Sword Stained with Royal Blood features a complex cast of characters from various martial arts schools and factions, including the Huashan School, Iron Sword School, and Five Poisons Order. The story explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the conflict between personal relationships and political obligations during the late Ming Dynasty, with a focus on the legacy of the Golden Serpent Gentleman and the pursuit of his legendary sword techniques.
Protagonists
- Yuan Chengzhi (袁承志 — Yuán Chéngzhī) — Protagonist, son of Yuan Chonghuan
- Xia Xueyi (夏雪宜 — Xià Xuěyí) the Golden Serpent Gentleman — Legendary swordsman
- Xia Qingqing/Wen Qingqing (温青青/夏青青 — Wēn Qīngqīng/Xià Qīngqīng) — Xia Xueyi’s daughter
- Ajiu/Princess Changping (阿九/长平公主 — Ājǐu/Chángpíng Gōngzhǔ) — Chongzhen Emperor’s daughter
- He Tieshou (何铁手 — Hé Tiěshǒu), later He Tishou (何惕守 — Hé Tìshǒu) — Five Poisons Order leader
Yuan Chengzhi’s allies
- Jiao Waner (焦婉儿 — Jiāo Wǎn’ér) — Jiao Gongli’s daughter
- Luo Liru (罗立如 — Luó Lìrú) — Jiao Gongli’s apprentice
- Hong Shenghai (洪胜海 — Hóng Shènghǎi) — Bohai School member
- Cheng Qingzhu (程青竹 — Chéng Qīngzhú) — Green Bamboo Gang chief
- Sha Tianguang (沙天广 — Shā Tiānguǎng) — Bandit leader
- Hu Guinan (胡桂南 — Hú Guīnán) the Divine Thief — Expert thief
- Yisheng (义生 — Yìshēng) the Iron Arhat — Buddhist monk
- Shui Jian (水鉴 — Shuǐ Jiàn) — Military officer
Rebels
- Li Zicheng (李自成 — Lǐ Zìchéng) the Dashing King — Rebel leader
- Li Yan (李岩 — Lǐ Yán) — Li Zicheng’s adviser
- Red Maiden (红娘子 — Hóngniángzǐ) — Li Yan’s wife
- An Daniang (安大娘 — Ān Dàniáng) — Rebel spy
- An Xiaohui (安小辉 — Ān Xiǎohuì) — An Daniang’s daughter
Shanzong members
- Ying Song (应松 — Yìng Sōng)
- Luo Daqian (罗大千 — Luó Dàqiān)
- Zhu Anguo (朱安国 — Zhū Ānguó)
- Sun Zhongshou (孙仲寿 — Sūn Zhòngshòu)
- Tian Jianxiu (田见秀 — Tián Jiànxiù)
- Cui Qiushan (崔秋山 — Cuī Qiūshān)
Huashan School
- Mu Renqing (穆人清 — Mù Rénqīng) the Divine Sword Immortal Ape — Mount Hua leader
- Huang Zhen (黄真 — Huáng Zhēn) the Copper Brush and Iron Abacus — Mu Renqing’s first apprentice
- Feng Nandi (冯难敌 — Féng Nándí) — Huang Zhen’s apprentice
- Cui Ximin (崔希敏 — Cuī Xīmǐn) — Huang Zhen’s apprentice
- Gui Xinshu (归辛树 — Guī Xīnshù) the Invincible Divine Fists — Mu Renqing’s second apprentice
- Gui Erniang (归二娘 — Guī Èrniáng) — Gui Xinshu’s wife
- Mei Jianhe (梅剑和 — Méi Jiànhé) — Gui Xinshu’s apprentice
- Liu Peisheng (刘培生 — Líu Péishēng) — Gui Xinshu’s apprentice
- Sun Zhongjun (孙仲君 — Sūn Zhòngjūn) — Gui Xinshu’s apprentice
Iron Sword School
- Priest Musang (木桑道长 — Mùsāng Dàozhǎng) — Iron Sword School leader
- Yuzhenzi (玉真子 — Yùzhēnzǐ) — Musang’s junior
Manchu forces
- Nurhaci (努尔哈赤 — Nú’ěrhāchì) — Manchu tribal chief
- Hong Taiji (皇太极 — Huángtàijí) — Manchu emperor
- Dorgon (多尔衮 — Duō’ěrgǔn) — Hong Taiji’s half-brother
Ming forces
- Yuan Chonghuan (袁崇焕 — Yuán Chónghuàn) — Ming general
- Chongzhen Emperor (崇祯皇帝 — Chóngzhèn Huángdì) — Last Ming emperor
- An Jianqing (安剑清 — Ān Jiànqīng) — Secret police commander
- Prince Hui (惠王 — Huìwáng) — Ming noble
- Wu Sangui (吴三桂 — Wú Sānguì) — Ming general
- Chen Yuanyuan (陈圆圆 — Chén Yuányuán) — Wu Sangui’s concubine
Taibai Sanying
- Shi Bingguang (史秉光 — Shí Bǐngguāng)
- Shi Bingwen (史秉文 — Shí Bǐngwén)
- Li Gang (黎刚 — Lí Gāng)
Five Poisons Order
- He Hongyao (何红药 — Hé Hóngyào) — Order elder
- Qi Yun’ao (齐云璈 — Qí Yún’áo) — Snake venom expert
Wen family
- Wen Fangda (温方达 — Wēn Fāngdá) — First Wen elder
- Wen Fangyi (温方义 — Wēn Fāngyì) — Second Wen elder
- Wen Fangshan (温方山 — Wēn Fāngshān) — Third Wen elder
- Wen Fangshi (温方施 — Wēn Fāngshī) — Fourth Wen elder
- Wen Fangwu (温方悟 — Wēn Fāngwù) — Fifth Wen elder
- Wen Yi (温仪 — Wēn Yí) — Wen Fangshan’s daughter
Others
- Min Zihua (闵子华 — Mín Zǐhuá) — Xiandu School member
- Jiao Gongli (焦公礼 — Jiāo Gōnglǐ) — Golden Dragon Gang chief
- Meng Bofei (孟伯飞 — Mèng Bófēi) — Senior martial artist
- Zhang Chaotang (张朝唐 — Zhāng Cháotáng) — Bruneian official
- Yang Pengju (杨鹏举 — Yáng Péngjǔ) — Bruneian official
- Zhang Kang (张康 — Zhāng Kāng) — Bruneian official
- Raymond (雷蒙 — Léiméng) — European merchant
- Peter (彼得 — Bǐdé) — European merchant
- Rooklyn (若克琳 — Ruòkèlín) — European merchant
- Zhang Chunjiu (张春九 — Zhāng Chūnjiǔ) — Martial artist
See also
- Jin Yong characters
- Sword Stained with Royal Blood factions
- Sword Stained with Royal Blood martial arts
- Sword Stained with Royal Blood locations
- Sword Stained with Royal Blood translation
Follow a route
- Read: the translation archive and Sword Stained with Royal Blood translation
- Explore: Jin Yong, Sword Stained with Royal Blood, and its characters
- Understand: wuxia, martial arts, and the translation method
- Watch: wuxia adaptations
- Write: story elements in wuxia fiction