Mandarin Duck Blades features a diverse cast of characters including martial artists, imperial officials, and members of the Weixin Armed Escort. The story explores themes of loyalty, deception, and the pursuit of legendary weapons, with characters ranging from skilled martial artists to comedic figures like the Four Xias of Taiyue.
Protagonists
- Yuan Guannan (袁冠南 – Yuán Guànnán) – Scholarly young man who conceals cunning intelligence beneath an eccentric facade
- Xiao Zhonghui (萧中慧 – Xiāo Zhōnghuì) – Spirited daughter of Xiao Banhe, skilled in martial arts but lacking jianghu experience
- Lin Yulong (林玉龙 – Lín Yùlóng) – Hot-tempered martial artist married to Ren Feiyan, constantly quarrels with his wife yet shares a deep bond
- Ren Feiyan (任飞燕 – Rén Fēiyàn) – Lin Yulong’s wife, known for deadly accuracy with a slingshot and fighting whilst holding their baby
Important characters
- Xiao Banhe (萧半和 – Xiāo Bànhé) – Renowned martial artist celebrating his fiftieth birthday, which becomes a pivotal event in the story.
- Zhuo Tianxiong (卓天雄 – Zhuó Tiānxíong) – Formidable imperial guard who disguises himself as a blind man, one of the Seven Great Masters of the Inner Palace
- Zhou Weixin (周威信 – Zhōu Wēixīn) – The Iron Whip that Quells All Directions – Escort chief of the Weixin Armed Escort, a cautious man whose family is held hostage to ensure his cooperation in transporting the Mandarin Duck Blades
Xiao Banhe’s family
- Madam Yuan (袁夫人 – Yuán Fūrén) – Xiao Banhe’s first wife
- Madam Yang (杨夫人 – Yáng Fūrén) – Xiao Banhe’s second wife
- Yang Bochong (杨伯冲 – Yáng Bóchōng) – the Great Xia of the Three Xiangs1
Weixin Armed Escort members
- Escort Zhang (张镖师 – Zhāng Biāoshī) – One of Zhou Weixin’s trusted escorts in the Weixin Armed Escort
- Escort Zhan (詹镖师 – Zhān Biāoshī) – One of Zhou Weixin’s trusted escorts in the Weixin Armed Escort
Four Xias of Taiyue
Four sworn brothers who call themselves the Four Xias of Taiyue (太岳四侠 – Tàiyuè Sìxiá). Despite their grandiose titles and claims, they possess mediocre martial arts skills and often fail in their attempts at robbery and heroism.
- Xiaoyaozi (逍遥子 – Xiāoyáozǐ) – First Xia, 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) – Second Xia, nicknamed Twin Palms of Slab-splitting. A massive man who wields a large tombstone as his weapon
- Hua Jianying (花剑影 – Huā Jiànyǐng) – Third Xia, 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) – Fourth Xia, who claims many impressive titles including Eight Steps Chasing Toads, Rivalling Zhuan Zhu,2 Treading Snow Without a Trace, Skimming Water with One Leg, and the Twin Daggers Renowed in Seven Provinces. Short but agile, he fights with a pair of Emei piercers
See also
- Jin Yong characters
- Mandarin Duck Blades lists
- Mandarin Duck Blades martial arts
- Mandarin Duck Blades locations
- Mandarin Duck Blades translation
- Mandarin Duck Blades 3rd Edition changes