The Return of the Condor Heroes features a rich cast of characters from various martial arts schools and factions, including the Quanzhen Order, Ancient Tomb School, and Dali Kingdom. The story explores themes of love, loyalty, revenge, and the conflict between personal relationships and martial arts politics.
Protagonists
- Yang Guo (杨过 – Yáng Guò)
- Xiaolongnü (小龙女 – Xiǎolóngnǚ) the Little Dragon Maiden – Yang Guo’s lover and shifu
- Divine Condor (神雕 – Shéndiāo) – Giant eagle, former companion of Dugu Qiubai
Guo family and associates
- Guo Jing (郭靖 – Guō Jìng)
- Huang Rong (黄蓉 – Huáng Róng)
- Guo Fu (郭芙 – Guō Fú) – Guo Jing’s elder daughter
- Guo Xiang (郭襄 – Guō Xiāng) the Little Eastern Heretic – Guo Jing’s younger daughter
- Guo Polu (郭破虏 – Guō Pòlǔ) – Guo Xiang’s twin brother
- Wu Dunru (武敦儒 – Wǔ Dūnrú) – Wu Santong’s son
- Wu Xiuwen (武修文 – Wǔ Xiūwén) – Wu Santong’s son
- Yelü Qi (耶律齐 – Yēlǜ Qí) – Yelü Chucai’s son, Guo Fu’s husband
- Yelü Yan (耶律燕 – Yēlǜ Yàn) – Yelü Qi’s sister, Wu Dunru’s wife
- Wanyan Ping (完颜萍 – Wányán Píng) – Jin Empire descendant, Wu Xiuwen’s wife
Mongol Empire
- State Preceptor Jinlun (金轮国师 – Jīnlún Guóshī) the Mongol Empire’s State Preceptor – Mongol Empire’s adviser
- Huodu (霍都 – Huòdū) – Mongol prince, Jinlun’s third apprentice
- Daerba (达尔巴 – Dáěrbā) – Tibetan monk, Jinlun’s second apprentice
- Möngke (蒙哥) – Great Khan of the Mongol Empire
- Kublai (忽必烈) – Mongol prince, Möngke’s brother
- Yelü Chucai (耶律楚才 – Yēlǜ Chǔcái) – Mongol Empire’s Premier
- Yelü Jin (耶律晋 – Yēlǜ Jìn) – Yelü Chucai’s elder son
Mongol mercenaries
- Xiaoxiangzi (潇湘子 – Xiāoxiāngzǐ) – Xiangxi martial artist
- Yinkexi (尹克西 – Yǐnkèxī) – Persian merchant and martial artist
- Nimoxing (尼摩星 – Nímóxīng) – Indian martial artist
- Ma Guangzuo (麻光佐 – Má Guāngzuǒ) – Xinjiang martial artist
Heartless Valley
- Gongsun Zhi (公孙止 – Gōngsūn Zhǐ) – Valley master, skilled blade wielder
- Qiu Qianchi (裘千尺 – Qiú Qiānchǐ) – Gongsun Zhi’s wife, seeks revenge
- Gongsun Lü’e (公孙绿萼 – Gōngsūn Lǜ’è) – Gongsun Zhi’s kind-hearted daughter
- Fan Yiweng (樊一翁 – Fán Yīwēng) the Long Bearded Ghost – Gongsun Zhi’s senior apprentice
- Rouer (柔儿 – Róu’ér) – Servant girl killed by Gongsun Zhi
Ancient Tomb School
- Li Mochou (李莫愁 – Lǐ Mòchóu) the Red Fairy – Xiaolongnü’s vengeful senior
- Lin Chaoying (林朝英 – Lín Cháoyīng) – School founder
- Granny Sun (孙婆婆 – Sūn Pópó) – Ancient Tomb resident
- Hong Lingbo (洪凌波 – Hóng Língbō) – Li Mochou’s apprentice
Lu family
- Cheng Ying (程英 – Chéng Yīng) – Lu Wushuang’s cousin
- Lu Wushuang (陆无双 – Lù Wúshuāng) – Lu Liding’s daughter
- Lu Zhanyuan (陆展元 – Lù Zhǎnyuán) – Li Mochou’s former lover
- He Yuanjun (何沅君 – Hé Yuánjūn) – Lu Zhanyuan’s wife
- Lu Liding (陆立鼎 – Lù Lìdǐng) – Lu Zhanyuan’s brother
Quanzhen Order
- Wang Chongyang (王重阳 – Wáng Chóngyáng) the Central Divine – School founder
- Zhou Botong (周伯通 – Zhōu Bótōng) the Old Wild Child – Wang’s junior
Seven Zis of Quanzhen
- Ma Yu (马钰 – Mǎ Yù) also known as Danyangzi
- Liu Chuxuan (刘处玄 – Liú Chǔxuán) also known as Changshengzi
