Mohist School

Overview

The Mohist School (墨家) is one of the Hundred Schools of Thought (诸子百家) and was historically recognized as one of the Four Great Prominent Schools (四大显学) in the Haoran Heaven. Unlike schools that focus purely on abstract philosophy or personal cultivation, the Mohist School emphasizes rigorous practical application, formidable defensive mechanisms, complex logic, and a martial tradition of protecting the weak.

The core philosophy of the school is rooted in the belief that "to know is not easy, to act is even harder" (知不易行更难). This rigorous standard severely tests the temperament of its disciples, who are known for their unwavering dedication but are also prone to stubbornly trapping themselves in intellectual or moral dead ends (钻牛角尖).

The Three Branches (三别墨)

Over its long history, the Mohist School diverged into three distinct, highly specialized lineages, collectively known as the Three Separated Mohist Branches (三别墨):

• Mohist Rangers (游侠): A martial branch largely composed of wandering swordsmen and cultivators. They travel the world to uphold justice and protect the weak (锄强扶弱). The famous "Knife-Lending Men" (赊刀人) belong to this tradition. Because of their pragmatic combat skills and reliability, they are heavily favored by military generals across various dynasties.
• Mechanism Masters (机关术士): The engineering and architectural backbone of the school. These masters design and construct unparalleled defensive arrays, mountain armories, siege engines, and the devastating Sword Boats (剑舟). Their creations are characterized by extreme precision and lethal efficiency.
• Debaters (辩者): The scholarly branch dedicated to logic, physical laws, and profound philosophical debate (辩学). They study intricate concepts such as "names matching reality" (以名举实), "categorization" (类取类予), and paradoxes like "the shadow of a flying bird never moves" (飞鸟之影未尝动).

History and Influence

Alliance with the Dali Dynasty

Despite its waning prominence in some parts of the Haoran Heaven, the Mohist School forged a deep, pragmatic alliance with the Dali Dynasty under the orchestration of State Preceptor Cui Chan. Mohist mechanism masters were instrumental in upgrading Dali's military armories, providing sophisticated defensive mechanisms and terrifying offensive assets like the Sword Boats. A former prominent Mohist, Luan Changye, was also responsible for secretly constructing the replica of Bai Yujing (仿白玉京) in the Dali capital.

The War Against the Wild World

When the Wild World invaded the Haoran Heaven, the typically fragmented Three Branches of Mohism reunited to face the apocalyptic threat. The contemporary Great Master (Ju Zi) personally oversaw the Dimai Ferry (地脉渡口), erecting and defending a colossal fortress city capable of housing 200,000 elite soldiers and migrating southward to counter the demon armies.

Furthermore, over 6,000 Mohist disciples joined forces with the Artisan School (匠家) to deploy 12,000 cultivators at the Bingzhu and Zouma ferries to build massive mobile cities. Because of the astronomical cost of these war efforts, the Dali Dynasty owed the Mohist School a staggering debt, which the Wen Temple eventually assumed to ensure the continued support of the Mohist war machine.

Key Figures

• Fourth Generation Ju Zi (墨家第四代巨子): The contemporary supreme leader of the Mohist School. He is regarded by the Wen Temple and peak cultivators as a terrifying existence capable of single-handedly laying siege to an entire sect's city. He guarded the Dimai Ferry during the counter-offensive against the Wild World.
• Xu Ruo (许弱): A prominent Mohist ranger and sword cultivator. Known for a sword style that appears entirely focused on defense but hides immense, lethal power. He acted as an enforcer and protector in the Dali Dynasty.
• Luan Changye (栾长野): A highly skilled builder who failed in his bid to become the Ju Zi successor and was exiled to the north, eventually being expelled from the school. He designed the replica Bai Yujing for the Dali Emperor.

Notes

• Chen Ping'an's natal flying sword abilities were heavily inspired by his understanding of the Mohist debate concept, "the shadow of a flying bird never moves" (飞鸟之影未尝动), a fact that earned him immense praise from the Old Xiu Cai.
• Despite being grouped with the Hundred Schools, Mohist Rangers are heavily sought after by the Military School (兵家) and secular generals due to their steadfast loyalty and formidable combat abilities.

References

• 剑来3：清梦压星河，第五章 — 狭路相逢: Details Luan Changye's failed bid for the Ju Zi position, his subsequent exile, and his expulsion from the Mohist School after building Dali's replica Bai Yujing.
• 剑来6：剑符在扁舟，第一章 — 夜宿古寺有妖气: Discusses the core Mohist philosophy of "knowing is not easy, acting is harder" and introduces the concept of the Mohist Rangers and the "Knife-Lending Men" (赊刀人).
• 剑来29：座中皆豪杰，第七章 — 无话可说: Outlines the profound nature of Mohist logic and debate, specifically mentioning the "Three Separated Mohist Branches" (三别墨) and the paradox of the flying bird's shadow.
• 剑来30：一剑破万法，第一章 — 备战: Records the immense contributions of the united Mohist School during the counter-offensive against the Wild World, the Ju Zi's defense of the Dimai Ferry, and the Wen Temple assuming Dali's debts to the school.