Long text alert. PS: Hmmm no Yang Guo in the top #20.
Top 20 Martial Artists in Jin Yong's Fictional Universe: A Comprehensive Ranking
Before delving into the detailed rankings, it's important to note that Jin Yong (金庸) created a vast martial arts universe spanning multiple novels, with characters whose abilities often transcend conventional understanding. This ranking synthesizes information from various sources while acknowledging that any such ranking inevitably involves some subjective judgment. The characters are organized based on their peak martial prowess as depicted or implied in Jin Yong's works.
The Supreme Masters
1. Damo Patriarch (达摩祖师)
The Damo Patriarch stands uncontested at the pinnacle of martial arts mastery in Jin Yong's universe. As the founder of Shaolin Temple's martial traditions, he created foundational texts including the Nine Yang Manual (九阳真经) and Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic (易筋经), as well as the legendary 72 Shaolin martial arts techniques. His placement at the top stems not merely from his extraordinary martial accomplishments but from his transcendent status—described more as a divine buddha than a mere mortal practitioner
12. The profound impact of his martial arts innovations continues to reverberate throughout the jianghu centuries after his time.
2. Nameless Old Monk/Sweeping Monk (少林无名老僧/扫地僧)
This enigmatic figure from "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" demonstrates martial arts prowess that borders on the miraculous. With his three-foot-thick protective qi wall that easily repelled Murong Bo's attacks and his ability to render Murong Bo unconscious with a single palm strike, the Nameless Monk's abilities left even the mighty Qiao Feng in awe, admitting the monk's martial arts far surpassed his own
127. His humility in taking the role of a temple sweeper only adds to his mystique, embodying the Buddhist principle that true mastery requires abandonment of ego.
3. Xiao Yao Sect Ancestor (逍遥派祖师)
The founder of the Xiao Yao Sect possesses an unparalleled arsenal of techniques including the Beiming Shengong (北冥神功), Small Formless Skill (小无相功), Lingbo Weibu (凌波微步), and the Eight Wilderness Six Harmonies Sole Veneration Skill (八荒六合唯我独尊神功)
12. The extraordinary abilities of his disciples—No Measure, Tian Shan Tong Lao, and Li Qiushui—reflect the founder's incomparable mastery. His comprehensive grasp of both martial techniques and profound wisdom places him firmly among the highest echelon of martial artists.
4. Yue Nu Aqing (越女阿青)
Perhaps the most legendary figure in Jin Yong's martial world, Aqing achieved the seemingly impossible feat of defeating three thousand soldiers with nothing but a bamboo stick
126. This teenage girl from the story "Yue Nu Sword" reached a state of martial enlightenment at an exceptionally young age, demonstrating a level of skill that even the renowned Independent Sovereign (独孤求败) only achieved in his forties. Her ability to transcend the limitations of conventional weapons speaks to her profound understanding of martial arts fundamentals.
The Founding Masters
5. The Eunuch Creator of the Sunflower Manual (葵花宝典原作者)
Though never directly portrayed in the novels, this mysterious figure's martial legacy speaks volumes about his abilities. The manual he created was so potent that even after studying merely a fragment for twelve years, Dongfang Bubai attained nearly invincible status
12. The Sunflower Manual's emphasis on speed, precision, and lethality revolutionized martial arts and created an entirely new approach to combat that few could counter.
6. Huang Shang (黄裳)
As the creator of the Nine Yin Manual (九阴真经), Huang Shang's profound knowledge of martial arts theory and practice earned him the title of "martial arts supreme text" author
12. This comprehensive work contained such advanced techniques that even partial mastery of its contents could elevate practitioners to extraordinary heights. Huang Shang's deep understanding of internal energy cultivation and martial applications underscores his position among the greatest martial artists in Jin Yong's world.
7. Independent Sovereign/Xue Muhua (独孤求败)
Living up to his name "Seeking Defeat but Finding None," this legendary swordsman achieved a state of transcendence where "anything can be a sword"—bamboo, wood, stone all became lethal weapons in his hands
12. As the grandmaster ancestor to warriors like Yang Guo, Linghu Chong, and Feng Qingyang, his martial lineage produced some of the most formidable fighters in the jianghu. His philosophical approach to swordsmanship elevated the art beyond mere combat technique to a form of spiritual expression.
8. Zhang Sanfeng (张三丰)
The founder of Wudang sect and creator of Taiji principles, Zhang Sanfeng's martial arts philosophy emphasized harmony between softness and hardness, yielding and advancing
67. His contributions to internal energy cultivation and martial applications have influenced generations of practitioners. Zhang Sanfeng's ability to defeat opponents through minimal movement and perfect timing represents the highest ideals of martial enlightenment.
The Unrivaled Practitioners
9. Dongfang Bubai (东方不败)
True to the name "Undefeated in the East," Dongfang Bubai achieved martial supremacy through practicing just a portion of the Sunflower Manual
469. Using nothing but an embroidery needle as a weapon, Dongfang could simultaneously battle multiple master-level opponents and maintain the upper hand. The character's transformation through the practice of this manual further demonstrates the extraordinary level of skill achieved, making Dongfang the undisputed top fighter in "The Smiling Proud Wanderer."
10. Wang Chongyang (王重阳)
As founder of the Quanzhen sect and one of the Five Greats, Wang Chongyang's martial achievements include defeating Ouyang Feng and creating a comprehensive system of internal cultivation
5. His martial philosophy integrated Taoist principles with practical combat techniques, creating a balanced approach that addressed both spiritual and physical dimensions of martial arts. Wang's disciples formed the backbone of the martial world in the generations that followed.
