Zhou Dian

Zhou Dian (simplified: 周颠, traditional: 周顛, pinyin: Zhōu Diān, jyutping: zau1 din1), known as the Lunatic (无事不颠, Wúshì Bù Diān, Nothing Without Madness), was one of the Five Wanderers of the Ming Order. Known for his wild, excitable personality and excellent speaking ability, he demonstrated absolute loyalty to the Ming Order, even sacrificing his appearance to help Zhang Wuji during critical battles.

Biography

Role as one of the Five Wanderers

Zhou Dian 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 Lunatic” due to his eccentric and wild behaviour, Zhou Dian was nevertheless a respected and valued member of this group.

Despite his seemingly chaotic personality, Zhou Dian possessed solid martial arts abilities and was known for his excellent speaking ability and persuasive skills. His loyalty to the Ming Order was absolute, and he was willing to go to extreme lengths to serve the Order’s interests.

Support for Zhang Wuji

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

The Slaying Lion Conference

During the Slaying Lion Conference at Shaolin Temple, Zhang Wuji faced the Three Elders of the Bodhidharma Hall in a difficult battle while attempting to rescue his godfather Xie Xun. The Three Elders were formidable opponents, and Zhang Wuji struggled to gain an advantage.

To help Zhang Wuji, Zhou Dian performed a desperate and dramatic act. He used a dagger to cut his own face repeatedly, creating multiple wounds, and then threatened to commit suicide. This extreme action successfully distracted the Three Elders, breaking their concentration and allowing Zhang Wuji to gain an advantage in the battle.

While Zhou Dian’s strategy was successful in helping Zhang Wuji, it came at a great personal cost: the wounds left him permanently disfigured and extremely ugly. This act demonstrated Zhou Dian’s absolute loyalty to Zhang Wuji and the Ming Order, showing that he was willing to sacrifice his own appearance and dignity for the sake of his comrades.

Personality & traits

Wild and excitable personality

Zhou Dian was known as “the Lunatic” (无事不颠, Nothing Without Madness) because of his wild, excitable, and seemingly chaotic personality. His behaviour was often unpredictable and unconventional, leading others to view him as eccentric or even mad.

However, beneath this wild exterior lay genuine loyalty, intelligence, and strategic thinking. His seemingly random actions often had purpose, and his loyalty to the Ming Order was unwavering.

Excellent speaking ability

Despite his wild personality, Zhou Dian was known for having excellent speaking ability and persuasive skills. He could use words effectively to make his point and influence others, demonstrating that his intelligence extended beyond his martial arts abilities.

Absolute loyalty

Zhou Dian’s most defining characteristic was his absolute loyalty to the Ming Order and its leaders. His willingness to sacrifice his appearance by cutting his own face to help Zhang Wuji demonstrated the depth of his commitment. He was willing to go to extreme lengths, even at great personal cost, to serve the Order’s interests and protect his comrades.

Courage and self-sacrifice

Zhou Dian demonstrated remarkable courage and willingness to sacrifice for others. His act at the Slaying Lion Conference, where he disfigured himself to help Zhang Wuji, showed his willingness to endure pain and permanent disfigurement for the sake of his comrades and the Ming Order’s goals.

Martial arts abilities

Zhou Dian possessed solid martial arts abilities, placing him among the top tier of Ming Order members as one of the Five Wanderers. While he may not have been among the most powerful martial artists in the jianghu, his combination of martial arts skills, intelligence, and absolute loyalty made him a valuable and respected member of the Ming Order.

Relationships

Fellow Five Wanderers

Zhou Dian worked closely with the other Four Wanderers: Leng Qian, Shuobude, Zhang Zhong, and Peng Yingyu. Together, they formed a collective advisory body that provided guidance and strategic wisdom to the Ming Order.

Despite Zhou Dian’s wild personality, he was accepted and respected by his fellow Wanderers, who recognised both his abilities and his loyalty.

Zhang Wuji

Zhou Dian demonstrated absolute loyalty to Zhang Wuji, supporting his leadership of the Ming Order and even sacrificing his appearance to help him during the battle at Shaolin Temple. This relationship demonstrated mutual respect and trust, with Zhou Dian’s extreme act of self-sacrifice showing the depth of his commitment to supporting Zhang Wuji.

Behind the scenes

Zhou Dian is based on a historical figure of the same name, who was a legendary figure during the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. The historical Zhou Dian was known for his eccentric behaviour and prophetic statements, and he was said to have assisted Zhu Yuanzhang in various ways.

In the novel, Zhou Dian represents the type of character who appears wild and chaotic on the surface but possesses deep loyalty and intelligence beneath. His nickname “the Lunatic” reflects both his eccentric personality and the way others perceive him, while his actions demonstrate that true loyalty and commitment are more important than outward appearances.

Zhou Dian’s character demonstrates that unconventional personalities can make valuable contributions to organisations and causes. His willingness to sacrifice his appearance for the greater good shows that true loyalty requires both words and actions, and that sometimes extreme measures are necessary to achieve important goals.

The character’s role as one of the Five Wanderers reflects the importance of diverse personalities and perspectives within leadership structures. His wild personality provides a contrast to the more reserved and calculated approaches of other members, while his absolute loyalty ensures that this diversity strengthens rather than weakens the organisation.

Portrayals

Zhou Dian has been portrayed in various adaptations of The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre:

The Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre

1978 series — Yefeng
1984 series — Cui Fusheng
1986 series — Qin Huang
1994 series — Zhao Shun
2001 series — Wang Junta
2003 series — Li Lianyi
2009 series — Yang Niansheng
2019 series — Yang Yiwei