Feng Heng

Feng Heng (阿衡 – Féng Héng), also known as “Ah Heng” (阿衡), was the wife of Huang Yaoshi and mother of Huang Rong. She was renowned for her extraordinary memory and played a crucial role in the acquisition of the Nine Yin Manual.

Biography

Feng Heng was a woman of exceptional beauty and intelligence who married Huang Yaoshi, the master of Peach Blossom Island. Shortly after their marriage, she encountered Zhou Botong, who was carrying the Nine Yin Manual. Using her remarkable memory and clever deception, she convinced Zhou Botong that the manual was a fake, causing him to destroy it in anger.

After Zhou Botong destroyed the manual, Feng Heng used her photographic memory to recreate the entire Nine Yin Manual from memory and presented it to her husband. This act demonstrated not only her extraordinary mental abilities but also her deep devotion to Huang Yaoshi.

The tragedy of the Nine Yin Manual

The story of Feng Heng’s involvement with the Nine Yin Manual took a tragic turn when Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng, two of Huang Yaoshi’s disciples, stole the manual and fled Peach Blossom Island. Devastated by the loss, Huang Yaoshi became deeply depressed.

To comfort her husband, Feng Heng attempted to recreate the manual once again from memory. However, this time the task proved much more difficult. She struggled to recall the complex and obscure content, and after several days and nights of intense concentration, she managed to write down only about seven or eight thousand characters.

Death and legacy

The mental strain of attempting to recreate the Nine Yin Manual took a severe toll on Feng Heng’s health. She went into premature labour while giving birth to Huang Rong and tragically died from complications. Her death devastated Huang Yaoshi, who became increasingly reclusive and eccentric, rarely leaving Peach Blossom Island and even building a leaky boat in preparation for his own death.

Feng Heng was buried on Peach Blossom Island in a tomb bearing the inscription “桃花岛女主冯氏埋香之冢” (The burial place of the Peach Blossom Island’s lady, Madam Feng). The tomb contained various treasures and a portrait of Feng Heng painted by Huang Yaoshi.

Impact on the story

Feng Heng’s death had profound consequences that rippled through the narrative. Her tomb became the site where five of the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan were killed by Ouyang Feng and Yang Kang. The destruction of her tomb and its eventual restoration became significant plot points in the story.

The incomplete version of the Nine Yin Manual that Feng Heng managed to recreate before her death became a source of both power and danger. Various characters sought this incomplete manual, leading to numerous conflicts and plot developments throughout the story.

Personality and abilities

Feng Heng was characterised by her gentle nature, exceptional intelligence, and deep devotion to her husband. Her most remarkable ability was her photographic memory, which allowed her to memorise and reproduce complex texts with extraordinary accuracy. This talent made her invaluable to Huang Yaoshi in his pursuit of martial arts knowledge.

Despite her gentle exterior, Feng Heng demonstrated considerable cunning when she deceived Zhou Botong about the authenticity of the Nine Yin Manual. Her intelligence and quick thinking enabled her to manipulate the situation to her husband’s advantage.

Relationships

Marriage to Huang Yaoshi

Feng Heng’s relationship with Huang Yaoshi was characterised by deep mutual love and respect. Her death had a profound impact on him, transforming the once brilliant and charismatic master into a reclusive and eccentric figure. Huang Yaoshi’s grief over her loss influenced many of his subsequent actions and decisions.

Motherhood

As the mother of Huang Rong, Feng Heng’s legacy lived on through her daughter. Huang Rong inherited her mother’s intelligence and quick wit, though not her photographic memory. The bond between mother and daughter, though cut short by Feng Heng’s death, remained a significant influence on Huang Rong’s character development.

Cultural significance

Feng Heng represents the archetype of the tragic female figure in wuxia literature—a woman of exceptional talent whose life is cut short by circumstances beyond her control. Her story highlights the theme of sacrifice and the lengths to which people will go for love and loyalty.

Her character also serves as a catalyst for many of the story’s major events, demonstrating how the actions of even minor characters can have far-reaching consequences in the complex world of martial arts and intrigue.

Portrayals

Feng Heng has been portrayed by various actresses in adaptations of The Legend of the Condor Heroes:

Television Series

1983 series – Wong Yuen-sun as Feng Heng
1988 series – Chen Yuqi as Feng Heng
1994 series – Yang Li as Feng Heng
2003 series – He Yan as Feng Heng
2008 series – Wang Xiaoyi as Feng Heng
2017 series – Li Yitong as Feng Heng
2021 series – Zhou Ye as Feng Heng

Most adaptations emphasize Feng Heng’s gentle nature, her extraordinary memory, and her tragic death, while showcasing her deep love for Huang Yaoshi and her crucial role in the Nine Yin Manual story.