Li San

Li San (simplified: 李三, traditional: 李三, pinyin: Lǐ Sān, jyutping: lei5 saam1), known as the White Horse (白马, Báimǎ) or White Horse Li San (白马李三, Báimǎ Lǐ Sān), was a skilled martial artist and the husband of Shangguan Hong the Three Lady of the Gold and Silver Swords in White Horse Neighing in the West Wind. He was the father of Li Wenxiu and was killed by the Three Heroes of Lüliang while protecting his family and the Gaochang Maze map.

Biography

Meeting Shangguan Hong

Li San, known for his exceptional horsemanship and his white horse, met Shangguan Hong when she was still a martial arts disciple. Despite her family’s objections and her master’s intention to match her with her martial brother Shi Zhongjun, Shangguan Hong fell in love with Li San and chose to run away with him, leaving behind her family and martial arts school.

Life together

Li San and Shangguan Hong built a life together, despite the disapproval they faced. They had a daughter, Li Wenxiu, and their relationship was characterised by mutual respect and deep affection. Li San was known for treating his wife with great respect, and she was devoted to him, never refusing any request he made.

Their life together, while happy, was marked by the constant threat from those who sought the Gaochang Maze map that they possessed.

Possession of the Gaochang Maze map

Li San and Shangguan Hong came into possession of a map to the legendary Gaochang Maze, a location that was rumoured to contain great treasures. This map became the object of pursuit by the Three Heroes of Lüliang and their band of sixty bandits.

The final pursuit

The Three Heroes of Lüliang, led by Huo Yuanlong (the Divine Sabre Shakes Guanxi), along with Shi Zhongjun (the Plum Blossom Spear) and Chen Dahai (the Green Python Sword), pursued Li San and Shangguan Hong from the Gansu-Liangzhou road (甘凉道) all the way to the Western Regions (回疆).

Death

During the final confrontation in the Gobi Desert, Li San was surrounded and attacked by the bandits. Despite his skills, he was outnumbered and ultimately killed. Before his death, he urged Shangguan Hong to escape with their daughter and to protect the map, demonstrating his devotion to his family even in his final moments.

After Li San’s death, Shangguan Hong, knowing that capture was inevitable, entrusted the map to their daughter in the form of a woollen handkerchief and then faced her pursuers, killing Shi Zhongjun before committing suicide.

Personality and traits

Skilled and courageous

Li San was a skilled martial artist known for his exceptional horsemanship. His white horse was legendary, and together they were known throughout the jianghu. His courage was evident in his willingness to face overwhelming odds to protect his family.

Devoted husband and father

His devotion to his family was central to his character. Even in the face of death, his primary concern was for his wife and daughter’s safety and the protection of the map that had become their burden.

Respectful partner

Li San treated his wife with great respect, and their relationship was characterised by mutual affection and partnership. His character reflects the ideal of a devoted husband who valued his wife’s autonomy and opinions.

Martial arts abilities

While specific details about Li San’s martial arts are not extensively detailed in the novella, he was known as a skilled martial artist. His exceptional horsemanship and his ability to evade pursuit for an extended period demonstrated his capabilities, though he was ultimately overwhelmed by the superior numbers of his pursuers.

Relationships

Family

Shangguan Hong — His wife, the Three Lady of the Gold and Silver Swords, who chose him over her martial brother
Li Wenxiu — His daughter, who was seven years old when he was killed

Adversaries

Three Heroes of Lüliang — The bandits who pursued and killed him
Huo Yuanlong — The leader of the Three Heroes
Shi Zhongjun — One of the Three Heroes and his wife’s former martial brother
Chen Dahai — One of the Three Heroes

Behind the scenes

Li San’s character represents the tragic consequences of possessing something valuable in the jianghu. His death, along with his wife’s, sets in motion the events that shape his daughter’s life, making him a foundational figure in the novella’s narrative.

His relationship with Shangguan Hong, while brief in the narrative, represents one of the few successful love stories in the novella, contrasting with the numerous unrequited love stories that dominate the text. Their mutual devotion and respect serve as a model of partnership that is rare in the narrative.

Portrayals

Li San has been portrayed in various adaptations of White Horse Neighing in the West Wind.