Wuxia
Encyclopedia
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
Chinese opera
Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China with roots going back as far as the third century CE...
, manhua
Manhua
Manhua are Chinese comics originally produced in China. Possibly due to their greater degree of artistic freedom of expression and closer international ties with Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan have been the places of publication of most manhua thus far, often including Chinese translations of...
(Chinese comics), films, television series, and video games. Wuxia is a component of popular culture for many Chinese-speaking communities worldwide.
The word "wuxia" is a compound word composed of the words wu (武), which means "martial", "military", or "armed" and xia (俠), meaning "honorable", "chivalrous", or "hero". A martial artist who follows the code of Xia is often referred to as a xiake (俠客, lit: "follower of xia", "hiệp khách") or youxia (游俠, "wandering xia", "du hiệp"). In some translated works of wuxia, the martial artist is sometimes termed as a "swordsman" although he may not necessarily wield a sword.
Typically, the heroes in Chinese wuxia fiction do not serve a lord, wield military power or belong to the aristocratic class. They are often from the lower social classes of ancient Chinese society. Wuxia heroes are usually bound by a code of chivalry that requires them to right wrongs, especially when the helpless or the poor are oppressed. The wuxia hero fights for righteousness and seeks to remove an oppressor, redress wrongs, or to bring retribution for past misdeeds. The Chinese xia traditions can be contrasted with martial codes from other countries, such as the Japanese samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
's bushido
Bushido
, meaning "Way of the Warrior-Knight", is a Japanese word which is used to describe a uniquely Japanese code of conduct and a way of the samurai life, loosely analogous to the concept of chivalry. It originates from the samurai moral code and stresses frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and...
tradition, the chivalry
Chivalry
Chivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour...
of medieval European knights and the gunslinger
Gunslinger
Gunfighter, also gunslinger , is a 20th century word, used in cinema or literature, referring to men in the American Old West who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun...
s of America's Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
s.
Earlier precedents
While wuxia as the name of a genre is a recent coinage, stories about the xia date back more than two thousand years. Wuxia stories have their roots in some early youxia stories from 300-200 BC. The LegalistLegalism (Chinese philosophy)
In Chinese history, Legalism was one of the main philosophic currents during the Warring States Period, although the term itself was invented in the Han Dynasty and thus does not refer to an organized 'school' of thought....
philosopher Han Fei
Han Fei
Han Fei was a Chinese philosopher who, along with Li Si, Gongsun Yang, Shen Dao and Shen Buhai, developed the doctrine of the School of Law or Legalism...
spoke disparaging of the youxias in his chapter On Five 'Maggot' Classes (韩非子·五蠹) on five social classes in the Spring and Autumn Period. Some well known stories include Jing Ke
Jing Ke
Jing Ke was a guest residing in the estates of Dan, crown prince of Yan and renowned for his failed assassination attempt of Ying Zheng, King of Qin state, who later became China's first emperor...
's attempted assassination of the King of Qin
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
and Zhuan Zhu
Zhuan Zhu
Zhuan Zhu was an assassin in the Spring and Autumn Period. As Prince Guang wanted to kill King Liao of Wu and take the throne himself, Zhuan Zhu was recommended to Prince Guang by Wu Zixu. In 515 BC he managed to kill King Liao in a party with a dagger hidden in a fish...
's assassination of King Liao of Wu
King Liao of Wu
King Liao of Wu , also named Zhouyu, was king of the state of Wu in the Spring and Autumn Period.-Biography:...
. In the "Assassins" volume (刺客列傳) of Records of the Grand Historian
Records of the Grand Historian
The Records of the Grand Historian, also known in English by the Chinese name Shiji , written from 109 BC to 91 BC, was the Magnum opus of Sima Qian, in which he recounted Chinese history from the time of the Yellow Emperor until his own time...
, Sima Qian
Sima Qian
Sima Qian was a Prefect of the Grand Scribes of the Han Dynasty. He is regarded as the father of Chinese historiography for his highly praised work, Records of the Grand Historian , a "Jizhuanti"-style general history of China, covering more than two thousand years from the Yellow Emperor to...
outlined a number of notable assassins from the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
, who undertook tasks of conducting political assassinations of aristocrats and nobles.
These assassins were known as cike (刺客, literally: "stabbing guests"). They usually rendered their loyalties and services to feudal lords and nobles in return for rewards such as riches and women. In another volume of Records of the Grand Historian, Youxia (游俠列傳), Sima Qian detailed several embryonic features of xia culture from his period. These popular phenomena were also documented in other historical records such as the Book of Han
Book of Han
The Book of Han, Hanshu or History of the Former Han Dynasty |Fan Ye]] . Various scholars have estimated that the earliest material covered in the book dates back to between 206 and 202 BCE...
and Book of the Later Han.
Xiake stories made a turning point in the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
and returned in the form of chuanqi (傳奇, literally: "legendary tales"). Stories from that era, such as Madame Nie Yin (聶隱娘), The Kunlun Slave
Kunlun Nu
Kunlun Nu is a wuxia romance written by Pei Xing during the Tang Dynasty. The hero of the tale is a Negrito slave that uses his supernatural physical abilities to save his master's lover from the harem of a court official.-Plot:...
