Gu Long
Encyclopedia
Xiong Yaohua better known by his pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...

 Gu Long , was a Chinese novelist and screenwriter. Xiong is best known for writing wuxia
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...

novels and novel series, which include: Juedai Shuangjiao, Xiaoli Feidao Series, Chu Liuxiang
Chu Liuxiang
Chu Liuxiang is the fictional protagonist of the wuxia novel series Chu Liuxiang Series by Gu Long.Just like the Anglo-Saxon legend of Robin Hood, Chu Liuxiang is a thief who robs from the rich to help the poor and one who upholds justice in the jianghu. He is nicknamed "Daoshuai" or more...

 Series
, Lu Xiaofeng
Lu Xiaofeng
Lu Xiaofeng is the fictional protagonist of the wuxia novel series Lu Xiaofeng Series by Gu Long.-Personal information:Lu Xiaofeng is best identified by his distinctive "Four Eyebrows" , as he sports two strands of moustache that resemble his eyebrows, making him seem as though he has four eyebrows...

 Series
and Xiao Shiyilang. Some of these works have been adapted into films and television series for numerous times. In the 1980s, Xiong started his own film studio, Bao Sian, to work on adaptations of his works. He graduated from Cheng Kung Senior High School
Cheng Kung Senior High School
thumb|rightTaipei Municipal Chenggong Senior High School is a senior high school in Taipei, Taiwan.-History:...

 in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...

 and from the Foreign Language Department of Tamkang University
Tamkang University
Tamkang University is a private Taiwanese university located in Tamsui District, New Taipei City. Founded in 1950 as a junior college of English literature, the college has expanded into a full university with 11 colleges today....

.

Biography

Xiong claimed ancestry from Nanchang
Nanchang
Nanchang is the capital of Jiangxi Province in southeastern China. It is located in the north-central portion of the province. As it is bounded on the west by the Jiuling Mountains, and on the east by Poyang Lake, it is famous for its scenery, rich history and cultural sites...

, Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...

, China. He used to live at Hankou
Hankou
Hankou was one of the three cities whose merging formed modern-day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province, China. It stands north of the Han and Yangtze Rivers where the Han falls into the Yangtze...

 in his childhood. He was born on 7 June 1938 in Hong Kong. (his registered identity claimed that he was born in 1941) He moved to Taiwan in 1952 with his parents, who divorced in 1956. With help from friends and money earned from part-time work, Xiong graduated from the Foreign Language Department of Tamkang University
Tamkang University
Tamkang University is a private Taiwanese university located in Tamsui District, New Taipei City. Founded in 1950 as a junior college of English literature, the college has expanded into a full university with 11 colleges today....

. He found a job in the United States Army Advisory in Taipei later.

In 1960, Xiong published his first wuxia novel, Cangqiong Shenjian (苍穹神剑) under the pen name "Gu Long". From 1960 to 1961, Xiong published eight novels but did not achieve the results he desired. He moved to Ruifang Town (瑞芳镇) and lived there for three years, after which he changed his perspective, with a new writing style. Between 1967 and the end of the 1970s, Xiong rose to prominence in the annals of modern wuxia fiction for his works. As the sole representative of excellence in the wuxia genre from Taiwan for an entire decade, Xiong was named along with Jin Yong and Liang Yusheng
Liang Yusheng
Chen Wentong , better known by his pen name Liang Yusheng , is a Chinese writer of wuxia novels.He is credited as the pioneer of the "new school" wuxia genre in the 20th century, as well as one of the three most esteemed wuxia writers in the second half of the 20th century .-Biography:Chen was...

 as the "three legs of the tripod of wuxia".

In his university days, Xiong lived together with a dance hostess named Zheng Yuexia (鄭月霞) and they had a son called Zheng Xiaolong (鄭小龍). Xiong started a relationship with another dance hostess called Ye Xue (葉雪), who also bore him a son, Ye Yikuan (葉怡寬). Shortly after that, Xiong met a senior middle school graduate named Mei Baozhu (梅寶珠), who became his first legal spouse and bore him his third son, Xiong Zhengda (熊正達). Xiong's extra-marital affairs with other women caused him to break up with Mei later.

