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Jiaomu

Jiaomu

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Jiaomu (simplified: 焦木, traditional: 焦木, pinyin: Jiāomù, jyutping: ziu1 muk6), known as Jiaomu Heshang (焦木和尚 – Jiāomù Héshàng), served as the abbot of Jiaxing’s Fahua Temple. A shixiong of Kumu from the Xianxia branch of Shaolin, he practised the Luohan Saber and fundamental One Yang Finger techniques taught to the Duan clan’s retainers. His attempt to mediate between the Quanzhen Order and the Jiangnan Seven Freaks set off the confrontation that shaped The Legend of the Condor Heroes’ opening chapters.

Biography

Abbot of Fahua Temple

Jiaomu presided over Fahua Temple near Jiaxing, caring for refugees displaced by Jin incursions and keeping the Duan clan’s supply line open after Great Master Kumu retreated to Snow-Top Mountain. He agreed to harbour his nephew Duan Tiande when the latter fled Niujia Village with the captive Li Ping. Kumu’s letter vouched for the nephew’s character, so Jiaomu overrode his better instincts and offered sanctuary, unknowingly sheltering the very conspirator who had betrayed the Song patriots Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin.

Mediation attempt at the Drunken Immortal Tavern

When Qiu Chuji tracked Duan Tiande to Jiaxing, Jiaomu tried to prevent bloodshed. He arranged a banquet at the Drunken Immortal Tavern, inviting the Jiangnan Seven Freaks to act as mediators between the fiery Quanzhen master and the Fahua Temple host. Qiu assumed the abbot and Duan Tiende were allies, so the gathering devolved into the famous drinking contest where Qiu and the Seven Freaks hurled wine bowls while trading internal energy.

Jiaomu repeatedly pleaded for restraint, citing Buddhist precepts and the need to spare innocents, yet Duan Tiende’s lies kept rekindling suspicion. Once Duan’s treachery was exposed, Jiaomu sided with the Seven Freaks and ordered his nephew to submit for trial. Instead, Duan slashed him during the melee and fled into the temple compound.

Death in defence of the temple

Badly wounded, Jiaomu pursued his nephew into Fahua Temple to prevent further sacrilege. He lunged with a wooden staff, intending to pin Duan down for Qiu Chuji to judge, but Duan dodged aside. The abbot crashed into a pillar and died instantly, still clutching the bloodstained staff. His death enraged both the Quanzhen master and the Seven Freaks, cementing their pact to find and raise the unborn children of Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin—the vow that propels the rest of the novel.

Personality and traits

Jiaomu embodied the contradictions of a Buddhist abbot living amid the jianghu. He was compassionate enough to shelter fugitives yet stubbornly loyal to family, which clouded his judgement when Duan Tiende lied to him about Yang Tiexin’s supposed treachery. Contemporary descriptions emphasize his rough hemp robes, steady voice, and ability to quote sutras even while parrying blades. His final charge showed the same blend of mercy and duty: he chose to subdue rather than kill his nephew, even though that decision cost him his life.

Martial arts abilities

Luohan Saber

Jiaomu inherited the Luohan Saber routines that the Xianxia branch of Shaolin disseminated to Dali’s royal guard. His style emphasised sweeping diagonal cuts that created space for protective mantras. Within the temple he usually swapped the saber for a quarterstaff or lengths of chopped firewood, yet eyewitnesses noted that his grip and footwork still followed Luohan patterns.

One Yang Finger basics

As Kumu’s junior, he practised the introductory layers of One Yang Finger. He lacked the pure internal strength of the Duan rulers, but he could still seal acupoints to break up tavern brawls. During the Drunken Immortal incident he punctured two of Duan Tiende’s meridians, briefly paralysing him before the villain revived.

Xianxia inner cultivation

Jiaomu maintained the Xianxia monastic breathing method, a derivative of Shaolin classic qigong that encourages smooth, wave-like power. This inner work let him endure a bowl-for-bowl neigong duel between Qiu Chuji and the Seven Freaks without collapsing, and it allowed him to continue fighting after suffering sabre cuts across his chest.

Relationships

Kumu

Jiaomu regarded Kumu as his elder brother within the sect. Kumu’s plea to shelter Duan Tiende triggered the entire chain of events, and Jiaomu never blamed his shixiong even as the truth emerged, respecting the loyalty Kumu showed his disciple.

Duan Tiende

He loved his nephew enough to write recommendation letters to temples along the Grand Canal, yet Duan repaid him with deceit. Jiaomu’s initial trust turned into stern discipline once he learnt of Niujia Village, leading to the confrontation that ended his life.

Jiangnan Seven Freaks and Qiu Chuji

Jiaomu tried to reconcile these two camps, appreciating the Seven Freaks’ grassroots righteousness and Qiu Chuji’s unyielding moral compass. His death forged a grudging respect between them, and their shared mourning in Fahua Temple’s courtyard became the moral spark that bound them to raise Guo Jing and Yang Kang.

Behind the scenes

In adaptations, Jiaomu is often depicted wearing coarse hemp robes and holding a split log rather than a formal staff to underline his rustic monastic roots. Actor Zhu Liming’s portrayal in the 2003 CCTV drama highlights his nervous humour during the tavern scene, while later versions stress the tragic nobility of his final charge.

See also