The Six Immortals of the Peach Valley (simplified: 桃谷六仙, traditional: 桃谷六仙, pinyin: Táo Gǔ Liù Xiān, jyutping: tou4 guk1 luk6 sin1) were six eccentric brothers known for their constant bickering, their powerful martial arts, and their loyalty to Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying. They were named after parts of a peach tree: Taogenxian (Peach Root Immortal), Taoganxian (Peach Trunk Immortal), Taozhixian (Peach Branch Immortal), Taoyexian (Peach Leaf Immortal), Taohuaxian (Peach Blossom Immortal), and Taoshixian (Peach Fruit Immortal).
Biography
Early encounters with Linghu Chong
The Six Immortals first encountered Linghu Chong when they were sent to Mount Huashan by Yilin to fulfil a bet. They were known for their ability to tear people apart with their bare hands, and they initially intended to take Linghu Chong to see Yilin.
However, after accidentally causing severe internal injuries to Linghu Chong by transferring their neili to him, they became concerned about his condition and sought help from Ping Yizhi, the Famous Killer Physician.
Service to Ren Yingying
The Six Immortals became loyal followers of Ren Yingying, serving her and helping her in various situations. They were known for their willingness to follow her orders, even when they did not fully understand the reasons behind them.
They played a key role in several important events, including helping Ren Yingying rescue Linghu Chong and supporting her during conflicts with other factions.
Joining the North Hengshan School
After Linghu Chong became the leader of the North Hengshan School, the Six Immortals joined the school and became members. They continued to serve Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying, using their martial arts abilities to help protect the school and its members.
Role in the Five Mountains Alliance
During the Five Mountains Sword Schools alliance ceremony, the Six Immortals played a crucial role in exposing Zuo Lengchan’s schemes. Through their constant bickering and questioning, they managed to reveal important information about Zuo Lengchan’s plans, demonstrating that even their seemingly chaotic behaviour could serve a purpose.
Personality & traits
The Six Immortals were known for their eccentric personalities and their constant bickering. They would argue about the most trivial matters, often getting caught up in semantic debates and wordplay. Despite their arguments, they were fiercely loyal to each other and to those they served.
They were described as having extremely ugly appearances, with faces that were “concave and convex” and covered with wrinkles. However, they were also known for their childlike innocence and their inability to understand social conventions.
Despite their seemingly chaotic behaviour, the Six Immortals were intelligent in their own way, often using their bickering to expose lies and reveal the truth. Their constant questioning and wordplay made them effective at uncovering schemes and revealing hidden information.
Martial arts abilities
The Six Immortals were extremely powerful martial artists, known for their ability to work together seamlessly. They were skilled in:
Light-footed techniques
The Six Immortals possessed exceptional light-footed techniques, able to move with incredible speed and agility. They could appear and disappear almost instantly, making them difficult to track or catch.
Point-striking techniques
They were masters of point-striking techniques, able to strike acupoints with precision and power. Their techniques were so advanced that they could strike acupoints from behind without looking, demonstrating their exceptional skill.
Tearing techniques
The Six Immortals were infamous for their ability to tear people apart with their bare hands. They would grab a person’s limbs and pull in different directions, literally tearing them into pieces. This technique was so powerful that even skilled martial artists like Cheng Buyou were unable to defend against it.
Coordination
Perhaps their greatest strength was their ability to coordinate perfectly with each other. When working together, they could defend against attacks from multiple directions simultaneously, making them nearly invincible in combat.
Individual members
Taogenxian (Peach Root Immortal)
Taogenxian was the eldest of the six brothers and often served as their spokesperson. He was known for his ability to engage in semantic debates and wordplay.
Taoganxian (Peach Trunk Immortal)
Taoganxian was known for his tall and sturdy build, matching his name as the “trunk” of the peach tree.
Taozhixian (Peach Branch Immortal)
Taozhixian was known for his long limbs, matching his name as the “branch” of the peach tree.
Taoyexian (Peach Leaf Immortal)
Taoyexian was known for his clear and handsome features, matching his name as the “leaf” of the peach tree.
Taohuaxian (Peach Blossom Immortal)
Taohuaxian was known for his bright eyes, matching his name as the “blossom” of the peach tree.
Taoshixian (Peach Fruit Immortal)
Taoshixian was known for his energetic and full appearance, matching his name as the “fruit” of the peach tree.
Relationships
The Six Immortals’ relationship with Linghu Chong was one of deep loyalty and friendship. They were willing to risk their lives to help him, and they played a crucial role in his recovery from internal injuries.
Their relationship with Ren Yingying was one of service and loyalty. They followed her orders without question and helped her in various situations.
Their relationship with each other was one of constant bickering but deep brotherly love. Despite their arguments, they would always come to each other’s aid when needed.
Behind the scenes
The Six Immortals represent the comedic relief in the novel, providing humour through their constant bickering and eccentric behaviour. However, they also serve important plot functions, using their unique abilities to help the protagonists and expose schemes.
Literary significance
The Six Immortals’ character demonstrates that even seemingly chaotic and eccentric characters can play important roles in the story. Their constant bickering and wordplay serve not only as comic relief but also as a means of exposing lies and revealing the truth.
Their ability to work together seamlessly despite their constant arguments demonstrates the power of unity and cooperation, even among those who seem incompatible.
Portrayals
The Six Immortals have been portrayed in various adaptations of Laughing in the Wind, though the number of characters and their portrayals have varied:
Laughing in the Wind
- 1984 series — All six characters portrayed
- 1996 series — Four characters portrayed (Taogenxian, Taozhixian, Taohuaxian, Taoshixian)
- 2000 series — Two characters portrayed (Taoyexian, Taohuaxian)
- 2001 series — All six characters portrayed
- 2013 series — Characters removed, some roles given to other characters
- 2018 series — Four characters portrayed (Taogenxian, Taoganxian, Taozhixian, Taoyexian)
See also
- Laughing in the Wind characters
- Linghu Chong — The Six Immortals’ friend and leader
- Ren Yingying — The Six Immortals’ master
- North Hengshan School — The Six Immortals’ faction
External links
- Six Immortals of the Peach Valley (Chinese) on Chinese Wikipedia