Granny Sun (simplified: 孙婆婆, traditional: 孫婆婆, Jyutping: syun1 po4 po4, pinyin: Sūn Pópó) was a figure in the martial arts world during the Southern Song period, whose story was recorded in the chronicles of The Return of the Condor Heroes. During Lin Chaoying’s lifetime when she roamed the jianghu as a chivalrous hero, she once saved the life of a woman surnamed Sun. Later, this woman came to the mountain to pay her respects but could not find the entrance. Fortunately, she encountered Wang Chongyang who pointed out the way. After entering the tomb to pay her respects, she was taken in by Lin Chaoying’s disciple (Lin Chaoying’s maidservant, who was the master of Xiaolongnü and Li Mochou) and lived permanently in the Ancient Tomb - this was Granny Sun.
After entering the Tomb of the Living Dead, Granny Sun lived day and night with Lin Chaoying’s disciple until the latter’s death, after which she depended on Xiaolongnü like mother and child. Granny Sun took in Yang Guo, and before her death, entrusted Yang Guo to Xiaolongnü’s care, asking them to take care of each other for their entire lives, then closed her eyes and died. Granny Sun had a walking stick as her weapon, and her martial arts were not weak. She was accidentally killed by Hao Datong of the Quanzhen School.
Background
The Origin Story and Wang Chongyang’s Secret
Granny Sun’s entry into the Ancient Tomb was both dramatic and fateful, representing a convergence of destiny, gratitude, and divine intervention that would shape the future of the martial arts world. According to the original serialized version, her story began with tragedy and heroism that created bonds of loyalty that would last a lifetime.
During Lin Chaoying’s lifetime when she roamed the jianghu as a chivalrous hero, she once saved the life of a woman surnamed Sun, an act of heroism that created a bond of gratitude that would endure through the ages. This rescue established the foundation for a relationship that would ultimately lead to one of the most important figures in the Ancient Tomb School’s history.
After Lin Chaoying’s death, the woman surnamed Sun came to the mountain to pay her respects, demonstrating the depth of her gratitude and the lasting impact of Lin Chaoying’s kindness. She wept and sobbed with extreme grief upon learning of Lin Chaoying’s death and wanted to enter the tomb to pay her respects, but could not find the entrance. At this crucial moment, when she was lost and grieving, Wang Chongyang appeared and pointed out the method for entering the tomb, providing the guidance she needed to fulfill her desire to honor her savior.
Before allowing her to enter, Wang Chongyang entrusted her with a crucial secret that would remain hidden for decades: “I have sixteen characters for you to remember well, but you must not reveal them to anyone. When your time comes to an end, then tell them to the master of the Ancient Tomb.” The woman kowtowed in gratitude and memorized the sixteen characters in her heart, accepting this sacred responsibility that would connect her to the tomb’s deepest mysteries.
These sixteen characters were: “重阳仙师，功传后世，观其画像，究其手指” (Immortal Master Chongyang, skills passed to posterity, observe his portrait, study his finger positions). Granny Sun wrote these sixteen characters on a piece of white cloth, sewed it into her cotton jacket, and gave it to Yang Guo before her death, ensuring that this crucial knowledge would be preserved and passed on to future generations.
Despite carrying this secret for decades, Granny Sun’s intelligence was not particularly sharp, and she never studied these sixteen characters, so she did not know the secrets hidden in the stone chamber. This ignorance, while preventing her from accessing the tomb’s deepest mysteries, also protected her from the dangers that such knowledge might have brought, allowing her to live a life of simple service and devotion.
Life in the Ancient Tomb
After entering the tomb to pay her respects, Granny Sun was “taken in by Lin Chaoying’s maidservant and lived permanently in the Ancient Tomb,” beginning a lifetime of service that would span multiple generations. Her long service made her intimately familiar with the tomb’s secrets, traditions, and the care of its unique features, including the jade bees that would become crucial to her later martial arts abilities.
