Zhang Wuji - not suitable to be a political leader?

[Extremer88]

Jin Yong stated after HSDS in his comments, that Zhang Wuji is not suitable to be a political leader. Because he lacked three elements - [忍] to tolerate, quick with decisions, and a strong lust of power.

Is it really the case for this? Do you agree with Jin Yong on this?

[Ken Cheng]

I'm not sure on the "to tolerate" part. What does that mean? It can't mean that Cheung Mo Gei couldn't tolerate certain people; if anything, he was a bit *too* tolerant at times.

None of the wuxia protagonists other than Wai Siu Bo would make effective politicians: they're too scrupulous and moral, and some of them (including Cheung Mo Gei) lack a healthy cynicism about the intentions of others.

[Pacifian]

I'm not sure on the "to tolerate" part. What does that mean? It can't mean that Cheung Mo Gei couldn't tolerate certain people; if anything, he was a bit *too* tolerant at times.

None of the wuxia protagonists other than Wai Siu Bo would make effective politicians: they're too scrupulous and moral, and some of them (including Cheung Mo Gei) lack a healthy cynicism about the intentions of others.

Tolerance here doesn't mean just tolerating what others did. It also means to be able to tolerate and handle an opponent's cruelty and self-control.

[Zhuge Liang]

A political leader needs to have flexible morals - this is directly contradictory to the ideal of steadfast righteousness that ZWJ subscribes to. Often a political leader will have to be ruthless and/or sacrifice others but ZWJ stresses fraternal bonds of brotherhood. He is just too much of a do-gooder.

[frymantis]

i didn't think he was much of a leader at all, yeah, half way into it, he can fight, he was young and handsome, a ton of the girls a like him. But IMHO, he wasn't a political leader or a leader in general, he can't make up his mind, was scared to do things, wishy washy, don't really want to be a leader(trying to pass it back to his godfather).

[Ken Cheng]

But IMHO, he wasn't a political leader or a leader in general, he can't make up his mind, was scared to do things, wishy washy, don't really want to be a leader(trying to pass it back to his godfather).

Reports of Cheung Mo Gei's "wishy washiness," aside from his love life (and even there), tend to be overstated. He knew what he was doing as the Ming Cult Leader, and when he was at a loss, he was wise enough to turn to those who could advise him. For a time, no other person on Earth was more suitable to be the Ming Cult's leader than Cheung Mo Gei. His willingness to defer to others who had better ideas than he did, and more importantly, his ability to mollify strong egos and inspire them to work together rather than kibitz against each other, were the qualities that made him a good leader.

Being a good leader doesn't always mean going to front of the line and yelling, "Do what I tell you!" It often means being the kind of person who can get the disparate personalities in an organization to set aside their differences and work for the common good. Cheung Mo Gei was able to do this where Yeung Siu, Yan Teen Sing, Wai 1 Siu, etc., could not because they all admired and trusted him. Here is an indisputable fact: before Cheung Mo Gei became the Cult Leader, the cult was a shambles...with different factions vying for power. After Cheung Mo Gei became the Cult Leader, with virtually no other change in the cult's personnel, the cult revived after years of decline and grew, within a few years, to become the most powerful sect in wulin. Cheung Mo Gei must have done something right.

[resident:alien]

i think he has a hard enough time trying to choose which clothes to wear and which boots to wear before he heads out of his room. zwj would not make a good leader.

[K2Grey]

I would agree with Ken Cheng that while ZWJ might not have the skills for general political leadership, he was a very good Ming Cult leader. Ming Cult leadership like Yang Xiao and Wei Yixiao might have possessed much cunning and intelligence in addition to strong martial arts, but only Zhang Wuji was capable of taking the position of Leader without the Cult falling apart.

[Extremer88]

I would agree with Ken Cheng that while ZWJ might not have the skills for general political leadership, he was a very good Ming Cult leader. Ming Cult leadership like Yang Xiao and Wei Yixiao might have possessed much cunning and intelligence in addition to strong martial arts, but only Zhang Wuji was capable of taking the position of Leader without the Cult falling apart.

Zhang Wuji was probably the only capable man in Ming Cult that would lead the Ming Cult to brighter days, if others like Fan Yao or Wei Yixiao took over the leadership, it might bring Ming Cult back to those days in which they were labelled as demons.

[Zhuge Liang]

It was due to special circumstances that ZWJ was suitable to lead the Ming Cult. He had almost unanimous support after he saved the Ming Cult from destruction so they were all willing to submit to him and serve him to their fullest. If they were not so loyal to him i think he would last very long. Throughout the novel he got conned time and again and did not wise up that much.

[Ken Cheng]

It was due to special circumstances that ZWJ was suitable to lead the Ming Cult. He had almost unanimous support after he saved the Ming Cult from destruction so they were all willing to submit to him and serve him to their fullest.

That's the thing, though: not just anybody could have gotten that unanimous support. Nobody else in the world at the time could have. His leadership of the cult was a product of circumstances, but which leader's tenure isn't? All leaders throughout history have been products of fortuitous timing as well as their own personal attributes.

[Zhuge Liang]

That's the thing, though: not just anybody could have gotten that unanimous support. Nobody else in the world at the time could have. His leadership of the cult was a product of circumstances, but which leader's tenure isn't? All leaders throughout history have been products of fortuitous timing as well as their own personal attributes.

You are right, circumstances play a big part but able individuals can also create them for themselves. ZWJ by contrast is not this kind of person - he was very passive. Situations, ppl, kung-fu, girls... they found him rather than the other way around.