In the later part of his life, Xiong suffered from depression and the quality of his works declined rapidly. He had to employ ghostwriter
Ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...

s to co-write many of his late works because of his ailing health. He died on 21 September 1985 at the age of 48, due to illness wrought by alcoholism, namely cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...

 and esophageal hemorrhage at around 6pm. At Xiong's funeral, his friends brought him 48 bottles of XO.

Writing style

Xiong was said to be influenced not only by wuxia fiction, but also works by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...

, Jack London
Jack London
John Griffith "Jack" London was an American author, journalist, and social activist. He was a pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction and was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction alone...

, John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck
John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...

 and Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...

. His novels are usually made up of short sentences and paragraphs, and mostly dialogues between characters like a play script.

In contrast with Xiong, other writers such as Jin Yong and Liang Yusheng
Liang Yusheng
Chen Wentong , better known by his pen name Liang Yusheng , is a Chinese writer of wuxia novels.He is credited as the pioneer of the "new school" wuxia genre in the 20th century, as well as one of the three most esteemed wuxia writers in the second half of the 20th century .-Biography:Chen was...

 take the "orthodox" route in writing wuxia fiction, incorporating Chinese history, culture and philosophical ideas in their works to win the hearts of readers. Initially, Xiong intended to follow them, but he changed his decision after exposure to Western works such as the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...

series and The Godfather
The Godfather (novel)
The Godfather is a crime novel written by Italian American author Mario Puzo, originally published in 1969 by G. P. Putnam's Sons. It details the story of a fictitious Sicilian Mafia family based in New York City and headed by Don Vito Corleone, who became synonymous with the Italian Mafia...

novels. The influence of these works, which relied on the idiosyncrasies of human life, razor-sharp wit, poetic philosophies, mysterious plots and spine-tingling thrills to achieve success, enabled Xiong to come up with a unique way of writing.

List of works

Some of these works were co-written with other writers.

Films

  • The Jade Faced Assassin
    The Jade Faced Assassin
    The Jade Faced Assassin is a 1971 Hong Kong film adapted from Gu Long's novel Juedai Shuangjiao. The film was directed by Yan Jun, produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, and starred Lily Ho and Kao Yuen as the lead characters.-Plot:...

    (1971), Juedai Shuangjiao
  • Clans of Intrigue
    Clans of Intrigue
    Clans of Intrigue is a 1977 Hong Kong film adapted from Fragrance in the Sea of Blood of Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series. The film was directed by Chor Yuen, produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, and starred Ti Lung as the lead character...

    (1977), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • Sentimental Swordsman
    Sentimental Swordsman
    The Sentimental Swordsman is a 1977 Hong Kong wuxia film directed by Chor Yuen and produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, starring Ti Lung, Derek Yee, Ching Li, Yueh Hua, Fan Mei-sheng and Ku Feng...

    (1977), Xiaoli Feidao Series
  • Legend of the Bat
    Legend Of The Bat
    Legend of the Bat, also known as Bat Island Adventure or Clans of Intrigue 2, is a 1978 Hong Kong film adapted from Bianfu Chuanqi of Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series. The film was directed and written by Chor Yuen, produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, and starred Ti Lung as the lead character...

    (1978), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • Clan of Amazons
    Clan of Amazons (1978 film)
    Clan of Amazons, also known as Clan of the Amazons, is a 1978 Hong Kong film adapted from Xiuhua Dadao of Gu Long's Lu Xiaofeng novel series...

    (1978), Lu Xiaofeng Series
  • The Last Duel
    The Last Duel (1978 film)
    The Last Duel is a 1978 Taiwanese film adapted from Youling Shanzhuang of Gu Long's Lu Xiaofeng novel series.-Cast:*Barry Chan as Lu Xiaofeng*Ling Yun as Ximen Chuixue*Nora Miao*Hsu Feng*Chan Wai-lau*Tin Yau*Cheung Pang...