Her surname “Sun” (孙) and the respectful title “Popo” (婆婆, meaning grandmother or elderly woman) reflected both her age and the affection with which she was regarded by those who knew her. Her position as a servant did not diminish her importance to the school’s continuity; rather, it elevated her to a role of crucial significance in maintaining the traditions and care of the Ancient Tomb School across generations.
Caretaker Role
Her primary role was as caretaker and companion to Xiaolongnü, providing the human warmth and practical guidance that the isolated young woman needed to develop into a capable adult. In the emotionally cold environment of the Ancient Tomb, Granny Sun served as a source of maternal care and wisdom, filling a void that would have left Xiaolongnü emotionally stunted and unable to form meaningful relationships. Her presence provided the nurturing foundation that allowed Xiaolongnü to maintain her humanity despite the tomb’s isolating influence.
Physical Appearance
According to the original sources, Granny Sun’s physical appearance was notably unattractive. She was described as having “very ugly appearance,” which contrasted sharply with her kind and noble character. This physical description emphasized that true beauty came from one’s actions and character rather than outward appearance.
Despite her unprepossessing looks, her presence commanded respect through her dignity, wisdom, and the genuine care she showed for others. Her appearance reflected a life of service and hardship, but also the strength of character that had sustained her through decades of loyal devotion.
Character and Personality
Core Character Traits
Granny Sun was characterized by her extraordinary kindness, unwavering loyalty, and selfless devotion to those under her care, representing one of the most compassionate figures in the martial arts world. She demonstrated that true greatness came from love and service rather than martial prowess, embodying the highest ideals of human character through her daily actions and ultimate sacrifice.
She was described as “a person with considerable love and compassion,” particularly toward Yang Guo, showing an extraordinary capacity for maternal care that transcended blood relationships. Her willingness to care for “a child she had just met” and even “leave the Ancient Tomb where she had lived her entire life for his sake” demonstrated her extraordinary maternal instincts and her understanding that love and protection were more important than personal comfort or security.
Her ultimate sacrifice—dying “at the hands of Hao Datong to save Yang Guo”—exemplified her character and showed her willingness to give up everything, including her life, for the welfare of those she loved. This selfless devotion was not an isolated act but the culmination of a lifetime spent in service to others, demonstrating that her sacrifice was the natural result of her character rather than an impulsive decision.
Her decades of faithful service showed unwavering commitment that spanned multiple generations. She “served Lin Chaoying and Xiaolongnü’s master, raised Xiaolongnü with her own hands, and should have also raised Li Mochou, being like a mother to them.” This lifelong dedication demonstrated that her love was not conditional or temporary but a fundamental aspect of her character that guided all her actions.
Wisdom and Practical Intelligence
Despite being described as having intelligence that “was not particularly sharp,” Granny Sun possessed profound practical wisdom and emotional intelligence that made her one of the most insightful characters in the story. Having lived in the Ancient Tomb for decades, she understood the needs of its inhabitants and the importance of human connection in an isolated environment, developing an intuitive understanding of what people needed to thrive emotionally and spiritually.
Her dying wish that Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü “take care of each other for their entire lives” showed her understanding of their compatibility and mutual need, demonstrating an almost supernatural insight into human relationships and the power of love to transform lives. She recognized Yang Guo’s potential for good and Xiaolongnü’s need for companionship, making decisions that would benefit both while creating the foundation for one of literature’s most celebrated romantic relationships.
Devotion Across Generations
Granny Sun’s character was defined by her service to multiple generations, creating a continuity of care that spanned the entire history of the Ancient Tomb School. She served during the transition period after Lin Chaoying’s death, maintaining continuity between generations and ensuring that the school’s traditions and values were preserved and passed on to future disciples.
She “raised Xiaolongnü with her own hands” and likely “also raised Li Mochou,” serving as a mother figure to both and providing the nurturing foundation they needed to develop their characters and abilities. Her care for Yang Guo and her dying wish created the foundation for the next generation’s happiness, demonstrating how individual acts of kindness and sacrifice could have far-reaching positive consequences that extended beyond her own lifetime.
