Zong Weixia

Zong Weixia (simplified: 宗维侠, traditional: 宗維俠, pinyin: Zōng Wéixiá, jyutping: zung1 wai4 haap6) was the second of the Kongtong Five Elders (崆峒五老), a group of senior masters from the Kongtong School. He was a tall, hunchbacked elder who had previously suffered a defeat at the hands of Yin Tianzheng, the White-Browed Eagle King. At Bright Peak, he was healed of his Seven Injury Fist internal injuries by Zhang Wuji’s kindness, which created a deep sense of gratitude and changed his perspective on the Ming Order.

Biography

Early years and status

Zong Weixia was one of the five most senior and respected members of the Kongtong School, collectively known as the Kongtong Five Elders. These five masters enjoyed a high reputation throughout the martial arts world and held prestigious positions within their school. Zong Weixia was the second eldest among them, following Guan Neng.

Like the other Kongtong Five Elders, Zong Weixia had practised the Seven Injury Fist (七伤拳), the Kongtong School’s signature technique. However, because his internal energy was insufficient, he had sustained internal injuries from practising this technique, which required extremely high levels of internal energy to practise safely. These injuries had weakened his martial arts abilities and caused him ongoing suffering.

Previous encounter with Yin Tianzheng

Before the events at Bright Peak, Zong Weixia had encountered Yin Tianzheng, the White-Browed Eagle King of the Ming Order, and had suffered a defeat at his hands. This encounter left Zong Weixia with a grudge against Yin Tianzheng and contributed to the Kongtong School’s participation in the Six Schools expedition to attack the Ming Order.

Encounter with Xie Xun

When Xie Xun, the Golden-Haired Lion King of the Ming Order, sought to learn the Seven Injury Fist, he invaded Qingyang Temple (青阳观) on Kongtong Mountain to steal the technique manual. Zong Weixia and the other four elders engaged in battle with Xie Xun to defend their school’s secret technique.

However, with the secret assistance of Cheng Kun (Yuanzhen), Xie Xun was able to defeat the five elders. During this battle, Zong Weixia was injured by Xie Xun’s palm strikes. Xie Xun successfully obtained the Seven Injury Fist manual, which he would later use to commit numerous murders in his quest for revenge against Cheng Kun.

At the time when Kongjian, the most senior of Shaolin’s Four Holy Monks, was killed by Xie Xun’s Seven Injury Fist in Luoyang, Zong Weixia and the other Kongtong Five Elders were guests at the residence of the Diancang School’s Master Liu (点苍派柳大侠) in Yunnan, which explains why they were not present when Kongjian was killed.

Six Schools expedition to Bright Peak

Zong Weixia led the Kongtong School in joining the Six Schools expedition to Bright Peak (光明顶), participating in the coordinated attack on the Ming Order headquarters. During this expedition, he and the Kongtong forces engaged in fierce battles with the Ming Order’s Five Elements Banners (五行旗).

At Bright Peak, after Yin Tianzheng had fought multiple battles and was severely wounded, Tang Wenliang, the third of the Kongtong Five Elders, attempted to take advantage of Yin Tianzheng’s weakened state. However, despite his injuries, Yin Tianzheng was still able to defeat Tang Wenliang, nearly breaking all his bones.

Seeing his fellow elder’s defeat, Zong Weixia kicked a stone at Yin Tianzheng, hitting him in the forehead. This opportunistic attack demonstrated Zong Weixia’s willingness to take advantage of an opponent’s weakened state, though it also showed his loyalty to his fellow elders.

Healing by Zhang Wuji

When Zong Weixia faced Zhang Wuji, who had emerged as a defender of the Ming Order, he used the Seven Injury Fist to attack him. However, Zhang Wuji, who had mastered the technique correctly with his exceptional internal energy, was able to counter Zong Weixia’s attacks.

When Zong Weixia’s Seven Injury Fist struck Zhang Wuji, Zhang Wuji demonstrated remarkable compassion and character. Instead of simply defeating Zong Weixia, he used his internal energy to heal Zong Weixia’s old internal injuries that had been caused by practising the Seven Injury Fist incorrectly.

This act of kindness, performed even while being attacked, deeply moved Zong Weixia. He was extremely grateful to Zhang Wuji for healing injuries that had plagued him for years, and this experience changed his perspective on the Ming Order and its members. Zhang Wuji’s demonstration of compassion and moral character, even toward an enemy, showed Zong Weixia that the Ming Order was not the evil organisation that the orthodox schools had claimed it to be.

Imprisonment at Wan’an Temple

After the Six Schools expedition, as the various schools were descending from Bright Peak, they were ambushed by Yuan Dynasty forces led by Zhao Min. All members of the Six Schools were captured and imprisoned at Wan’an Temple, where they were forced to consume the Ten Fragrances Soft Tendon Powder (十香软筋散), which disabled their internal energy.

Zong Weixia, along with the other prisoners, was eventually rescued by Zhang Wuji and the Ming Order, further reinforcing his gratitude and changing his attitude toward the organisation.

