Kongxing

Kongxing (simplified: 空性, traditional: 空性, pinyin: Kōngxìng, jyutping: hung1 sing3) was the youngest of the Four Holy Monks of the Shaolin Order, known in the jianghu by the saying “Shaolin Divine Monks: See, Hear, Wisdom, Nature” (少林神僧，见闻智性), with “Nature” referring to Kongxing. He was known for his naive and innocent personality, his mastery of the Dragon Claw Hand (龙爪手), and his tragic death at the hands of Asan, a disciple of the Western Regions Vajra Gate.

Biography

Status among the Four Holy Monks

Kongxing was the fourth and youngest of Shaolin’s Four Holy Monks, ranking behind Kongjian, Kongwen, and Kongzhi in seniority. Despite being the youngest, he was recognised as one of the top masters within the Shaolin Order, having mastered the Dragon Claw Hand, one of Shaolin’s Seventy-Two Supreme Skills.

Personality and character

Kongxing was described as having a naive and innocent nature (天真浪漫、不懂俗务), with little understanding of worldly affairs. This innocence contrasted with the more worldly-wise attitudes of his fellow monks, particularly Kongwen and Kongzhi, but it also made him more straightforward and genuine in his interactions.

The Six Schools expedition to Bright Peak

Kongxing participated in the Six Schools expedition to Bright Peak (光明顶), where the orthodox schools attacked the Ming Order headquarters. During this expedition, he engaged in battles with the Ming Order’s Five Elements Banners, demonstrating his formidable martial arts abilities.

Encounter with Zhang Wuji

At Bright Peak, Kongxing fought against Zhang Wuji, who had intervened to save the Ming Order from destruction. Kongxing used his signature technique, the Dragon Claw Hand, which consisted of thirty-six forms of gripping techniques that mimicked dragon talons. However, Zhang Wuji, who had learned this technique from Kongxing’s demonstration, was able to use the same technique to defeat Kongxing.

Despite being defeated by Zhang Wuji, Kongxing developed a deep respect for the young man. The two men recognised each other as true heroes (英雄重英雄), and despite the age difference and the conflict between their factions, they formed a friendship that transcended the orthodox–heterodox divide (竟尔结为忘年之交).

Tragic death

After the Six Schools expedition to Bright Peak, when the orthodox schools were descending the mountain, they were ambushed by Yuan Dynasty forces. During this ambush, Kongxing encountered Asan, a disciple of the Western Regions Vajra Gate (西域金刚门) who served the Yuan Dynasty’s Prince Ruyang.

Asan was skilled in the Great Strength Vajra Finger (大力金刚指), a technique that targeted the opponent’s finger techniques directly. In a confrontation between Kongxing’s Dragon Claw Hand and Asan’s Great Strength Vajra Finger—a battle of finger techniques against finger techniques (指力斗指力)—Kongxing was ultimately defeated and killed.

Kongxing’s death was a tragic loss for the Shaolin Order. When Zhang Wuji later learned of this news, he was deeply saddened, having developed genuine respect and friendship for the naive and straightforward monk despite their brief encounter.

Personality and traits

Naive innocence

Kongxing was known for his naive and innocent nature, with little understanding of worldly affairs and politics. This innocence made him straightforward and genuine in his interactions, but it also meant he was less sophisticated in navigating complex situations compared to his more worldly-wise fellow monks.

Genuine respect for heroes

Despite his naive nature, Kongxing possessed the ability to recognise true heroism and virtue in others, regardless of their faction or background. His friendship with Zhang Wuji, despite the orthodox–heterodox divide, demonstrated his capacity to see beyond superficial divisions and appreciate genuine character.

Straightforward and honest

Kongxing’s straightforward nature made him an honest and genuine individual. He did not engage in the political manoeuvring or grudges that characterised some of his fellow monks, particularly Kongzhi. This straightforwardness contributed to his ability to form genuine friendships across factional lines.

Martial arts abilities

Dragon Claw Hand

Kongxing’s signature technique was the Dragon Claw Hand (龙爪手), one of Shaolin’s Seventy-Two Supreme Skills. This technique consisted of thirty-six forms of gripping techniques that mimicked dragon talons, targeting acupoints and tendons with incredible precision and power. Kongxing had mastered this technique to a high level, making him a formidable opponent.

The technique’s effectiveness was demonstrated during his battle with Zhang Wuji at Bright Peak, where Zhang Wuji was forced to learn and replicate the technique in order to counter it. However, Kongxing’s mastery was ultimately insufficient against Asan’s Great Strength Vajra Finger, which was specifically designed to counter finger-based techniques.

Overall skill level

As one of the Four Holy Monks and a master of the Dragon Claw Hand, Kongxing was recognised as a formidable martial artist. His skills were sufficient to engage with high-level practitioners in the jianghu, though his naive nature and lack of worldly sophistication sometimes limited his effectiveness in complex situations.

Relationships

Brotherhood with fellow monks

As the youngest of the Four Holy Monks, Kongxing maintained relationships with Kongjian, Kongwen, and Kongzhi. His naive and innocent nature may have made him more of a junior figure among the Four Holy Monks, but he was respected for his martial arts abilities and genuine character.

Friendship with Zhang Wuji

Kongxing’s relationship with Zhang Wuji was unique among the Four Holy Monks. Despite their brief encounter at Bright Peak, where Kongxing was defeated by Zhang Wuji, the two men developed mutual respect and friendship. This friendship transcended the orthodox–heterodox divide, demonstrating that genuine character could overcome factional animosities.

When Zhang Wuji later learned of Kongxing’s death, he was deeply saddened, reflecting the genuine bond that had formed between them despite their different backgrounds and the brief nature of their encounter.

Behind the scenes

Significance in the narrative

Kongxing’s character serves as an example of how innocence and genuine character can transcend factional divisions. His friendship with Zhang Wuji, despite the orthodox–heterodox divide, demonstrates that true heroism and virtue can be recognised across factional lines.

His tragic death at the hands of Asan highlights the violence and loss that characterised the conflict between the orthodox schools and the Yuan Dynasty. His death, coming after his friendship with Zhang Wuji, adds emotional weight to the narrative and demonstrates the tragic consequences of the ongoing conflicts.

Kongxing’s naive and innocent nature also provides contrast to the more worldly-wise and politically astute characters in the novel, particularly his fellow monks Kongwen and Kongzhi. This contrast highlights different approaches to navigating the complex world of the jianghu.