Elder Dabei (simplified: 大悲老人, traditional: 大悲老人, pinyin: Dàbēi Lǎorén, jyutping: daai6 bei1 lou5 jan4), known as the lord of White Whale Island (白鲸岛主), was a renowned martial artist known for his external martial arts skills. He was killed by Changle Guild members but gave Shi Potian a set of clay figures containing the secret of the Arhat Subduing Demon Divine Skill.
Biography
Early competition with Xie Yanke
In his prime, Elder Dabei had a competition with Xie Yanke at Beimang Mountain. The two fought for over an hour, with Elder Dabei’s palm techniques being powerful and his capture techniques swift and unpredictable. However, Xie Yanke ultimately won by half a move using his Crane Control Skill.
Seeking internal and external balance
After losing to Xie Yanke, Elder Dabei realized that he was strong in external martial arts but weak in neili. He obtained a set of clay figures that contained the secret of the Arhat Subduing Demon Divine Skill, hoping to achieve a balance between internal and external martial arts.
However, Elder Dabei was unable to decipher the secret of the clay figures, as he did not understand that the techniques needed to be practiced in a specific order.
Encounter with Shi Potian
While traveling to Motian Cliff, Elder Dabei was attacked by three Changle Guild members: a tall thin man with a sword, a yellow-faced Taoist with a chain hammer, and an ugly-faced man with a ghost-head saber. Shi Potian, seeing Elder Dabei in danger, bravely intervened to help him, even though he was just a young beggar with no martial arts skills.
Xie Yanke, who was watching nearby, did not intervene, hoping that Shi Potian would ask for help. However, Shi Potian never asked, and Elder Dabei was ultimately killed by the three attackers.
Giving the clay figures to Shi Potian
Before dying, Elder Dabei was grateful to Shi Potian for his courage and kindness. He gave Shi Potian the set of eighteen clay figures, which contained the secret of the Arhat Subduing Demon Divine Skill. He hoped that Shi Potian would be able to learn from them.
Burial
After Elder Dabei’s death, Shi Potian, in his kindness, buried him properly, showing respect for the old man who had shown him kindness in his final moments.
Personality and characteristics
Solitary nature
Elder Dabei was described as having a solitary nature and few close friends throughout his life. He preferred to travel alone and pursue his martial arts studies independently.
Gratitude and generosity
Despite his solitary nature, Elder Dabei was grateful to Shi Potian for his courage in trying to help him. He showed his gratitude by giving Shi Potian the valuable clay figures, demonstrating his generous spirit.
Persistence in learning
Elder Dabei’s quest to balance internal and external martial arts showed his dedication to improving himself. Even though he was unable to decipher the secret of the clay figures, he continued to seek knowledge and improvement.
Martial arts abilities
Elder Dabei was renowned for his external martial arts skills. His palm techniques were powerful and his capture techniques were swift and unpredictable. However, he was weaker in neili, which led him to seek the Arhat Subduing Demon Divine Skill to balance his abilities.
Behind the scenes
Elder Dabei represents the theme of mentorship and the passing of knowledge in Ode to Gallantry. His character demonstrates how even brief encounters can have lasting impact, and how knowledge can be passed from one generation to the next.
The character’s name, “Elder Dabei” (大悲老人), combines “Dabei” (大悲), meaning “great compassion” or “great sorrow,” with “Laoren” (老人), meaning “old man” or “elder,” suggesting a character who has experienced both great compassion and great sorrow in his life. His role in giving Shi Potian the clay figures connects him to the novel’s central theme of martial arts mastery and the importance of understanding rather than mere memorization.