The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre features a complex cast of characters from various martial arts schools and factions, including the Wudang Order, Emei Order, Ming Order, and Shaolin Order. The story explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, power struggles, and the conflict between personal relationships and martial arts politics.
Protagonists
- Zhang Wuji (张无忌 — Zhāng Wújì) — Protagonist, Ming Order leader
- Zhao Min (赵敏 — Zhào Mǐn) — Daughter of Yuan general
- Zhou Zhiruo (周芷若 — Zhōu Zhĭruò) — Emei Order leader
Wudang Order
- Zhang Sanfeng (张三丰 — Zhāng Sānfēng), formerly Zhang Junbao (张君宝 — Zhāng Jūnbǎo) — Founder and leader
- Seven Xias of Wudang
- Song Yuanqiao (宋远桥 — Sòng Yuǎnqiáo) — Most senior disciple
- Yu Lianzhou (俞莲舟 — Yú Liánzhōu) — Most skilled disciple, later becomes leader
- Yu Daiyan (俞岱岩 — Yú Dàiyán) — Paralyzed by Asan
- Zhang Songxi (张松溪 — Zhāng Sōngxī) — Most intelligent of the seven
- Zhang Cuishan (张翠山 — Zhāng Cuìshān) the Silver Hook Iron Brush — Zhang Wuji’s father
- Yin Liting (殷梨亭 — Yīn Lítíng) — Ji Xiaofu’s former fiancé
- Mo Shenggu (莫声谷 — Mò Shēnggǔ) — Youngest and most hot-tempered
- Song Qingshu (宋青书 — Sòng Qīngshū) the Jade-Faced Mengchang — Song Yuanqiao’s son
Emei Order
- Guo Xiang (郭襄 — Guō Xiāng) — Founder, daughter of Guo Jing and Huang Rong
- Miejue (灭绝师太 — Mièjué Shītài) — Current leader
- Guhongzi (孤鸿子 — Gūhóngzǐ) — Miejue’s deceased senior
- Ji Xiaofu (纪晓芙 — Jǐ Xiǎofú) — Former potential successor
- Ding Minjun (丁敏君 — Dīng Mǐnjūn) — Senior disciple
- Bei Jinyi (贝锦仪 — Bèi Jǐnyí) — Junior disciple
- Jing-generation disciples
- Zhao Lingzhu (赵灵珠 — Zhào Língzhū)
- Li Mingxia (李明霞 — Lǐ Míngxiá)
- Su Mengqing (苏梦清 — Sū Mèngqīng)
- Fang Bilin (方碧琳 — Fāng Bìlín)
Ming Order
- Yang Xiao (杨逍 — Yáng Xiāo) the Bright Left Messenger — Former acting leader and Zhang Wuji’s adviser
- Fan Yao (范遥 — Fàn Yáo) the Bright Right Messenger, also known as Bitter Dhūta (苦头陀 — Kǔtoutuó) — Ming Order spy
- Yang Buhui (杨不悔 — Yáng Bùhuǐ) — Daughter of Yang Xiao and Ji Xiaofu
- Zhu Yuanzhang (朱元璋 — Zhū Yuánzhāng) — Ambitious cult member who later founds Ming Dynasty
- Chang Yuchun (常遇春 — Cháng Yùchūn) — Member saved by Zhang Wuji
- Xu Da (徐达 — Xú Dá) — Military tactician who studies Book of Wumu
- Hu Qingniu (胡青牛 — Hú Qīngniú) — Physician known for selective treatment
- Wang Nangu (王难姑 — Wáng Nàngū) — Hu Qingniu’s wife and toxicology expert
- Yang Dingtian (阳顶天 — Yáng Dǐngtiān) — Former Ming Order leader
Four Guardian Kings