, Thirteenth Madame Jing (荆十三娘), The Maid Red String (紅線) and The Bearded Warrior (虬髯客), served as prototypes for the modern wuxia stories.
They featured fantasies and isolated protagonists, usually loners who performed daring heroic deeds. During the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
similar stories circulated as the contents of hauben, or prompt-books for storytellers.
The genre of the martial or military romance also developed during the Tang, and by the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
had produced Luo Guanzhong
Luo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
(possibly actually dating from the late Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
) and Shi Nai'an's novel Water Margin
Water Margin
Water Margin , also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, All Men Are Brothers, Men of the Marshes, or The Marshes of Mount Liang, is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.Attributed to Shi Nai'an and written in vernacular Chinese, the story, set in the Song Dynasty,...
. The former is a romanticised historical retelling of the events of the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period, whilst the latter criticises the deplorable socio-economic status of the late Northern Song Dynasty. Water Margin is often seen as being the first full-length wuxia novel: the portrayal of the characters of the 108 outlaws, and their code of honour and willingness to turn outlaw rather than serve a corrupt government, played an influential role in the development of jianghu
Jianghu
The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set.In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set...
culture in later centuries. Romance of the Three Kingdoms is also seen as a possible early antecedent, and contains classic close-combat descriptions that were later borrowed by wuxia writers in their works.
In the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
further developments were the gongan ("public case") and related detective novels, where xia and other heroes, perhaps working with a judge, solved crimes and battled injustice. The famous Justice Bao stories from Sanxia Wuyi (三俠五義, later extended and renamed Qixia Wuyi
The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants
The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants is an Chinese historical novel whose plot takes place during the Song Dynasty with Justice Bao as a main character. It was written by Yu Yue during the Qing Dynasty; the stories are largely based on the pingshu performed by Shi Yukun at that time...
七俠五義) and Xiaowuyi (小五義), incorporated much of social justice themes of later wuxia stories. Also appearing during the Qing were the xiayi stories of chivalrous romance, which frequently featured female heroes and supernatural fighting abilities. Novels such as Shigong An Qiwen (施公案奇聞) and Ernü Yingxiong Zhuan (兒女英雄傳) have been cited as the clearest nascent wuxia novels.
The term wuxia as a genre label itself first appeared at the end of the Qing period, a calque of the Japanese bukyō, a genre of oft-militaristic and bushido
Bushido
, meaning "Way of the Warrior-Knight", is a Japanese word which is used to describe a uniquely Japanese code of conduct and a way of the samurai life, loosely analogous to the concept of chivalry. It originates from the samurai moral code and stresses frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and...
-influenced adventure fiction. The term was brought to China by writers and students who hoped that China would modernize its military and emphasize martial virtues, and it quickly became entrenched as the term used to refer to xiayi and other predecessors of wuxia proper, while fading into obscurity in Japan itself.
Many wuxia works produced during the Ming and Qing dynasties were lost due to the government's strong crackdown and banning of such works. Wuxia works were deemed responsible for brewing anti-governmental sentiments that accounted for rebellions during those eras. The ethos of personal freedom and conflict-readiness of these novels were seen as seditious even in times of peace and stability. The departure from mainstream literature also meant that patronage of this genre was limited to the masses and not to the literati, which led to the stifling of the development of the wuxia genre. Nonetheless, the wuxia genre remained enormously popular with the common people.
20th century
The modern wuxia genre rose to prominence in the early 20th century. The early 20th century and the period from the 1960s-1980s were often regarded as the golden ages of the wuxia genre. Xiang Kairan (Pingjiang Buxiangsheng) became the first notable writer of the wuxia genre, his maiden work being The Peculiar Knights-Errand of the Jianghu (江湖奇侠传). It was serialized from 1921 to 1928 and adapted into the first wuxia film, The Burning of the Red Lotus TempleThe Burning of the Red Lotus Temple
The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple is a Chinese silent film serial directed by Zhang Shichuan. The film, adapted from the novel The Tale of the Extraordinary Swordsman, focuses on the rescue of a commander held captive in a temple full of traps....
(1928). Zhao Huanting (趙煥亭) of Chronicles of the Loyal Knights-Errand (奇俠精忠傳, serialized 1923–27) was another well-known wuxia writer, situated in Shanghai
Shanghai
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...
. Starting from the 1930s, wuxia works proliferated and its center shifted to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
in the north. The most representative writers there were known in unison as The Five Great Masters of the Northern School (北派五大家), who were Huanzhu Louzhu (还珠楼主, 《蜀山剑侠传》, The Swordspeople from Shu Mountains), Bai Yu (Twelve Coin Darts 《十二钱镖》), Wang Dulu
Wang Dulu
Wang Baoxiang , style name Xiaoyu , better known by his pen name Wang Dulu , was a Chinese writer of wuxia novels. Wang is best known for his work, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, that was adapted into a successful feature film of the same title by film director Ang Lee in 2000.-Biography:Wang was...
(鹤铁五部作, The Crane-Iron Pentalogy), Zheng Zhengyin (郑证因, 《鹰爪王》, The King of Eagle Claws) and Zhu Zhenmu (朱贞木, 《七杀碑》, The Seven-Killing Stele).
