Wikipedia

Li Mochou

Li Mochou (Chinese: 李莫愁; pinyin: Lǐ Mòchóu) is a fictional character from the Chinese wuxia novel The Return of the Condor Heroes (Shen Diao Xia Lü) by Jinyong. She is Xiaolongnü's senior. She was more powerful in martial arts than her junior at the start of the novel. Although she is beautiful in appearance, she morphs into a vicious killer after her lover betrays her. However, she appears as a motherly figure to the infant Guo Xiang, whom she kidnaps from her parents.[1] She is seen trying to take the Jade Maiden Sutra from Xiaolongnü on several occasions at the beginning of the novel, but has never been successful. She commits suicide by throwing herself into the fire in Passionless Valley.[2][3]

Li Mochou
The Return of the Condor Heroes character
Li Mochou, as she appeared in the 2021 mobile game adaptation The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Created byJin Yong
In-universe information
GenderFemale
AffiliationAncient Tomb School
Masters
  • Lin Chaoying's apprentice
Apprentices

Li Mochou is considered one of the central characters in the novel, where the narrative begins with her. Within the story, she also sings the novel's theme song, "What Is Love?".[4] She is the subject of the chronicle The Philosophy of Life of Li Mochou (李莫愁的人生哲學) written by Guo Mei. This work delves into Li Mochou's life from diverse perspectives, encompassing her birth, upbringing, experiences with love and hatred, and overall worldview. Guo Mei's analysis aims to elucidate and explore the philosophical aspects embedded in Li Mochou's life journey.[5]

Character biography

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Li Mochou was a third-generation disciple of the Ancient Tomb School, recruited by the young maid who later ascended to Masterhood after the demise of Lin Chaoying (林朝英), the sect's founder. As the inaugural disciple, she held seniority over Xiaolongnü (小龍女), the principal protagonist of the novel.[6]

In her early years, Li Mochou encountered Lu Zhanyuan (陸展元) from the renowned martial arts family, the House of Lu. Smitten by him, she defied her master, leaving the Gumu Sect to be with him, resulting in her expulsion. Despite her attempts to disrupt the marriage of Lu Zhanyuan to He Yuanjun (何沅君), she was thwarted by a powerful monk who compelled her to set aside her grudge for a decade. Vowing vengeance, she embraced Taoism and distanced herself from love.[6][7][8]

The novel begins by describing Li Mochou's exact vengeance on the Lu family some years after her ex-lover, Lu Zhanyuan, and his wife died. Following her act of murder, she kidnaps Lu Zhanyuan's niece, Lu Wushuang (陸無雙).[7]

Li Mochou gained notoriety for her ferocious and merciless cruelty, earning her the moniker "Serpent Demon" (赤練蛇). Yet, owing to her beauty and apparent youth, some also dubbed her the "Serpent Fairy" (赤練仙子). Armed with her fearsome techniques, such as the "Palm of the Divine Serpent" (赤練神掌), the "Silver Needles of Freezing Soul" (冰魄銀針), and the "Fly Whisk" (塵拂), she became unhinged in her killings, targeting anyone with the names Lu and He.[6][7]

Although initially one of the most potent female characters in the novel, she proved no match for Huang Rong and later Xiaolongnü, who mastered the "Yunuu Xinjing" in the latter part of the story.[9]

Li Mochou took on a disciple named Hong Lingbo (洪淩波) and tasked her with obtaining the Jade Maiden Heart Manual of Gumu Pai (Yu Nü Xin Jing, 玉女心經). The plan failed when Xiaolongnü, with the assistance of Yang Guo (楊過), triggered a trap burying the tomb underground. Nevertheless, Li and Hong managed to escape, and Li persisted in her vengeful pursuits.[7]

Her conflicted nature prevented her from relinquishing her hatred and desire for her sect's prized martial arts secrets. Relentlessly pursuing Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo for the manual, she failed to obtain it. Driven by obsession and fueled by the Passion Flower's poisonous effect, she met her demise as she envisioned Lu's image in the fire at the Passionless Valley (絕情谷) and walked into the flames, sealing her own fate.[10]

Remake version

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In contrast to the negative portrayal in earlier versions, the 2014 remake of The Romance of the Condor Heroes offers a nuanced and comprehensive account of Li Mochou's relationship with Lu Zhanyuan. This interpretation has significantly shifted Li Mochou's perception, transforming her into a more sympathetic and even beloved figure among wuxia fans. This shift has led to a playful phenomenon among viewers and netizens, who humorously dub the series The Biography of Li Mochou instead of its original title.[11][12]

Character evaluation

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Her backstory, accomplishments, and flaws make her an intriguing figure to study. Numerous scholars have conducted positioning analyses and engaged in discussions about Li Mochou's character image and behavior. In the scholarly paper titled A New Discussion on the Character of Li Mochou in Jin Yong's Novels, it is noted that she can be interpreted as a pioneer of feminism in her pursuit of love and individual liberation.[13][14][15][16][17]

Martial arts and skills

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Further information: Ancient Tomb School § Skills and martial arts

Palm of Divine Serpent

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The Palm of Divine Serpent is a deadly technique that Li invented herself with the essence of flame and contains venom extract from the five most poisonous creatures, such as the centipede, scorpion, snake, spider, and toad. Only by referring to the Manual of Five Venoms that Li experimented with and documented could one purge the poison from the victim's body.[18]

