Yi Sanniang

Yi Sanniang (simplified: 易三娘, traditional: 易三娘, pinyin: Yì Sānniáng, jyutping: jik6 saam1 noeng4) was a martial artist from Western Sichuan whose son was killed by Xie Xun. She lived in seclusion at the foot of Mount Shaoshi (少室山), near Shaolin Temple, with her husband Du Baidang. They helped Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min by providing lodging when the two were seeking to rescue Xie Xun. Yi Sanniang and her husband were killed by Zhou Zhiruo using the Nine Yin White Bone Claw (九阴白骨爪).

Biography

Family tragedy

Yi Sanniang’s son was killed by Xie Xun during Xie Xun’s killing spree in the jianghu. Xie Xun had murdered numerous innocent people in an attempt to draw out his master Cheng Kun, leaving behind messages claiming “The killer is the Primordial Chaos Thunderbolt Hand Cheng Kun.” Yi Sanniang’s son was one of these innocent victims.

Feud with the Qinghai Three Swords

Yi Sanniang and Du Baidang had a feud with the Qinghai Three Swords (青海三剑)—Ma Fatong (马法通), Shao He (邵鹤), and Shao Yan (邵燕)—from the Yuzhen Temple (玉真观) over what they considered a small misunderstanding. This feud led them to live in seclusion at the foot of Mount Shaoshi to avoid further conflict.

Life in seclusion

Yi Sanniang and Du Baidang lived in a simple thatched hut at the foot of Mount Shaoshi, near Shaolin Temple. They maintained a vegetable garden and lived a quiet, reclusive life, appearing to be ordinary farmers. However, they continued to practice martial arts, developing a unique coordinated technique using short blades designed to counter Xie Xun’s Seven Injury Fist (七伤拳).

Yi Sanniang was described as having keen eyesight and a sharp mind. She was able to see through Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min’s disguise as a brother and sister, recognising that they were actually lovers. Her insight and intelligence demonstrated that she was not an ordinary farmer, despite their simple lifestyle.

Encounter with the Qinghai Three Swords

When the Qinghai Three Swords tracked down Yi Sanniang and Du Baidang to Mount Shaoshi, they discovered that both parties had developed techniques specifically designed to counter Xie Xun’s Seven Injury Fist. The Qinghai Three Swords wanted the Dragon-slaying Sabre to dominate the jianghu, while Yi Sanniang and Du Baidang wanted revenge for their son’s death.

Realising their common purpose, the five of them made a pact: they would work together to infiltrate Shaolin Temple, with Yi Sanniang and Du Baidang seeking revenge and the Qinghai Three Swords obtaining the Dragon-slaying Sabre. However, the Qinghai Three Swords went to Shaolin Temple alone and were killed by the monks before this plan could be executed.

Helping Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min

When Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min came to Mount Shaoshi disguised as a brother and sister seeking to rescue Xie Xun, they asked for lodging at Yi Sanniang and Du Baidang’s hut. Yi Sanniang, recognising their true nature as lovers, was moved by Zhao Min’s story (claiming they were eloping because her father disapproved of their relationship) and agreed to help them.

Yi Sanniang showed great kindness and care toward the young couple, particularly Zhao Min. She provided them with a room, food, and shelter, treating them with genuine affection. She mentioned that she had also come from a respectable family when she was young, suggesting she understood their situation and sympathised with their plight.

Her help was crucial to Zhang Wuji’s mission, as it provided a safe base from which to operate while planning the rescue of Xie Xun. Yi Sanniang’s kindness demonstrated that despite her desire for revenge, she had not lost her humanity and was still capable of compassion.

Death

While Zhang Wuji was away attempting to rescue Xie Xun from Shaolin Temple, Zhou Zhiruo attacked the hut. Yi Sanniang and Du Baidang fought back using their coordinated short blade technique, but they were ultimately killed by Zhou Zhiruo using the Nine Yin White Bone Claw.

When Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min returned, they found the couple dead, with broken ribs on their chests and backs, and short blades scattered throughout the room, indicating a fierce battle. The five-finger claw marks on their bodies clearly showed that they had been killed by the Nine Yin White Bone Claw.

Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min buried the couple, kneeling and bowing to show their respect. They were deeply saddened by the loss, particularly remembering Yi Sanniang’s loving care toward them.

Personality & traits

Devoted mother and wife

Yi Sanniang was a devoted mother and wife who was driven by the desire for revenge for her son’s death. Her commitment to seeking justice for her son, even after many years, demonstrated her loyalty and love for her family.

Kindness and compassion

Despite her own suffering and desire for revenge, Yi Sanniang showed great kindness and compassion to Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min when they needed help. She recognised their true situation and sympathised with their plight, demonstrating that her desire for revenge had not consumed her basic humanity.

Intelligence and insight

Yi Sanniang demonstrated intelligence and insight in her ability to see through Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min’s disguise. Her keen eyesight and sharp mind allowed her to recognise their true nature as lovers, despite their attempt to appear as siblings.

Strength and determination

Yi Sanniang demonstrated strength and determination in continuing her martial arts practice and maintaining her skills despite living in seclusion. Her development of counter-techniques for Xie Xun’s Seven Injury Fist showed her dedication to seeking revenge, while her coordinated fighting technique with Du Baidang demonstrated her martial arts abilities.

Martial arts abilities

Short blade technique

Yi Sanniang and Du Baidang developed a unique coordinated fighting technique using twelve short blades (each holding six blades). This technique involved constantly exchanging blades between hands and between partners, creating a complex and unpredictable fighting style.

The technique was specifically designed to counter Xie Xun’s Seven Injury Fist and Lion’s Roar. The constant movement and blade exchanges made it difficult for opponents to defend against, and the coordinated nature of the technique allowed one partner to attack while the other defended.

Yi Sanniang was originally skilled with a spear, but she and Du Baidang developed this new short blade technique specifically to counter Xie Xun’s techniques, demonstrating their dedication to their goal of revenge.

Relationships

With Du Baidang

Yi Sanniang’s relationship with her husband Du Baidang was central to her life. They worked together as a team, both in daily life and in combat. Their coordinated fighting technique demonstrated their deep understanding and cooperation, with each partner able to seamlessly exchange weapons and roles.

With her son

Yi Sanniang’s son was killed by Xie Xun, creating a desire for revenge that drove much of Yi Sanniang’s actions. Her commitment to seeking justice for her son demonstrated her love and dedication as a mother.

With Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min

Yi Sanniang showed great kindness to Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min, providing them with lodging and care despite not knowing their true identities. Her help was crucial to Zhang Wuji’s mission to rescue Xie Xun, though ironically, it was Xie Xun who had killed their son. Her affection toward Zhao Min, in particular, demonstrated her capacity for genuine care and compassion.

Behind the scenes

Narrative significance

Yi Sanniang and Du Baidang represent the innocent victims of Xie Xun’s killing spree and the long-lasting consequences of violence. Their story demonstrates how one person’s actions can create cycles of revenge and suffering that span decades.

Their death at the hands of Zhou Zhiruo demonstrates the brutality of Zhou Zhiruo’s transformation and her willingness to kill innocent people to achieve her goals. Yi Sanniang’s kindness toward Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min contrasts with Zhou Zhiruo’s cruelty, highlighting the moral decline of the Emei Order under her leadership.

Symbolic meaning

Yi Sanniang represents the human cost of violence and revenge, but also the capacity for kindness and compassion even in the face of great suffering. Her story shows that seeking revenge can consume one’s life, but also that even those consumed by revenge can still show kindness to others. Her death serves as a warning about the consequences of extremism and the importance of breaking cycles of violence.