Zhang Zhong

Zhang Zhong (simplified: 张中, traditional: 張中, pinyin: Zhāng Zhōng, jyutping: zoeng1 zung1), known as the Iron Crowned Taoist (铁冠道人, Tiěguàn Dàorén, Tieguan Daoren), was one of the Five Wanderers of the Ming Order. Known for his ruthless nature and willingness to kill, he demonstrated loyalty to his comrades, even sacrificing his own well-being to help Wei Yixiao, the Green Winged Bat King.

Biography

Role as one of the Five Wanderers

Zhang Zhong was one of the Five Wanderers (五散人), a group of senior members of the Ming Order who operated as a collective advisory body. Known as “the Iron Crowned Taoist” for his Daoist identity and his distinctive iron crown, Zhang Zhong was a respected and valued member of this group.

Unlike some of the other Five Wanderers, such as Leng Qian and Shuobude, who were known for not liking to kill people, Zhang Zhong was known for “killing without blinking” (杀人不眨眼), demonstrating a more ruthless and uncompromising approach to dealing with enemies.

The Six Major Factions’ attack on Bright Peak

During the Six Major Factions’ attack on Bright Peak, Zhang Zhong joined the other Five Wanderers in defending the Ming Order headquarters. When the Five Wanderers arrived at Bright Peak, they found themselves in conflict with Yang Xiao over leadership issues, and Zhou Dian refused to help because of his grudge with Yang Xiao.

Despite these internal conflicts, Zhang Zhong remained committed to defending the Ming Order and worked alongside his fellow Wanderers to resist the attack from the Six Major Factions.

Helping Wei Yixiao

Zhang Zhong demonstrated his loyalty to his comrades when he helped save Wei Yixiao, the Green Winged Bat King. Wei Yixiao suffered from a cultivation deviation of his Cold Ice Soft Palm that required him to consume blood periodically, and during one of these crises, Zhang Zhong came to his aid.

To help Wei Yixiao, Zhang Zhong transferred his own internal energy to him, a process that left Zhang Zhong’s body stiff and cold (身体僵冷). This act of self-sacrifice demonstrated Zhang Zhong’s loyalty to his comrades and his willingness to endure personal suffering for the sake of others, despite his generally ruthless nature.

Support for Zhang Wuji

After Zhang Wuji became the 34th leader of the Ming Order, Zhang Zhong supported his leadership. Like the other Five Wanderers, Zhang Zhong recognised Zhang Wuji’s abilities and commitment to the Ming Order’s principles and worked to support his leadership.

Personality & traits

Ruthless nature

Zhang Zhong was known for his ruthless nature and his willingness to kill without hesitation. This trait distinguished him from some of the other Five Wanderers, such as Leng Qian and Shuobude, who were known for not liking to kill people. Zhang Zhong’s approach reflected a more uncompromising attitude toward enemies and those who threatened the Ming Order.

This ruthlessness, while seemingly contradictory to his Daoist identity, reflected the practical realities of operating within a revolutionary organisation that faced constant threats from both government forces and orthodox martial arts schools.

Loyalty to comrades

Despite his ruthless nature toward enemies, Zhang Zhong demonstrated deep loyalty to his comrades within the Ming Order. His act of helping Wei Yixiao, which left his own body stiff and cold, showed that his loyalty extended beyond mere words to actual sacrifice and action.

This loyalty demonstrated that Zhang Zhong’s ruthlessness was directed outward toward enemies rather than inward toward his own organisation, and that he valued the lives and well-being of his comrades even at personal cost.

Daoist identity

As “the Iron Crowned Taoist,” Zhang Zhong maintained a Daoist identity, which reflected both his personal beliefs and his role within the Ming Order. The iron crown he wore was a distinctive feature that identified him as a Daoist practitioner, and this identity informed his approach to both martial arts and organisational service.

Martial arts abilities

Zhang Zhong possessed solid martial arts abilities, placing him among the top tier of Ming Order members as one of the Five Wanderers. His skills were sufficient to serve effectively in this senior advisory role, and his willingness to use lethal force when necessary made him a formidable opponent.

His ability to transfer internal energy to help Wei Yixiao demonstrated significant internal energy cultivation, showing that his martial arts abilities extended beyond mere combat techniques to include advanced internal energy manipulation.

Relationships

Fellow Five Wanderers

Zhang Zhong worked closely with the other Four Wanderers: Leng Qian, Shuobude, Peng Yingyu, and Zhou Dian. Despite their different approaches to violence and killing, he maintained good working relationships with all of them, demonstrating that diverse personalities could work together effectively for the common good.

Wei Yixiao

Zhang Zhong had a significant relationship with Wei Yixiao, demonstrated by his willingness to sacrifice his own well-being to help the Green Winged Bat King during a crisis. This act of self-sacrifice showed the depth of their friendship and Zhang Zhong’s commitment to helping his comrades in need.

Zhang Wuji

Zhang Zhong supported Zhang Wuji’s leadership of the Ming Order, recognising his abilities and commitment to the Order’s principles. His support, though expressed through actions rather than words, was consistent and reliable.

Behind the scenes

Zhang Zhong is based on a historical figure of the same name, who was a Daoist and fortune teller during the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. The historical Zhang Zhong, also known as Tieguanzi (铁冠子, Iron Crown), was said to have served Zhu Yuanzhang and made accurate predictions about various events, including the outcome of battles.

In the novel, Zhang Zhong represents the type of character who combines religious identity with practical action. His Daoist identity provides a philosophical foundation, while his ruthless nature reflects the practical necessities of operating within a revolutionary organisation facing constant threats.

The character’s nickname “the Iron Crowned Taoist” reflects both his distinctive appearance and his Daoist identity. The iron crown serves as a symbol of his commitment to his beliefs and his role within the Ming Order, while his willingness to kill demonstrates that religious identity does not necessarily mean pacifism in the face of threats.

Zhang Zhong’s act of helping Wei Yixiao, despite the personal cost, demonstrates that even those known for ruthlessness can show deep loyalty and compassion toward their comrades. This complexity adds depth to the character and shows that people cannot be easily categorised as simply “good” or “evil,” but rather exist in a more nuanced moral space.

The contrast between Zhang Zhong’s ruthless nature toward enemies and his loyalty toward comrades reflects the dual nature of many characters in the novel: capable of both violence and compassion, depending on the context and the relationships involved.

Portrayals

Zhang Zhong has been portrayed in various adaptations of The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre, though specific casting information may vary by adaptation.