Wuxia fiction was banned by the Chinese Communist Party
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
(CCP) after its rise to power in the People's Republic of China. The ban was lifted in the late 1970s with China's liberalisation. During the ban, wuxia writing continued to prevail in the 1960s in other Chinese-speaking regions, such as the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan) and Hong Kong. Writers such as 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...
and Louis Cha (Jin Yong) spearheaded the founding of the "new school" (新派) wuxia genre that differed largely from its predecessors. These writers wrote serials for newspapers and magazines. They also incorporated several fictional themes such as mystery and romance from other cultures. In Taiwan, Wolong Sheng
Wolong Sheng
Niu Heting , better known by his pen name Wolong Sheng , was a Chinese writer of wuxia novels.Niu was born in Zhenting County, Henan, China...
, Sima Ling
Sima Ling
Wu Siming , better known by his pen name Sima Ling , was a Chinese writer of wuxia novels. Over the course of his career, he has published 40 of his works.-Works:...
, Zhuge Qingyun (诸葛青云) and later Xiao Yi (萧逸) and Gu Long
Gu Long
Xiong Yaohua , better known by his pen name Gu Long , was a Chinese novelist and screenwriter. Xiong is best known for writing wuxia novels and novel series, which include: Juedai Shuangjiao, Xiaoli Feidao Series, Chu Liuxiang Series, Lu Xiaofeng Series and Xiao Shiyilang...
became her most famous practitioners. Since then, Wen Rui'an and Huang Yi
Huang Yi
Huang Zuqiang , better known by his pen name Huang Yi , is a Hong Kong writer of wuxia and science fiction novels. He graduated from the Department of Fine Arts of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and once worked as the Assistant Chairperson of Hong Kong Museum of Art.In the 1990s, after its...
(Hong Kong) were the more prominent writers of a later crop. Chen Yuhui (Zheng Feng) is a married contemporary female wuxia novelist who debuted with the novel The Tian-Guan Duo Heroes (天觀雙俠; mainland Chinese title: 多情浪子痴情侠). She writes very much in the spirit of Louis Cha.
There have also been post-80s works written that attempt to create a post-wuxia genre. China's Yu Hua is one of the more notable writers, writing a weird counter-genre short story titled Blood and Plum Blossoms
Blood and Plum Blossoms
Blood and Plum Blossoms is a short story by Chinese writer Yu Hua, first published in 1989, that is an unconventional parody of the classic martial arts novel....
, in which the protagonist goes on a quest to avenge his murdered father. However, he only does this because he is forced to, and not because of any deep seated sense of honor, dignity, or filial piety.
Themes, plots and settings
The modern wuxia stories are basically adventure stories set in ancient China. The plots of wuxia stories vary from writer to writer, but there are distinct similarities between wuxia protagonists and characters from the modern Western fantasy genre. The fantasy element is not a prerequisite of a wuxia story and it is possible for a wuxia story to be realistic. Louis Cha's Swordswoman Riding West on White HorseSwordswoman Riding West on White Horse
Swordswoman Riding West on White Horse is a wuxia novella by Jin Yong. It is first published in 1961 in Ming Pao. It is also the only time Jin Yong featured a female protagonist in all his novels.-Plot:...
or The Book and the Sword
The Book and the Sword
The Book and the Sword is the debut wuxia novel by Jin Yong. It was first serialized between February 8, 1955 and September 5, 1956 in The New Evening Post in Hong Kong....
are examples of possibly realistic wuxia stories. However, the martial arts element is a definite part of a wuxia story, as most of the characters must know some martial arts.
Themes of romance are also strongly featured in several wuxia stories. The protagonists of most wuxia stories usually have beautiful maidens to accompany them on their adventures and the story usually concludes like a fairy tale, where the protagonist and his love interest are married and live happily ever after. The romance element is key in several of 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...
's stories, such as Baifa Monü Zhuan, and in most of Louis Cha's novels as well.
A typical wuxia story's plot features a young male protagonist who experiences a tragedy such as losing his loved ones. He undertakes several trials and tribulations throughout his adventures and learns several forms of martial arts from various fighters. At the end of the story, the protagonist emerges as a powerful fighter whom few can equal. He uses his abilities to follow the code of xia and offers them chivalrously to mend the ills of the jianghu
Jianghu
The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set.In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set...
. For instance, the opening chapters of Louis Cha's works follow a certain pattern; a tragic event occurs, usually one that costs the lives of the newly introduced characters, and then it sets events into motion that will culminate in the primary action of the story.
Other stories may use different structures. For instance, the protagonist is denied being accepted as a student of a martial arts sect. He experiences hardships and trains secretly and waits until there is an opportunity for him to show off his skills and surprise those who had initially looked down on him. Some stories feature a mature hero with powerful martial arts abilities confronting an equally powerful antagonist as his nemesis. The plot will gradually meander to a final dramatic showdown between the protagonist and his nemesis. These types of stories were prevalent during the era of anti-Qing
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
revolutionaries.
