The Deer and the Cauldron features a vast cast of characters from various factions and organisations, including the Heaven and Earth Society, Mystic Dragon Order, and Qing Dynasty. The story explores themes of loyalty, deception, and the intersection of politics and personal relationships through the adventures of its cunning protagonist.
Wei Xiaobao and family
- Wei Xiaobao (韦小宝 – Wéi Xiáobǎo) – witty, sly, and illiterate protagonist who becames an influential figure by sheer luck and wit
- Wei Chunfang (韦春芳 – Wéi Chūnfāng) – Wei Xiaobao’s mother and a prostitute Luzhun Brothel
Wei Xiaobao’s wives
- Mu Jianping (沐剑屏; Mù Jiànpíng) – Mu Jiansheng’s younger sister and a princess of the House of Prince Mu, the second youngest and most naïve of Wei Xiaobao’s wives
- Fang Yi (方怡; Fāng Yí) – Liu Dahong’s disciple, servant of the House of Prince Mu, Wei Xiaobao’s second wife
- Shuanger (双儿; Shuāngér) – servant of the Zhuang family of Huzhou, He Tishou’s disciple, Wei Xiaobao’s bodyguard, and youngest and most loyal wife
- Su Quan (苏荃 – Sū Quán) – Hong Antong’s former wife, Wei Xiaobao’s oldest wife and most adept in martial arts
- Princess Jianning (建宁公主 – Jiànníng Gōngzhǔ) – Kangxi Emperor’s younger sister, most violent of Wei Xiaobao’s wives
- Zeng Rou (曾柔 – Zēng Róu) – Disciple from Wangwu School, Wei Xiaobao’s most polite and cultured wife
- Ake (阿珂 – Ākē) – daughter of Chen Yuanyuan and Li Zicheng, kidnapped and raised by Princess Changping, Wei Xiaobao’s most beautiful wife
Wei Xiaobao’s children
- Wei Shuangshuang (韦双双 – Wéi Shuāngshuāng) – Wei Xiaobao’s firstborn daughter with Princess Jianning
- Wei Hutou (韦虎头 – Wéi Hǔtóu) – Wei Xiaobao’s secondborn son with Ake
- Wei Tongchui (韦铜锤 – Wéi Tóngchuí) – Wei Xiaobao’s thirdborn son with Su Quan
Qing Empire
- Kangxi Emperor (康熙皇帝 – Kāngxī Huāngdì) – Emperor of the Qing Dynasty
- Empress Dowager (太后 – Tàihòu) – Kangxi Emperor’s stepmother
Imperial court officials
- Oboi (鳌拜 – Áobài) – One of the Four Regents who govern the Qing Empire when the Kangxi Emperor was still a child
- Prince Kang (康亲王 – Kāng Qīnwáng) – A distant cousin of the Kangxi Emperor
- Songgotu (索额图 – Suǒétú) – Sonin’s son who serves as Vice Minister of Personnel, First Class Imperial Guard, and Grand Secretary, Wei Xiaobao’s sworn brother
- Batai (巴泰 – Bātài) – Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Zhonghe Hall
- Wei Zhouzuo (卫周祚 – Wèi Zhōuzuò) – Grand Secretary of the Baohe Hall
- Mishan (米思翰 – Mǐsīhàn) – Minister of Revenue
- Duikana (对喀纳 – Duìkǎnà) – Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall
- Du Lide (杜立德 – Dù Lìdé) – Grand Secretary
- Tuhai (图海 – Túhǎi) – Grand Secretary
- Mingju (明珠 – Míngzhū) – Minister of War
- Jelken (折尔肯 – Zhé’ěrkěn) – Vice Minister of Rites
- Daerli (达尔礼 – Dáěrlǐ) – Secretary of the Hanlin Academy