- Daiqisi (黛绮丝 — Dàiqǐsī) the Purple Dress Dragon King — Persian Ming Order Sacred Maiden
- Yin Tianzheng (殷天正 — Yīn Tiānzhèng) the White Brows Eagle King — Founder of Tianying Order
- Xie Xun (谢逊 — Xiè Xùn) the Golden Haired Lion King — Zhang Wuji’s sworn father
- Wei Yixiao (韦一笑 — Wéi Yīxiào) the Green Winged Bat King — Known for qinggong prowess
Five Unbound Adepts
- Leng Qian (冷谦 — Lěng Qiān) the Cold Faced Gentleman
- Cannot Tell (说不得 — Shuōbùdé) the Monk with the Sack
- Zhang Zhong (张中 — Zhāng Zhōng) the Iron Crowned Taoist
- Peng Yingyu (彭莹玉 — Péng Yíngyù) the Peng the Monk
- Zhou Dian (周颠 — Zhōu Diān) the Lunatic
Persian Ming Order
- Xiaozhao (小昭 — Xiǎozhāo) — Han Qianye and Daiqisi’s daughter
Five Elements factions
- Zhuang Zheng (庄铮 — Zhuāng Zhēng) — Gold Banner Faction chief
- Wu Jingcao (吴劲草 — Wú Jìngcǎo) — New Gold Banner Faction chief
- Yan Yuan (颜垣 — Yán Yuán) — Earth Banner Faction chief
- Tang Yang (唐洋 — Táng Yáng) — Water Banner Faction chief
- Wen Cangsong (闻苍松 — Wén Cāngsōng) — Wood Banner Faction chief
- Xin Ran (辛然 — Xīn Rán) — Fire Banner Faction chief
Tianying Order
- Yin Susu (殷素素 — Yīn Sùsù) — Zhang Wuji’s mother
- Yin Yewang (殷野王 — Yīn Yěwáng) — Yin Susu’s brother
- Yin Li (殷离 — Yīn Lí), also known as Zhu’er (蛛儿 — Zhū’ér) — Yin Yewang’s daughter
- Yin Wufu (殷无福 — Yīn Wúfú) — Southwest bandit
- Yin Wulu (殷无禄 — Yīn Wúlù) — Southwest bandit
- Yin Wushou (殷无寿 — Yīn Wúshòu) — Southwest bandit
Leaders of halls and altars
- Li Tianyuan (李天垣 — Lǐ Tiānyuán) — Heaven Hall leader
- Chang Jinpeng (常金鹏 — Cháng Jīnpéng) — Vermilion Bird Altar leader
- Bai Guishou (白龟寿 — Bái Guīshòu) — Black Tortoise Altar leader
- Cheng Chaofeng (程嘲风 — Chéng Cháofēng) — Azure Dragon Altar leader
- Gao Shanwang (高山王 — Gāo Shānwáng) — White Tiger Altar leader
- Feng Gongying (封弓影 — Fēng Gōngyǐng) — Divine Snake Altar leader
Messengers
- Mysterious Wind Messenger (妙风使 — Miàofēng Shǐ)
- Drifting Cloud Messenger (流云使 — Liúyún Shǐ)
- Bright Moon Messenger (辉月使 — Huīyuè Shǐ)
Guardian Kings
- Equality Guardian King (平等宝树王 — Píngděng Bǎoshùwáng)
- Unity Guardian King (齐心宝树王 — Qíxīn Bǎoshùwáng)
- Transparent Guardian King (俱明宝树王 — Jùmíng Bǎoshùwáng)
- Victorious Guardian King (常胜宝树王 — Chángshèng Bǎoshùwáng)
Yuan Dynasty
- Chaghan Temür (察罕特穆儿 — Cháhǎn Tèmù’ér) the Prince of Ruyang — Zhao Min’s father
- Lady Han (韩氏女 — Hán Shìnǚ) — Chaghan Temür’s concubine
- Köke Temür (扩廓帖木儿 — Kuòkuò Tiēmù’ér), also known as Wang Baobao (王保保 — Wáng Báobǎo) — Zhao Min’s brother
- Lu Zhangke (鹿杖客 — Lù Zhàngkè) — Xuanming Elder
- He Biweng (鹤笔翁 — Hè Bǐwēng) — Xuanming Elder