    (1978), Lu Xiaofeng Series
  • The Legend of Broken Sword
    The Legend of Broken Sword
    The Legend of Broken Sword, also known as Dragon of the Lost Ark or Dressed to Fight, is a 1979 wuxia film directed by Ulysses Au-yeung and written by Gu Long...

    (1979), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • The Proud Twins
    The Proud Twins (1979 film)
    The Proud Twins is a 1979 Hong Kong film adapted from Gu Long's novel Juedai Shuangjiao. The film was directed by Chor Yuen, produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, and starred Alexander Fu and Ng Wai-kwok as the lead characters.-Cast:...

    (1979), Juedai Shuangjiao
  • Chu Liu Hsiang and Hu Tieh Hua
    Chu Liu Hsiang and Hu Tieh Hua
    Chu Liu Hsiang and Hu Tieh Hua is a 1980 Taiwanese film directed by Lin Ying, written and produced by Gu Long. The titular characters are from Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series.-Cast:*Liu Dekai as Chu Liuxiang*James Tien as Hu Tiehua*Lee Kim-ping...

    (1980), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • Everlasting Chivalry
    Everlasting Chivalry
    Everlasting Chivalry is a 1980 Taiwanese film adapted from Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series. The film was directed by Li Chao-yung and starred Meng Fei as the lead character.-Cast:*Meng Fei as Chu Liuxiang*Doris Lung*Nancy Yen*Yun Zhong-yue...

    (1980), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • The Sun Moon Legend
    The Sun Moon Legend
    The Sun Moon Legend, also known as The Young Moon Legend, is a 1980 Taiwanese film adapted from Xinyue Chuanqi of Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series...

    (1980), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • Middle Kingdom's Mark of Blood
    Middle Kingdom's Mark of Blood
    Middle Kingdom's Mark of Blood, also known as Red Dot Chivalry, is a 1980 film adapted from Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series.-Cast:*Ling Yun as Zhongyuan Yidianhong*Tin Hok as Chu Liuxiang*Doris Lung as Ouyang Feng...

    (1980), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • The Duel of the Century
    The Duel of the Century
    The Duel of the Century is a 1981 Hong Kong film adapted from Juezhan Qianhou of Gu Long's Lu Xiaofeng novel series. The film was directed by Chor Yuen, produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, and starred Tony Liu as the lead character.-Cast:...

    (1981), Lu Xiaofeng Series
  • The Duel Of The Century
    The Duel of the Century
    The Duel of the Century is a 1981 Hong Kong film adapted from Juezhan Qianhou of Gu Long's Lu Xiaofeng novel series. The film was directed by Chor Yuen, produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio, and starred Tony Liu as the lead character.-Cast:...

    (1981), Lu Xiaofeng Series
  • The Spirit of the Sword (1982), Wanhua Xijian Lu
  • Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman
    Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman
    Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman is a 1982 Hong Kong film adapted from Youling Shanzhuang of Gu Long's Lu Xiaofeng novel series. In the film, the original protagonist, Lu Xiaofeng, was replaced by Chu Liuxiang, the lead character of another novel series by Gu Long. The film was directed by Chor...

    (1982), Lu Xiaofeng Series
  • Demon Fighter
    Demon Fighter
    Demon Fighter is a 1983 Taiwanese film written by Gu Long. The film was directed by Chang Peng-i and starring Adam Cheng and Brigitte Lin. Alternative release titles for the film include: Orchids of Midnight; Night Orchid; Thirteen Moon Sword; Lone Ninja Warrior and Faster Blade Poisonous...

    (1983)
  • The Denouncement of Chu Liu Hsiang
    The Denouncement of Chu Liu Hsiang
    The Denouncement of Chu Liu Hsiang, alternatively known as Legendary Swordsman or Titanium Blade, is a 1983 Taiwanese film written by Gu Long...

