The following is a list of characters from the wuxia novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber by Jin Yong. Some of these characters are fictionalised personas of, or are based on, actual historical figures, such as Zhu Yuanzhang, Chang Yuchun, Xu Da, Zhang Sanfeng, and Chen Youliang.
Main characters
Zhang Wuji () Zhao Min () Zhou Zhiruo ()
Ming Cult
The Bright Left and Right Emissaries () Yang Xiao () is the Bright Left Emissary and Yang Buhui's father. Following Yang Dingtian's disappearance, he served as the cult's acting leader and attempted to master the "Heaven and Earth Great Shift" to secure his legitimacy as some cult members disapproved of his leadership. After Zhang Wuji becomes the cult leader, Yang Xiao serves as his adviser and close confidant. Fan Yao () is the Bright Right Emissary. After Yang Dingtian's disappearance, he disfigured himself and disguised himself as a mute ascetic monk called Kutoutuo () so that he could infiltrate the Yuan forces and serve as a spy for the cult. His cover is blown when he helps the members of the six sects escape from Wan'an Monastery after they are drugged and held captive there by Zhao Min.
The Four Guardian Kings () Daiqisi (), nicknamed "Purple Dress Dragon King" (), is one of the three Sacred Maidens of the Persian Ming Cult. Born in Persia, she is of Persian-Chinese heritage, with a Chinese father who was a high priest in the Persian Ming Cult and a Persian mother. She was originally sent to China on a secret mandate to find the lost manual of the "Heaven and Earth Great Shift." Once called as "the most beautiful woman in the wulin", she had attracted the attention of countless men, including Fan Yao. However, she fell in love with Han Qianye after fighting him in the Icy Lake. As her fellow cult members disapproved of her romance with Han, the couple left the cult and lived in seclusion. She also disguised herself as an old woman called "Golden Flower Granny" () to avoid persecution by the Persian Ming Cult for breaking her vow of celibacy. She has a daughter, Xiaozhao, whom she sent back to the Ming Cult to steal the "Heaven and Earth Great Shift" manual. She eventually returns to Persia with Xiaozhao after convincing her daughter to take her place as a Sacred Maiden. Yin Tianzheng (), nicknamed "White Brows Eagle King" (), is Yin Yewang and Yin Susu's father, and Zhang Wuji's maternal grandfather. He left the Ming Cult after Yang Dingtian's disappearance, and founded the Heavenly Eagle Cult in Jiangnan. After Zhang Wuji becomes the Ming Cult's leader, the Heavenly Eagle Cult merged into the Ming Cult, and Yin continued serving as a guardian king. Yin eventually dies of exhaustion while fighting the three Shaolin elders to save Xie Xun. Xie Xun (), nicknamed "Golden Haired Lion King" (), is Zhang Wuji's godfather. His most powerful skill is the Lion's Roar (), which allows him to project his neigong through sound waves and cause internal injuries to everyone in the vicinity. His family was murdered by his former master Cheng Kun, who disappeared after committing the atrocity. Guided by fury, he went on a rampage to kill many people and push the blame to Cheng Kun in the hope of forcing him out of hiding, but to no avail. After he kidnapped Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu, Yin blinded him with her darts in self-defence when he was in a violent fit of insanity. His insanity was cured when he heard the cries of their newborn son, which reminded him of his own deceased son. He accepted their offer to be the godfather of their son, whom he named "Wuji" in memory of his son. The relatives of Xie's victims forgive him after his final confrontation with Cheng Kun. Xie ultimately becomes a Buddhist monk for the rest of his life to seek peace and redemption for his past sins. Wei Yixiao (), nicknamed "Blue-Winged Bat King" (), is unmatched in his qinggong prowess in the wulin. He once accidentally infected himself with an icy venom while practising the skill Icy Palm (). Since then, he has to routinely consume the warm blood of living creatures (including humans) to keep himself warm. Zhang Wuji cures him later by using the "Nine Yang Divine Skill" to purge the venom from his body.
Yang Buhui () is Yang Xiao and Ji Xiaofu's daughter. Her name literally means "no regrets" to reflect her mother's love for Yang Xiao. Zhang Wuji helps her escape from Miejue after her mother's death and leads her on a perilous journey to bring her safely to her father. She regards Zhang Wuji as a brother for his care and concern towards her. The trauma of witnessing her mother's death makes her become paranoid of anyone who could be a potential enemy and this intensifies her hatred towards Miejue.The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber ch. 25, pp. 1001–1002. This is evident in her treatment towards Xiaozhao when she and her father suspect Xiaozhao of being a spy from the Emei Sect. It also made her extremely protective towards her father and Zhang Wuji, whom she sees as what is left of her family and trust only them. She falls in love with Yin Liting, her mother's original fiancé, and marries him despite their age gap. Zhu Yuanzhang () is an ambitious minor leader of the cult who eventually unites the rebel factions under his control and leads them to overthrow the Yuan dynasty, becoming the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty. Chang Yuchun () is a cult member who travels with Zhang Wuji to Butterfly Valley to seek treatment from Hu Qingniu. Xu Da () is a cult member who inherits the Book of Wumu. He uses its knowledge to lead the rebels to victory in battles against Yuan forces. Han Lin'er () is Han Shantong's son. At one point, he is kidnapped by the Beggar Clan, but is later saved by Zhang Wuji. After Han Shantong dies, Han Lin'er takes control of his father's forces. Han Lin'er is eventually