Ni Kuang
Encyclopedia
Ni Kuang also known as Ngai Hong, I Kuang or Yi Kuang, is a Hong Kong-based Chinese novelist and screenwriter, with more than 300 published wuxia
and science fiction novels and more than 400 film scripts. He is the brother of another romance novelist, Yi Shu
.
. He worked as a public security official in the 1950s in Inner Mongolia
before moving to Hong Kong
in 1957. Ni's reason for coming to Hong Kong was that of political persecution, when he is working for the CCP, he was tasked with writing death sentences. One time, he questioned his local party chef what crime did a man sentenced to death had committed, as the only crime stated on the paper is the man being a landlord. His local party chef rebuked him and threatened him with death sentence if he continue to question his choice. According to Ni, he compiled in fear of his own life but citing this is not the worst death sentence he had written as there were many death sentences that the CCP ordered out that was categorized as "others". It is from these experiences that he made up his mind that he must escaped from People's Republic of China.
Ni's science fiction stories, which have been enjoyed by generations of juvenile readers in Hong Kong, usually take the form of mysteries- often featuring extraterrestrial life
as a deus ex machina
to explain the impossible and implasusible. The most famous of his science fiction heroes are Wai See-lei (or Wisely
衛斯理) and Yuen Tsang-hop (or Dr. Yuen 原振俠), both have appeared in television and film adaptions. In these stories criticism of communism is common.
Ni wrote many scripts for the Shaw Brothers Studio
, and often co-wrote scripts with Chang Cheh
, including films such as One-Armed Swordsman
, The Assassin and Crippled Avengers. In 1972, Ni was the screenwriter for Fist of Fury
, and received credit for creating the film's main character, Chen Zhen (played by Bruce Lee
). Chen Zhen became a popular Chinese culture hero and has been the subject of numerous remakes and adaptations of Fist of Fury. Other actors such as Jet Li
and Donnie Yen
have played the role of Chen Zhen after Bruce Lee.
Ni is a friend and fan of wuxia writer Louis Cha. It is known that Ni had written at least an extended episode in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
when Cha was out on holiday in Europe, although much of it was excised in Cha's first revision. Ni, while helping Cha write nearly 40 days of serialization while he was abroad, made A'zi, a character from Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, blind in the story. Cha has since re-edited his wuxia works.
Ni later migrated to the United States in the 1992 (in fear of Hong Kong's 1997 Handover) and has continued his writing career there. He had cited that unless the Communists in China were vanquished, he would not return. In 2006, Ni and his wife moved back to Hong Kong after he sold his home in the United States. His reason for return is that his wife could not adjust to their lifestyle there.
Ni's son, Joe Nieh, works in the Hong Kong entertainment industry and after a twenty year long relationship is now the husband of Vivian Chow
.
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...
and science fiction novels and more than 400 film scripts. He is the brother of another romance novelist, Yi Shu
Yi Shu
Yi Shu or Isabel Nee Yeh-su is a popular Hong Kong writer. She is the younger sister of Ni Kuang. She had other pen names like Rose , Mui Fon , Lok Hon , and Luk Kok .-Childhood:...
.
Life
Born Ni Chong , he grew up in ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. He worked as a public security official in the 1950s in Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
before moving to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1957. Ni's reason for coming to Hong Kong was that of political persecution, when he is working for the CCP, he was tasked with writing death sentences. One time, he questioned his local party chef what crime did a man sentenced to death had committed, as the only crime stated on the paper is the man being a landlord. His local party chef rebuked him and threatened him with death sentence if he continue to question his choice. According to Ni, he compiled in fear of his own life but citing this is not the worst death sentence he had written as there were many death sentences that the CCP ordered out that was categorized as "others". It is from these experiences that he made up his mind that he must escaped from People's Republic of China.
Ni's science fiction stories, which have been enjoyed by generations of juvenile readers in Hong Kong, usually take the form of mysteries- often featuring extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
as a deus ex machina
Deus ex machina
A deus ex machina is a plot device whereby a seemingly inextricable problem is suddenly and abruptly solved with the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability, or object.-Linguistic considerations:...
to explain the impossible and implasusible. The most famous of his science fiction heroes are Wai See-lei (or Wisely
Wisely
Wisely series , sometimes transliterated "Wesley", is a series of novels about the fictional character of the same name, created by author Ni Kuang....
衛斯理) and Yuen Tsang-hop (or Dr. Yuen 原振俠), both have appeared in television and film adaptions. In these stories criticism of communism is common.
Ni wrote many scripts for the Shaw Brothers Studio
Shaw Brothers Studio
The Shaw Brothers Studio , owned by Shaw Brothers Ltd., was the foremost and the largest movie production company of Hong Kong movies.From their distribution base in Singapore where they founded parent company Shaw Organization in 1924, and as a strategic development of their movie distribution...
, and often co-wrote scripts with Chang Cheh
Chang Cheh
Chang Cheh was Shaw Brothers Studio's best known and most prolific film director, with such films as the Five Venoms, the Brave Archer , the The One-Armed Swordsman, and other classics of wuxia and kung fu film.-Career:Referred to as "The Godfather of Hong Kong cinema", Chang Cheh directed over 100...
, including films such as One-Armed Swordsman
One-Armed Swordsman
One-Armed Swordsman is a 1967 Hong Kong wuxia film produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio. Directed by Chang Cheh, it was the first of the new style of wuxia films emphasizing male anti-heroes, violent swordplay and heavy bloodletting...
, The Assassin and Crippled Avengers. In 1972, Ni was the screenwriter for Fist of Fury
Fist of Fury
Fist of Fury, formerly known as The Chinese Connection and The Iron Hand in the United States, is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Lo Wei. It starred Bruce Lee in his second major film after The Big Boss...
, and received credit for creating the film's main character, Chen Zhen (played by Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
). Chen Zhen became a popular Chinese culture hero and has been the subject of numerous remakes and adaptations of Fist of Fury. Other actors such as Jet Li
Jet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
and Donnie Yen
Donnie Yen
Donnie Yen is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film director and producer, action choreographer, and world wushu tournament medalist...
have played the role of Chen Zhen after Bruce Lee.
Ni is a friend and fan of wuxia writer Louis Cha. It is known that Ni had written at least an extended episode in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong. It was first serialized concurrently from September 3, 1963 to May 27, 1966 in Ming Pao in Hong Kong and Nanyang Siang Pau in Singapore....
when Cha was out on holiday in Europe, although much of it was excised in Cha's first revision. Ni, while helping Cha write nearly 40 days of serialization while he was abroad, made A'zi, a character from Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, blind in the story. Cha has since re-edited his wuxia works.
Ni later migrated to the United States in the 1992 (in fear of Hong Kong's 1997 Handover) and has continued his writing career there. He had cited that unless the Communists in China were vanquished, he would not return. In 2006, Ni and his wife moved back to Hong Kong after he sold his home in the United States. His reason for return is that his wife could not adjust to their lifestyle there.
Ni's son, Joe Nieh, works in the Hong Kong entertainment industry and after a twenty year long relationship is now the husband of Vivian Chow
Vivian Chow
Vivian Chow is a Hong Kong based Cantopop singer and actress. She is well known for her ladylike stage image as well as her charity works for animal rights and breast cancer awareness....
.