Jiang Fengmian (江枫眠, Jiāng Fēngmián) was the former leader of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, the husband of Yu Ziyuan, and the father of Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli. He also took Wei Wuxian under his care as his ward, raising him alongside his own children.[1] Jiang Fengmian was also the father-in-law of Jin Zixuan and the maternal grandfather of Jin Ling.
Appearance[]
Jiang Fengmian wore the purple robes of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan. His face had a calm and solemn expression.[2]
Personality[]
Jiang Fengmian had a gentle and polite character, though he often conceded to pressure from influential clans like the Meishan Yu Clan, and people with aggressive personalities, like his wife Yu Ziyuan.[3]
He showed generosity and compassion in taking in the orphaned Wei Wuxian, the child of his now deceased close friend, to live with his own family. He also prioritized his own children: he was mentioned to make kites for Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian with his daughter's help.[4] He also suggested breaking Jiang Yanli's engagement to Jin Zixuan after learning that Jin Zixuan did not reciprocate her feelings, emphasizing his empathy and desire to keep his daughter from suffering as he had.[5] However, Jiang Fengmian's lack of physical affection[6] and frustration with Jiang Cheng's temperament led to significant insecurities on Jiang Cheng's part. In fact, Jiang Fengmian's supposed favoritism of Wei Wuxian led to outside rumors that Wei Wuxian was actually his son.[5][3]
History[]
Youth and Marriage[]
Jiang Fengmian was close friends with Wei Wuxian's father, Wei Changze. He later befriended Wei Wuxian's mother Cangse Sanren during night-hunts.[3] At one point, Lan Qiren's rule-following nearly cost Jiang Fengmian and Wei Changze their lives, and Cangse Sanren shaved his beard in retaliation.[7]
Rumors had it that Jiang Fengmian had fallen for Cangse Sanren; however, she eloped with Wei Changze. Afterwards, he caved to the pressure of the Meishan Yu Clan to marry Yu Ziyuan. The couple had two children: Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng.[3]
When Jiang Yanli was a child, Jiang Fengmian conceded to his wife's wishes by betrothing their daughter to Jin Zixuan, the son of Yu Ziyuan's close friend Madam Jin.[5]
Wei Wuxian[]
When he heard that both Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren had died on a night-hunt, Jiang Fengmian dedicated himself to finding their son. He eventually found Wei Wuxian on the streets of Yiling, feeding him a piece of melon before carrying him home to Lotus Pier.[8]
After learning that Wei Wuxian was afraid of dogs, Jiang Fengmian sent Jiang Cheng's three puppies away, and encouraged his son to befriend Wei WUxian.[8]
Jiang Fengmian hurried to the Cloud Recesses upon hearing of the fight between the teenage Wei Wuxian and Jin Zixuan. After learning that the reason was Jin Zixuan's resentment of his engagement to Jiang Yanli, Jiang Fengmian convinced Jin Guangshan to cancel their children's engagement, lest the two spend their lives in an unhappy marriage. He then returned to Yunmeng with Wei Wuxian.[5]
Massacre of Lotus Pier[]
Tensions between Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan escalated after the Qishan Wen Clan forced Jiang Cheng to attend their indoctrination. When the training ended in a disastrous night-hunt that left Wei Wuxian trapped in the cave of the Xuanwu of Slaughter along with Lan Wangji, Jiang Fengmian accompanied Jiang Wanyin to rescue Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji.[3]
Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan then fought bitterly in front of their children over his alleged favoritism of Wei Wuxian.[3] Half a month later, Jiang Fengmian left Lotus Pier after another argument with Yu Ziyuan, intending to to petition the Qishan Wen Clan to return Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian's swords.[9]
As he returned to Lotus Pier by boat, Jiang Fengmian encountered Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng in a smaller boat, restrained by Zidian. To their surprise, Zidian obeyed him as its secondary master, implying that Yu Ziyuan did care for Jiang Fengmian after all. After Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng informed him of the Qishan Wen Clan's attack and the presence of Wen Zhuliu, Jiang Fengmian rebound them with Zidian and sent them away. He instructed Wei Wuxian to look after Jiang Cheng, implying that he knew his odds were grim.[1]
He then returned to Lotus Pier. Both he and Yu Ziyuan were killed after having their Golden Cores melted by Wen Zhuliu, and their clan was massacred.[10]
