Liu Chuxuan

Liu Chuxuan

Contents

Liu Chuxuan (simplified: 刘处玄, traditional: 劉處玄, pinyin: Liú Chǔxuán, jyutping: lau4 cyu5 syun4), known by his Daoist name Changshengzi (长生子 — Chángshēngzǐ), was the third of the Seven Zis of Quanzhen, the disciples of Wang Chongyang, founder of the Quanzhen Order. In the Big Dipper Formation he held the Tianji position.

Biography

The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Liu Chuxuan ranked third among Wang Chongyang’s seven disciples, after Ma Yu and Tan Chuduan and before Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, Hao Datong and Sun Buer.

When the Seven Zis came to Niu Family Village to confront Huang Yaoshi, Liu Chuxuan waited outside the village with Tan Chuduan and Hao Datong. He returned to the inn one night bringing Qiu Qianren, whom he introduced with great respect. When Qiu Qianren claimed that Zhou Botong had been killed by Huang Yaoshi, Liu Chuxuan objected that he had seen their shishu only two days before, running too fast for him to catch, chased by two men, one in a white robe and one in a dark blue robe whose face looked like a corpse’s.

At the inn the Seven Zis formed the Big Dipper Formation against Mei Chaofeng. When she clawed at Qiu Chuji, Liu Chuxuan and Wang Chuyi struck at her together, their combined palm force, one yin and one yang, so strong that it forced her back; later his palm force tore her whip from her hand and sent it into the wall. The formation then fought Huang Yaoshi. When Ouyang Feng struck Tan Chuduan from behind and killed him, the Seven Zis became six.

At the contest at the Misty Rain Pavilion in Jiaxing, Liu Chuxuan fought Huang Yaoshi again in the formation, with Ke Zhen’e taking Tan Chuduan’s place. Huang Yaoshi brought his palm down on Liu’s head but held back long enough for him to roll clear. When Huang Yaoshi kicked Hao Datong over and seized his jian to stab him, Liu Chuxuan parried, and Huang Yaoshi snapped both blades. The formation then fought Ouyang Feng there, and during the retreat Liu Chuxuan and Hao Datong set off to charge the government troops closing in on them, but were met by a storm of arrows.

The Return of the Condor Heroes

By the time of The Return of the Condor Heroes, Tan Chuduan and Ma Yu were dead. Liu Chuxuan served as head of the Quanzhen Order for half a year and then handed the post to Qiu Chuji. He was regarded as a man of deep reserve, whose intentions his disciples found hard to read.

Personality and traits

Liu Chuxuan was small and thin, with a face like a monkey’s, but had a powerful voice. He was courteous to elders he believed to be great masters, as with Qiu Qianren, and reserved in his dealings.

Martial arts abilities

Liu Chuxuan fought with palm and jian as one of the Seven Zis, and was a member of the Big Dipper Formation, in which he held the Tianji position, one of the four stars forming the bowl of the Dipper.

Behind the scenes

Historical basis

Liu Chuxuan is based on the historical Quanzhen master of the same name. Jin Yong’s appendix on the Quanzhen Order quotes a Jin-dynasty stele giving his courtesy name as Tongmiao (通妙) and his sobriquet as Changshengzi, from Wuguan village in Donglai, and records that in 1197 Emperor Zhangzong of Jin summoned him to ask about the Way; Liu replied that few desires keep the body at peace and light taxes keep the state secure. Following Chen Yuan, the appendix lists him as the third head of the Quanzhen Order after Wang Zhe (Wang Chongyang), after Ma Yu and Tan Chuduan and before Qiu Chuji. The historical Liu Chuxuan (1147–1203) is regarded as the founder of the Suishan (随山派) branch of Quanzhen.

Portrayals

Liu Chuxuan has appeared in various television and film adaptations of Jin Yong’s novels, though his roles are typically smaller than those of more prominent characters:

The Legend of the Condor Heroes

The Return of the Condor Heroes

Most portrayals emphasize his scholarly demeanor and wise counsel among the Seven Zis, often depicting him as a thoughtful mediator who provides intellectual depth to the group’s decision-making processes.

See also

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