Lan Fenghuang (simplified: 蓝凤凰, traditional: 藍凤凰, pinyin: Lán Fènghuáng, jyutping: laam4 fung6 wong4), known as Blue Phoenix (蓝凤凰), was the leader of the Five Immortals Order (also known as the Five Poison Order) and a close friend of Ren Yingying. She was a Miao woman from Yunnan, renowned for her mastery of poison arts, her vibrant personality, and her straightforward, honest nature.
Biography
Meeting Linghu Chong
Lan Fenghuang first appeared when she came to meet Linghu Chong on a boat on the Yellow River. She was described as a woman in her early twenties, wearing a blue cloth printed with white flowers, with a colourful embroidered apron from chest to knee, and large golden earrings the size of wine cups. Her appearance was distinctly Miao, not Han Chinese.
She called out: “Is Young Master Linghu Chong of the Huashan School on the boat?” When Ning Zhongze advised Linghu Chong not to respond, Lan Fenghuang said: “We really want to see what Young Master Linghu Chong looks like. Is that all right?”
Admiration for Linghu Chong
Lan Fenghuang had heard that Linghu Chong had cut two large bowls of his own blood to give to Lao Touzi’s daughter to drink, saving the girl’s life. She said: “Such a person of feeling and righteousness—we Miao women admire him most. That’s why I want to meet him.”
When Linghu Chong called her “elder,” she was surprised and asked: “Why do you call me ‘elder’? Am I already very old?” Linghu Chong replied: “Who said you’re old? You’re certainly not old. If you don’t mind, I’ll call you ‘little sister’.” Lan Fenghuang was delighted, her face blooming like spring flowers, and she smiled: “You’re so good. No wonder, no wonder—this person who doesn’t take any man in the world seriously treats you so well.”
She then kissed Linghu Chong twice on the cheek, leaving two red lipstick marks, and laughed: “Now you’re a good elder brother.”
Five Immortals Order
The Five Immortals Order was an extremely sinister and ruthless sect. The name “Five Immortals” was merely a euphemism—those in the jianghu referred to it as the Five Poison Order. In fact, more than a hundred years earlier, the sect’s true name was the Five Poison Order, and its founding patriarch and important members were Miao people from the Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan-Hunan region. Later, several Han people joined the sect and said that “Five Poison” was inelegant, so it was changed to “Five Immortals.”
The Five Immortals Order was skilled in using miasma, gu (蛊), and poison, forming a north-south balance with the Hundred Medicines School. The Five Immortals Order had many Miao members, and while their poison techniques were less sophisticated than the Hundred Medicines School, their strange and bizarre methods were even more unfathomable.
Personality & traits
Lan Fenghuang was portrayed as straightforward, honest, and vibrant. Unlike Han Chinese women who followed complex etiquette, she expressed her feelings directly and naturally. When someone praised her beauty, she was genuinely happy; when she heard about Linghu Chong’s act of cutting his own blood to save a girl, she admired him and called him a good friend.
She was described as having a sweet, charming, and extremely gentle voice that made people’s hearts ache and their faces flush. Her personality was natural and unrestrained, contrasting sharply with the rigid, hypocritical behaviour of the orthodox schools.
Martial arts abilities
Poison arts
Lan Fenghuang was a master of poison arts, skilled in using various poisons, gu, and miasma. She demonstrated her abilities when she easily subdued the Six Immortals of the Peach Valley by placing poisonous insects in their hands—green centipedes and colourful spiders—without them noticing.
She also demonstrated her poison skills when she threw a flag at Yue Hou, coating it with poison that caused his palm to turn pale purple and burn like fire.
Five Immortals Order techniques
As the leader of the Five Immortals Order, Lan Fenghuang had mastered all of the sect’s traditional poison techniques, demonstrating the depth and breadth of Five Immortals Order martial arts.
Relationships
Lan Fenghuang’s relationship with Ren Yingying was one of close friendship. She served under Ren Yingying and was loyal to her, addressing her as “Holy Maiden” and following her commands.
Her relationship with Linghu Chong developed into friendship after their meeting on the boat. She admired his character and treated him as an elder brother, demonstrating her straightforward and honest nature.
Behind the scenes
Lan Fenghuang represents the ideal of natural, unrestrained character unburdened by social conventions. Her character demonstrates that true virtue comes from the heart rather than following rigid rules and etiquette.
Literary significance
Lan Fenghuang serves as a contrast to the hypocritical orthodox schools, demonstrating that so-called “demonic sect” members could be more honest and straightforward than their “orthodox” counterparts. Her character reinforces the novel’s theme that true virtue transcends sectarian boundaries.
Portrayals
Lan Fenghuang has been portrayed in various adaptations of Laughing in the Wind:
Laughing in the Wind
- 1978 film – You Cuiling
- 1984 series – Chen Fusheng
- 1985 series – Xia Guangli
- 1990 film – Yuen Jing-jing
- 1992 film – Yuen Jing-jing
- 1996 series – Tan Peishan
- 2000 series – Chen Zihan
- 2000 series – Chen Xiuli
- 2001 series – Li Fei
- 2013 series – Lü Jiarong
- 2018 series – Liu Jiatong
- 2025 film – Cai Xiangyu
See also
- Laughing in the Wind characters
- Ren Yingying – Lan Fenghuang’s friend and leader
- Five Immortals Order – Lan Fenghuang’s faction
- Linghu Chong – Lan Fenghuang’s friend
External links
- Lan Fenghuang (Chinese) on Chinese Wikipedia