Heibaizi (simplified: 黑白子, traditional: 黑白子, pinyin: Hēibáizǐ, jyutping: hak1 baak6 zi2) was one of the Four Friends of Jiangnan and a master of weiqi (围棋). He was a former member of the Sun Moon Order who, along with his three companions, guarded Ren Woxing at Plum Manor in Hangzhou. His name means “Black and White Pieces,” referring to the stones used in weiqi.
Biography
Early life and Sun Moon Order
Heibaizi was originally a member of the Sun Moon Order during Ren Woxing’s leadership. He and his three companions—Huangzhonggong, Tubiweng, and Danqingsheng—joined the order with the intention of doing good deeds and making a name for themselves in the jianghu.
However, they became disillusioned with Ren Woxing’s leadership, finding him too temperamental and autocratic. When Dongfang Bubai took over as leader, the situation worsened, as Dongfang Bubai favoured sycophants and eliminated old members of the order.
Life at Plum Manor
The four friends requested the assignment of guarding Ren Woxing at Plum Manor in Hangzhou, far from the order’s headquarters at Blackwood Cliff. This allowed them to distance themselves from the order’s internal politics and enjoy a peaceful life by West Lake, pursuing their interests in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
For twelve years, Heibaizi and his companions lived a quiet life, with Heibaizi focusing on his weiqi playing and martial arts practice.
Meeting Linghu Chong
When Linghu Chong came to Plum Manor with Xiang Wentian and Ren Yingying, Heibaizi demonstrated his Mysterious Heaven Finger technique by freezing a basin of water into ice. This technique was used to chill wine for Danqingsheng, who was impressed by the ability to create ice in the summer heat.
Attempt to learn the Star-Swallowing Skill
Heibaizi was known for being scheming and ambitious. During the time Ren Woxing was imprisoned at Plum Manor, Heibaizi secretly visited him multiple times, attempting to learn the Star-Swallowing Skill (吸星大法) from him.
However, after Ren Woxing was freed and Linghu Chong was imprisoned in his place, Heibaizi continued to visit the prison, hoping to learn the technique. Instead, he accidentally had all his neili absorbed by Linghu Chong, who had learnt the Star-Swallowing Skill from the iron plates in the prison.
Loss of martial arts
After having his neili absorbed, Heibaizi lost all his martial arts abilities, including his Mysterious Heaven Finger technique. This left him powerless and unable to continue his role as one of the Four Friends of Jiangnan.
Personality & traits
Heibaizi was portrayed as scheming and ambitious, willing to take risks to obtain powerful martial arts techniques. He was described as being skilled in weiqi and having a cunning nature, making him the second most powerful martial artist among the Four Friends of Jiangnan.
His ambition to learn the Star-Swallowing Skill demonstrated his desire for power, though this ambition ultimately led to his downfall when he lost all his neili.
Martial arts abilities
Mysterious Heaven Finger
Heibaizi’s signature technique was the Mysterious Heaven Finger (玄天指), a unique martial art that allowed him to freeze water into ice using his neili. The technique was so powerful that he could create ice even in the summer heat, making it useful for chilling wine and other purposes.
The technique was described as being similar to the legendary Black Wind Finger (黑风指), though Heibaizi’s version was considered less aggressive and more refined.
Swordplay
Heibaizi was also skilled in swordplay, though his exact techniques were not detailed in the novel. He was considered the second most powerful martial artist among the Four Friends of Jiangnan, after Huangzhonggong.
Relationships
Heibaizi’s relationship with his three companions—Huangzhonggong, Tubiweng, and Danqingsheng—was one of mutual respect and shared values. They worked together as the Four Friends of Jiangnan, each specialising in a different art form.
His relationship with Ren Woxing was complex. He had originally joined the Sun Moon Order to serve under Ren Woxing, but became disillusioned with his leadership style. However, he was still willing to secretly visit Ren Woxing in prison to learn powerful techniques from him.
Behind the scenes
Heibaizi represents the danger of ambition and the consequences of seeking power through underhanded means. His character demonstrates that even skilled martial artists can fall victim to their own greed and ambition.
Literary significance
Heibaizi’s character serves to contrast the peaceful life of artistic pursuit with the dangerous pursuit of power. His attempt to learn the Star-Swallowing Skill and his subsequent loss of all martial arts abilities demonstrates the theme that power gained through underhanded means often comes at a great cost.
Portrayals
Heibaizi has been portrayed in various adaptations of Laughing in the Wind:
Laughing in the Wind
- 1984 series — Lin Wenwei
- 1985 series — Shi Taimin
- 1996 series — Liang Qinqi
- 2000 series — Hou Jun
- 2001 series — Wulan Baoyin
- 2013 series — Zhao Liang
- 2018 series — Hu Li
See also
- Laughing in the Wind characters
- Four Friends of Jiangnan — Heibaizi’s faction
- Huangzhonggong — Heibaizi’s companion
- Tubiweng — Heibaizi’s companion
- Danqingsheng — Heibaizi’s companion
- Ren Woxing — The prisoner Heibaizi guarded
External links
- Heibaizi (Chinese) on Chinese Wikipedia