- Qiu Chuji (丘处机 – Qiū Chǔjī) also known as Changchunzi
- Wang Chuyi (王处一 – Wáng Chǔyī) also known as Yuyangzi
- Hao Datong (郝大通 – Hǎo Dàtōng) also known as Guangningzi
- Sun Buer (孙不二 – Sūn Bù’èr) also known as Unbound Adept Qingjing
Other Quanzhen members
- Zhao Zhijing (赵志敬 – Zhào Zhìjìng) – Senior Quanzhen member
- Yin Zhiping (尹志平 – Yǐn Zhìpíng) – Senior member
- Zhen Zhibing (甄志丙 – Zhēn Zhìbǐng) – Senior member
- Lu Qingdu (鹿清笃 – Lù Qīngdǔ) – Zhao Zhijing’s apprentice
Dali Kingdom
- Great Master Yideng (一灯大师 – Yīdēng Dàshī) the Southern Emperor – Former Dali ruler
- Liu Ying (刘瑛 – Liú Yīng) the Divine Mathematician – Duan Zhixing’s former concubine
- Chu Dongshan (褚东山 – Chǔ Dōngshān) the Reclusive Fisherman of Diancang
- Zhang Shaoshou (张少守 – Zhāng Shàoshǒu)
- Wu Santong (武三通 – Wǔ Sāntōng) – Wu brothers’ father
- Zhu Ziliu (朱子柳 – Zhū Zǐliǔ)
- Wu Sanniang (武三娘 – Wǔ Sānniáng) – Wu Santong’s wife
Peach Blossom Island
- Huang Yaoshi (黄药师 – Huáng Yàoshī) the Eastern Heretic – Island master
- Ke Zhen’e (柯镇恶 – Kē Zhèn’è) – Last of Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan
- Qu Shagu (曲傻姑 – Shǎgū) – Qu Lingfeng’s orphaned daughter
- Feng Mofeng (冯默风 – Féng Mòfēng) – Huang’s former apprentice
Shaolin Order
- Jueyuan (觉远 – Juéyuǎn) – Shaolin librarian
- Zhang Junbao (张君宝 – Zhāng Jūnbǎo) – Jueyuan’s apprentice
Ghosts of the Western Mountain Cave
- Long Bearded Ghost (长须鬼 – Chángxūguǐ) – Former Fan Yiweng
- Big Headed Ghost (大头鬼 – Dàtóuguǐ)
- Hanged Ghost (吊死鬼 – Diàosǐguǐ)
- Life Taking Ghost (催命鬼 – Cuīmìngguǐ)
- Impermanence Ghost (无常鬼 – Wúchángguǐ)
- Debt Collecting Ghost (讨债鬼 – Tǎozhàiguǐ)
- Fearsome Ghost (煞神鬼 – Shàshénguǐ)
- Death Ghost (丧门鬼 – Sàngménguǐ)
- Pretty Ghost (俏鬼 – Qiàoguǐ)
- Smiling Ghost (笑脸鬼 – Xiàoliǎnguǐ)
Shi Brothers of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Manor
- Shi Bowei (史伯威 – Shǐ Bówēi) the Mountain King with a White Forehead
- Shi Zhongmeng (史仲猛 – Shǐ Zhòngměng) the Guanjianzi
- Shi Shugang (史叔刚 – Shǐ Shūgāng) the Golden Armoured Lion King
- Shi Jiqiang (史季强 – Shǐ Jìqiáng) the God of Great Strength
- Shi Mengjie (史孟捷 – Shǐ Mèngjié) the Eight Handed Immortal Ape
Other characters
- Qiu Qianren (裘千仞 – Qiú Qiānrèn) the Iron Palm Skimming on Water
- Lu Youjiao (鲁有脚 – Lǔ Yǒujiǎo) – Beggars’ Gang chief
- Lu Guanying (陆冠英 – Lù Guànyīng) – Lake Tai pirates leader
- Cheng Yaojia (程瑶迦 – Chéng Yáojiā) – Sun Buer’s apprentice
- Lü Wende (吕文德 – Lǚ Wéndé) – Xiangyang military commander
- Lü Wenhuan (吕文焕 – Lǚ Wénhuàn) – Lü Wende’s brother
Follow the archive routes
- Read: Continue with the Return of the Condor Heroes translation and the Condor Trilogy reading path.
- Explore: Use the Jin Yong reference guide to browse related characters, factions, locations, and martial arts.
- Understand: Set the character list in the wider context of wuxia, jianghu, and xia.
- Watch: Follow the wuxia adaptations route for source-work relationships, factual records, and separate analysis.
- Write: Study story elements in wuxia fiction for recurring relationships, conflicts, and character patterns.