Zhao Zhijing (simplified: 趙志敬, traditional: 趙志敬, Jyutping: ziu6 zi3 ging3, pinyin: Zhào Zhìjìng) was the chief disciple of Wang Chuyi (Jade Yang Master) and Yang Guo’s second master. He was also the most skilled martial artist among the third-generation disciples of the Quanzhen Order.
Zhao Zhijing was naturally hot-tempered with a narrow mind. Because he believed his martial arts surpassed his peers but failed to become the leader of the Quanzhen Order, he harboured resentment. Later, he betrayed his country by collaborating with the enemy, attempting to make the Quanzhen Order submit to the Mongols. Eventually, his treacherous schemes were exposed, and he was killed by poisonous jade bees controlled by Zhou Botong.
Biography
Early life
Zhao Zhijing was trained within the Quanzhen Order under Qiu Chuji, one of the Seven Immortals of Quanzhen, giving him access to the sect’s highest martial arts and philosophical teachings. This privileged position within one of the most prestigious martial arts organisations in China provided him with opportunities that few others could match, setting the foundation for what should have been a distinguished career in the martial arts world.
His early development within the order provided him with solid martial arts foundations and theoretical understanding of Taoist principles, equipping him with both the technical skills and philosophical knowledge necessary for leadership within the Quanzhen hierarchy. This comprehensive training should have prepared him to become a pillar of the sect, but his character flaws would ultimately undermine all the advantages that his privileged position had afforded him.
His name “Zhijing” (志敬) means “aspiring to reverence” or “determined respect,” suggesting that his original intentions may have been aligned with Quanzhen’s ideals of spiritual cultivation and moral development. This naming reflected the hopes that his masters had for his character development, hopes that would ultimately be betrayed by his later actions.
Training and development
His advancement to a senior position within the Quanzhen hierarchy reflected both his martial arts abilities and his apparent dedication to the sect’s goals, marking him as one of the most promising disciples of his generation. This position gave him authority over younger disciples and responsibility for training the next generation of Quanzhen practitioners, placing him in a role where his influence could shape the future of the entire organisation.
The recognition he received from his masters demonstrated their confidence in his abilities and their expectation that he would become a leader within the sect. However, this advancement also placed him in a position where his character flaws could have the most destructive impact, as his authority over others would amplify the negative effects of his moral corruption.
Major adventures/conflicts
When Yang Guo came to Mount Zhongnan, he was assigned to Zhao Zhijing by the Quanzhen masters, who saw this as an appropriate placement for the young man. This assignment proved damaging to Yang Guo’s early development, as Zhao Zhijing’s treatment was coloured by previous humiliation at the hands of Guo Jing.
Zhao Zhijing’s treatment of Yang Guo was fundamentally shaped by his resentment and wounded pride, as “because he had been defeated by Guo Jing when the latter visited the Quanzhen Order, he felt humiliated and vented his anger on Yang Guo, who was Guo Jing’s sworn nephew.” Rather than properly training Yang Guo, Zhao Zhijing neglected instruction and encouraged disciples to bully him. His mistreatment went beyond mere neglect - he “even wanted to cause Yang Guo’s death,” demonstrating the depths of his moral corruption and abuse of authority.
Later years
Zhao Zhijing repeatedly weaponised factional rivalries within the Quanzhen Order. During a leadership struggle, he used knowledge of Yin Zhiping’s transgression against Xiaolongnü to coerce him, and courted Mongol support to force a handover of authority. He led Mongol forces against Chongyang Palace, injuring many disciples and nearly destroying the order’s headquarters.
His collaboration with the Mongols reached its climax when he “led Mongol forces to attack the Chongyang Palace, causing many disciples to be injured and nearly destroying the entire Quanzhen Order.” In his ultimate act of treachery, he “attempted to work with the Mongols to kill the Five Quanzhen Masters to replace their positions,” showing complete abandonment of all moral principles.
His schemes were ultimately exposed. When he pressed his attacks, Zhou Botong directed poisonous jade bees against him; he died from their venom, meeting a fitting end for his betrayal of the sect that had raised and trained him.
Personality and traits
Physical appearance
Zhao Zhijing had a distinctive appearance that reflected both his martial status and his character flaws, creating a striking contrast between his impressive physical presence and his moral corruption. He bore a long beard, a robust build, and commonly carried a sword at his waist, presenting the image of a venerable Taoist master who commanded respect through his bearing alone.