Slaying Lion Heroes Assembly

Zong Weixia participated in the Slaying Lion Heroes Assembly (屠狮大会), where Xie Xun was being held prisoner by the Shaolin Order. At this assembly, Zong Weixia proposed that whoever could defeat all opponents in combat would be entitled to claim Xie Xun and the Dragon-slaying Sabre (屠龙刀). This proposal reflected the competitive nature of the assembly and the various motivations of the participants.

Resistance against Yuan forces

After the Slaying Lion Heroes Assembly, when the Yuan Dynasty’s Prince Ruyang (汝阳王) Chahan Timur led 20,000 Mongolian troops to attack Shaolin Temple, intending to annihilate all the martial artists gathered there, Zong Weixia joined with the other martial artists to resist the Yuan forces and fight for their country. This demonstrated that despite the internal conflicts and personal grudges within jianghu, martial artists could unite against external threats to the nation.

Personality & traits

Opportunistic but loyal

Zong Weixia demonstrated both opportunistic and loyal characteristics. His decision to kick a stone at the severely wounded Yin Tianzheng showed his willingness to take advantage of an opponent’s weakness. However, this action was motivated by loyalty to his fellow elder Tang Wenliang, showing that he was willing to act to protect his comrades.

Capacity for gratitude

Zong Weixia’s response to Zhang Wuji’s healing demonstrated his capacity for gratitude and recognition of moral character. Despite being enemies at the time, he was deeply moved by Zhang Wuji’s act of kindness and became extremely grateful to him. This showed that Zong Weixia was capable of recognising and appreciating moral actions, even from opponents.

Reputation versus ability

Like the other Kongtong Five Elders, Zong Weixia’s reputation in jianghu did not fully match his actual martial arts ability. While he enjoyed high status and was well-known throughout the martial arts world, his abilities were limited by his incorrect practice of the Seven Injury Fist, which had caused him internal injuries that weakened his effectiveness.

Martial arts abilities

Seven Injury Fist

Zong Weixia practised the Seven Injury Fist (七伤拳), the Kongtong School’s signature technique and one of its most powerful secret arts. This technique could produce seven different types of internal force with each strike: hard, soft, hard-within-soft, soft-within-hard, horizontal, vertical, and a complex combination. These forces could damage an opponent’s internal organs in devastating ways, making it a formidable technique.

However, because Zong Weixia did not possess sufficient internal energy, he had sustained internal injuries from practising this technique. These injuries had plagued him for years, weakening his martial arts abilities and causing him ongoing suffering. It was only through Zhang Wuji’s intervention that these injuries were finally healed.

Sword techniques

Zong Weixia was also skilled in sword techniques, as he carried a sword as his weapon. However, his primary focus was on the Seven Injury Fist, which was the Kongtong School’s most famous technique.

Internal injuries and healing

The internal injuries sustained from practising Seven Injury Fist without sufficient internal energy had weakened Zong Weixia’s martial arts abilities for years. These injuries would have affected his internal energy circulation, stamina, and ability to use techniques at full power.

When Zhang Wuji healed these injuries using his exceptional internal energy, Zong Weixia’s martial arts abilities would have improved significantly. The healing not only relieved his suffering but also restored his effectiveness as a martial artist, demonstrating the importance of correct practice and sufficient internal energy.

Relationships

With the other Kongtong Five Elders

Zong Weixia worked closely with the other four elders: Guan Neng, Tang Wenliang, Chang Jingzhi, and one other unnamed elder. Together, they represented the leadership of the Kongtong School and participated in major events as a group. Their shared experience of practising Seven Injury Fist and sustaining internal injuries created a bond between them.

Zong Weixia’s loyalty to his fellow elders was demonstrated when he intervened to help Tang Wenliang during the battle at Bright Peak, kicking a stone at the severely wounded Yin Tianzheng.

With Yin Tianzheng

Zong Weixia had a history of conflict with Yin Tianzheng, having suffered a previous defeat at his hands. This grudge contributed to the Kongtong School’s participation in the Six Schools expedition. However, at Bright Peak, when Yin Tianzheng was severely wounded, Zong Weixia took the opportunity to attack him, showing both his lingering resentment and his opportunistic nature.

With Zhang Wuji

Zong Weixia’s relationship with Zhang Wuji was transformed by Zhang Wuji’s act of kindness. When Zhang Wuji healed Zong Weixia’s internal injuries during their confrontation at Bright Peak, Zong Weixia became extremely grateful to him. This experience changed his perspective on the Ming Order and demonstrated how acts of compassion could overcome enmity and create understanding between factions.

Behind the scenes

Character significance

Zong Weixia represents the Kongtong Five Elders and illustrates how acts of kindness and moral character can overcome enmity and change perspectives. His story shows how Zhang Wuji’s compassion, even toward an enemy, could transform relationships and create understanding between factions that had been in conflict.

His character also demonstrates the dangers of practising powerful martial arts techniques without sufficient internal energy, and how such injuries could be healed by those with exceptional abilities and compassion.

Role in the narrative

Zong Weixia’s role connects several plot elements: his encounter with Xie Xun explains how Xie Xun obtained the Seven Injury Fist, his participation in the Six Schools expedition connects the Kongtong School to the broader conflicts in the novel, and his healing by Zhang Wuji demonstrates Zhang Wuji’s character and helps to reconcile the Kongtong School with the Ming Order.