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Quan Jinfa

Quan Jinfa

Quan Jinfa (全金发 – Quán Jīnfā) was the sixth master of the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan and one of Guo Jing’s teachers. Known as the Hidden Xia in the Market Street, he specialised in using a steel scale staff as both a weapon and a merchant’s tool.

Biography

Quan Jinfa was born in Shandong but lost both parents at a young age. He later moved to Zhejiang Jiaxing’s Ke Family Village, where he became one of the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan, ranked sixth among the sworn siblings.

Quan Jinfa participated in the initial confrontation with Qiu Chuji at the Drunken Immortal Tavern, which led to the Seven Eccentrics’ journey to Mongolia to find and train Guo Jing. During their eighteen years in the desert, he played a crucial role in Guo Jing’s martial arts education, teaching him the Huyan Spear Technique specifically to counter Yang Kang’s Yang Family Spear techniques.

Tragically, Quan Jinfa met his end on Peach Blossom Island when Ouyang Feng killed him by impaling him through the chest with his own scale staff. He was approximately forty years old at the time of his death and was buried on the island.

Personality and traits

Quan Jinfa was characterised by his shrewd business sense and calculating nature. As a merchant who made his living through street trading, he was skilled at bargaining and often used his business acumen to gain advantages in various situations. Despite his mercantile background, he maintained a strong sense of chivalry and righteousness, earning his epithet “Market Street Hidden Hero.”

He was known for his witty and humorous personality, often making clever observations about situations. His calculating nature was evident in his analysis of the bet with Qiu Chuji, where he broke down the odds of finding Yang Kang’s child and concluded that the Seven Eccentrics had an eighty percent chance of winning.

Martial arts abilities

Quan Jinfa’s martial prowess was ranked in the middle to lower range among the Seven Eccentrics. While not the most powerful fighter in the group, he compensated for this through his innovative use of his scale staff weapon and his tactical thinking.

During the battle with the Twin Evils of Dark Wind, Quan Jinfa demonstrated his combat skills by working alongside Zhu Cong to attack from both sides. His scale staff techniques proved effective against opponents like Peng Lianhu, who was unfamiliar with such an unusual weapon.

Mountain-cleaving Palm Technique

Quan Jinfa mastered the Mountain-cleaving Palm Technique (开山掌法 kāishān zhǎngfǎ), which emphasised powerful striking methods. This technique was designed for practical combat situations and focused on delivering devastating blows to opponents.

Huyan Spear Technique

Quan Jinfa specialised in the Huyan Spear Technique (呼延枪法 hūyán qiāngfǎ), which was specifically designed to counter Yang Family spear techniques. He taught this technique to Guo Jing to ensure the young hero could effectively oppose Yang Kang in combat.

Steel Scale Staff Method

Quan Jinfa’s most unique martial art was the Steel Scale Staff Method, which he developed himself. This technique utilised his signature weapon—steel scale staff made of refined steel and served both as a merchant’s tool and a formidable weapon. This unique weapon had three distinct functions:

  • Scale staff: The main shaft could be used as a long weapon following spear and staff fighting principles
  • Scale hook: The hook could be deployed to capture opponents or weapons like a flying claw
  • Scale weight: The weight functioned as a chain hammer that could be swung to strike or entangle enemies

Qinggong

Quan Jinfa possessed considerable qinggong, which he used effectively in combat situations. His agility and mobility allowed him to manoeuvre around opponents and deliver his scale staff techniques with precision.

Relationships

Guo Jing

As Guo Jing’s sixth shifu, Quan Jinfa played a crucial role in the young hero’s development. He taught Guo Jing the Huyan Spear Technique specifically to counter Yang Family spear techniques, demonstrating his strategic thinking in martial arts training.

Seven Eccentrics

Quan Jinfa was the sixth brother among the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan, maintaining close bonds with all his sworn siblings. His death on Peach Blossom Island had a profound impact on the group and became a turning point in their collective story.

Behind the scenes

Character significance

Quan Jinfa represented one of the most unique characters in The Legend of the Condor Heroes, demonstrating how practical skills and business acumen could be combined with martial arts training. His innovative scale staff techniques showed how everyday tools could be adapted for combat purposes.

Legacy

Quan Jinfa’s death significantly influenced Guo Jing’s development and the remaining Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan. His innovative scale staff techniques and strategic approach to martial arts were passed down to his disciples, and his death on Peach Blossom Island led to major plot developments in the story.

Portrayals

Quan Jinfa has been portrayed by various actors in adaptations of The Legend of the Condor Heroes:

Television series

Most adaptations emphasize Quan Jinfa’s merchant background, his steel scale staff techniques, and his role as one of Guo Jing’s teachers, while showcasing his loyalty to the Seven Eccentrics.

See also