Certain stories also have unique plots, such as those by Gu Long
Gu Long
Xiong Yaohua , better known by his pen name Gu Long , was a Chinese novelist and screenwriter. Xiong is best known for writing wuxia novels and novel series, which include: Juedai Shuangjiao, Xiaoli Feidao Series, Chu Liuxiang Series, Lu Xiaofeng Series and Xiao Shiyilang...
and Huang Yi
Huang Yi
Huang Zuqiang , better known by his pen name Huang Yi , is a Hong Kong writer of wuxia and science fiction novels. He graduated from the Department of Fine Arts of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and once worked as the Assistant Chairperson of Hong Kong Museum of Art.In the 1990s, after its...
. Gu Long's stories have an element of mystery and are written like detective stories. The protagonist, usually a formidable fighter and intelligent problem-solver, embarks on a quest to solve a mystery such as a murder case. Huang Yi's stories are blended with science fiction.
Despite these genre blending elements, wuxia is primarily an historical genre of fiction. Notwithstanding this, wuxia writers openly admit that they are unable to capture the entire history of a course of events. They choose to structure their stories along the pattern of the protagonist's progression from childhood to adulthood instead. The progression may be symbolic rather than literal, as observed in Louis Cha's The Smiling, Proud Wanderer
The Smiling, Proud Wanderer
The Smiling, Proud Wanderer is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong, first published as a serial in Ming Pao from April 20, 1967 to October 12, 1969. The term "Xiaoao Jianghu" means to live a carefree life in a mundane world of strife...
, where the young Linghu Chong
Linghu Chong
Linghu Chong is the fictional protagonist of the wuxia novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer by Jin Yong.-Biography:Linghu is an orphan and was taken into Yue Buqun's care as a child. Yue accepted him as a disciple and Linghu became a member of the Mount Hua Sect as Yue's most senior disciple. He...
progresses from childish concerns and dalliances into much more adult ones as his unwavering loyalty repeatedly thrusts him into the rocks of betrayal at the hands of his inhuman master.
The Code of Xia
The code of xia (俠) can be likened to the Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
myth of Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
. The hero of a wuxia story keeps his honor by upholding justice and helping the poor, just as Robin Hood robs the rich to help the poor. A typical follower of xia has considerable martial arts abilities that are used not just for personal gain, but employed to achieve the greater good. However, just as Robin Hood is an outlaw, the swordsman may not necessarily submit to higher authority. When part of a larger group, the code of Xia requires the group to maintain social justice within the best of the group's abilities.
The code of xia is composed of two main virtues. Yi (義; righteousness) and xin (信; honor). The code also emphasizes the importance of repaying benefactors after having received deeds of grace (恩) or favor from others, as well as seeking vengeance (仇) to bring villains to justice. However, the importance of vengeance is controversial, as a number of wuxia works stress Buddhist ideals, which includes forgiveness, compassion and a prohibition on killing.
In the jianghu
Jianghu
The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set.In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set...
, most fighters are expected to be loyal to their martial arts teacher or shifu (師父, sifu
Sifu
Shifu is the identical pronunciation of two Chinese terms for a master. The character 師 means “teacher”. The meaning of 傅 is “tutor”, and of 父, “father”. Both characters are read fu with the same tones in Cantonese and Mandarin, creating some ambiguity...
in Cantonese pronunciation). This gave rise to the formation of several complex trees of teacher-student (master-apprentice) relations as well as the various sects such as Shaolin
Shaolin Sect
The Shaolin Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several wuxia works. It is one of the largest, most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is at present-day Shaolin Monastery in Henan...
and Wudang
Wudang Sect
The Wudang Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several works of wuxia fiction. It is one of the most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is in the Wudang Mountains...
. If there are any disputes between fighters, they will choose the honorable way of settling their issues through fighting in duels. This is similar to the one-on-one sword duels adopted by knights in medieval Europe. Only two fighters are involved in each duel and they are usually of the same level or status if they belong to any sect.
Skills and abilities
The martial arts in wuxia stories are based on factual wushuWushu (sport)
The sport of wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. It was created in the People's Republic of China after 1949, in an attempt to nationalize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts...
techniques and other Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
. However, the mastery of such skills are highly exaggerated in wuxia stories to fictitious and superhuman levels of achievement and prowess. For example, ordinary blows such as kicks or punches can have devastating effects on characters in wuxia fiction, and certain characters who are formidable martial artists can even project streams of energy at opponents to knock them down or stun them. The projection of these energy streams and their impacts can even lead to explosions.
The following is a list of skills and abilities a typical fighter or martial artist in a wuxia story might possess:
- Martial artsChinese martial artsChinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
(kungfu) – fighting techniques in a codified sequence called zhaoshi (招式) which are based on actual martial arts.
- Weapons and objects – combatants use a wide range of weapons in combat. The most commonly used ones are the daoDao (sword)Daois a category of single-edge Chinese swords primarily used for slashing and chopping , often called a broadsword in English translation because some varieties have wide blades. In China, the dao is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the gun , qiang , and the jian , and referred...
(broadsword or saber), jianJianThe jian is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the jian date to the 7th century BCE during the Spring and Autumn Period; one of the earliest specimens being the Sword of Goujian.Historical one-handed versions have blades...
(sword), gunGun (staff)The Chinese word gun refers to a long Chinese staff weapon used in Chinese martial arts. It is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the qiang , dao , and the jian , called in this group "The Grandfather of all Weapons".-Variants:There are various kinds of gun, and they include the...
