Grandpa Bai (simplified: 白爷爷, traditional: 白爺爺, pinyin: Báiyéye, jyutping: baak6 je4 je4), also known as the White Ape (白猿 — Bái Yuán), was a white ape with supernatural intelligence and martial abilities who taught Aqing her extraordinary swordplay through daily play-fighting with bamboo sticks.
Biography
Encounter with Aqing
Grandpa Bai first encountered Aqing when she was thirteen years old, living as a shepherdess in the mountains surrounding the State of Yue. When the white ape attempted to ride one of her goats, Aqing drove him away with a bamboo stick.1
The white ape responded by taking up his own bamboo stick, and what began as a conflict evolved into daily sparring sessions that Aqing perceived as playful combat.
Teaching Aqing
Initially, the white ape consistently struck Aqing whilst she could never touch him. However, through countless daily encounters over the years, Aqing gradually developed extraordinary reflexes, timing, and technique. Eventually, she began landing strikes on the ape whilst he could no longer touch her.1
Aqing remained completely unaware that she was learning one of the most formidable martial arts in existence. She regarded their encounters as mere play, calling the white ape “Grandpa Bai” and enjoying their daily interactions.
Relationship with Aqing
The white ape seemed to appreciate Aqing’s progress and good nature, continuing their daily encounters even as she gradually became capable of striking him whilst avoiding his attacks. Their relationship was characterised by mutual enjoyment rather than formal instruction.
Protection of Fan Li
When Grandpa Bai attempted to attack Fan Li, Aqing risked being hurt and blocked the attack with her body. The ape pulled back his stick rather than strike her, and she used the opening to break both his arms. He fled with a long howl, and Aqing knew he would never play with her again.2
Personality and traits
Supernatural intelligence
Grandpa Bai possessed supernatural intelligence that far exceeded normal animal capabilities. His ability to engage in sophisticated martial arts training with Aqing demonstrated intelligence that transcended normal understanding.
Playful nature
Despite his formidable martial abilities, Grandpa Bai maintained a playful nature in his interactions with Aqing. He seemed to enjoy their daily sparring sessions and continued them even as Aqing’s skills developed.
Martial mastery
Grandpa Bai’s martial abilities were extraordinary, far exceeding human limitations. His techniques with the bamboo stick were so sophisticated that even the fragments of technique that Aqing managed to learn became legendary.
Martial arts abilities
Bamboo stick mastery
Grandpa Bai demonstrated exceptional mastery of the bamboo stick, using it to teach Aqing through their daily play-fighting sessions. His techniques were so advanced that they formed the foundation of what would become the legendary Yue Maiden Swordplay.
Supernatural speed and precision
The white ape’s movements demonstrated supernatural speed and precision. His ability to consistently strike Aqing in their early encounters, and later to avoid her strikes even as she became more skilled, showed the extraordinary level of his martial abilities.
Relationships
Aqing
Grandpa Bai’s primary relationship was with Aqing, whom he taught through their daily play-fighting sessions. Though neither participant understood their relationship in formal terms, the white ape served as Aqing’s unwitting shifu, transmitting knowledge that would influence Chinese martial arts for generations.
Their relationship was characterised by mutual enjoyment and respect, with the white ape continuing their encounters even as Aqing’s skills developed beyond his ability to strike her.
Behind the scenes
Symbolic significance
Grandpa Bai represents the mysterious and supernatural elements in wuxia fiction, showing how martial arts knowledge can be transmitted through unconventional means. His character demonstrates that true mastery can come from unexpected sources and that learning can occur through play and instinct rather than formal instruction.
Literary function
The white ape serves as the origin of Aqing’s legendary abilities, providing a supernatural explanation for her extraordinary skills. His character connects the story to traditional Chinese folklore about intelligent animals and their role in transmitting knowledge to humans.
See also
- Aqing — Grandpa Bai’s student
- Fan Li — The advisor who witnessed Aqing’s training
- Yue Maiden Swordplay — The martial art that originated from Grandpa Bai’s teachings
- Sword of the Yue Maiden characters