Created by Dugu Qiubai, the 'Nine Swords of Dugu' (獨孤九劍) are nine independent sword stances created to provide descendants with a systematic training regime to help them counter all sorts of fighting styles divided into 8 different weapons including swords, spears, clubs, whips, arrows and unarmed attacks.
This swordplay has nine stances, each of which is designed to counter a particular form of martial arts. The mastery of all nine forms allows the swordsman to counter a wide range of martial arts moves (including those involving the use of weapons). The first core element of the swordplay is perfecting one's own skills, mastering prediction, timing and speed: The swordsman is trained to quickly predict and identify the weaknesses in the martial arts moves executed by an opponent, and seizing initiative to attack the weakness of opponent's techniques. The second core element of the swordplay is its formless nature and adaptability: Unlike typical martial arts styles described in wuxia stories, the moves of the 'Nine Swords of Dugu' do not follow any fixed sequence or pattern. As such, it is impossible for an opponent to predict (and counter correspondingly) the moves of the swordplay.
The key to mastering the swordplay is to understand the two core elements instead of rigidly memorizing all the stances. Once the swordsman has grasped the essence of the swordplay, he can use it in endless forms and variations, hence the swordplay has no fixed sequence or pattern. During combat, the less the swordsman remembers, the less restricted he is by the original stances. He is thus able to customize and adapt the swordplay accordingly.
Feng Qingyang, the Elder who taught Linghu Chong, Dugu Nine Swords once told him that the end goal of this sword skill is to reach the level of having no techniques. He explained to Linghu Chong that while amateurs also have no techniques, they do not know what they're doing and thus have plenty of openings, that is why people who are trained in techniques can beat amateurs easily. But people with techniques also means they have fixed patterns thus they have weaknesses. But when a trained practitioner advances to the point where their techniques have vanished, so will the weaknesses that comes with techniques. Thus, the misleading saying "No techniques beats trained techniques"
Linghu Chong then asked Feng Qingyang "What happens when two person who has reached no techniques level fights"
To which, Feng Qingyang replied it depends on who is better in the no techniques state.
Nine stances[]
1 General Index Stance (總訣式) Has variations to implement the General Index Script. This stance cover all variations and changes of all forms of martial arts in the world.
2 Sword-defeating Stance (破劍式) Used to counter double edge swords styles from any sect.
3 Saber-defeating Stance (破刀式) Used to counter single-blade weapons such as the broadsword, willow leaf cutlass, demon beheading saber, large cleaver and pudao.
4 Spear-defeating Stance (破槍式) Used to counter pole weapons such as the spear, halberd, staff, wolf head cudgel and monk's spade.
5 Whip-defeating Stance (破鞭式) Used to counter chain weapons such as the whip, fly whisk, three section staff, rope dart, chain whip and fishing net.
6 Mace-defeating Stance (破索式) Used to counter short weapons such as the club, mace, dianxue[1] peg, tonfa, Emei piercer, dagger, axe, octagonal hammer and awl.
7 Palm-defeating Stance (破掌式) Used to counter unarmed styles of hand-to-hand combat that utilize the fists, legs, fingers and palms. The stance include techniques to overcome boxing and grappling, joint manipulation and dianxue.
8 Arrow-defeating Stance (破箭式) Used in defense against missiles and projectile weapons. The first stage of mastering this stance involves the practitioner learning how to identify the type of missile by listening. Upon mastery, he is capable of blocking the projectiles with his sword, and may redirect the missiles back to the enemy.
9 Qi-defeating Stance (破氣式) Used to counter opponents who have strong inner energy reserves. It is not clearly explained in the novel on how this stance actually works as Linghu Chong never truly gained sufficient proficiency in this stance to use in combat during the story.
The Nine stances applications are not restricted to their intended purposes. As Linghu Chong was able to use Arrow Defeating Stance to pierce the eyes of 20+ swordsman almost instantaneously.
After gaining basic proficiency of the Dugu Nine Swords minus the Qi Defeating stance, Linghu Chong had only felt nervous or pressurized during fights three times
1st time was facing Wudang's Sect Master, the Grand Priest Chongxu. His Taichi sword techniques covers all weaknesses and was very close to level of No Techniques. Linghu Chong was pushed to a stalemate where his defeat was inevitable due to the massive difference in base abilities between him and the Sect Master. It was here, he decided to risk it all and attack the strongest point of the Wudang Sect Master. Linghu Chong learned from this encounter that strongest points can also be weak points.
2nd time was fighting Dongfang Bubai. Sunflower Manual's techniques are exceedingly fast. Any weakness it had would vanish faster than a blink of eye. Linghu Chong could only see the weaknesses but couldn't counter any of Dongfang Bubai's techniques. However, this experience proves to be very helpful to his subsequent fights with Yue Bu Qun and Lin Pingzhi (After learning Bixie Swordplay) learns that no matter how fast the techniques, they will eventually need to repeat moves. This allows Linghu Chong to defeat Yue Buqun who is his Master, with greater base abilities and at least 3 times greater Inner energy reserves than Linghu Chong on their 3rd fight.
3rd time was when fighting in a Mount Hua's Cave where lights were blocked off. Linghu Chong was unable to use Dugu Nine Swords while fighting Zuo Lengchan and Lin Pingzhi. It was through the Phosphorescence generated by bones of the Sun and Moon Sect's 10 Elders that lit up the cave and allowed Linghu Chong to use Dugu Nine Swords again to defeat the duo.
Tomb of Swords[]
Dugu Qiubai's final resting place is known as the Tomb of Swords. In The Return of the Condor Heroes the Condor leads Yang Guo to the Tomb, where Yang reads a statement which Dugu Qiubai carved in stone: Yang Guo also read this at the Tomb of Swords
As Yang Guo is also considered as a successor of Dugu Qiubai, there were confusion leading to people thinking that Yang Guo learned a more advanced version of Dugu Nine Swords. This is untrue as stated by the late Author Jinyong (Louis Cha) that Yang Guo's inheritance was incomplete and his sword skills does not possess any Dugu Nine Swords.