(staff), and qiangQiang (spear)Qiang is the Chinese term for spear. Due to its relative ease of manufacture, the spear in many variations was ubiquitous on the pre-modern Chinese battlefield...
(spear). Everyday objects such as abaciAbacusThe abacus, also called a counting frame, is a calculating tool used primarily in parts of Asia for performing arithmetic processes. Today, abaci are often constructed as a bamboo frame with beads sliding on wires, but originally they were beans or stones moved in grooves in sand or on tablets of...
, benches, fans, ink brushes, smoking pipes, sewing needles, or various musical instruments are also used by characters as weapons as well.
- Qinggong – literally means "the ability of lightness". Characters can move swiftly and lightly at superhuman speeds. They can glide on water surfaces, scale high walls and mount trees. Qinggong is based on real Chinese martial arts. Some real-life martial artists such as those who practice baguazhangBaguazhangBāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
, train in qinggong for years by attaching heavy weights onto their legs. However, its use is highly exaggerated in wuxia stories and films in which characters can circumvent gravity and literally fly.
- NeijinNeijiaNèijiā is a term in Chinese martial arts, grouping those styles that practice nèijìng , usually translated as internal martial arts, occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects...
, NeigongNeigongNeigong, also spelled nei kung, neigung, or nae gong, refers to any of a set of Chinese breathing, meditation and spiritual practice disciplines associated with Daoism and especially the Chinese martial arts...
or Neili (内力) – the ability to build up and cultivate mystical "inner energy" (qi) and utilise it for several purposes. Characters use their inner energy for attack and defense purposes when combined with their martial arts. They may also use this form of energy to heal internal wounds or even purge venom from their bodies after being poisoned, or use it to attain superhuman stamina. In the context of wuxia stories, this kind of energy is a prerequisite for practice of qinggong, dianxue (dim mak) and other superhuman feats of speed and strength. The more neili one has, the better one can perform those mentioned feats. Neili is gained by many years of special breathing and physical exercises, consuming (sometimes accidentally or unknowingly) rare herbs, fruits or other substances of legend that are beneficial, or in some cases by deliberate transference from one to another, such as master to student. Neili can be used as a source of power for mystical skills such as projection of energy (i.e., energy blasts), toughening the body to take strikes, increasing physical strength to superhuman level, and other paranomal effects. Fighters who possess these powers draw them from the use of qi originating from the body rather than black magic and wizardry however.
- Dianxue these stories are most likely the source for the Dim MakTouch of DeathThe Death Touch refers to any martial arts technique that can kill using seemingly less than lethal force targeted at specific areas of the body....
(點脈) and are based, in part, on the real-world techniques of Chin NaChin NaChin Na or Qinna is a Chinese term describing techniques used in the Chinese martial arts that control or lock an opponent's joints or muscles/tendons so he cannot move, thus neutralizing the opponent's fighting ability...
(擒拿). Characters use these techniques to kill, paralyze, immobilize or control opponents by attacking their acupressure points (xue 穴) with the bare hand or weapons. A victim may be immobilized for hours after being hit on the acupressure points. Such techniques may be used for healing purposes, when excessive bleeding may be halted when certain acupressure points are pressed. Real-life martial artists do use such techniques in martial arts to paralyze or stun their opponents. Their effectiveness is highly exaggerated in wuxia stories.
In wuxia stories, characters attain the above skills and abilities by devoting themselves to diligent study and practice. The instructions to mastering these skills are often found in "hidden (secret) manuals" known as miji (秘笈). In some stories, specific skills can be learned by spending several years in seclusion with a master or gathering together with a group of fighters to assist each other.
Jianghu
The Jianghu (江湖) (Cantonese: Kong Woo), which means "rivers and lakes" literally, refers to the world of martial arts.The jianghu is an alternate universe. It consists of several martial artists gathered in the wulin (武林), usually congregated in sects, clans, disciplines and various schools of martial arts. It is also inhabited by others such as youxia (wandering heroes), nobles, thieves, beggars, priests, healers, merchants and craftsmen. The best wuxia writers draw a vivid picture of the intricate themes of honour, loyalty, love and hatred between the individuals and communities within this milieu.
A common aspect of the jianghu is the tacit suggestion that the courts of law are dysfunctional. All disputes and differences can only be resolved by use of force, as such, predicating the need for the code of xia and acts of chivalry. Law and order within the jianghu is maintained by the various orthodox and righteous sects and heroes. Sometimes, these sects may gather to form an alliance against all evils within the jianghu.
A leader, called the "wulin mengzhu" (武林盟主), is elected from amongst them to lead the sects to ensure law and order within the jianghu. The leader is usually someone with a great reputation for righteousness and a high level of mastery in martial arts, even though he is often involved in some conspiracy or killed. In some cases, the leader may not be among the greatest martial artists in the jianghu. The protagonist of the story may also become the leader by coincidence, while in some other cases such as in the television miniseries Paradise, the position of the leader is hereditary. The leader is an arbiter who presides and adjudicates over all inequities and disputes. The leader is a de jure
De jure
De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'....
chief justice of the affairs of the jianghu.
