Ming Cult
Encyclopedia
The Ming Cult is a fictional cult and martial arts sect based on the actual Gnostic
religion Manichaeism
. It plays an important role in Jin Yong's The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber of all wuxia
fiction works. It is also briefly mentioned in The Legend of the Condor Heroes
as well. Its home base is at Bright Peak on Mount Kunlun
and it has several other bases spread throughout the country. Its most well-known martial arts and skills are the "Heaven and Earth Great Shift" (乾坤大挪移) and the "Martial arts of the Holy Flame Tablets" (聖火令武功).
. Besides, its founding principle differentiates it strongly from other sects in the jianghu. While other sects typically seek to become leaders and dominate the jianghu, the cult adheres to its faith and laws strongly, which revolves around the principle of "delivering mankind from suffering and to eliminate evil". Thus, the cult is in fact a righteous sect and not an evil and unorthodox cult as it appears in the eyes of the jianghu.
The cult faces strong persecution from the government due to slanderous remarks by its enemies in the imperial court. Besides, pugilists and other sects in the jianghu who are unaware of the cult's real motives due to its conservative nature, often speculate that it is evil in nature and they spread rumours. The cult's image in society and the jianghu is adversely affected and it often struggles to survive in the face of powerful enemies.
During the Yuan Dynasty
, the cult is responsible for conducting a series of rebellions to overthrow the tyrannical dynasty and restore peace and order. However, the cult does not receive strong support from fellow sects and the common people and instead, it faces strong resistance from them. The six leading sects in the jianghu (Shaolin
, Wudang
, Emei
, Kunlun
, Kongtong
and Mount Hua
) form an alliance to eradicate the cult during the battle at Bright Peak. Zhang Wuji
resolves the conflict and exposes the cult's true nature to the jianghu for the first time ever. Pugilists and other sects change their attitudes and views towards the cult after the battle and support the cult instead under Zhang's leadership to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty. Zhang eventually passes the leadership of Ming Cult to Yang Xiao after he decides to retire from the wulin.
There is a likely chance that after Zhu Yuanzhang
left the cult and founded the Ming Dynasty
, the cult is forced to rename itself as Sun Moon Holy Sect (日月神教) due to Zhu's persecution.
The Ming Cult's organisation in Persia differs from that in China slightly. It is headed by a female leader, selected from three specially chosen virgin maidens called "Holy Maidens" (聖女). There are twelve Guardian Kings (寶樹王) instead of four. The Wind, Cloud and Moon Three Messengers (safe-keepers of the Holy Flame Tablets) are the most powerful in terms of martial arts of all the Persian members.
, becomes the new leader of the Ming Cult.
Gnosticism
Gnosticism is a scholarly term for a set of religious beliefs and spiritual practices common to early Christianity, Hellenistic Judaism, Greco-Roman mystery religions, Zoroastrianism , and Neoplatonism.A common characteristic of some of these groups was the teaching that the realisation of Gnosis...
religion Manichaeism
Manichaeism
Manichaeism in Modern Persian Āyin e Māni; ) was one of the major Iranian Gnostic religions, originating in Sassanid Persia.Although most of the original writings of the founding prophet Mani have been lost, numerous translations and fragmentary texts have survived...
. It plays an important role in Jin Yong's The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber of all wuxia
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
fiction works. It is also briefly mentioned in The Legend of the Condor Heroes
The Legend of the Condor Heroes
The Legend of Condor Heroes is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong, and the first part of the Condor Trilogy. It was first serialized between January 1, 1957 and May 19, 1959 in Hong Kong Commercial Daily...
as well. Its home base is at Bright Peak on Mount Kunlun
Kunlun Mountains
The Kunlun Mountains are one of the longest mountain chains in Asia, extending more than 3,000 km. In the broadest sense, it forms the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau south of the Tarim Basin and the Gansu Corridor and continues east south of the Wei River to end at the North China Plain.The...
and it has several other bases spread throughout the country. Its most well-known martial arts and skills are the "Heaven and Earth Great Shift" (乾坤大挪移) and the "Martial arts of the Holy Flame Tablets" (聖火令武功).
History
In The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, the Ming Cult is also known as the Moni Cult (摩尼教) to pugilists but its name is often shortened to Mó Jiào (魔教), which literally means "Demonic Cult". The cult originates in Persia and spreads to China in the 7th century. The cult is secretive in nature and conducts its activities and practices far away from the eyes of other pugilists in the jianghuJianghu
The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set.In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set...
. Besides, its founding principle differentiates it strongly from other sects in the jianghu. While other sects typically seek to become leaders and dominate the jianghu, the cult adheres to its faith and laws strongly, which revolves around the principle of "delivering mankind from suffering and to eliminate evil". Thus, the cult is in fact a righteous sect and not an evil and unorthodox cult as it appears in the eyes of the jianghu.
