Shi Jiqiang (simplified: 史季强, traditional: 史季強, Jyutping: si2 gwai3 koeng4, pinyin: Shǐ Jìqiáng), known as the God of Great Strength (大力神), was the fourth of the five Shi brothers who owned the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Manor. He was renowned for his immense physical strength and his elephant-trunk bronze mace.
Biography
Family legacy and training
Shi Jiqiang was born into the renowned Shi family of beast trainers and learned martial arts by observing and imitating the movements of elephants. Like his brothers, he benefited from the advanced qi cultivation methods that Shi Shugang learned from a mysterious master and passed on to the family.
Confrontation with the Ghosts
During the battle with the Ghosts of the Western Mountain Cave, Shi Jiqiang found himself matched against Hanged Ghost, whose rope techniques proved particularly challenging for his strength-based fighting style. Despite his superior martial arts skills, her flexible rope weapon negated many of his advantages, forcing him into a stalemate.
The situation became critical when Smiling Ghost joined the battle and used poison powder against him, causing Shi Jiqiang to lose consciousness and be bound by Hanged Ghost’s rope. His brothers’ concern for his welfare drove much of the subsequent conflict.
Challenge to Yang Guo
When Yang Guo arrived to mediate the conflict, Shi Jiqiang demonstrated his straightforward, aggressive nature by refusing to back down despite warnings. He launched his signature technique “Giant Elephant Opening Mountain” (巨象开山) at Yang Guo, wielding his elephant-trunk bronze mace with tremendous force.
However, Yang Guo’s superior abilities were immediately apparent when he caught the mace and engaged in a test of strength. Despite Shi Jiqiang’s extraordinary physical power, Yang Guo not only prevented him from pressing the attack but ultimately bent and broke the bronze mace, demonstrating the vast gap between their abilities.
Personality and traits
Character traits
Shi Jiqiang possessed a straightforward, somewhat impulsive personality that matched his fighting style. He was described as a “reckless fellow” (莽撞之徒) who preferred direct confrontation to subtle strategy. His immediate reaction to perceived slights was to respond with force, as demonstrated by his attack on Yang Guo.
Despite his aggressive nature, he showed deep loyalty to his family, particularly his concern for Shi Shugang’s health. He was willing to humble himself completely, even offering to kowtow one hundred times to anyone who could capture the nine-tailed fox needed for his brother’s treatment.
Physical characteristics
Shi Jiqiang was noted for his exceptional physical constitution and strength. Even after being poisoned and bound, he recovered quickly due to his robust physique, and his grip strength was so formidable that even Yang Guo was impressed by his tenacious hold on his weapon.
Martial arts abilities
External combat techniques
Shi Jiqiang’s martial arts were based on elephant movements and emphasized raw power:
- Elephant-style Combat: His techniques mimicked the powerful, straightforward attacks of elephants
- Signature Technique: “Giant Elephant Opening Mountain” - a devastating overhead strike that demonstrated the elephant’s use of its trunk as a weapon
- Immense Strength: His physical power was extraordinary, allowing him to wield extremely heavy weapons and maintain iron grips
Weapons mastery
His primary weapon was an elephant-trunk bronze mace (象鼻杵) that was:
- Shaped like an elephant’s trunk, thick at the base and tapering toward the tip
- Curved slightly to mimic the natural shape of an elephant’s trunk
- Combined hard yang force with soft yin flexibility
- So heavy that it required tremendous strength to wield effectively
Beast control abilities
As part of the Shi family tradition, Shi Jiqiang commanded one hundred elephants in organized formations, demonstrating his ability to work with these massive creatures through voice commands and presence.
Relationships
Family relationships
Shi Jiqiang showed absolute devotion to his family, particularly to his ailing third brother Shi Shugang. His willingness to kneel before Yang Guo and beg for help demonstrated that family loyalty trumped personal pride in his value system.
Professional relationships
After Yang Guo helped heal Shi Shugang, Shi Jiqiang became one of the Divine Condor Hero’s loyal followers, participating in events like guarding Guo Xiang and following Yang Guo’s commands regarding the treatment of opponents.
Combat relationships
His encounters with the Ghosts of the Western Mountain Cave and Yang Guo taught him important lessons about the limitations of relying solely on brute strength, though his fundamental nature remained unchanged.