Shuobude

Shuobude (simplified: 说不得, traditional: 說不得, pinyin: Shuōbùdé, jyutping: syut3 bat1 dak1), known as the Monk with the Sack (布袋和尚, Bùdài Héshàng, Budai Heshang), was one of the Five Wanderers of the Ming Order. He possessed the Qiankun Yidao (乾坤一气袋, Great Shift Bag), a special weapon that played a crucial role in helping Zhang Wuji achieve complete mastery of the Nine Yang Power.

Biography

Role as one of the Five Wanderers

Shuobude was one of the Five Wanderers (五散人), a group of senior members of the Ming Order who operated as a collective advisory body. Known as “the Monk with the Sack” for his distinctive weapon, Shuobude was a respected and valued member of this group.

His name “Shuobude” (说不得) literally means “cannot be said” or “must not say,” reflecting a philosophy of restraint and discretion. This name, combined with his role as a monk, demonstrated his connection to Buddhist principles and the philosophical underpinnings of the Ming Order.

The Qiankun Yidao

Shuobude’s most distinctive possession was the Qiankun Yidao (乾坤一气袋, Great Shift Bag or Universe Air Pocket), a special bag made of extraordinary material that was neither silk nor leather, but rather a rare substance found in nature. This bag was incredibly durable, resistant to ordinary swords and weapons, and served as both a weapon and a tool for capturing enemies.

Shuobude was skilled at using this bag to capture opponents by surprise, wrapping them inside it. The bag’s unique properties made it extremely difficult for those trapped inside to escape, and Shuobude had used this technique to capture numerous martial arts masters.

Helping Zhang Wuji achieve breakthrough

When Zhang Wuji was travelling to Bright Peak to find Yang Xiao, Shuobude captured him in the Qiankun Yidao. During this capture, Zhang Wuji, who had been practising the Nine Yang Manual for five years, was trapped inside the bag with his internal energy unable to escape.

This unique situation created a perfect environment for a breakthrough. As Zhang Wuji’s internal energy built up inside the bag with nowhere to go, it created immense pressure that finally broke through the final barrier preventing him from achieving complete mastery of the Nine Yang Power. When the pressure became too great, Zhang Wuji’s energy burst forth, tearing the Qiankun Yidao apart and achieving the breakthrough he had sought for years.

This event was crucial to Zhang Wuji’s development, as it enabled him to achieve complete mastery of the Nine Yang Power, which became the foundation for all his future martial arts achievements. In this way, Shuobude’s capture of Zhang Wuji, though unintentional, played a pivotal role in Zhang Wuji’s path to becoming one of the most powerful martial artists of his era.

The Six Major Factions’ attack on Bright Peak

During the Six Major Factions’ attack on Bright Peak, Shuobude joined the other Five Wanderers in defending the Ming Order headquarters. When the Five Wanderers arrived at Bright Peak, they found themselves in conflict with Yang Xiao over leadership issues, and Zhou Dian refused to help because of his grudge with Yang Xiao.

Shuobude tried to reason with Zhou Dian, attempting to persuade him to set aside his personal grievances for the sake of the Ming Order. However, Zhou Dian, in his characteristic wild manner, struck Shuobude, knocking out several of his teeth. Rather than reacting with anger or retaliation, Shuobude simply smiled and said nothing, demonstrating the Buddhist principle of tolerance and patience—“the belly big enough to hold all things” (肚大能容，容天下难容之事).

This incident demonstrated Shuobude’s character: his willingness to endure personal injury for the sake of unity, his restraint in the face of provocation, and his commitment to the Ming Order’s principles even when personally wronged.

Support for Zhang Wuji

After Zhang Wuji became the 34th leader of the Ming Order, Shuobude supported his leadership. Like the other Five Wanderers, Shuobude recognised Zhang Wuji’s abilities and commitment to the Ming Order’s principles and worked to support his leadership.

Personality & traits

Tolerance and patience

Shuobude demonstrated remarkable tolerance and patience, particularly in his response to Zhou Dian’s attack. When Zhou Dian knocked out several of his teeth, Shuobude simply smiled and remained silent, embodying the Buddhist principle of “the belly big enough to hold all things”—the ability to tolerate and forgive even when personally wronged.