    (1983), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • Handsome Siblings
    Handsome Siblings
    Handsome Siblings is a 1992 Hong Kong film adapted from Gu Long's novel Juedai Shuangjiao. The film was directed by Eric Tsang and starred Andy Lau and Brigitte Lin.-Plot:...

    (1992), Juedai Shuangjiao
  • Butterfly and Sword (film) (1993), Liuxing Hudie Jian
  • Legend of the Liquid Sword
    Legend of the Liquid Sword
    Legend of the Liquid Sword is a 1993 Hong Kong wuxia comedy film loosely based on Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series. The film was written and directed by Wong Jing.-Plot:...

    (1993), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • The Duel (film)
    The Duel (film)
    The Duel is a 2000 Hong Kong film directed by Andrew Lau and starring Andy Lau, Ekin Cheng, Nick Cheung, Kristy Yang, Zhao Wei and Patrick Tam. The film is adapted from Juezhan Qianhou of Gu Long's Lu Xiaofeng novel series...

    (2000), Lu Xiaofeng Series

Television

  • Luk Siu-fung (1976), Lu Xiaofeng Series
  • Juedai Shuangjiao
    Juedai Shuangjiao (1977 TV series)
    Juedai Shuangjiao is a Taiwanese television series adapted from Gu Long's novel of the same title. The series was first aired on TTV in Taiwan in 1977.-Cast:*Hsia Ling-ling as Xiaoyu'er / Hua Yuenu*Chiang Ming as Hua Wuque / Jiang Feng...

    (1977), Juedai Shuangjiao
  • The Romantic Swordsman
    The Romantic Swordsman (1978 TV series)
    The Romantic Swordsman is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Gu Long's novel Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian of the Xiaoli Feidao Series...

    (1978), Xiaoli Feidao Series
  • Reincarnated (1979)
  • Chor Lau-heung (1979), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • The Twins
    The Twins (1979 TV series)
    The Twins is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Gu Long's novel Juedai Shuangjiao. The series was first aired on TVB in Hong Kong on May 6, 1979.-Cast:*Wong Yuen-sun as Siu-yu-yee*Shek Sau as Fa Mo-kuet*Michelle Yim as So Ying...

    (1979), Juedai Shuangjiao
  • Wan Fa Sai Kim Luk (1979), Wanhua Xijian Lu
  • The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung
    The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung (1984 TV series)
    The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Chu Liuxiang Xinzhuan of Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series. Michael Miu starred as the titular protagonist, Chor Lau-heung . The series was first broadcast on TVB from November 12, 1984 to January 4, 1985...

    (1984), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • Chor Lau-heung
    Chor Lau-heung (1985 TV series)
    Chor Lau-heung is a Taiwanese television series adapted from Chu Liuxiang Xinzhuan of Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series. Adam Cheng starred as the titular protagonist, Chor Lau-heung . The series was divided into four parts, each comprising five episodes and with a different director. It was...

    (1985), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • Xin Juedai Shuangjiao
    Xin Juedai Shuangjiao (1986 TV series)
    Xin Juedai Shuangjiao is a Taiwanese television series adapted from Gu Long's novel Juedai Shuangjiao. The series was first aired on TTV in Taiwan in 1986.-Cast:*Sharon Yeung as Xiaoyu'er*Huang Hsiang-lien as Hua Wuque*King Doi-yum as Tie Xinlan...

    (1986), Juedai Shuangjiao
  • The Return of Luk Siu-fung (1986), Lu Xiaofeng Series
  • Two Most Honorable Knights
    Two Most Honorable Knights
    Two Most Honorable Knights is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Gu Long's novel Juedai Shuangjiao. The series was first aired on TVB in Hong Kong in 1988.-Cast:*Tony Leung as Siu-yu-yee *Hugo Ng as Fa Mo-kuet...

    (1988), Juedai Shuangjiao
  • Against the Blade of Honour
    Against the Blade of Honour
    Against the Blade of Honour is a 1994-1997 Hong Kong television series based on Gu Long's wuxia novel Yuanyue Wandao. The series was run on TVB.-Cast:*Louis Koo as Ding Peng*Noel Leung as Qing Qing*Eddie Cheung as Lau Yuk Chong...