- Moluo (莫洛 – Mòluò) – Minister of Justice
- Li Wei (李蔚 – Lǐ Wèi) – Grand Secretary
- Isangga (伊桑阿 – Yīsāng’ē) – Minister of Personnel
- Li Lei (李雷 – Lǐ Léi) – Minister of Revenue and Grand Secretary of the Baohe Hall
- Tong Guogang (佟国纲 – Tóng Guógāng) – First Class Duke and Han commander of the Bordered Yellow Banner, the Kangxi Emperor’s maternal uncle
- Ledehong (勒德洪 – Lèdéhóng)
- Feng Pu (冯溥 – Féng Pǔ)
- Wang Xi (王熙 – Wáng Xī)
- Huang Ji (黄机 – Huáng Jī)
- Wu Zhengzhi (吴正治 – Wú Zhèngzhì)
- Zong Deyi (宗德宜 – Zōng Déyí)
- Adam Schall von Bell (汤若望)
- Ferdinand Verbiest (南怀仁)
Imperial guards
- Duolong (多隆 – Duōlóng) – Supervisor of the Imperial Guards and close friend of Wei Xiaobao, survives Wei’s reluctant assassination attempt to save besieged Heaven and Earth Society members
- Ruidong (瑞栋 – Ruìdòng) – Deputy Supervisor of the Imperial Guards nicknamed “Undefeated Iron Palm”, killed by Wei Xiaobao after being sent by Mao Dongzhu to assassinate him
- Chaerzhu (察尔珠 – Chá’ěrzhū) – Cavalry commander of the Plain Yellow Banner
- Zhang Kangnian (张康年 – Zhāng Kāngnián)
- Zhao Qixian (赵齐贤 – Zhào Qíxián)
- Shi Laoliu (施老六 – Shī Lǎolìu) – Killed by Mao Dongzhu
- Xiong Laoer (熊老二 – Xíong Lǎoèr) – Killed by Mao Dongzhu
- Ge Tong (葛通 – Gě Tōng) – Killed by the Wangwu Sect members
- Captain Gua (瓜管带 – Guā Guǎndài) – Killed by Chen Jinnan
- Shi Song (史松 – Shǐ Sōng) – Nicknamed “Black Dragon Whip”, killed by Wei Xiaobao while trying to arrest Mao Shiba
- Fuchun (富春 – Fúchūn) – Cavalry officer
- Ajichi (阿济赤 – Ājìchì) – Vanguard commander
- Commander Tai (泰都统 – Tài Dūtǒng) – Vanguard officer
Eunuchs and palace maids
- Hai Dafu (海大富 – Hǎi Dàfù) – Fifth class eunuch and deputy supervisor of imperial kitchen, Kongtong School martial artist investigating Consort Donggo’s death on Shunzhi Emperor’s orders, killed by Mao Dongzhu
- Xiaoguizi (小桂子 – Xiǎoguìzǐ) – Young eunuch under Hai Dafu, killed and impersonated by Wei Xiaobao
- Eunuch Wu (乌公公 – Wū Gōnggōng) – In charge of the imperial study
- Wen Youdao (温有道 – Wēn Yǒudào) – Eunuch serving in the imperial study
- Wen Youfang (温有方 – Wēn Yǒufāng) – Eunuch serving in the imperial study
- Pingwei (平威 – Píngwēi)
- Ruichu (蕊初 – Ruìchū) – Mao Dongzhu’s personal handmaiden
- Dong Jinkui (董金魁 – Dǒng Jīnkuí) – Eunuch serving as Mao Dongzhu’s messenger, killed by Wei Xiaobao
Defectors from Tungning
- Shi Lang (施琅 – Shī Láng) – Naval officer who defected to Qing
- Lin Xingzhu (林兴珠 – Lín Xīngzhū)
- Hong Chao (洪朝 – Hóng Cháo)
- He You (何佑 – Hé Yòu)
Heaven and Earth Society
- Chen Jinnan (陈近南 – Chén Jìnnán) – Founder of the Heaven and Earth Society
- Wu Liuqi (吴六奇 – Wú Lìuqí) the Iron Beggar – Member of Beggars’ Guild
- Mao Shiba (茅十八 – Máo Shíbā) – Outlaw who helps Wei Xiaobao
- Feng Jizhong (风际中 – Fēng Jìzhōng) – Imperial spy within Heaven and Earth Society
