The Appearance of All Beings: A Discussion on Characters from Jin Yong's Novels

Author: Chen Mo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-06-01
Features: One of the greatest successes of Jin Yong's works is the creation of a large number of vivid character images. In them, we can often find our own shadows or dreams. Childhood like Sister Zhen, youth like a friend, and middle age like a woman—Rong'er; Zhou Zhiruo, whose fate is determined by her personality; Ding Chunqiu, bound by circumstances, stepping out of the mold of fictional storytelling. Chen Mo critically analyzes the fifty-two "images of the masses" in Jin Yong's works. The so-called "images of the masses" do not refer to the common characteristics of all beings, but rather to the individual personalities and images of different characters. In reality, the human world is composed of countless individuals with different personalities and images. Furthermore, the "images of the masses" not only refer to their outward appearances but also to their inner states, including their personal traits and psychological mysteries. In the martial arts world created by Jin Yong, the suffering of the masses is not primarily due to material lack, such as lack of clothing, food, or shelter, but rather to the spiritual distortion and torment caused by unfulfilled desires or circumstances beyond one's control. Corresponding to Jin Yong's character portrayals, revelations of human nature, psychological depictions, and his non-pitying attitude toward the "images of the masses," my discussion naturally cannot be limited to the artistic techniques of character portrayal. Instead, it must focus on the inner lives of the characters, and further involve the humanistic spirit that transcends them.