The cult faces strong persecution from the government due to slanderous remarks by its enemies in the imperial court. Besides, pugilists and other sects in the jianghu who are unaware of the cult's real motives due to its conservative nature, often speculate that it is evil in nature and they spread rumours. The cult's image in society and the jianghu is adversely affected and it often struggles to survive in the face of powerful enemies.
During the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
, the cult is responsible for conducting a series of rebellions to overthrow the tyrannical dynasty and restore peace and order. However, the cult does not receive strong support from fellow sects and the common people and instead, it faces strong resistance from them. The six leading sects in the jianghu (Shaolin
Shaolin Sect
The Shaolin Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several wuxia works. It is one of the largest, most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is at present-day Shaolin Monastery in Henan...
, Wudang
Wudang Sect
The Wudang Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several works of wuxia fiction. It is one of the most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is in the Wudang Mountains...
, Emei
Emei Sect
The Emei Sect is one of the leading orthodox Chinese martial arts sects in the jianghu in several works of wuxia fiction. Its home base is on Mount Emei in Sichuan...
, Kunlun
Kunlun Sect
The Kunlun Sect is one of the major orthodox Chinese martial arts sects frequently mentioned in many wuxia stories. Its home base is in the Kunlun Mountains in the far western regions of China, near present-day Qinghai and Xinjiang...
, Kongtong
Kongtong Sect
The Kongtong Sect appears as one of the major orthodox Chinese martial arts sects in Jin Yong's wuxia novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. Its home base is in the Kongtong Mountains.-History:...
and Mount Hua
Mount Hua Sect
The Mount Hua Sect, also known as the Huashan Sect, is featured in three of Jin Yong's wuxia novels as one of the leading orthodox Chinese martial arts sects in the jianghu. As its name implies, the sect is based on Mount Hua. In reality, a Mount Hua Sect exists but it has nothing to do with...
) form an alliance to eradicate the cult during the battle at Bright Peak. Zhang Wuji
Zhang Wuji
Zhang Wuji is the fictional protagonist of the wuxia novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber by Jin Yong.-Early life:Zhang was born on Ice Fire Island to Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu. He is named by his godfather, Xie Xun, in memory of Xie's deceased son, Xie Wuji...
resolves the conflict and exposes the cult's true nature to the jianghu for the first time ever. Pugilists and other sects change their attitudes and views towards the cult after the battle and support the cult instead under Zhang's leadership to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty. Zhang eventually passes the leadership of Ming Cult to Yang Xiao after he decides to retire from the wulin.
There is a likely chance that after Zhu Yuanzhang
Hongwu Emperor
The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
left the cult and founded the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
, the cult is forced to rename itself as Sun Moon Holy Sect (日月神教) due to Zhu's persecution.
Organisation
The cult is headed by its leader (教主). The Left and Right Bright Messengers (左右光明使) serve as the leader's deputies. The cult also has four Guardian Kings (護教法王) who assist the leader in running the cult's activities. Below the Kings in rank are the leaders of the five banner divisions (旗主). The five banner divisions are named after the Five Elements (Earth, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal). The cult's members are mainly divided into the five divisions. The cult has headquarters and bases spread throughout the country and they are often disguised as ordinary buildings, such as inns and shops to avoid identification by the government. The cult's main headquarters (總壇) is based on Bright Peak (光明頂).The Ming Cult's organisation in Persia differs from that in China slightly. It is headed by a female leader, selected from three specially chosen virgin maidens called "Holy Maidens" (聖女). There are twelve Guardian Kings (寶樹王) instead of four. The Wind, Cloud and Moon Three Messengers (safe-keepers of the Holy Flame Tablets) are the most powerful in terms of martial arts of all the Persian members.
Heavenly Eagle Cult
The Heavenly Eagle Cult is founded by one of its Guardian Kings, "White Brows Eagle King" Yin Tianzheng. Yin leaves the Ming Cult in anger during its period of internal conflict and establishes his own sect. The Heavenly Eagle Cult does not follow the Ming Cult's original practices and customs but its members are still well-disciplined and uphold righteousness and justice. The Heavenly Eagle Cult is often regarded as a branch of the Ming Cult and deemed to be as equally as evil and unorthodox by many pugilists because of Yin's affiliations with the Ming Cult. It merges with the Ming Cult after Yin's maternal grandson, Zhang WujiZhang Wuji
Zhang Wuji is the fictional protagonist of the wuxia novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber by Jin Yong.-Early life:Zhang was born on Ice Fire Island to Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu. He is named by his godfather, Xie Xun, in memory of Xie's deceased son, Xie Wuji...
, becomes the new leader of the Ming Cult.
External links
Ming Cult on Baidu BaikeBaidu Baike
Baidu Encyclopedia is a Chinese language collaborative Web-based encyclopedia provided by the Chinese search engine Baidu. Like Baidu itself, the encyclopedia is heavily self-censored in line with government regulations....