Divine Arrow Eight Heroes
- Zhao Yishang (赵一伤 — Zhào Yīshāng)
- Qian Erbai (钱二败 — Qián Èrbài)
- Sun Sanhui (孙三毁 — Sūn Sānhuǐ)
- Li Sicui (李四摧 — Lǐ Sìcuī)
- Zhou Wushu (周五输 — Zhōu Wǔshū)
- Wu Liupo (吴六破 — Wú Liùpò)
- Zheng Qimie (郑七灭 — Zhèng Qīmiè)
- Wang Bashuai (王八衰 — Wáng Bāshuāi)
Shaolin Order
- Jueyuan (觉远 — Juéyuǎn) — Zhang Junbao’s master
- Cheng Kun (成昆 — Chéng Kūn) the Primordial Chaos Thunderbolt Hand, also known as Yuanzhen (圆真 — Yuánzhēn) — Main antagonist
Four Holy Monks
- Kongjian (空见 — Kōngjiàn) — Master of invincibility
- Kongwen (空闻 — Kōngwén) — Shaolin abbot
- Kongzhi (空智 — Kōngzhì) — Hot-tempered senior monk
- Kongxing (空性 — Kōngxìng) — Murdered by Asan
Three Elders of Bodhidharma Hall
Kunlun School
- He Zudao (何足道 — Hé Zúdào) the Three Kunlun Sages — Senior member
- He Taichong (何太冲 — Hé Tàichōng) the Iron Qin Gentleman — School leader
- Ban Shuxian (班淑娴 — Bān Shūxián) — He Taichong’s wife
Huashan School
- Xianyu Tong (鲜于通 — Xiānyú Tōng) the Shenjizi — School leader
- Xue Gongyuan (薛公远 — Xuē Gōngyuǎn) — Xianyu Tong’s apprentice
- He Taishou (何铁手)
- He Taishou’s disciples
Kongtong School
- Guan Neng (关能 — Guān Néng) — Elder
- Zong Weixia (宗维侠 — Zōng Wéixiá) — Elder
- Tang Wenliang (唐文亮 — Táng Wénliàng) — Elder
- Chang Jingzhi (常敬之 — Cháng Jìngzhī) — Elder
- Jian Jie (简捷 — Jiǎn Jié) — Minor member
Beggars’ Guild
- Chen Youliang (陈友谅 — Chén Yǒuliàng) — Cheng Kun’s apprentice
- Shi Huolong (史火龙 — Shǐ Huǒlóng) — Former Guild chief
- Shi Hongshi (史红石 — Shǐ Hóngshí) — Shi Huolong’s daughter and successor
Other characters
- Han Qianye (韩千叶 — Hán Qiānyè) the Silver Leaf Gentleman — Xiaozhao’s father
- The Yellow Dress Maiden (黄衫女子 — Huángshān Nǚzǐ) — Mysterious helper
- Situ Qianzhong (司徒千钟 — Sītú Qiānzhōng) — Martial artist
- Xia Zhou (夏胄 — Xià Zhòu) — Victim’s brother
- Du Baidang (杜百当 — Dù Bǎidāng) — Victim’s father
- Yi Sanniang (昉三娘 — Yì Sānniáng) — Victim’s mother
- Yin Kexi (尹克西 — Yǐn Kèxī) — Thief who steals the Lankavatara Sutra
- Xiaoxiangzi (潇湘子 — Xiāoxiāngzǐ) — Thief who steals the Lankavatara Sutra
- Wuse (无色 — Wúsè) — Chief monk of Luohan Hall at Shaolin
- Du Dajin (都大锦 — Dū Dàjǐn) — Dragon Gate Armed Escort leader
See also
- Jin Yong characters
- The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre factions
- The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre martial arts
- The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre locations
- The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre translation
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