Elder of the Green Bamboo (simplified: 绿竹翁, traditional: 綠竹翁, pinyin: Lǜzhúwēng, jyutping: luk6 zuk1 jung1), also known as the Old Bamboo Weaver (老篾匠), was a member of the Sun Moon Order who lived in seclusion in Luoyang’s Green Bamboo Lane (绿竹巷). He was known for his bamboo weaving, music skills, and his relationship with Ren Yingying, whom he called “Granny” (婆婆) due to their relationship through the order.
Biography
Early life and Sun Moon Order
Elder of the Green Bamboo was a member of the Sun Moon Order, and his master had a relationship with Ren Woxing that made them teacher-uncle and nephew. Because of this relationship, Elder of the Green Bamboo called Ren Yingying “Aunt,” even though she was much younger than him.
Life in Green Bamboo Lane
Elder of the Green Bamboo lived in seclusion in Green Bamboo Lane in Luoyang, where he made a living by weaving bamboo products. He was skilled in playing the guqin and xiao (flute), and was known for his expertise in music theory.
He was described as having a noble character and a simple, unpretentious lifestyle. He did not seek fame or fortune, preferring to live a quiet life away from the jianghu’s conflicts.
Meeting Linghu Chong
When Linghu Chong came to Luoyang with the Huashan School, he was carrying the “Laughing in the Wind” musical score, which Wang Yuanba and his sons mistakenly believed was the Evil-Warding Sword Manual. To resolve the misunderstanding, Linghu Chong sought help from Elder of the Green Bamboo, who was known for his music expertise.
Elder of the Green Bamboo examined the score and confirmed that it was indeed a musical score, not a sword manual. However, he claimed that he was not skilled enough to play it and suggested that his “aunt” (actually Ren Yingying in disguise) could help.
Relationship with Ren Yingying
Elder of the Green Bamboo served Ren Yingying during her time in seclusion in Green Bamboo Lane. He helped her maintain her disguise as an old woman and assisted her in various ways. His noble character and simple lifestyle made him an ideal companion for Ren Yingying’s period of seclusion.
When Wang Yuanba sent someone to invite Elder of the Green Bamboo to visit, Elder of the Green Bamboo coldly replied: “The old bamboo weaver does not visit Master Wang, and Master Wang need not visit the old bamboo weaver.” This demonstrated his independence and refusal to associate with powerful families.
Display of martial arts
Although Elder of the Green Bamboo rarely displayed his martial arts abilities, he demonstrated exceptional skill when bidding farewell to Linghu Chong. His display of martial arts ability surprised Wang Yuanba, who had underestimated him.
Personality & traits
Elder of the Green Bamboo was portrayed as a noble and independent character who valued simplicity and artistic pursuits over power and wealth. He was described as having a calm and unpretentious nature, preferring to live a quiet life away from the jianghu’s conflicts.
He was also shown to be loyal to Ren Yingying, serving her faithfully during her time in seclusion. His refusal to associate with powerful families demonstrated his independence and integrity.
Martial arts abilities
Although Elder of the Green Bamboo rarely displayed his martial arts abilities, he was shown to be highly skilled when he did demonstrate them. His display of martial arts ability when bidding farewell to Linghu Chong surprised Wang Yuanba, who had underestimated him.
His exact techniques were not detailed in the novel, but his skill was sufficient to impress experienced martial artists.
Relationships
Elder of the Green Bamboo’s relationship with Ren Yingying was one of service and loyalty. He called her “Aunt” due to their relationship through the Sun Moon Order, and he served her faithfully during her time in seclusion.
His relationship with Ren Woxing was indirect, through his master’s relationship with Ren Woxing. This connection gave him a special status within the Sun Moon Order.
Behind the scenes
Elder of the Green Bamboo represents the ideal of the scholar-warrior who values peace and artistic pursuits over power and conflict. His character demonstrates that not all members of the Sun Moon Order are driven by ambition and that some prefer a life of quiet contemplation.
Literary significance
Elder of the Green Bamboo’s character serves to contrast the jianghu’s power struggles with the peaceful life of artistic pursuit. His role in helping Ren Yingying maintain her disguise and his display of martial arts ability demonstrate that even seemingly simple characters can have hidden depths and important roles in the story.
Portrayals
Elder of the Green Bamboo has been portrayed in various adaptations of Laughing in the Wind:
Laughing in the Wind
See also
- Laughing in the Wind characters
- Ren Yingying — Elder of the Green Bamboo’s “Aunt”
- Sun Moon Order — Elder of the Green Bamboo’s faction
- Ren Woxing — Elder of the Green Bamboo’s indirect connection
External links
- Elder of the Green Bamboo (Chinese) on Chinese Wikipedia