Moral Courage and Righteousness
Her actions consistently demonstrated moral courage that inspired those around her and showed the power of individual character to stand against injustice. When confronted by the Quanzhen Taoists, she defended Yang Guo despite being outnumbered and outmatched, showing her commitment to protecting the innocent regardless of the personal cost. Her willingness to fight and die for Yang Guo demonstrated her understanding that some principles were worth dying for, and that protecting those who could not protect themselves was a sacred duty.
Even in her final moments, she maintained her dignity and concern for others’ welfare above her own, showing that true character was revealed not in moments of comfort but in times of crisis. Her death served as a testament to her values and as an inspiration to those who witnessed her sacrifice, demonstrating that love and devotion could overcome even the greatest obstacles.
Role in the Story
Yang Guo’s Rescue and Entry
Granny Sun’s most crucial contribution to the story was her decision to rescue Yang Guo when he fell into the tomb’s territory and was stung by the jade bees. Her compassionate response to his plight directly led to his entry into the Ancient Tomb and his eventual relationship with Xiaolongnü.
Her treatment of Yang Guo with kindness and maternal care provided him with the first genuine affection he had experienced since his mother’s death, making a profound impact on his emotional development.
Facilitating Relationships
Her encouragement of the relationship between Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü demonstrated her understanding of both their needs and her wisdom in recognizing that they could benefit from each other’s companionship. Her support was crucial in the early development of their bond.
Ultimate Sacrifice
Granny Sun’s death while protecting Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü from Quanzhen Taoists represented the ultimate expression of her selfless devotion. Her sacrifice not only demonstrated her character but also served as a catalyst for deepening the relationship between Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü.
Martial Arts
Granny Sun received some martial arts instruction from Lin Chaoying, and her abilities were “not weak,” demonstrating that even those in humble positions could develop considerable combat skills through dedication and proper training. She could engage in prolonged combat with many Quanzhen Taoists, showing that her skills were respectable by martial arts standards despite her role as a servant rather than a formal disciple.
Ancient Tomb School Foundation
Granny Sun “received some martial arts instruction from Lin Chaoying,” giving her access to authentic Ancient Tomb School techniques, though at a basic level that was appropriate for her role as a caretaker and protector of the tomb. This training provided her with a solid foundation in the school’s distinctive fighting methods, emphasizing agility, deception, and the use of unconventional tactics that would serve her well in defending the tomb and its inhabitants.
Her martial arts were sufficient to “engage in prolonged combat with many Quanzhen Taoists,” demonstrating that her skills were practical rather than sophisticated, but effective enough for defending the tomb and its inhabitants against serious threats. This combat effectiveness showed that her training, while not as extensive as that of formal disciples, had been thorough enough to make her a formidable opponent when defending those under her care.
Distinctive Fighting Techniques
Granny Sun’s combat style reflected the Ancient Tomb School’s emphasis on deception, agility, and unexpected attacks, making her a difficult opponent to predict or counter. Her signature move involved invisible and traceless leg techniques that suddenly flew out from under her skirt, a technique that caught opponents completely off guard. This was demonstrated when Zhao Zhijing heard the wind sound and tried to dodge, but the jade bee stings suddenly became unbearably itchy, causing him to cry out “Ai!” and crouch down holding his head. During his cry, Granny Sun had already kicked him in the ribs.
Her leg techniques were powerful enough to send opponents flying, as shown when Zhao Zhijing’s body flew up, still crying “Ai! Ai!” from the itching while in mid-air. This combination of physical power and psychological warfare created a devastating attack that overwhelmed opponents through multiple means simultaneously. Her martial arts belonged to a school created by women, with techniques that were everywhere soft and flexible, ever-changing. This move called “Arrogant Before, Humble After” was particularly unpredictable, reflecting the Ancient Tomb School’s emphasis on adaptability and surprise.
