Wei Shuangshuang (simplified: 韦双双, traditional: 韋雙雙, pinyin: Wéi Shuāngshuāng, jyutping: wai4 soeng1 soeng1) is Wei Xiaobao’s (韦小宝) firstborn daughter with Princess Jianning (建宁公主) in The Deer and the Cauldron.
Biography
Birth and family
Wei Shuangshuang is born to Wei Xiaobao and Princess Jianning, making her the first child in Wei Xiaobao’s growing family. Her name “Shuangshuang” (双双) means “double” or “pair,” reflecting her status as the firstborn child.
As the daughter of Wei Xiaobao and Princess Jianning, Wei Shuangshuang inherits a complex heritage, being connected to both the imperial Qing court through her mother and the jianghu world through her father.
Relationship with parents
Wei Shuangshuang’s relationship with her parents reflects the unconventional nature of Wei Xiaobao’s family. Her mother, Princess Jianning, is known for her fierce temper and violent tendencies, while her father, Wei Xiaobao, is a clever but unscrupulous character who navigates between the imperial court and the jianghu.
Despite the chaotic nature of her parents’ relationship and their various adventures, Wei Shuangshuang represents the continuation of Wei Xiaobao’s family line and the hope for a future beyond the political conflicts that define her parents’ lives.
Life with Wei Xiaobao’s family
Wei Shuangshuang grows up as part of Wei Xiaobao’s large and diverse household, which includes multiple wives and eventually other children. Her upbringing reflects the complex and often chaotic nature of Wei Xiaobao’s family life, where various wives and children coexist in an unconventional arrangement.
As Wei Xiaobao’s firstborn daughter, Wei Shuangshuang holds a special place in the family, representing the beginning of Wei Xiaobao’s transition from a single adventurer to a family man with responsibilities and obligations.
Significance
Wei Shuangshuang represents the theme of family and continuity in Wei Xiaobao’s life. Her birth marks an important transition in Wei Xiaobao’s character development, as he moves from being a carefree adventurer to someone with family responsibilities.
Her character also highlights the theme of the next generation, showing how Wei Xiaobao’s children will inherit the complex legacy of their parents’ adventures and political entanglements, while also representing the possibility of a different future beyond the conflicts that define their parents’ generation.
Wei Shuangshuang’s character contributes to the broader theme of family relationships and the continuation of lineage, demonstrating how even unconventional families like Wei Xiaobao’s can create bonds and relationships that transcend the political and social conflicts of their time.