Mandarin Duck Blades (simplified: 鸳鸯刀, traditional: 鴛鴦刀, pinyin: Yuānyāng Dāo) by Jin Yong was first serialised in the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao1 from 1 May to 28 May 1961. It has also sometimes translated as Blade-Dance of the Two Lovers.
Like his other works, Jin Yong revised the novella twice into the Second Edition and Third Edition. It is the second shortest of his works at 37,000 Chinese characters long.
Title translation
The novella’s title literally means Mandarin Duck Blades. A common translation is Blade-Dance of the Two Lovers that tries to better convey the meaning of the original title. While this title better conveys the meaning of the original title, it is rather unwieldy and loses the cultural reference.
The novel’s title is a very clever and meaningful choice, deeply rooted in Chinese cultural symbolism. Mandarin ducks are celebrated symbols of love, fidelity, and marital bliss. These birds are believed to form lifelong pairings, making them a powerful metaphor for devoted couples in Chinese tradition. The significance of naming the blades after mandarin ducks carries several layers of meaning.
Pairing
Just as mandarin ducks are always seen in pairs, the Mandarin Duck Blades are a set of two, implying that they are most effective or complete when used together. This mirrors the idea that the two swords, like the ducks, are inseparable and complement each other in their use and purpose. The Mandarin Duck Blades is also a reference to the two pairs of couples in the novels.
Harmony & balance
The concept of yin and yang is central to Chinese philosophy, symbolising the balance and harmony of opposites. The male (鸳 – yuān) and female (鸯 – yāng) mandarin ducks embody this balance, suggesting that the blades, too, represent the duality and equilibrium between forces. The couples in use the Couple’s Sabers technique that covers each other’s weaknesses to make the couple invincible in battle.
Cultural resonance
The use of such a culturally rich symbol for the name of the blades ensures that they resonate deeply with readers familiar with Chinese culture, who would immediately recognise the layers of meaning. This not only enriches the narrative but also ties the story more closely to its cultural roots.
Plot
Background
Mandarin Duck Blades is set in the Qing Dynasty. The story revolves around a pair of precious Chinese daos known as the Mandarin Duck Blades that are highly coated by many in the jianghu because they are said to hold the secret to invincibility.
The Qing Emperor wanted the blades for himself and issued a secret edict to search for the treasure. The Qing officials managed to track down the blades and commissioned an escort agency to deliver them to the Emperor in the capital.
Summary
The story centres on Zhou Weixin, head of the Wexin Escort Agency, who is tasked with transporting the Mandarin Duck Blades to Beijing. The provincial officials coerce his cooperation by detaining his family. During the journey, his convoy encounters the Four Xias of Taiyue, who attempt to rob them but fail due to their mediocre martial arts skills.
The plot becomes more complex with the introduction of several key characters: Yuan Guannan, a scholarly young man, Xiao Zhonghui, daughter of the martial arts master Xiao Banhe, and the married couple Lin Yulong and Ren Feiyan, who possess a unique martial arts technique called the Wedded Blades Style.
A crucial antagonist emerges in Zhuo Tianxiong, an imperial guard who disguises himself as a blind man to pursue the blades. The story culminates at Xiao Banhe’s fiftieth birthday celebration, where various revelations about characters’ true identities emerge. The final conflict resolves when the Four Xias of Taiyue capture Zhuo Tianxiong.
The story’s conclusion reveals that the inscription split between the pair of Mandarin Duck Blades, “the merciful are invincible” (仁者無敵 – rén zhě wú dí), was a philosophical message about mercy being the path to invincibility.
Themes
The nature of heroism
The novella subverts traditional wuxia expectations by presenting the Four Xias of Taiyue as comedic figures whose martial abilities don’t match their grand titles. This creates a commentary on the gap between reputation and reality in the martial arts world.
Love and partnership
Through the Couple’s Sabers technique and the relationships between various characters, the story explores how true strength can emerge from partnership and cooperation rather than individual prowess.
Hidden wisdom
The revelation that the blades’ secret–the merciful are invincible–is a moral rather than martial teaching emphasises the story’s philosophical message about the true nature of strength.
Cast
See more: Mandarin Duck Blades characters
Protagonists
- Yuan Guannan (袁冠南 – Yuán Guànnán) – A scholarly young man who demonstrates unexpected martial prowess. Initially appearing as a somewhat peculiar scholar who enjoys reciting poetry, he proves to be both clever and skilled in combat.
- Xiao Zhonghui (萧中慧 – Xiāo Zhōnghuì) – The spirited daughter of Xiao Banhe. An accomplished martial artist who travels in pursuit of the Mandarin Duck Blades.
- Lin Yulong (林玉龙 – Lín Yùlóng) – A powerful martial artist, married to Ren Feiyan. Hot-tempered and strong, he is known for his fierce blade techniques. Despite constant quarrels with his wife, they share a deep bond.
- Ren Feiyan (任飞燕 – Rén Fēiyàn) – Lin Yulong’s wife, known for her exceptional skill with projectile weapons, particularly her deadly accuracy with a slingshot. Though she and her husband frequently argue and fight, they are inseparable.
