Zhen Zhibing (simplified: 甄志丙, traditional: 甄志丙, Jyutping: zan1 zi3 bing2, pinyin: Zhēn Zhìbǐng) was a disciple of the Quanzhen Order. As a disciple of Qiu Chuji, he represented the younger generation of practitioners within the organisation.
Biography
Early life and entry into Quanzhen
Zhen Zhibing was Qiu Chuji’s second disciple, with the Daoist name Qinghe. He was one year older than Yang Kang but had entered the Order two years later than him. His early character was described as heroic, straightforward, and proud, bearing similarities to his master Qiu Chuji.
Mission to Mongolia
Sixteen years after the Seven Eccentrics of Jiangnan and Qiu Chuji made their agreement for the Jiaxing duel, Zhen Zhibing was sent by his master to Mongolia to deliver news and test Guo Jing’s martial arts abilities. During this mission, he engaged in a brief martial arts exchange with Guo Jing, revealing that Guo Jing had no internal energy foundation. This discovery led to Ma Yu’s later decision to teach Guo Jing Quanzhen internal energy techniques.
However, Zhen Zhibing’s attack was too heavy-handed, and he was disciplined by the Seven Eccentrics for his lack of restraint.
Encounter at Niujia Village
When Qiu Chuji heard that Huang Yaoshi intended to kill the Six Eccentrics, he sent Zhen Zhibing to warn them. Zhen Zhibing arrived at Niujia Village and found Guo Jing at Qu Lingfeng’s inn. When he heard Hou Tonghai insulting the Quanzhen Seven Masters, he immediately confronted him alongside Lu Guanying and Cheng Yaojia, forming a friendship with them.
When Huang Yaoshi arrived at Niujia Village, he heard that Zhen Zhibing had been dismissive of Peach Blossom Island’s martial arts and decided to teach him a lesson, knocking out half of his teeth. Despite this, Zhen Zhibing remained proud and refused to submit, maintaining his stubbornness to the end. His unyielding character impressed Huang Yaoshi, who let him go.
Battle at Yanyu Tower
During the battle at Yanyu Tower, Zhen Zhibing took the “Tianxuan” position in the Big Dipper Formation alongside Ke Zhen’e, replacing the deceased Tan Chuduan. Zhen Zhibing was responsible for directing Ke Zhen’e’s attacks, but due to his lower martial arts cultivation, he fainted from watching the intense battle and was thrown onto the roof of Yanyu Tower by Huang Yaoshi.
Journey to Mongolia
When Qiu Chuji received Genghis Khan’s invitation to visit Mongolia, he brought eighteen disciples with him, including Zhen Zhibing.
Encounter with Xiao Longnü
Zhen Zhibing violated monastic rules by secretly falling in love with Xiao Longnü. This was discovered by his fellow disciple Zhao Zhijing, who used this as leverage to blackmail him.
When Xiao Longnü was immobilized by Ouyang Feng’s acupoint technique, Zhen Zhibing, overcome by desire, took advantage of the situation and violated her.
Resistance against Mongol forces
When Mongol warriors attacked Chongyang Palace, Zhen Zhibing demonstrated great righteousness and unwavering determination, leading the Quanzhen Order in a resolute struggle against the Mongol warriors and internal traitors. He was seriously wounded while protecting Xiao Longnü.
Final atonement and death
In the end, Xiao Longnü forgave Zhen Zhibing, but he was overwhelmed with remorse and chose to impale himself on her sword as an act of atonement. This sacrifice preserved the lives of Yang Guo and Xiao Longnü while also maintaining his own reputation.
Martial arts abilities
Mastery of Quanzhen techniques
Zhen Zhibing was skilled in Quanzhen martial arts techniques, demonstrating his dedication to mastering the organisation’s fighting methods and his understanding of the philosophical principles that underlay these techniques. His training reflected the Quanzhen Order’s emphasis on the integration of physical training with spiritual and philosophical development.
Integration of martial arts and philosophy
Zhen Zhibing’s training emphasized the integration of martial arts with philosophical understanding, reflecting the Quanzhen Order’s belief that true martial arts mastery required both physical skill and philosophical understanding. His ability to understand and apply the philosophical principles that underlay the order’s martial arts demonstrated his intellectual development.
Relationships
Qiu Chuji
Zhen Zhibing maintained a close teacher-disciple relationship with Qiu Chuji, who served as his master and mentor. This relationship was characterized by mutual respect and Qiu Chuji’s trust in Zhen Zhibing’s abilities, as evidenced by his assignment of important missions to his disciple.
Yang Kang
Zhen Zhibing was one year older than Yang Kang but had entered the Quanzhen Order two years later than him. Despite this difference in seniority, they were fellow disciples under Qiu Chuji’s guidance.
Zhao Zhijing
Zhen Zhibing had a strained relationship with his fellow disciple Zhao Zhijing, who discovered his secret love for Xiao Longnü and used this knowledge to blackmail him. This created ongoing tension between the two disciples.
Cheng Yaojia
Zhen Zhibing formed a friendship with Cheng Yaojia when they worked together to subdue Hou Tonghai at Niujia Village. This friendship was based on their shared commitment to defending the honor of the Quanzhen Seven Masters.
Xiao Longnü
Zhen Zhibing’s relationship with Xiao Longnü was complex and ultimately tragic. He violated monastic rules by secretly falling in love with her, and his actions led to a profound moral conflict that would ultimately result in his death. Despite his wrongdoing, Xiao Longnü eventually forgave him, demonstrating her capacity for compassion.
Behind the scenes
Character revision
Zhen Zhibing was created by Jin Yong specifically for the Third Edition of The Return of the Condor Heroes to replace the controversial character Yin Zhiping (尹志平). This change was made due to concerns about using the name of a historical Daoist figure for such a controversial character.
Edition differences
First and Second Editions: The character appears as Yin Zhiping (尹志平) and plays the controversial role described in this article.
Third Edition: The character is renamed Zhen Zhibing (甄志丙) but maintains identical storylines, relationships, and character development. All plot elements remain the same, including his violation of Xiao Longnü, his resistance against Mongol forces, and his final act of atonement through suicide.
Relationship to Yin Zhiping
Zhen Zhibing is essentially the same character as Yin Zhibing from the First and Second Editions, with identical storylines, relationships, and character development. The only difference is the name change to avoid controversy with the historical Yin Zhiping, who was a respected Daoist master and the third patriarch of the Quanzhen Order.
Historical context
The character Zhen Zhibing is entirely fictional, created specifically for the novel. Unlike Yin Zhiping, there is no historical figure with this name, which allowed Jin Yong to develop the controversial storyline without causing offense to those who revere the historical Yin Zhiping.
See also
External links
- Zhen Zhibing (Chinese) on Baidu Baike
- The Return of the Condor Heroes on Wikipedia