Abilities & Weapons[]
Swordsmanship: Jiang Fengmian presumably fought with the typical sword techniques of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan.[11]
- Zidian: On the night of his death, Jiang Fengmian discovered that he was a secondary master of Zidian.[1]
Relationships[]
Yu Ziyuan[]
Jiang Fengmian had an extremely strained relationship with his wife Yu Ziyuan. She deeply resented that Jiang Fengmian had taken the son of his close friend and former supposed love interest back to their clan, due to what she perceived as favoritism of Wei Wuxian over Jiang Cheng. The couple quarreled often in front of their children, though Jiang Fengmian was noted to suppress his rage .[2]
However, the fact that Yu Ziyuan's weapon Zidian recognized Jiang Fengmian as its secondary master implied some level of trust and care between the two, although Jiang Fengmian was surprised to learn this.[1]
Jiang Yanli[]
Jiang Yanli was Jiang Fengmian's first child and only daughter. He expressed concern for her future happiness, as he insisted on cancelling her engagement with Jin Zixuan upon learning that Jin Zixuan did not reciprocate Jiang Yanli's feelings.[5] He and Jiang Yanli made kites together for Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian.[4]
Jiang Cheng[]
Jiang Fengmian had a strained relationship with his second child and only son, Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng was rather uptight and irascible, like his mother, and struggled to change despite Jiang Fengmian's attempts to teach him.[3] As a result, Jiang Fengmian was rumored to favor Wei Wuxian.[12] In fact, although Jiang Fengmian had held Jiang Cheng less than five times in his entire childhood, he immediately let Wei Wuxian sit on his arm the day he brought him to Lotus Pier. Still, Jiang Fengmian did attempt to comfort Jiang Cheng over the loss of his puppies, as well as encouraged him to be friends with Wei Wuxian.[6]
Eventually, Jiang Cheng grew to believe that his father did not like him,[3] resulting in a lasting insecurity and growing jealousy over Wei Wuxian.[12]
Nevertheless, Jiang Fengmian did care for his son, as he instructed Wei Wuxian to look after him before returning to his death at Lotus Pier.[1]
Wei Wuxian[]
Jiang Fengmian took Wei Wuxian into his clan after hearing of the deaths of his parents. He treated Wei Wuxian like his own son,[13] though their close relationship strained his relationship with his wife and biological son.[3]
That being said, Jiang Fengmian's final words to Wei Wuxian were to look after Jiang Cheng.[1]
Wei Changze[]
Wei Changze was a close friend of Jiang Fengmian's. Both men were said to have fallen for Cangse Sanren, and Wei Changze ultimately eloped with her. However, Jiang Fengmian's willingness to take in their child Wei Wuxian after learning of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren's demise implies that he had little lasting bitterness towards his friend.[3]
Cangse Sanren[]
Jiang Fengmian was rumored to have been in love with Wei Wuxian's mother, who often accompanied both he and Wei Changze on night hunts. Although she eloped with Wei Changze instead, Jiang Fengmian expressed no bitterness, as he took in Wei Wuxian upon learning that Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze had died.[3]
Audio Drama Divergence[]
The Audio Drama adds an exchange between Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian upon the latter's return to the besieged Lotus Pier. Yu Ziyuan demands to know why he would come back, and Jiang Fengmian replies that he would not leave his lady.[14]
Animation Divergence[]
In the donghua, Jiang Cheng says that Jiang Fengmian's golden core was melted before he was killed by a "nobody." The Novel, however, does not specify how he died during the massacre.[15]
Web Series Divergence[]
The Web Series adds a scene wherein Yu Ziyuan kills herself after seeing Jiang Fengmian mortally wounded. In her last moments, she slips her hand in her husband's.[16]
Gallery[]
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.JPG "JFM Concept Draft (Donghua).JPG (4.51 MB)")
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Trivia[]
- Jiang Fengmian was the one who named Wei Wuxian's sword Suibian. Wei Wuxian could not think of a good name, he told Jiang Fengmian he could name it whatever, and Jiang Fengmian named it as it was.[17]
- Jiang Fengmian's name（江枫眠）is most likely taken from of the poem “Mooring at Night by the Maple Bridge" by Zhang Ji (《枫桥夜泊》, 张继). The first line goes as follows: 月落乌啼霜满天，江枫渔火对愁眠。
References[]
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