Her fighting style was characterized by techniques that were non-ordinary, showing that even those in humble positions could develop considerable combat skills through dedication and proper training. She could engage in prolonged combat with many Quanzhen Taoists, demonstrating that her skills were practical rather than sophisticated, but effective enough for defending the tomb and its inhabitants against serious threats.
Jade Bee Coordination
Granny Sun’s most distinctive combat ability was her coordination with the tomb’s jade bees, creating a unique fighting style that combined martial arts with the natural weapons of her environment. She could call the jade bees through vocal techniques, creating a “humming sound” that “mixed with the buzzing from the distance, becoming one unified sound,” demonstrating her mastery of the tomb’s natural defenses.
Her ability to coordinate bee attacks with her martial arts created devastating combinations that overwhelmed multiple opponents, showing her understanding of how to use environmental advantages to compensate for numerical disadvantages. The jade bees served as both offensive weapons and defensive barriers, allowing her to fight against superior numbers by creating chaos and distraction that gave her opportunities to strike with her physical techniques.
Empty Hand Blade Snatching
One of her most impressive techniques was her ability to disarm opponents through sheer skill and surprise, demonstrating the sophistication of her martial arts training. Suddenly she gave a great shout: “Take this!” and rushed forward, extending both arms, grabbing the wrists of two Taoists, twisting and snatching, she had already seized two long swords. This technique showed her ability to think tactically and use her opponents’ weapons against them.
This empty hand blade snatching technique was extremely strange, seeming like brute force snatching, yet it was wonderfully skillful. The two Taoists were completely unprepared - in the blink of an eye, they had lost their weapons. The technique’s success against trained Quanzhen Taoists demonstrated her considerable martial arts ability and her understanding of how to exploit openings in her opponents’ defenses through timing and technique rather than brute force.
Her ability to disarm multiple opponents simultaneously showed her tactical intelligence and her understanding of how to use her opponents’ weapons against them. This technique was particularly effective because it combined surprise, timing, and skill to overcome superior numbers, demonstrating the Ancient Tomb School’s emphasis on using intelligence and technique to compensate for physical disadvantages.
Hidden Weapon Mastery
Granny Sun was skilled in the use of concealed weapons, showing her ability to turn everyday objects into deadly weapons when necessary. She could improvise weapons from available materials, as when she took out the empty porcelain bottle that had contained jade bee honey from her bosom and suddenly threw it using her school’s unique hidden weapon technique. This ability to adapt and use unconventional weapons demonstrated her practical combat experience and her understanding that victory often depended on creativity and resourcefulness.
Her hidden weapon attacks were noted for being very fast and accurate, capable of striking specific targets like the left eye corner of opponents, showing her precision and control. Her hidden weapon techniques were characterized by their unexpected nature, catching opponents off guard through timing and misdirection rather than relying on the weapons themselves for their effectiveness.
She also demonstrated her skill with hidden weapons when she suddenly threw a porcelain bottle as a concealed weapon, striking Zhang Zhiguang in the left eye corner. The bottle shattered upon impact, causing Zhang Zhiguang’s forehead to be covered in blood. This technique was particularly effective because it used an everyday object as a weapon, catching the opponent completely off guard and demonstrating her ability to turn any available material into a deadly weapon when necessary.
Combat Limitations
Despite her considerable skills, Granny Sun had certain limitations that reflected her age and the nature of her training. Her advanced age limited her stamina and overall physical capabilities compared to younger martial artists, making prolonged combat increasingly difficult as battles progressed. While competent, her martial arts were not at the level of the Ancient Tomb School’s elite practitioners, reflecting her role as a caretaker rather than a formal disciple.
When facing multiple skilled opponents simultaneously, her abilities were eventually overwhelmed, leading to her tragic death. This outcome demonstrated both her courage in defending those under her care and the limitations that even skilled martial artists faced when outnumbered by determined opponents. Her death, while tragic, also showed her willingness to sacrifice everything for the protection of others, embodying the highest ideals of martial arts service and loyalty.