    (1994), Yuanyue Wandao
  • Chor Lau-heung
    Chor Lau-heung (1995 TV series)
    Chor Lau-heung is a Taiwanese television series adapted from Gu Long's Chu Liuxiang novel series. The story is a new creation by the screenwriters and has little relevance to the original novels. Adam Cheng starred as the titular protagonist, Chor Lau-heung...

    (1995), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • The Romantic Swordsman
    The Romantic Swordsman (1995 TV series)
    The Romantic Swordsman is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Gu Long's novel Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian of the Xiaoli Feidao Series...

    (1995), Xiaoli Feidao Series
  • Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng
    Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng
    Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng is a television series adapted from Gu Long's Lu Xiaofeng novel series. The series was first broadcast in early 2001...

    (2001), Lu Xiaofeng Series
  • Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng 2
    Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng 2
    Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng 2 is a television series adapted from Gu Long's Lu Xiaofeng novel series. The series is a sequel to Master Swordsman Lu Xiaofeng and was first broadcast in June 2001.-Cast:*Eric Suen as Lu Xiaofeng...

    (2001), Lu Xiaofeng Series
  • The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung (2001), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • The Legendary Siblings
    The Legendary Siblings
    The Legendary Siblings is a Taiwanese television series adapted from Gu Long's novel Juedai Shuangjiao. The series was directed by Lee Kwok-lap and starred Jimmy Lin and Alec Su in the leading roles...

    , (2002), Juedai Shuangjiao
  • The Legendary Siblings 2
    The Legendary Siblings 2
    The Legendary Siblings 2 is a Taiwanese television series directed by Lai Shui-ching and Hsia Yu-shun, and starring Jimmy Lin and TAE in the leading roles. It was first broadcast on CTS in Taiwan from January to March 2002, and was preceded by The Legendary Siblings in 1999...

    (2002), Juedai Shuangjiao
  • Treasure Raiders (2002), Xiao Shi Yi Lang
  • Flying Daggers
    Flying Daggers
    Flying Daggers is a Taiwanese television series adapted from Gu Long's novel Feidao Youjian Feidao of the Xiaoli Feidao Series. The series is produced by Yang Pei-pei and starred Julian Cheung, Ruby Lin and Dong Jie.-Plot:...

    (2003), Xiaoli Feidao Series
  • The Proud Twins (2005), Juedai Shuangjiao
  • The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng
    The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng (2006 TV series)
    The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng is a 2006 television series adapted from Gu Long's Lu Xiaofeng novel series. The series was first broadcast on CCTV-6.-List of episodes:...

    (2006), Lu Xiaofeng Series
  • The Legend of Chu Liuxiang (2007), Chu Liuxiang Series
  • The Spirit of the Sword (2007), Wanhua Xijian Lu
  • The Legend of Brown Sugar Chivalries
    The Legend of Brown Sugar Chivalries
    The Legend of Brown Sugar Chivalries, alias Kungfu Macchiato, is a Taiwanese television drama series, broadcast by StarTV in 2008. This show features most members from the Taiwanese music bands, Lollipop, Hey Girl and Choc7....

    (2008)

Translations of works

Xiong's works have been translated into many languages such as French, English and Vietnamese:
  • The Eleventh Son, English translation of Xiao Shiyilang, ISBN 1-931907-16-1.
  • Les quatre brigands du Huabei, French translation of Huanle Yingxiong, ISBN 2-87730-371-3

External links

  • Gu Long Reading Room - A webpage of fan translations.
  • Wuxia Translations Forum - Wuxia translations forum by fans.
  • Wuxiapedia - English translations of Gu Long novels, collection of excerpts, and information about his life.
  • WuxiaSociety - The only English wuxia portal with focus on discussion forum, dedicated to Gu Long, society of wuxia fans around the world, formerly known as wuxiamania forum
  • Qiqi.com - Gu Long's works in Chinese
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