Zhang Cuishan

Zhang Cuishan (simplified: 张翠山, traditional: 張翠山, pinyin: Zhāng Cuìshān, jyutping: zoeng1 ceoi3 saan1) was the fifth disciple of Zhang Sanfeng and one of the Seven Xias of Wudang. Known as the “Silver Hook Iron Brush” (银钩铁划) for his distinctive weapons, he was considered Zhang Sanfeng’s most talented disciple and was originally intended to be his successor. He was the father of Zhang Wuji and the husband of Yin Susu.

Biography

Early training under Zhang Sanfeng

Zhang Cuishan was renowned for his exceptional talent and intelligence, combining both literary and martial abilities. Zhang Sanfeng once said that among his seven disciples, Zhang Cuishan had the highest comprehension and was the most accomplished in both civil and martial arts. He had originally hoped that Zhang Cuishan would inherit his legacy, but lamented that Zhang Cuishan’s fortune was too thin, as he had been missing for five years and was feared dead.

Investigating Yu Daiyan’s injury

When Yu Daiyan, the third disciple, was found paralysed after being attacked with Shaolin Order’s Great Strength Vajra Finger, Zhang Cuishan was sent to investigate. During his investigation, he encountered Yin Susu, a leader of the Heavenly Eagle Order, at the Longmen Escort Bureau massacre. At the time, he did not know that Yin Susu was the one who had injured Yu Daiyan with a mosquito whisk needle.

The Wangpan Island Sabre Conference

Suspecting that those who attacked Yu Daiyan might be seeking the Dragon-slaying Sabre, Zhang Cuishan decided to attend the Heavenly Eagle Order’s Sabre Conference on Wangpan Island, where Yin Susu was also present. During the conference, Xie Xun, the Golden Haired Lion King, suddenly appeared and attempted to seize the Dragon-slaying Sabre.

Zhang Cuishan intervened to stop Xie Xun, engaging him in a contest of calligraphy on a stone wall. Using his Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre Technique, Zhang Cuishan carved the twenty-four characters “武林至尊，宝刀屠龙，号令天下，莫敢不从，倚天不出，谁与争锋” (Martial arts supreme, precious sabre slays dragon, commands the world, none dare disobey, when the Heavenly Sword does not appear, who can compete?) into the stone wall. Xie Xun, unable to match this display, admitted defeat.

Exile on Ice-Fire Island

Despite his victory, Xie Xun took Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu captive, forcing them onto a boat. During their journey, they encountered a storm and drifted to the remote Ice-Fire Island in the Arctic Ocean. During their time on the island, Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu faced numerous hardships together, eventually developing deep feelings for each other and marrying.

They had a son, whom Xie Xun named Wuji in memory of his own deceased son Xie Wuji. The three of them formed a sworn brotherhood, with Xie Xun becoming Zhang Wuji’s godfather. They lived on the island for ten years before deciding to return to the Central Plains.

Return to the Central Plains

When Zhang Cuishan, Yin Susu, and Zhang Wuji returned to the Central Plains, they were immediately besieged by martial artists from various schools seeking to learn the whereabouts of Xie Xun and the Dragon-slaying Sabre. On their way to Mount Wudang, Zhang Cuishan used his Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre Technique to defeat Quan Jiannan, the second-generation leader of the Korean Azure Dragon School.

Death at Zhang Sanfeng’s birthday celebration

On Zhang Sanfeng’s hundredth birthday, martial artists from various schools gathered at Mount Wudang, ostensibly to celebrate but actually to pressure Zhang Cuishan into revealing Xie Xun’s location and the whereabouts of the Dragon-slaying Sabre. Zhang Cuishan refused to betray his sworn brother, and his fellow disciples vowed to stand with him.

