically. This unity was essential for the Diamond Vajra Array, and Dunan’s ability to maintain this coordination despite his other attachments demonstrated his dedication and skill.
With Xie Xun
Dunan, along with his fellow elders, guarded Xie Xun during his imprisonment at Shaolin Temple. The daily chanting of Buddhist sutras by the Three Elders had a profound effect on Xie Xun, gradually leading him toward Buddhist enlightenment.
Behind the scenes
Character significance
Dunan represents one of the highest levels of martial arts mastery in the Shaolin Order. His exceptional skills, particularly his instant use of Sumeru Mountain Palm, demonstrate the results of decades of dedicated cultivation. However, his attachment to victory and defeat also illustrates the limitations that can prevent even the most skilled practitioners from achieving complete transcendence.
Role in the narrative
Dunan’s most significant contribution to the narrative occurs during the second battle with Zhang Wuji, where he fights Yang Xiao and Yin Tianzheng simultaneously. This battle demonstrates both his exceptional skills and the tragic cost of conflict, as his battle with Yin Tianzheng contributed to the latter’s death from exhaustion.