One-Character Hui Sword School (simplified: 一字慧剑门, traditional: 一字慧劍門, pinyin: Yīzì Huì Jiàn Mén) was a martial arts school originally based in Fujian Jianyang1. The school was destroyed by Tianshan Child Granny, with only Zhuo Bufan surviving to continue its legacy.
History
Foundation and destruction
The One-Character Hui Sword School was originally based in Jianyang, Fujian. The school was completely destroyed by Tianshan Child Granny, who killed all members of Zhuo Bufan’s family.
Zhuo Bufan’s survival and training
Zhuo Bufan escaped to Changbai Mountain2 where he discovered a sword manual left by a previous master. He trained diligently for twenty years, mastering the sword techniques and achieving great proficiency in martial arts.
Return to jianghu
After completing his training, Zhuo Bufan emerged from seclusion and killed several famous martial artists in Hebei, earning the title “God of the Sword” (剑神 – Jiàn Shén) in the jianghu. His martial arts skills were considered slightly superior to Cui Lühua and Daoist Buping.
Alliance with Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands
Zhuo Bufan joined forces with the Alliance of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands to demand the antidote for the Life and Death Talisman from Tianshan Child Granny. He hoped to use the antidote to control the alliance members.
Defeat by Xuzhu
During the confrontation at Lingjiu Palace, Zhuo Bufan fought against Xuzhu but was completely outmatched. He left in anger after his defeat, unable to achieve his goals of controlling the alliance or obtaining revenge against Tianshan Child Granny.
Organisation
Leadership structure
The school was originally led by Zhuo Bufan’s family before its destruction. After the school’s destruction, Zhuo Bufan (卓不凡 – Zhuó Bùfán) became the sole surviving representative of the school’s legacy.
Notable members
Survivors:
- Zhuo Bufan (卓不凡 – Zhuó Bùfán) - Sole survivor and inheritor of the school’s techniques
Martial arts
Duke Zhou’s Sword
Duke Zhou’s Sword (周公剑 – Zhōugōng Jiàn) is the school’s signature sword technique. This technique was preserved by Zhuo Bufan (卓不凡 – Zhuó Bùfán) through the sword manual he discovered on Changbai Mountain.
Zhuo Bufan’s martial arts
After twenty years of training, Zhuo Bufan (卓不凡 – Zhuó Bùfán) achieved great proficiency in sword techniques. His skills were considered superior to many other martial artists in the jianghu, earning him the title “God of the Sword” (剑神 – Jiàn Shén).
Relationships
Conflict with Tianshan Child Granny
The school was completely destroyed by Tianshan Child Granny (天山童姥 – Tiānshān Tónglǎo), who killed all members of Zhuo Bufan’s family. This created a lasting enmity between Zhuo Bufan and the Lingjiu Palace.
Alliance with Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands
Zhuo Bufan (卓不凡 – Zhuó Bùfán) joined the Alliance of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands to seek revenge against Tianshan Child Granny and obtain the antidote for the Life and Death Talisman.
Defeat by Xuzhu
During the confrontation at Lingjiu Palace, Zhuo Bufan was completely outmatched by Xuzhu, demonstrating the vast difference in power between the two martial artists.
Locations
Original location
The school was originally based in Fujian Jianyang (建阳 – Jiànyáng), where it maintained its headquarters and trained disciples before its destruction.
Refuge location
After the school’s destruction, Zhuo Bufan (卓不凡 – Zhuó Bùfán) escaped to Changbai Mountain (长白山 – Chángbái Shān) where he discovered the sword manual and trained for twenty years to master the school’s techniques.
Behind the scenes
The One-Character Hui Sword School represents one of Jin Yong’s explorations of how martial arts schools could be destroyed by powerful enemies while their legacy continued through surviving disciples. Through Zhuo Bufan’s story, the author examined how individuals could preserve and develop martial arts traditions even after their original institutions were destroyed.
The school’s destruction by Tianshan Child Granny demonstrates how powerful martial artists could eliminate entire organizations, while Zhuo Bufan’s survival and training shows how martial arts knowledge could be preserved and transmitted even under extreme circumstances.
Zhuo Bufan’s eventual defeat by Xuzhu illustrates how even highly skilled martial artists could be overcome by those with superior techniques or greater power, highlighting the hierarchical nature of martial arts in the jianghu.
See also
- Jin Yong factions
- Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils factions
- Zhuo Bufan – Sole survivor and inheritor of the school’s techniques
- Tianshan Child Granny – The enemy who destroyed the school
- Alliance of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands – The alliance Zhuo Bufan joined
- Duke Zhou’s Sword – The school’s signature sword technique
- Fujian Jianyang – The school’s original location
- Changbai Mountain – Where Zhuo Bufan trained after the school’s destruction
External links
- Jianyang on Wikipedia
- Changbai Mountains on Wikipedia
- Jianyang (Chinese) on Chinese Wikipedia
- Changbai Mountains (Chinese) on Chinese Wikipedia