Tianmen (simplified: 天门, traditional: 天門, pinyin: Tiānmén, jyutping: tin1 mun4), also known as Master Tianmen (天门道长), was the leader of the Taishan School and one of the ten strongest martial artists in the orthodox faction. He was known for his righteous and fiery personality, his hatred of evil, and his tragic death during the Five Mountains alliance ceremony.
Biography
Leadership of the Taishan School
Tianmen led the Taishan School, one of the Five Mountains Sword Schools. He was described as being righteous and hating evil, with a fiery and straightforward personality. However, he was also known for his lack of adaptability and his tendency to act impulsively.
He was considered one of the ten strongest martial artists in the orthodox faction, demonstrating his exceptional martial arts ability and his importance in the jianghu.
Opposition to Zuo Lengchan
Tianmen was strongly opposed to Zuo Lengchan’s plan to merge the Five Mountains Sword Schools into one. He believed that each school should maintain its independence and traditions, and he was determined to resist Zuo Lengchan’s schemes.
Five Mountains alliance ceremony
During the Five Mountains alliance ceremony at Mount Songshan, Tianmen was tricked by his senior Yujizi, who used a provocation technique to make Tianmen reveal the school’s leader sword. Yujizi then seized the sword, claiming leadership of the Taishan School.
Death
After being tricked and having his leadership sword stolen, Tianmen was attacked by Qinghai Yixiao, a martial artist sent by Zuo Lengchan. Qinghai Yixiao used a strange technique to seal Tianmen’s acupoints, humiliating him.
Unable to bear the humiliation, Tianmen used his internal energy to break through his sealed meridians, freeing himself from the acupoint sealing. He then attacked and killed Qinghai Yixiao, but the effort broke all his meridians, and he died shortly after.
His death demonstrated his determination to maintain his honour even at the cost of his life, and his willingness to sacrifice himself rather than submit to humiliation.
Personality & traits
Tianmen was portrayed as righteous and hating evil, with a fiery and straightforward personality. He was described as being brave but lacking in adaptability, often acting impulsively without considering the consequences.
His decision to sacrifice his life to kill Qinghai Yixiao demonstrated his strong sense of honour and his unwillingness to submit to humiliation, even if it meant death.
Martial arts abilities
Tianmen was skilled in Taishan Swordplay and was considered one of the ten strongest martial artists in the orthodox faction. His ability to break through sealed meridians using his internal energy demonstrated his exceptional skill and determination.
However, his lack of adaptability and his tendency to act impulsively sometimes put him at a disadvantage against more cunning opponents.
Relationships
Tianmen’s relationship with his seniors Yujizi, Yuqingzi, and Yuyinzi was complex. They were his seniors but were willing to betray him to support Zuo Lengchan’s schemes, demonstrating the corruption within the Taishan School.
His relationship with Zuo Lengchan was one of opposition. Tianmen was determined to resist Zuo Lengchan’s plan to merge the Five Mountains Sword Schools, making him a target for Zuo Lengchan’s schemes.
Behind the scenes
Tianmen represents the theme of honour and the cost of maintaining one’s principles. His character demonstrates that even righteous and powerful martial artists can fall victim to schemes and that honour can come at a great cost.
Literary significance
Tianmen’s character serves to highlight the corruption within the Five Mountains Sword Schools and the ways in which ambitious leaders like Zuo Lengchan can exploit internal divisions. His death demonstrates the tragic cost of resistance and the ways in which honour can be both a strength and a weakness.
Portrayals
Tianmen has been portrayed in various adaptations of Laughing in the Wind:
Laughing in the Wind
See also
- Laughing in the Wind characters
- Taishan School – Tianmen’s faction
- Zuo Lengchan – Tianmen’s opponent
- Yujizi – Tianmen’s senior who betrayed him
- Qinghai Yixiao – Tianmen’s killer
External links
- Tianmen (Chinese) on Chinese Wikipedia