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Shou Nanshan

Shou Nanshan

Contents

Shou Nanshan (simplified: 寿南山, traditional: 壽南山, pinyin: Shòu Nánshān, jyutping: sau6 naam4 saan1), nicknamed “Ten Thousand Years Without Boundaries” (万寿无疆, Wànshòu Wújiāng), was a disciple of Yuanzhen (成昆, Cheng Kun) who was captured by Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min and used as a servant.

Biography

Background

Shou Nanshan was a disciple of Yuanzhen (成昆), who had taken the Buddhist name Yuanzhen after joining the Shaolin Order. However, Yuanzhen considered Shou Nanshan’s talent too poor and only used him for errands, never teaching him any martial arts.

Capture

Shou Nanshan was captured by Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min at Huguo Temple (护国寺). The two used him as a servant, and Shou Nanshan proved to be an excellent cook, earning praise from Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min.

Nickname

Shou Nanshan’s nickname “Ten Thousand Years Without Boundaries” (万寿无疆) was given to him by his martial arts friends as a joke, referring to his cowardly nature and tendency to retreat from danger, meaning he would never be killed in battle.

Prank by Zhao Min

Before parting ways, Zhao Min played a prank on Shou Nanshan, pretending to strike a death pressure point and telling him that he would die if he ever touched ice or snow. Terrified, Shou Nanshan traveled south and settled in Lingnan (岭南), avoiding any cold weather for the rest of his life.

Longevity

Despite the prank, Shou Nanshan actually lived a very long life. Although not truly “ten thousand years without boundaries,” he did enjoy a long lifespan, living until the Yongle era (永乐年间) of the Ming Dynasty before passing away.

Personality and traits

Shou Nanshan was cowardly and easily frightened, but he was also a good cook and made a capable servant. His nickname reflected his tendency to avoid danger, which ironically contributed to his long life.

Behind the scenes

Source

Character information was drawn from the novel and related references.

See also

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