His physical presence commanded respect within the Quanzhen Order, befitting his status as the most skilled among the third-generation disciples, and his appearance conveyed authority and martial prowess that made people naturally inclined to trust and follow him. This commanding presence made his moral corruption all the more dangerous, as people were inclined to trust and follow someone who looked the part of a senior Taoist master.
His appearance served as a perfect mask for his moral failings, allowing him to maintain his position of authority even as his character deteriorated. The contrast between his impressive physical presence and his corrupt nature highlighted one of the central themes of his story - that external appearances could be deeply misleading, and that true character was revealed through actions rather than physical bearing.
Character traits
Zhao Zhijing’s personality was fundamentally shaped by several critical character defects that ultimately led to his downfall. He was naturally hot-tempered, making him prone to rash decisions and violent reactions when things didn’t go his way, a trait that would prove disastrous in his role as a teacher and leader within the Quanzhen Order.
His narrow mind prevented him from seeing the bigger picture or considering others’ perspectives, leading to increasingly destructive choices that would ultimately destroy his reputation and his life. His defining characteristic was his jealousy of others’ achievements and his resentment toward those he perceived as threats to his status or ambitions, creating a toxic mindset that would poison all his relationships and lead him down a path of moral corruption.
He was not originally a great villain by nature; his corruption was a gradual process rather than inherent evil. His transformation began when he came to believe his martial arts were first among the third-generation disciples, yet leadership fell to others. This wounded pride became the catalyst for his moral decline, showing how disappointment and resentment could corrupt even those who had received extensive moral training.
Values and principles
His position as a senior disciple gave him power over younger students, which he systematically abused, particularly in his treatment of Yang Guo, demonstrating how authority could corrupt even those who had been entrusted with the responsibility of teaching and guiding others. His willingness to collaborate with Mongol forces showed his readiness to betray fundamental principles for personal advantage, demonstrating how his moral corruption had reached the point where he was willing to sacrifice his country and his sect for his own ambitions.
His use of knowledge about others’ secrets, particularly regarding Yin Zhiping, demonstrated his willingness to use any means to achieve his goals, including blackmail and manipulation. This pattern of behaviour showed how his moral corruption had made him capable of exploiting even the most intimate knowledge about his fellow disciples, turning personal relationships into tools for advancement.
Martial arts abilities
Internal energy cultivation
Zhao Zhijing’s internal arts were exceptionally pure, impressive enough that even Jinlun Guoshi acknowledged that defeating him and Yin Zhiping would require around twenty to thirty moves. This demonstrated the high level of his qi cultivation and his overall combat effectiveness.
Qiu Chuji introduced him to others as the third-generation disciple whose martial arts were practised most purely. This recognition from one of the Seven Immortals of Quanzhen demonstrated the high level of his technical abilities and the respect he commanded among his peers and superiors.
External combat techniques
His swordplay demonstrated the highest levels of Quanzhen technique. The traditional Quanzhen Swordplay consisted of seven sword methods with seven variations each, forty‑nine forms in total, refined and subtle, steady and dignified. This mastery of complex sword techniques showed the depth of his training and his ability to execute even the most demanding forms with precision and skill.
His martial skills included excellent adaptability under pressure, as demonstrated when in crisis he immediately changed moves and forcibly turned his attack direction, showing sophisticated combat awareness and the ability to adjust his techniques based on changing circumstances.
Signature techniques
His abilities were so exceptional that among the third-generation disciples, Zhen Zhibing and Zhao Zhijing competed for supremacy, placing him at the very top tier of Quanzhen martial artists and making him one of the most formidable fighters of his generation.
Even when severely injured, his attacks remained extremely fierce, demonstrating the depth of his martial foundation and his ability to maintain fighting capability under adverse conditions. This resilience showed how thoroughly he had mastered the Quanzhen system and how deeply ingrained his techniques had become.
Weapons mastery
Zhao Zhijing was skilled with the Quanzhen Sword, demonstrating mastery of the sect’s traditional swordplay techniques. His training provided him with solid defensive techniques that allowed him to survive encounters with superior opponents, though his moral failings ultimately led to his downfall through non-martial means.
Notable achievements
Even Xiaolongnü acknowledged his abilities, judging that without the bee venom he would have been difficult for Granny Sun to defeat. Guo Jing, after crossing hands with him, recognised that his martial arts were indeed formidable, providing validation from one of the era’s greatest martial artists.
