Li Mochou

Li Mochou (李莫愁) is a fictional character in the wuxia novel The Return of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong. A member of the Ancient Tomb Sect, she was trained in martial arts by the same master as the female protagonist Xiaolongnü, but had been expelled from the sect before the events of the novel take place. Described as beautiful in appearance, she becomes a vicious killer after her lover, Lu Zhanyuan, betrayed her. However, she appears as a motherly figure to the infant Guo Xiang, whom she kidnaps from her parents. She is seen trying to take the Jade Maiden Sutra from Xiaolongnü on several occasions at the beginning of the novel, but has never been successful. She commits suicide by throwing herself into the fire in Passionless Valley. Li Mochou is one of the major characters in the novel as the narrative begins with her. Within the story, she also recites the poem "What is Love?", which is a central theme of the novel. She is the subject of the chronicle The Philosophy of Life of Li Mochou (李莫愁的人生哲學) by Guo Mei. This work delves into Li Mochou's life from diverse perspectives, encompassing her birth, upbringing, experiences with love and hatred, and overall worldview. Guo Mei's analysis aims to elucidate and explore the philosophical aspects embedded in Li Mochou's life journey.