The term jianghu is linked to cultures other than those pertaining to martial arts in wuxia stories. It is also applied to societies where there is no law and order. For instance, the Chinese triads, secret societies and gangs use the term jianghu to describe their world of organized crime. Sometimes, the term jianghu may be replaced by the term "underworld", with reference to the "criminal underworld".
In modern day terminology, jianghu may mean any circle of interest such as show business, sports, etc. Colloquially, retirement is also referred to as "leaving the jianghu" (退出江湖). In wuxia stories, when a reputable fighter decides to retire from the Jianghu, he will do so in a ceremony known as "washing hands in the golden basin" (金盆洗手). He washes his hands in the golden basin filled with water, signifying that he will no longer be involved in the affairs of the jianghu. When a reclusive fighter who had apparently retired from the jianghu reappears, his reappearance is described as "re-entering the jianghu" (重出江湖).
Books and writers
Wuxia stories have become a new genre of writing within Chinese society and have remained popular in several countries with significant Chinese-speaking communities such as Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia.The most notable modern wuxia writers are as follows:
| Name | Active years | Some works | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jin Yong (Louis Cha) (金庸) | 1955–1973 | The Book and the Sword The Book and the Sword The Book and the Sword is the debut wuxia novel by Jin Yong. It was first serialized between February 8, 1955 and September 5, 1956 in The New Evening Post in Hong Kong.... , Condor Trilogy Condor Trilogy The Condor Trilogy is a trilogy of three wuxia novels by Jin Yong.The novels in the trilogy are:*The Legend of the Condor Heroes *The Return of the Condor Heroes... , 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.... , The Smiling, Proud Wanderer The Smiling, Proud Wanderer The Smiling, Proud Wanderer is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong, first published as a serial in Ming Pao from April 20, 1967 to October 12, 1969. The term "Xiaoao Jianghu" means to live a carefree life in a mundane world of strife... , The Deer and the Cauldron The Deer and the Cauldron The Deer and the Cauldron, also known as The Duke of Mount Deer, is a novel by Jin Yong, and was the last of Jin Yong's works. The novel was initially published as a serial, and ran between October 24, 1969 to September 23, 1972 in Ming Pao.Although the book is often termed as a wuxia novel, it is... |
The most popular and regarded by some as the most accomplished writer to date. His works have been adapted into films and television series numerous times. |
| 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... (梁羽生) |
1955–1984 | Qijian Xia Tianshan, Datang Youxia Zhuan, Baifa Monü Zhuan, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan Saiwai Qixia Zhuan Saiwai Qixia Zhuan is a wuxia novel by Liang Yusheng. It was first published in China in January 1984. The novel is closely related to another of Liang's works, Qijian Xia Tianshan and Baifa Monü Zhuan.-Plot:... , Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Xiagu Danxin Xiagu Danxin Xiagu Danxin is a wuxia novel by Liang Yusheng. It was serialized by Liang Yusheng in the Hong Kong Sin Wan Pao newspaper between 5 October 1967 and 20 June 1969... |
The pioneer of the "new school" (新派) wuxia genre. Some of his works were adapted into films and television series. |
| Gu Long Gu Long Xiong Yaohua , better known by his pen name Gu Long , was a Chinese novelist and screenwriter. Xiong is best known for writing wuxia novels and novel series, which include: Juedai Shuangjiao, Xiaoli Feidao Series, Chu Liuxiang Series, Lu Xiaofeng Series and Xiao Shiyilang... (古龍) |
1960–1984 | 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, Juedai Shuangjiao, Xiao Shiyi Lang, Xiaoli Feidao 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 |
A writer who blends elements of mystery in his works. He writes in short paragraphs and is influenced stylistically by Western and Japanese writers. Some of his works were adapted into films and television series. |
| Wen Ruian Wen Ruian Wen Ruian is a Chinese writer of wuxia novels. He was born in a overseas Chinese Cantonese family in Malaysia in 1954 and once studied in National Taiwan University.... (溫瑞安) |
Sida Mingbu, Buyi Shenxiang, Jingyan Yiqiang | His works were adapted into the television series The Four The Four (TVB) The Four is a 2008 Hong Kong television series produced by TVB. The series is adapted from Wen Ruian's novel Sida Mingbu. The novel tells the story of four young constables: Heartless, Iron Fist, Chaser, and Cold Blood, who work together to solve cases and attempt to bring down the corrupt Prime... and Face to Fate Face to Fate Face to Fate is a Hong Kong television series released overseas in September 2006 and aired locally on TVB Pay Vision Channel in March 2007. The series is an adaptation of wuxia writer Wen Ruian's works.-Synopsis:... . |
|
| Huang Yi Huang Yi Huang Zuqiang , better known by his pen name Huang Yi , is a Hong Kong writer of wuxia and science fiction novels. He graduated from the Department of Fine Arts of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and once worked as the Assistant Chairperson of Hong Kong Museum of Art.In the 1990s, after its... (黃易) |
Xunqin Ji, Fuyu Fanyun, Datang Shuanglong Zhuan | Combines wuxia with science fiction in his works. His works were adapted into the television series A Step into the Past A Step Into The Past A Step into the Past is a 2001 Hong Kong historical-science fiction television series produced by TVB and based on Huang Yi's novel of the same Chinese title. The series tells the story of a 21st century Hong Kong VIPPU officer who travels back in time to the Warring States Period of ancient China... , Lethal Weapons of Love and Passion and Twin of Brothers Twin of Brothers Twin of Brothers is a 2004 Hong Kong television series based on the novel of the same Chinese title by Huang Yi. It was broadcast on TVB.-Plot:... . |
Comics
Although new and original wuxia writings have dwindled significantly in the last 25 years, particularly so as patronage and readerships of the genre decimated due to the readily available alternatives in entertainment like DVDs, affordable gaming-consoles and so forth, the genre has proliferated in manhuaManhua
Manhua are Chinese comics originally produced in China. Possibly due to their greater degree of artistic freedom of expression and closer international ties with Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan have been the places of publication of most manhua thus far, often including Chinese translations of...