Important characters
- Xiao Banhe (萧半和 – Xiāo Bànhé) – A renowned martial artist celebrating his fiftieth birthday, which becomes a pivotal event in the story. His true identity and past are revealed to be closely tied to the secret of the Mandarin Duck Blades.
- Zhuo Tianxiong (卓天雄 – Zhuó Tiānxíong) – A formidable imperial guard who disguises himself as a blind man. Master of the Thirty Heaven-shaking Palms technique.
- Zhou Weixin (周威信 – Zhōu Wēixīn) – Head of the Wexin Escort Agency, known as Iron Whip that Yields All Directions. A cautious man whose family is held hostage to ensure his cooperation in transporting the blades.
- The Four Xias of Taiyue (太岳四侠 – Tàiyuè Sìxiá)
- Xiaoyaozi (逍遥子 – Xiāoyáozǐ) – The leader, known as the Dragon Amidst the Clouds. Uses a long-stemmed pipe as his weapon. Despite his grandiose title, his martial arts skills are decidedly mediocre.
- Chang Changfeng (常长风 – Cháng Chángfēng) – The second brother, nicknamed Twin Palms of Slab-splitting. A massive man who wields a large tombstone as his weapon.
- Hua Jianying (花剑影 – Huā Jiànyǐng) – The third brother, known as Meteor Chasing the Moon. Would be considered handsome if not for his protruding teeth and sunken nose. Fights with meteor hammers.
- Gai Yiming (盖一鸣 – Gài Yīmíng) – The youngest of the four, who claims many impressive titles including Eight Steps Chasing Toads, Rivalling Zhuan Zhu, Treading Snow Without a Trace, Skimming Water with One Leg, and the Twin Daggers Renowned in Seven Provinces. Short but agile, he fights with a pair of butterfly knives.
Martial arts
The Wedded Blades Style
A unique martial arts technique consisting of 72 moves, created by an ancient loving couple. The technique requires perfect coordination between partners, with each person’s movements complementing the other’s. Notable characteristics include:
- The technique is designed to wound rather than kill, reflecting its creators’ merciful nature
- Each move leaves an opening for opponents to escape, showing the technique’s defensive rather than aggressive nature
- Named moves include poetic phrases like Clear Wind Guides Down from Jade Tower and Bright Moon Illuminates the Golden Chamber
Other techniques
- Huoyan Eighteen Whip: A historical technique attributed to the Northern Song general Huoyan Zan, featuring seventeen known moves
- Mixed Origin Qi: A rare technique that can only be practiced by unmarried practitioners
- Thirty Heaven-shaking Palms: Zhuo Tianxiong’s signature technique
Behind the scenes
Mandarin Duck Blades was written during a financially challenging period for Ming Pao in 1961. Jin Yong was simultaneously serialising multiple works, including The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre, White Horse Neighing in the West Wind, and Mandarin Duck Blades in the same newspaper. The story was originally conceived as a film script in 1960 but was adapted into a novella instead.
This period marked Jin Yong’s first creative peak, during which he experimented with different writing styles and formats. Mandarin Duck Blades represents one such stylistic experiment, distinguished by its shorter length and unique narrative approach.
Adaptations
In 1961, Hong Kong’s Emei Film Company produced a two-part film Twin Swords in Cantonese.2 Lee Fa directed the film, and Lam Fung and Chow Chung starred as as Xiao Zhonghui and Yuan Guannan respectively.
In 1982, Hong Kong’s Shaw Brothers film company produced the film Lovers’ Blades.3 Lu Jungu directed the film, with screenplay by Ni Kuang. It starred Kara Wai as Xiao Zhonghui, Meng Yuan-Man as Yuan Guannan, Tak Yuen as Lin Yulong, Hsueh-Erh Wen as Ren Feiyan, and Lung-Wei Wang as Zhuo Tianxiong.
Legacy
Mandarin Duck Blades represents a unique experiment in Jin Yong’s writing career, distinguished by its humorous tone and concise storytelling.
The novella’s exploration of partnership through martial arts and its philosophical conclusion about mercy’s superiority to pure strength have influenced subsequent wuxia works.
Critics have particularly praised the work’s comedic elements and its successful integration of humour into the traditionally serious wuxia genre. The character of the Four Xias of Taiyue marked Jin Yong’s first major use of comedic martial artists, establishing a pattern he would continue in later works.
However, some critics note that the novella’s shorter length limits its ability to fully develop its themes and characters compared to Jin Yong’s longer works. Despite these limitations, the work remains significant for its innovative approach to wuxia storytelling and its exploration of martial arts philosophy through comedy.
Translation
Jenxi is currently working on the WuxiaSociety translation of the novella that comes with footnotes on cultural and historical points, as well as translator notes to help readers better understand the context and appreciation the nuances that stems from Chinese culture and traditions.
The WuxiaSociety translation is based on the Third Edition of the novella.
See the Mandarin Duck Blades translation index for more information.