Köke Temür

Köke Temür (simplified: 扩廓帖木儿, traditional: 擴廓帖木儿, pinyin: Kuòkuò Tiēmù’ér, jyutping: kwok3 kok3 tip3 muk6 ji4), also known by his Chinese name Wang Baobao (王保保), was the son of Chaghan Temür, the Prince of Ruyang, and the older brother of Zhao Min. He followed in his father’s footsteps, commanding troops and serving as a military leader in the Yuan Dynasty.

Biography

Early life and military career

Köke Temür grew up in the household of Chaghan Temür, the Prince of Ruyang and a powerful Yuan general. As he matured, he followed in his father’s footsteps, commanding troops and continuing the family’s military tradition. He demonstrated competence and strategic ability, earning a reputation as a capable military leader who was described as not inferior to his father in terms of capability and astuteness.

At Wan’an Temple

When the leaders of the Six Major Factions were imprisoned at Wan’an Temple (万安寺), Köke Temür (referred to as Wang Baobao in this context) arrived to investigate an incident involving Lady Han, one of his father’s concubines, and Lu Zhangke, one of the Xuanming Elders. Chaghan Temür was extremely angry about the situation, and Köke Temür was ordered to investigate.

Köke Temür demonstrated his astute nature during this investigation, recognising when people were trying to deceive him or stall for time. He issued orders decisively, including commanding the Xuanming Elders and organising the Eighteen Buddha Warriors (十八金刚), a group of eighteen foreign monks with high levels of martial arts under his command.

Confrontation with Zhang Wuji

Later in the story, Köke Temür encountered his sister Zhao Min when she was with Zhang Wuji, the Ming Order leader. Köke Temür was initially pleased to see his beloved sister again, but when he learnt that the man with her was Zhang Wuji, he became concerned. He believed that Zhao Min was under Zhang Wuji’s control and was being forced to say things against her will.

Köke Temür attempted to rescue his sister, ordering the Xuanming Elders and the Eight Divine Archers to surround Zhang Wuji. He called Zhang Wuji a “devil head” and demanded that he release Zhao Min, warning that even though Zhang Wuji’s martial arts were strong, “a pair of fists cannot match four hands.”

When Zhang Wuji dismounted to demonstrate that Zhao Min was acting of her own free will, two of the Eight Divine Archers shot arrows at him. Zhang Wuji used the Qian Kun Da Nuo Yi (干坤大挪移) technique to reverse the arrows, breaking the archers’ bows and demonstrating his superior abilities.

Attempting to stop Zhao Min

Despite Zhang Wuji’s demonstration, Köke Temür remained suspicious. When Zhao Min insisted that she needed to go with Zhang Wuji to handle important matters, Köke Temür tried to convince her to wait for their father’s arrival. He was concerned about his sister’s safety and did not want her to leave alone with the Ming Order leader.

However, Zhao Min reminded him that their father had already given her permission to roam the jianghu alone, and she asked him not to meddle in her affairs. Köke Temür, recognising that his father had always doted on his beloved daughter, was reluctant to force his will too much. Nevertheless, he remained concerned about her association with Zhang Wuji, who was an enemy of the imperial government.

Command of the Eighteen Buddha Warriors

Köke Temür commanded the Eighteen Buddha Warriors (十八金刚), a group of eighteen foreign monks with high levels of martial arts. These monks were organised into different groups: Five Sabers, Five Swords, Four Staves, and Four Cymbals. Each group could fight together in coordinated formations, making them effective in combat despite individual abilities that were below those of masters like the Xuanming Elders.

Personality & traits

Astuteness and competence

Köke Temür was described as very astute and competent, not inferior to his father in terms of capability. His ability to recognise deception and make quick decisions demonstrated his intelligence and leadership abilities.

Protective of family

Köke Temür demonstrated concern for his sister Zhao Min’s safety and well-being. His attempts to protect her from what he perceived as danger showed his care for his family, though his protective instincts sometimes conflicted with Zhao Min’s own choices.

Loyalty to the Yuan government

Köke Temür remained loyal to the Yuan government and viewed the Ming Order as enemies. His position as a military commander and prince meant that he saw Zhang Wuji and the Ming Order as threats to the empire, which created conflict with his sister’s choices.

Martial arts and military forces

Command structure

Köke Temür commanded various military forces and martial artists, including:

The Eighteen Buddha Warriors (十八金刚) — eighteen foreign monks organised into different groups
The Eight Divine Archers (神箭八雄) — Zhao Min’s bodyguards who also served under the family
The Xuanming Elders — Lu Zhangke and He Biweng, who could be called upon for support

Relationships

With Chaghan Temür

Köke Temür followed in his father’s footsteps, continuing the family’s military tradition and serving the Yuan government with loyalty and competence.

With Zhao Min

Köke Temür had a close relationship with his younger sister, caring for her safety and well-being. However, their relationship became complicated when Zhao Min chose to side with Zhang Wuji against the Yuan government, creating conflict between his protective instincts and her independence.

With Zhang Wuji

Köke Temür viewed Zhang Wuji as an enemy due to his position as the Ming Order leader. Their interactions were marked by mutual suspicion and conflict, though Zhang Wuji’s superior martial arts abilities prevented Köke Temür from achieving his goal of separating his sister from Zhang Wuji.

Behind the scenes

Historical basis

Köke Temür (also known as Köke Temür or Wang Baobao) is based on the historical figure Köke Temür (扩廓帖木儿), also known by his Chinese name Wang Baobao (王保保). He was a prominent general in the late Yuan Dynasty who fought against the Ming forces. The character in the novel draws from historical accounts of a capable military leader who served the Yuan Dynasty during its decline.

Alternative name

In the novel, Köke Temür is also referred to by his Chinese name Wang Baobao (王保保). This reflects the practice in the Yuan Dynasty where Mongol nobles sometimes adopted Chinese names, and characters in the novel may be referred to by either their Mongol or Chinese names depending on context.