(Chinese comics) in places like Hong Kong and Taiwan, with the core essentials of the wuxia living on in weekly editions equivalent to the Japanese manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
.
Some notable comic artists are listed as follows:
| Name | Some works |
|---|---|
| Ma Wing-shing (馬榮成) | Fung Wan Fung Wan Fung Wan is a Hong Kong wuxia manhua series. It is the first manhua released by Ma Wing-shing in 1989 with the help of his assistant Siu Kit under his own company, Jonesky Publishing. The title translates to "Wind and Cloud"... , Chinese Hero Chinese Hero Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword is a wuxia manhua series created by Hong Kong artist Ma Wing-shing. It is also referred to as Blood Sword, Blood Sword Dynasty, A Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword and A Man Called Hero.... , Black Leopard |
| Wong Yuk-long (黃玉郎) | Oriental Heroes Oriental Heroes Oriental Heroes is a popular Hong Kong-based manhua created by Wong Yuk-long, a writer/artist responsible for also creating a number of other popular manhua titles. It was created in 1970, and it continues to be published today. The book was the first Hong Kong manhua title based on action and... , Weapons of the Gods Weapons of the Gods Weapons of the Gods is a wuxia role-playing game based in an ancient Chinese setting. Created by Brad Elliott and Rebecca Borgstrom, Weapons of the Gods is published by Eos Press and is a license from the Hong Kong manhua by Wong Yuk Long of the same name... , Xiaoliumang, Rulai Shenzhang |
| Khoo Fuk-lung (邱福龍) | Saint Saint (manhua) Saint is the manhua of Hong Kong comics artist Khoo Fuk Lung. This manhua is about the life of Sun Wukong, the monkey god from novel Xi You Ji of novelist Wu Cheng'en... , Dragonman |
Films
The earliest wuxia films date back to the 1920s. Films produced by King HuKing Hu
King Hu was a Hong Kong- and Taiwan-based Chinese film director whose Wuxia films brought Chinese cinema to new technical and artistic heights. His films Come Drink with Me , Dragon Gate Inn and A Touch of Zen inaugurated a new generation of wuxia films in the late 1960s...
and 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...
featured sophisticated action choreography using wire and trampoline assisted acrobatics combined with sped-up camera techniques. The storylines in the early films were loosely adapted from existing literature.
Cheng Pei-pei
Cheng Pei-pei
Cheng Pei-pei is an actress best known for her performance in the seminal 1966 King Hu wuxia film Come Drink with Me. She continued to play expert swordswomen in a number of films throughout the 1960s...
and Jimmy Wang were two of the biggest stars in the days of Shaw Brothers Studio and King Hu. Cantonese screen idol Connie Chan grew up starring in wuxia films and was famous for her male roles. 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...
is a more recent star of wuxia films, having appeared in Swordsman II
Swordsman II
Swordsman II, also known as The Legend of the Swordsman, is a 1992 Hong Kong wuxia film. It was directed by Ching Siu-tung and Stanley Tong and written by Hanson Chan, Tang Pik-yin and Tsui Hark. The film was the second part of a trilogy. It starred Jet Li, Brigitte Lin, Rosamund Kwan and Michelle...
and Hero
Hero (2002 film)
Hero is a 2002 wuxia film directed by Zhang Yimou. Starring Jet Li as the nameless protagonist, the film is based on the story of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin in 227 BC....
. Yuen Woo-ping
Yuen Woo-ping
Yuen Woo-ping is a Chinese martial arts choreographer and film director, renowned as one of the most successful and influential figures in the world of Hong Kong action cinema. He is one of the inductees on the Avenue of Stars in Hong Kong...
is a choreographer who achieved fame by crafting stunning action-sequences in films of the genre. Mainland Chinese director Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou is a Chinese film director, producer, writer and actor, and former cinematographer. He is counted amongst the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, having made his directorial debut in 1987 with Red Sorghum....
's foray into wuxia films was distinguished by the imaginative use of vivid colours and breathtaking background settings.
Wuxia was introduced to the Hollywood studios in 2000 by Ang Lee
Ang Lee
Ang Lee is a Taiwanese film director. Lee has directed a diverse set of films such as Eat Drink Man Woman , Sense and Sensibility , Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , Hulk , and Brokeback Mountain , for which he won an Academy...
's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film. An American-Chinese-Hong Kong-Taiwanese co-production, the film was directed by Ang Lee and featured an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors, including Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen...