Relationships
Maternal Care for Xiaolongnü
Her relationship with Xiaolongnü was characterized by maternal affection and protective care. Granny Sun provided the emotional warmth and practical guidance that Xiaolongnü needed to develop into a capable adult, despite the tomb’s isolated environment.
Compassion for Yang Guo
Her immediate compassion for Yang Guo when he was injured and vulnerable demonstrated her instinctive kindness toward those in need. Her treatment of him with genuine care made a lasting impression on his emotional development.
Loyalty to the School
Her decades of loyal service to the Ancient Tomb School reflected her deep commitment to its traditions and her understanding of her important role in maintaining its continuity across generations.
Historical Context
Granny Sun’s life spanned a period of significant political upheaval, but her focus remained on the immediate needs of those under her care rather than broader historical events. Her dedication to service represented traditional values of loyalty and selflessness.
Significance
Granny Sun serves as an example of how individuals without exceptional martial arts abilities could still play crucial roles in the martial arts world through their character, wisdom, and dedication to others.
Her story demonstrates the importance of kindness and compassion in martial arts communities, showing how these qualities could be as valuable as technical skill in shaping events and relationships.
Legacy
Granny Sun’s legacy lived on through the relationship she helped foster between Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü. Her kindness and sacrifice contributed to their eventual happiness and success, showing how individual acts of goodness could have far-reaching positive consequences.
Her example also demonstrated the vital role played by supporting characters in martial arts communities, showing how those who served others selflessly were essential to the functioning and continuity of martial arts schools.
Moral Example
Despite her humble position, Granny Sun provided one of the clearest examples of moral goodness in the story. Her selfless devotion and willingness to sacrifice for others illustrated the highest ideals of human character.
Impact on Yang Guo
Her kindness toward Yang Guo during a crucial period of his development helped shape his capacity for recognizing and appreciating genuine goodness in others. Her influence contributed to his moral development and his ability to form healthy relationships.
Major Contributions and Significance
Foundational Role in the Story
Granny Sun was one of the most important characters in The Return of the Condor Heroes, despite her humble status, demonstrating that true importance in a story often comes not from power or position but from character and the impact of one’s actions. Her contributions were fundamental to the story’s development, setting in motion the events that would define the entire narrative and create one of literature’s most celebrated romantic relationships.
Everyone knows that it was she who rescued Yang Guo into the Tomb of the Living Dead and asked Xiaolongnü to take care of Yang Guo for their entire lives, thus creating the future divine couple. This single act of compassion and wisdom created the foundation for the entire story, showing how individual acts of kindness could have far-reaching consequences that extended far beyond the immediate moment. Without Granny Sun’s intervention, Yang Guo would never have entered the Ancient Tomb, and the relationship that would define both his and Xiaolongnü’s lives would never have begun.
Before the story of The Return of the Condor Heroes began, Granny Sun single-handedly raised Li Mochou and Xiaolongnü, which gave birth to the future famous Scarlet Serpent Fairy Li Mochou and the peerless beauty Xiaolongnü. This contribution showed her role as the nurturing force behind the next generation of Ancient Tomb School practitioners, providing the maternal care and guidance that shaped their characters and abilities. Her influence on both disciples, despite their very different paths, demonstrated the lasting impact of her love and wisdom.
In a critical moment, when Xiaolongnü’s master died at the hands of Ouyang Feng, but Xiaolongnü didn’t know who the killer was, it was Granny Sun who shouted “Ouyang Feng!” when Xiaolongnü’s master was dying, allowing Xiaolongnü to remember that the killer was Ouyang Feng. This also enabled Yang Guo to think of ways to heal Xiaolongnü, extending her lifespan. This moment showed her crucial role in preserving important information and ensuring that justice could be served, while also contributing to the healing and survival of those she loved.