The Quanzhen masters originally intended to establish him as the chief among third-generation disciples, showing their recognition of his superior abilities and their confidence in his potential for leadership.
While his technical abilities were exceptional, his moral corruption prevented him from achieving the spiritual development that was supposed to accompany martial advancement in the Quanzhen system, creating a fundamental limitation in his development that prevented him from reaching his full potential.
Relationships
Family relationships
Zhao Zhijing had no known family relationships within the story, as he was portrayed as a dedicated disciple of the Quanzhen Order who had devoted his life to the sect.
Master-disciple relationships
His relationship with Yang Guo represented one of the most clear examples of master-disciple relationship failure in the story, demonstrating how corrupt masters could harm rather than help their students. His jealousy and discrimination toward Yang Guo showed how personal resentment could poison the sacred relationship between teacher and student, turning what should have been a nurturing and educational experience into a source of trauma and abuse.
This failure as a master was particularly tragic because it occurred within the Quanzhen Order, which was supposed to embody the highest ideals of Taoist teaching and moral development. His abuse of Yang Guo represented a complete betrayal of the sect’s principles.
Romantic relationships
Zhao Zhijing had no known romantic relationships within the story.
Friendships and rivalries
His relationships with other Quanzhen members were characterised by competition, jealousy, and his attempts to advance his own position at the expense of others, creating a toxic environment that poisoned the entire community. His rivalry with Zhen Zhibing exemplified how his character flaws could destroy even the most important relationships within the sect, turning fellow disciples into enemies and creating divisions that weakened the entire organisation.
His eventual collaboration with Mongol forces showed his willingness to betray his own people and principles for personal advantage, demonstrating the ultimate corruption of his character and his complete abandonment of loyalty to his country and sect.
Behind the scenes
Literary significance
Zhao Zhijing’s story represents one of the most tragic examples of wasted potential in the martial arts world, demonstrating how character flaws could undermine even the most promising individuals despite their exceptional abilities and privileged training. His corruption was partly influenced by structural problems within the Quanzhen Order, as historical records suggest that resource allocation was indeed unfair in how different lineages within Quanzhen were treated, creating internal competition and resentment that poisoned the organisational culture.
The annual martial arts competitions within Quanzhen created a competitive environment where “who wouldn’t put forth their best effort?” This constant pressure to prove superiority may have contributed to his obsession with status and recognition, showing how institutional structures could inadvertently encourage the very character flaws they were meant to prevent.
His story demonstrates how a single moment of wrong thinking led him to become unable to extricate himself, showing how small moral compromises could lead to complete ethical collapse. His willingness to collaborate with foreign invaders represented the moral compromises that some individuals made during periods of national crisis, showing how external pressure could lead people to abandon their principles in favour of personal advantage.
His corruption was partly influenced by structural problems within the Quanzhen Order, as historical records suggest that resource allocation was indeed unfair in how different lineages within Quanzhen were treated, creating internal competition and resentment that poisoned the organizational culture. This environmental factor showed how institutional problems could contribute to individual corruption, demonstrating that moral failure often resulted from systemic issues rather than purely personal flaws. Zhao Zhijing’s case demonstrates that martial arts skill alone is insufficient for leadership, as despite being “the strongest among the third-generation disciples,” his character flaws made him unsuitable for positions of authority. His corrupt treatment of Yang Guo had lasting effects on the young man’s development and his attitude toward orthodox institutions, contributing to Yang Guo’s unconventional path and his scepticism toward established authority.
Portrayals
Zhao Zhijing has been portrayed by numerous actors across different adaptations of The Return of the Condor Heroes:
The Legend of the Condor Heroes
The Return of the Condor Heroes
- 1976 series – Kenneth Tsang
- 1982 film – Lu Feng
- 1983 series – Gan Guowei
- 1983 film – Wang Li
- 1984 series – Tang Fuxiong
- 1995 series – Dai Zhiwei
- 1998 series – Liang Weidong
- 1998 series – Yue Yueli
- 2006 series – Liu Naiyi
- 2014 series – Wang Maolei
- 2019 series – Qi Yunpeng
External links
- Yang Guo - His student whom he mistreated
- Qiu Chuji - His master and one of the Seven Immortals
- Quanzhen Order - The sect he betrayed
- Lu Qingdu - His apprentice
- The Return of the Condor Heroes - The novel in which he appears