This tolerance reflected his understanding that personal grievances should not interfere with the greater good of the Ming Order and that unity was more important than personal pride or revenge.

Reluctance to kill

Unlike some of the other Five Wanderers, Shuobude was known for not liking to kill people. This trait, mentioned alongside Leng Qian, demonstrated that despite his martial arts abilities and his position in a revolutionary organisation, Shuobude maintained a certain restraint and moral principle regarding taking life.

This reluctance to kill reflected his Buddhist principles and his understanding that violence should be used only when absolutely necessary, and that mercy and compassion should guide one’s actions when possible.

Humour and wit

Despite the serious nature of his role, Shuobude possessed a sense of humour and wit. His name “Shuobude” (cannot be said) itself reflects a kind of playful paradox, and his interactions with others, particularly with Zhang Wuji when he was captured, demonstrated his ability to use words effectively and with a touch of humour.

Martial arts abilities

Qinggong

Shuobude possessed good qinggong (lightness skill), allowing him to move quickly and efficiently. This skill was useful both in combat and in his role as one of the Five Wanderers, enabling him to travel quickly and respond to situations as needed.

The Qiankun Yidao technique

Shuobude’s signature technique was using the Qiankun Yidao to capture enemies. He was skilled at using this bag to wrap opponents, trapping them inside where they could not escape. This technique was both practical and effective, allowing him to neutralise opponents without necessarily killing them, which aligned with his reluctance to take life.

Relationships

Fellow Five Wanderers

Shuobude worked closely with the other Four Wanderers: Leng Qian, Zhang Zhong, Peng Yingyu, and Zhou Dian. Despite his philosophical differences with some of the more violent members, he maintained good relationships with all of them, demonstrating his ability to work with diverse personalities for the common good.

Wei Yixiao

Shuobude had a close friendship with Wei Yixiao, the Green Winged Bat King, one of the Four Guardian Kings. Their friendship demonstrated that relationships within the Ming Order could transcend organisational boundaries and that personal bonds were valued alongside formal structures.

Zhang Wuji

Shuobude’s relationship with Zhang Wuji was significant because his capture of Zhang Wuji in the Qiankun Yidao inadvertently helped Zhang Wuji achieve the breakthrough necessary to master the Nine Yang Power completely. After Zhang Wuji became leader, Shuobude supported his leadership, recognising his abilities and commitment to the Ming Order.

Behind the scenes

Shuobude is based on the legendary figure of Budai (布袋, Cloth Sack), also known as the Laughing Buddha or Maitreya Buddha, a Chinese folk deity who is often depicted as a fat, jolly monk carrying a cloth sack. The historical Budai was a Chan (Zen) Buddhist monk who lived during the Later Liang Dynasty (907–923) and was considered an incarnation of Maitreya, the future Buddha.

In Chinese Buddhist tradition, Budai represents contentment, generosity, and wisdom. The famous couplet associated with Budai statues reads: “The belly big enough to hold all things hard to hold; The mouth open in laughter laughing at all those worth laughing at” (肚大能容，容天下难容之事；口开常笑，笑世间可笑之人).

In the novel, Shuobude embodies these qualities: his tolerance in the face of Zhou Dian’s attack, his reluctance to kill, and his ability to see the bigger picture rather than focusing on personal grievances. His Qiankun Yidao serves as both a practical weapon and a metaphor for the ability to contain and transform situations.

The character’s role in helping Zhang Wuji achieve his breakthrough demonstrates how sometimes unintended actions can lead to important outcomes. Shuobude’s capture of Zhang Wuji, while initially appearing as a simple act of capturing an enemy, ultimately facilitated one of the most important breakthroughs in Zhang Wuji’s martial arts development.

The destruction of the Qiankun Yidao by Zhang Wuji’s internal energy also serves as a metaphor: sometimes structures that contain and constrain must be broken for growth to occur, and the ability to break through such constraints demonstrates true mastery.

Portrayals

Shuobude has been portrayed in various adaptations of The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre:

The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre

1978 series — Zheng Zeshi
1978 film — Yang Zhiqing
1984 series — Shi Tinggen
1986 series — Junxiong
1994 series — Huang Guanxiong
2001 series — Luo Junzuo
2003 series — Ma Zhaogang
2009 series — Zhou Gang
2019 series — Lin Yizheng