falsely accused by Zhu Yuanzhang of betraying the rebels, and executed by drowning. Five Wanderers (): Leng Qian (), nicknamed "Cold Faced Gentleman" (). Shuobude (), nicknamed "Monk with the Sack" (). Zhang Zhong (), nicknamed "Iron Crowned Taoist" (). Peng Yingyu (), nicknamed "Peng the Monk" (). Zhou Dian (), nicknamed "Lunatic" (). Hu Qingniu () is a physician residing in Butterfly Valley. He is nicknamed "Watch You Die and Not Save You" () for his practice of treating the cult's members free of charge but not others regardless of what they are willing to pay. When Zhang Wuji visits him, he indirectly imparts his medical knowledge to the boy and helps him slow down the effects of his injury inflicted by the Xuanming Elders. Hu is eventually killed by Daiqisi, who seeks revenge on him for refusing to save Han Qianye years ago.The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber ch. 13, pp. 493. Wang Nangu () is Hu Qingniu's wife. In contrast with her husband, she uses her mastery of toxicology to kill people. The couple become rivals in a contest, in which Wang will poison someone while Hu will try to save the person's life. Sharing her husband's liking of Zhang Wuji, she imparts her knowledge to Zhang by leaving behind a book on toxicology she wrote. She is killed along with her husband by Daiqisi. Yang Dingtian () was the former leader of the Ming Cult and one of the most powerful figures in the wulin in his time. One day, while he was practising the "Heaven and Earth Great Shift", he discovered his wife's secret affair with Cheng Kun. He was so infuriated and distracted that he entered a state of zouhuorumo and eventually died of internal injuries. The Five Elements factions: Zhuang Zheng () is the chief of the Metal Faction killed in battle by Miejue. Wu Jingcao () is Zhuang Zheng's deputy who is tasked by Zhang Wuji with repairing the damaged Dragon-Slaying Saber. Yan Yuan () is the chief of the Earth Faction. Tang Yang () is the chief of the Water Faction. Wen Cangsong () is the chief of the Wood Faction. Xin Ran () is the chief of the Fire Faction.
Heavenly Eagle Cult Yin Susu () is Yin Tianzheng's daughter and Zhang Wuji's mother. She meets Zhang Cuishan by chance, gets kidnapped along with him by Xie Xun, and they all end up on Ice Fire Island. She marries Zhang Cuishan and gives birth to Zhang Wuji. When the Zhangs return to the mainland and are confronted by numerous wulin figures on the whereabouts of Xie Xun, the Zhang couple choose to commit suicide to protect Xie Xun. Yin Yewang () is Yin Tianzheng's son and Yin Susu's elder brother. He is also Yin Li's father and Zhang Wuji's maternal uncle. His first wife (Yin Li's mother) practised the "Thousand Spiders Venom Hand", became infertile and disfigured, and fell out of her husband's favour. Yin Yewang then took a concubine who bore him two sons. Yin Li killed her stepmother because she often bullied her mother and then fled from home to evade her father's wrath. Yin Li () is Yin Yewang's estranged daughter and Zhang Wuji's cousin. She practises the "Thousand Spiders Venom Hand" (), a venomous skill which causes her face to become disfigured; she is thus known as Zhu'er (; "spider"). Her mother commits suicide to allow her to escape from her father and half-brothers after she killed her stepmother and she has been despised by her father ever since. She encounters Daiqisi, who protects her and takes her as an apprentice. Later, she develops feelings for Zhang Wuji when she first meets him in her childhood. She is apparently murdered by Zhou Zhiruo at one point, but is eventually revealed to have survived. Li Tianyuan () is Yin Tianzheng's junior. Chang Jinpeng () is slain by Xie Xun. Bai Guishou () is slain by Ding Minjun. Cheng Chaofeng () Gao Shanwang () Feng Gongying () Yin Wufu (), Yin Wulu (), Yin Wushou () are three bandits who pledged allegiance to Yin Tianzheng after he saved their lives.
Persian Ming Cult Xiaozhao () is Han Qianye and Daiqisi's daughter. Her mother sends her as a spy to infiltrate the Ming Cult and find the "Heaven and Earth Great Shift" manual. Xiaozhao becomes a servant of Yang Buhui; the Yangs suspect her of being a spy from the "orthodox" sects so they bind her in chains to restrict her movements. Xiaozhao runs into Zhang Wuji and narrowly escapes death with him in the secret tunnel. She falls in love with Zhang Wuji but can never be with him because she has to take her mother's place as a virginal Sacred Maiden to save her mother's life. She eventually becomes the new leader of the Persian Ming Cult and returns to its headquarters in Persia. Jin Yong mentioned in the epilogue of the novel that Xiaozhao is his favourite character. Epilogue of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber The Mysterious Wind Emissary (), Drifting Cloud Emissary (), and Bright Moon Emissary () are in charge of safekeeping the Ming Cult's sacred artefacts – the Holy Flame Tablets (). They are also the most powerful fighters in the Persian Ming Cult, capable of defeating Zhang Wuji, Xie Xun and Daiqisi with their unconventional martial arts. The 12 Guardian Kings of the Persian Ming Cult come to China to search for Daiqisi and take her back to Persia. They are the King of Great Sacredness (), King of Wisdom (), King of Victory (), King–Keeper of the Flame (), King of Diligence (), King of Equality (), King of Confidence (), King of Suppressing Evil (), King of Uprightness (), King of Merit (), King of Unity (), and King of Brightness ().
Yuan Empire Chaghan Temür (), the Prince of Ruyang (), is a Mongol nobleman, and the father of Wang Baobao and Zhao Min. The Yuan government tasks him with eliminating the Ming Cult and other rebel forces. Lady Han () is Chaghan Temür's concubine who is killed by Fan Yao. Köke Temür (), also known by his Sinicised name Wang Baobao (), is Chaghan Temür's son and Zhao Min's brother.