However, when Yu Daiyan recognised Yin Susu as the one who had injured him years earlier, Zhang Cuishan was torn between his loyalty to his sworn brother, his love for his wife, and his duty to his injured senior brother. Unable to resolve this conflict and unwilling to betray Xie Xun, Zhang Cuishan drew his sword and committed suicide in front of his master and fellow disciples during the birthday celebration.

Yin Susu, seeing her husband’s death and realising the consequences of her past actions, also took her own life, leaving the young Zhang Wuji orphaned.

Personality & traits

Exceptional talent

Zhang Cuishan was renowned for his exceptional talent, combining both literary and martial abilities. He was considered Zhang Sanfeng’s most promising disciple and was originally intended to be his successor.

Righteousness and loyalty

Zhang Cuishan was known throughout the jianghu for his righteousness and loyalty. He was willing to sacrifice his life rather than betray his sworn brother Xie Xun, demonstrating the depth of his commitment to his principles.

Literary and martial excellence

Unlike many martial artists who focused solely on combat skills, Zhang Cuishan excelled in both literary and martial arts. His ability to create the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre Technique from calligraphy demonstrated his unique combination of talents.

Martial arts abilities

Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre Technique

Zhang Cuishan’s signature technique was the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre Technique (倚天屠龙功), which he created by adapting calligraphy strokes into martial arts movements. The technique incorporated the twenty-four characters “武林至尊，宝刀屠龙，号令天下，莫敢不从，倚天不出，谁与争锋” into a comprehensive fighting system.

Each stroke of the characters became a martial arts technique, combining the elegance of calligraphy with the effectiveness of combat. Zhang Cuishan could execute these techniques with his Silver Hook and Iron Brush, carving the characters into stone walls while simultaneously using them as fighting techniques.

Silver Hook and Iron Brush

Zhang Cuishan’s distinctive weapons were a silver hook (烂银虎头钩) in his left hand and an iron brush (镔铁判官笔) in his right hand. The brush resembled a writing brush but was made of iron, allowing him to combine calligraphy techniques with martial arts applications.

Internal energy and qinggong

Zhang Cuishan possessed profound internal energy and exceptional qinggong abilities. He could use techniques like Ladder Cloud Steps to perform remarkable feats, such as carving characters into stone walls while suspended in mid-air.

Defensive techniques

Zhang Cuishan demonstrated exceptional defensive abilities, using techniques like “借力打力” (borrowing force to strike) to redirect opponents’ attacks. He could absorb powerful strikes and redirect them, demonstrating the principles of Wudang martial arts.

Relationships

Zhang Sanfeng

Zhang Cuishan had a close relationship with his master Zhang Sanfeng, who considered him his most talented disciple. Zhang Sanfeng was deeply affected by Zhang Cuishan’s death, having lost the disciple he had hoped would inherit his legacy.

Yin Susu

Zhang Cuishan’s relationship with Yin Susu developed from initial suspicion to deep love during their shared hardships on Ice-Fire Island. Their marriage and the birth of their son Zhang Wuji brought him great happiness, but their tragic deaths left their son orphaned.

Xie Xun

Despite initially being enemies, Zhang Cuishan and Xie Xun developed a deep bond during their time on Ice-Fire Island. They became sworn brothers, with Xie Xun serving as Zhang Wuji’s godfather. Zhang Cuishan’s loyalty to Xie Xun was so strong that he chose death rather than betray him.

Fellow disciples

Zhang Cuishan had strong fraternal bonds with his fellow Seven Xias of Wudang. When he was under pressure to reveal Xie Xun’s location, all of his fellow disciples vowed to stand with him, demonstrating their unity and loyalty.

Behind the scenes

Zhang Cuishan serves as the protagonist of the first volume of The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre, setting up the story for his son Zhang Wuji. His tragic death demonstrates the conflicts between personal relationships, loyalty, and duty that are central themes throughout the novel. His story also establishes the connection between the Wudang Order and the Ming Order through his marriage to Yin Susu and his son’s eventual role as Ming Order leader.