Lodge Masters
- Cai Dezhong (蔡德忠 – Cài Dézhōng) – Master of Lotus Lodge
- Fang Dahong (方大洪 – Fāng Dàhóng) – Master of Hongshun Lodge
- Ma Chaoxing (马超兴 – Mǎ Chāoxīng) – Master of Jiahou Lodge
Kingdom of Tungning
- Zheng Keshuang (郑克塽 – Zhèng Kèshuǎng) – Ruler of Tungning
- Feng Xifan (冯锡范 – Féng Xīfàn) the One Sword Thrust That Draws No Blood – Zheng’s martial arts master
Mystic Dragon Order
- Hong Antong (洪安通 – Hóng Āntōng) – Cult leader
- Xu Yunting (许雪亭 – Xú Xuětíng) the Green Dragon Emissary – Brush technique specialist
- Zhang Danyue (张淡月 – Zhāng Dànyuè) the Black Dragon Emissary – Dual sword specialist
- Yin Jin (殷锦 – Yīn Jǐn) the Yellow Dragon Emissary – Glib-tongued member
- Taoist Wugen (无根道人 – Wúgēn Dàorén) the Red Dragon Emissary
- Wei Xiaobao as the White Dragon Emissary – Replacing Zhong Zhiling
- The Fat Monk (胖头陀 – Pàngtóutuó) – Poisoned member
- The Thin Monk (瘦头陀 – Shòutóutuó) – Mao Dongzhu’s lover
- Mao Dongzhu (毛东珠 – Máo Dōngzhū) – Palace infiltrator
Wu Sangui’s associates
- Wu Sangui (吴三桂 – Wú Sānguì) the Prince Who Pacifies the West – Rebel leader
- Wu Yingxiong (吴应熊 – Wú Yìngxiōng) – Wu Sangui’s son
- Xia Guoxiang (夏国相 – Xià Guóxiāng) – Wu Sangui’s chancellor
- Ma Bao (马宝 – Mǎ Bǎo) – General under Wu Sangui
- Yang Yizhi (杨溢之 – Yáng Yìzhī) – Loyal Qing officer serving Wu Sangui
- Balangxing (巴朗星 – Bālǎngxīng) – Wu Sangui’s bodyguard
Foreign powers
Tsardom of Russia
- Sophia (索菲亚 – Suǒfēiyà) – Russian regent
- Golitsyn (高里津 – Gāolǐjīn) – Principal minister
- Tolbuzin (图尔布青 – Tú’ěrbùqīng) – Russian general
Mongols
Tibetans
- Sangye (桑结 – Sāngjiē) – Dalai Lama’s guardian
- Bayan (巴颜 – Bāyán) – Trusted lama
- Hubayin (呼巴音 – Hūbāyīn) – Sangye’s junior
Huashan School
- Gui Xinshu (归辛树 – Guī Xīnshù) the Invincible Divine Fists
- Gui Erniang (归二娘 – Guī Èrniáng) – Gui Xinshu’s wife
- Gui Zhong (归钟 – Guī Zhōng) – Gui Xinshu’s son
- Feng Nandi (冯难敌 – Féng Nándí) the All Prestigious – School leader
Scholars and others
- Lü Liuliang (吕留良 – Lǚ Líuliáng) – Scholar
- Hu Yizhi (胡逸之 – Hú Yìzhī) the Hundred Victorious Saber King
- Zha Yihuang (查伊璜 – Zhā Yīhuáng), also known as Zha Jizuo (查继佐 – Zhā Jìzuǒ) – Scholar from Haining
- Third Young Mistress Zhuang (庄三少奶 – Zhuāng Sānshàonǎi) – Matriarch of the Zhuang family
See also
- Jin Yong characters
- The Deer and the Cauldron factions
- The Deer and the Cauldron martial arts
- The Deer and the Cauldron locations
- The Deer and the Cauldron translation
- Lu Gaoxuan (陆高轩 – Lù Gāoxuān) – Lu Gaoxuan is a member of the Mystic Dragon Order who serves as the order’s medicine and poison spec…
- Xu Tianchuan (徐天川 – Xú Tiānchuān) – Xu Tianchuan, known as the Eight-Armed Ape Monkey, is a member of the Heaven and Earth Society’s Gre…
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