Silver Needles of Freezing Soul

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The Silver Needles of Freezing Soul is one of the techniques Li inherited during her training in Ancient Tomb. The frozen ice poison was carefully absorbed into the needles. If one merely touched, although not pricked, any part of the needle, his or her palm would immediately turn black—a sign of fatal poison.[18]

Fly Whisk

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The Fly Whisk is an item that is usually owned by Taoist monks or nuns. This flexible technique, too, was inherited during her training in the Ancient Tomb, which has specialized techniques using long, flexible weapons. Capable of drawing blood, breaking bones, and causing internal injury, as well as wrapping and removing the weapon of the opponent, it was one of her feared trademarks. However, she used it to fan the baby Guo Xiang—the only nice thing she did with her whisk. In an English version of a TV series on KTSF 26, this weapon was called the "Horsetail Whisk".[18]

Unparalleled Lightness of Ancient Tomb

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This is the greatest technique of all the Ancient Tomb Kongfu.

Triple Non-existing Hands

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The Triple Non-existing Hands is a skill she invented herself, which she used against Yang Guo once. It comprises extremely vicious and cruel strikes that aim at the softest, weakest parts of the body (including the nether regions).[18]

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Television and film

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Other

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  • Li Mochou represents the characteristics of the zodiac constellation Scorpius.[19]
  • Li Mochou was a playable character in the 2014 mobile fighting game The Legend of the Condor Heroes.[20]
  • Li Mochou Super Dragon Slaughtering System

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 金庸书话 {Jin Yong's calligraphy} (in Chinese). 中央民族大学出版社. 1999. ISBN 978-7-81056-231-7.
  2. ^ 誰是金庸小說武功第一人 [Who is the first martial artist in Jin Yong's novels?] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 聯合電子出版有限公司. 1 June 2019. ISBN 978-988-8618-00-2.
  3. ^ 众生之相: 金庸小说人物谈 {Aspects of Sentient Beings: Discussions on Characters in Jin Yong's Novels} (in Chinese). 上海三联书店. 2001. ISBN 978-7-5426-1528-2.
  4. ^ 名家談神鵰 {Experts Discussing The Legend of the Condor Heroes} (in Chinese). 博益出版集團. 1983.
  5. ^ 李莫愁的人生哲學 (in Chinese). 生智文化事業有限公司. 2001. ISBN 978-957-818-225-7.
  6. ^ a b c 金庸作品全集修订版 - 全36册: 史上最畅销版本！重温一代人的记忆！首次阅读推荐此版本 (in Chinese). StreetLib.
  7. ^ a b c d 醍醐灌頂：金庸武俠小說中的思想世界: （單本）（套裝二合一書名為：《鏡花水月：金庸武俠小說的思想與結構》）{Tihoganting: The Ideological World in Jin Yong's Martial Arts Novels} (in Chinese). 三聯書店(香港)有限公司. 9 April 2015. ISBN 978-988-8340-18-7.
  8. ^ "In the Yu Zheng version of 'The Return of the Condor Heroes,' Li Mochou's warm-up exceeded expectations". People's Daily (in Chinese). December 19, 2014.
  9. ^ 最猛的金氏记录 {The Most Fierce Records of the Jin Clan} (in Chinese). 中州古籍出版社. 1999. ISBN 978-7-5348-1849-3.
  10. ^ 金庸武俠史記＜神鵰篇＞三版變遷全紀錄 (in Chinese). 獨立作家－心一堂. 1 January 2021. ISBN 978-988-8582-25-9.
  11. ^ "《神雕侠侣》魔头变慈母 李莫愁成郭襄奶娘(图)". Phoenix News (in Chinese). January 30, 2015.
  12. ^ "昔日李莫愁，今日小龙女 张馨予版小龙女还不错". news.tom.com (in Chinese (China)). 25 July 2019.
  13. ^ Baoqiang, Liu (2014). "金庸小说文本中李莫愁形象新论 {A New Analysis of Li Mochou's Character in Jin Yong's Novels}". Huanggang Vocational and Technical College Journal: 59–62.
  14. ^ Xingyang, Xu; Jiaqiong, Hu (2011). "金庸《神雕侠侣》中李莫愁疯癫行为的分析 {Analysis of Li Mochou's Eccentric Behavior in "The Return of the Condor Heroes"}". Journal of North China Institute of Water Resources and Electric Power.
  15. ^ Pengyan, Liu. "从此莫道奴家愁——谈谈《神雕侠侣》中李莫愁形象的复调性". World Chinese Literature Forum: 2006.
  16. ^ Pi Tongtong. "Hysterical Love—The Psychoanalysis of Li Mochou" Tokyo Literature (2011)
  17. ^ Jia Yong. "Analyzing the Character of Li Mochou" Science and Wealth, Issue. 23 (2015).
  18. ^ a b c d 金庸妙手改神鵰 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 獨立作家－心一堂. 31 May 2013. ISBN 978-988-8058-99-0.
  19. ^ "【塔羅星座】一文即測 邊四個星座最似《神鵰俠侶》女主角". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 13 November 2018.
  20. ^ "踢飞甄志丙!神雕侠侣改编玩法还小龙女清白_网络游戏新闻_17173.com中国游戏第一门户站". news.17173.com (in Chinese). 16 December 2014.
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