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Shennong Guild

Shennong Guild

Shennong Guild (simplified: 神农帮, traditional: 神農幫, pinyin: Shénnóng Bāng) was a subordinate organization of the Lingjiu Palace specializing in poison making and herb gathering. The guild was led by Sikong Xuan (司空玄 – Sīkōng Xuán) and operated primarily in Southwest China1.

History

Background

As a peripheral organization under the control of the Lingjiu Palace, the Shennong Guild was required to regularly pay tribute of rare medicinal herbs to Tianshan Tonglao. Guild members were long active in the southwest region gathering herbs and refining elixirs. Although nominally an independent martial arts organization, they were completely subservient to the Lingjiu Palace’s directives. Guild leader Sikong Xuan (司空玄 – Sīkōng Xuán) was forced to accept Tianshan Tonglao’s Life and Death Talisman control to preserve the guild.

Conflict with Wuliang Sword School

The conflict with the Wuliang Sword School originated when Sikong Xuan (司空玄 – Sīkōng Xuán) sought the Tongtian Grass to alleviate the pain of the Life and Death Talisman. This herb was both an important material for the guild’s operations and a key tribute item to the Lingjiu Palace. During negotiations, Sikong Xuan captured Zhong Ling as a hostage and forced Duan Yu to consume the Seven-day Gut-breaking Powder, directly advancing the subsequent Wanjie Valley plot development.

Sikong Xuan’s death

Sikong Xuan (司空玄 – Sīkōng Xuán) failed to complete the Lingjiu Palace’s assigned task of capturing Jianhu Palace. Fearing the pain of the Life and Death Talisman’s backlash, he chose to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff. His death highlighted the Lingjiu Palace’s control methods over subordinate organizations.

Organisation

Leadership structure

The guild was led by Sikong Xuan (司空玄 – Sīkōng Xuán), who served as the guild leader. The organization operated under the complete control of the Lingjiu Palace, with members gathering herbs and refining elixirs while being forced to pay tribute of rare medicinal herbs.

Notable members

Leadership:

  • Sikong Xuan (司空玄 – Sīkōng Xuán) - Guild leader who committed suicide after failing his mission

Martial arts

Poison making

The guild specialized in poison making, with all members being proficient in pharmacology but focusing on refining deadly poisons. They were known for producing lethal poisons such as the Gut-breaking Powder (断肠散 – Duàncháng Sǎn). Members often used poison techniques to intimidate opponents.

Herb gathering

Guild members were long active in the southwest region gathering herbs and refining elixirs. They specialized in collecting rare medicinal herbs, which were used both for their own operations and as tribute to the Lingjiu Palace.

Relationships

Subordination to Lingjiu Palace

The Shennong Guild was completely subservient to the Lingjiu Palace, operating as a peripheral organization under their control. Guild leader Sikong Xuan (司空玄 – Sīkōng Xuán) was forced to accept Tianshan Tonglao’s Life and Death Talisman control to preserve the guild.

Conflict with Wuliang Sword School

The guild’s conflict with the Wuliang Sword School arose when Sikong Xuan (司空玄 – Sīkōng Xuán) sought the Tongtian Grass to alleviate the pain of the Life and Death Talisman. This led to the capture of Zhong Ling as a hostage and the forced consumption of poison by Duan Yu.

Locations

Southwest China

The guild operated primarily in Southwest China, with members being long active in this region gathering herbs and refining elixirs. Their activities in this geographically diverse area allowed them access to rare medicinal herbs.

Lingjiu Palace connection

The guild maintained a direct connection to the Lingjiu Palace as their parent organization, regularly paying tribute of rare medicinal herbs to Tianshan Tonglao.

Behind the scenes

The Shennong Guild represents one of Jin Yong’s explorations of how smaller martial arts organizations could be controlled by larger powers through fear and coercion. Through their story, the author examined how subordinate groups could be forced to serve the interests of more powerful organizations while maintaining a facade of independence.

The guild’s name, which references Shennong2 (the mythical Chinese deity of agriculture and medicine), creates an ironic contrast with their actual specialization in poison making. This naming choice highlights the gap between an organization’s stated purpose and its actual activities, a recurring theme in Jin Yong’s work.

The guild’s ultimate fate demonstrates how smaller organizations could be destroyed by the demands of their overlords, with Sikong Xuan’s suicide illustrating the psychological and physical toll of such subjugation.

See also

Footnotes

  1. 西南 – Xīnán. The southwestern region of China, including Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Tibet, known for its diverse geography and ethnic groups. See Wikipedia. ↩

  2. 神农 – Shénnóng. The mythical Chinese deity of agriculture and medicine, also known as the “Divine Farmer.” See Wikipedia. ↩