Her role extended beyond just raising the next generation. She served Lin Chaoying and Xiaolongnü’s master, raised Xiaolongnü with her own hands, and should have also raised Li Mochou, being like a mother to them. This lifelong dedication demonstrated that her love was not conditional or temporary but a fundamental aspect of her character that guided all her actions. After Xiaolongnü’s master died, she depended on Xiaolongnü like mother and child. Xiaolongnü had poor self-care abilities, but Granny Sun stayed by her side, never leaving, taking care of her, allowing Xiaolongnü to live peacefully.
Character Assessment
“Granny Sun had a humble status but was great, a supporting character who nevertheless played a very important role.” This assessment captured the essence of her character—someone whose importance came not from formal position or power but from the quality of her character and the impact of her actions. Her greatness lay in her selfless devotion and her ability to see and act on what was truly important in life.
She “dedicated her entire life to the Ancient Tomb School,” showing a commitment that transcended personal ambition or gain. When she appeared in the story, she was already “fifty or sixty years old. Looking back, when she followed Lin Chaoying to retreat to the Ancient Tomb, she should have been a beautiful young woman, but she was willing to spend her days in the Ancient Tomb that never saw sunlight, wholeheartedly serving Li Mochou and Xiaolongnü’s master.” This sacrifice of her youth and beauty for the sake of service demonstrated the depth of her devotion and her understanding that true fulfillment came from serving others rather than pursuing personal happiness.
After Xiaolongnü’s master died, she “depended on Xiaolongnü like mother and child. Xiaolongnü had poor self-care abilities, but Granny Sun stayed by her side, never leaving, taking care of her, allowing Xiaolongnü to live peacefully.” This maternal devotion showed her understanding that some people needed constant care and support, and her willingness to provide that care without complaint or expectation of reward.
Final Sacrifice and Legacy
“Before dying, she entrusted Xiaolongnü to take care of Yang Guo for their entire lives, but she didn’t forget Xiaolongnü either. She also wanted to instruct Yang Guo to treat Xiaolongnü well, but she couldn’t finish speaking before she passed away.” This dying wish showed her concern for both of their welfare and her understanding that they needed each other to be truly happy. Even in her final moments, she was thinking about how to ensure their future happiness and well-being.
“Loyal to her master, raising Xiaolongnü and Li Mochou without complaint or regret, rescuing Yang Guo out of chivalrous compassion, and dying for him. Even on her deathbed, she didn’t forget Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü, arranging everything for them before closing her eyes and dying peacefully. Such a woman deserves our respect.” This comprehensive assessment of her life showed the complete nature of her devotion and the way her character remained consistent throughout her entire existence. Her life was a testament to the power of love, loyalty, and selfless service.
Her influence extended far beyond her death, as her actions set in motion the events that would define the entire story and create one of literature’s most famous romantic couples. The relationship between Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü, which became the central focus of the novel, would never have existed without Granny Sun’s intervention and guidance. Her legacy lived on through their love and through the example she set for others about the importance of compassion and sacrifice in human relationships.
Maternal Archetype
Granny Sun represented the maternal archetype in the story, providing the nurturing care and wisdom that both Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü needed for their emotional development. Her presence helped balance the cold isolation of the Ancient Tomb environment.
Portrayals
Granny Sun has been portrayed by numerous actors across different adaptations of The Return of the Condor Heroes:
The Return of the Condor Heroes
- 1976 series – Han Guocai (cross-dressing performance)
- 1983 series – Yu Mulian
- 1984 series – Chen Zengzhi
- 1995 series – Feng Subo
- 1998 series – Chang Ruyan
- 1998 series – Zeng Sipei
- 2006 series – Li Mingqi
- 2014 series – Shao Min
- 2019 series – Liu Yang
See also
- The Return of the Condor Heroes characters
- Xiaolongnü – Her charge and the person she cared for
- Yang Guo – The young man she rescued and protected
- Ancient Tomb School – The school she served
- Lin Chaoying – The founder of her school
- Li Mochou – Her fellow disciple
- Ancient Tomb – Her home