. Following Ang Lee's footsteps, Zhang Yimou made Hero
Hero (2002 film)
Hero is a 2002 wuxia film directed by Zhang Yimou. Starring Jet Li as the nameless protagonist, the film is based on the story of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin in 227 BC....
, targeted for the international market in 2003, and House of Flying Daggers
House of Flying Daggers
House of Flying Daggers is a 2004 wuxia film directed by Zhang Yimou. It differs from other wuxia films in that it is more of a love story than a straight martial arts film....
in 2004. American audiences are also being introduced to wuxia through Asian television stations in larger cities, which feature well-produced miniseries such as Warriors of the Yang Clan and Paradise, often with English subtitles. With complex, almost soap-opera storylines, lavish sets and costumes, and veteran actors in pivotal roles, these tales can appeal to a variety of audiences.
Western attempts at the genre have been limited. However, a major exception is DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. is an American animation studio based in Glendale, California that creates animated feature films, television program and online virtual worlds...
's media franchise Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda (film series)
The Kung Fu Panda film series from DreamWorks Animation, consists of two films: Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda 2 . Two Annie Award-winning shorts, Secrets of the Furious Five and Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special , were also released...
. Created as an earnest, if humorous, emulation by producers who were knowledgeable admirers of the genre, the series has been particularly hailed in China as an excellent contribution to the form.
Video games
- The Legend of Sword and FairyThe Legend of Sword and FairyThe Legend of Sword and Fairy , is an action RPG developed by Taiwan's Softstar Entertainment. Set in ancient China, the game is based on the Wuxia genre with elements of fantasy...
(仙劍奇俠傳) – an RPG with elements of Chinese mythology and fantasy. It expanded into a franchise of eight video games, two of which were adapted into television series (Chinese PaladinChinese Paladin (TV series)-Track list:#Yongheng De Jiyi #Zhongyu Mingbai performed by Power Station#Xiaoyao Tan performed by Hu Ge#Shapolang performed by JS...
and Chinese Paladin 3Chinese Paladin 3 (TV series)-Track list:#Shengsheng Shishi Ai #Wanji Shijian performed by Hu Ge#Cisheng Buhuan performed by Qingdao Feiyu...
). - Sword of Xuan YuanSword of Xuan YuanXuan-Yuan Sword In the time beyond record, the "Xuan-Yuan Sword" is created by Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor of ancient China to defend the ancient Chinese against darklord Chi You and his evil empire...
(軒轅劍) – an RPG with elements of Chinese mythologyChinese mythologyChinese mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religions that have been passed down in oral or written tradition. These include creation myths and legends and myths concerning the founding of Chinese culture and the Chinese state...
and fantasy - Jade EmpireJade EmpireJade Empire is an action role-playing game developed by Canadian developer BioWare and first published in 2005 by Microsoft Game Studios as a worldwide release for the Xbox. The later, two-disc Limited Edition contained extra content...
- BujingaiBujingaiBujingai , also known as Bujingai: The Forsaken City and Bujingai: Swordmaster, is a video game by Taito Corporation and Red Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 console.The game is stylistically inspired by Wuxia films...
(武刃街) - Heavenly SwordHeavenly SwordHeavenly Sword is a video game developed by Ninja Theory exclusively for the PlayStation 3 console and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe...
(玄天神劍) - Martial KingdomsMartial KingdomsMartial Kingdoms is a single-player wuxia strategy video game developed by Taiwan's T-Time Technology Co., Ltd. The game was released in 2003. It has a sequel, Martial Kingdoms 2, which was released in 2007.-Gameplay:...
(天下霸圖) – a strategy game developed by T-Time. It is followed by Martial Kingdoms II. - Heroes of Jin YongHeroes of Jin YongHeroes of Jin Yong , first published in 1996, is a tactical role-playing game based on the storyline and characters in Jin Yong's Wuxia novels, developed by Heluo ....
(金庸群俠傳) – an RPG based on the works of Jin Yong - Dragon OathDragon OathDragon Oath is the name given to a series of MMORPGs published by ChangYou.com, a part of the Sohu group. As ChangYou.com's flagship title, Dragon Oath is an award-winning MMO of great depth...
(天龍八部) – an MMORPG based on Jin Yong's Demi-Gods and Semi-DevilsDemi-Gods and Semi-DevilsDemi-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.... - Heroes of Kung Fu (武林群雄) – an MMORPG
See also
- List of organisations in Wuxia fiction
- Martial arts filmMartial arts filmMartial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
- Zhou Tong (archer)
- Tales of the Moonlight CutterTales of the Moonlight CutterTales of the Moonlight Cutter is a graphic novel series in the wu xia tradition. Tells the story of Shen Hua Yen, a man with a sword that can kill ghosts, taking them off the life-death wheel of karma...
External links
- Introduction to the Wuxia genre
- Wuxiapedia – a comprehensive database for all things Wuxia, including translations of popular Wuxia novels, fully annotated references of Wuxia elements, and Wuxia-related research articles.
- WuxiaSociety.org An English based Wuxia portal, society of English-speaking Wuxia fans around the globe, formerly known as Wuxiamania discussion forum
- Wuxia pian
- Zhang Ziyi CSC: Wuxia Fiction
- Wu Xia / Martial Arts World @ Sensasian
- Wuxia Stories translated into English – Wuxia translations