Jin Yong and Chinese Martial Arts Novels - MultiMania

Jin Yong and Chinese Martial Arts Novels
The Chinese have always referred to a place within their history as "Jiang Hu" (Gong wu - in
Cantonese). This age is a part of China's mythical past, and is the time when heroes, anti-heroes,
and villains feature prominently.
The term, "Jiang Hu", which literally means "rivers and lakes", but actually describe the martial
world, is where sword-bearing men and women embark on their self-quests for honour, power, and
respect. These incredible people are an entity wholly different than their national countrymen.
They have their own rules, fights, disputes, and ideology. They may go into seclusion for many
years simply to learn a more powerful martial art, so that they can challenge another. Defeating a
worthy opponent would lead to respect, and a name for themselves to be remembered throughout
history.
Wuxia xiaoshao (martial arts novels) is consumed eagerly by the readers in Asia, thrilling the
young and old alike with their stories of powerful romantic swordsmen, and their adventures to rid
evil. It is a phenomenon that is comparable to the popularity of science fiction and fantasy novels
read by Westerners.
In fact, there are a lot of similarities between sci-fi / fantasy and wuxia xiaoshao: Chinese heroes
usually have unimaginable power, learnt by ancient scrolls of text, and utilised through their inner
energy. This is comparable to the powers learnt by magicians, wizards and sorcerers; and of which
only talented people can learn them.
What differs between the two is the way both of the worlds are viewed. There is more of a grand
epic feeling in fantasy worlds, woven into a rich tapestry of characters, political intrigue, and save
the world quests. Wuxia novels are more about individual characters in their own quests for
revenge, honour and respect. Taking revenge for a wrongdoing is often a recurring feature in wuxia
novels, and is mostly the basis of a whole novel.
The most famous writer of wuxia novels is undoubtedly Jin Yong, whose dozen of novels have
become the all-time bestsellers of Chinese novels around the world, and have inspired many
television series and films.
Jin Yong, real name Louis Cha Liang Yong, was born in 1924 in Zhejian, China. He trained as a
diplomat but pursued a career in journalism instead. He took a job as a writer for the Ta Kung Pao
newspaper situated in Shanghai, but was later sent to the Hong Kong office. Bored with reporting,
he went on to reviewing films, and later to screen-writing, but it is his dabble into writing novels
that later become his forte.
In 1955, Louis Cha wrote his first feature length novel that would later become the Book and Sword.
It serialised in the Xin Wan Bao newspaper in Hong Kong and became immensely popular, and Cha
went on to write a dozen more novels over the next 13 years. He made an ingenious move by

founding his own newspaper Ming Pao Daily, and made sure his works only featured in his paper.
Many people bought the paper just to read the serialisation.
His last novel was in 1972, and he vowed not to write another novel again. His vow still stands, but
his name lives on.
Jin Yong's novels:
Book and Sword: Gratitude and Revenge 书剑恩仇录
(Shi Gim Yan So Luk)
Jin Yong's first published novel. The story revolves around the Red Flower Society, led by its leader
Chan Kar-lok, in its battle to overthrow the Manchu Dynasty. They are forced to rethink their
mission after it is revealed that the current Manchu emperor, Qian Long (Chien Lung), is actually
of Han birth, and is the older brother of Chan Kar-lok.
Sword Stained with Royal Blood 碧血剑
(Bik Huet Gim)
Set in the final years of the Ming Dynasty. The story revolves around Yuen Sing-chi, the son of a
Ming general who was wrongfully accused of treason by the Emperor Chong Zhen. Yuen grows up
to be a master martial artist, who wants nothing more than to avenge his father, and clear his
name. Complications arise when Yuen falls for the emperor's daughter.
Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain 雪山飞狐
(Zhit Zan Fei Wu)
Not a feature length novel, but a short novel based on the exploits of the Flying Fox Wu Fei. The
story is about Wu Fei's mission to avenge his parents, but Jin Yong uses Fei to bring out his parents'
history and the reason they died.
The Young Flying Fox 飞狐外传
(Fei Hu Wai Chuan)
As the title suggests, this is a short novel about the early years of the Flying Fox, and his
relationship with difficult girls. His love for justice and fighting for the good is counter-balanced by
his cold-heartedness, and his inability to hold down friends.
The Eagle-Shooting Heroes 射雕英雄传
(Ser Dil Ying Hung Juen)
The first part of a trilogy. Set in the Sung Dynasty (12th Century AD China) at a time when the
Mongols were threatening to invade, the story is centred around a young man named Kwok Jing.
Kwok grows up in Mongolia but is of Han descent. He becomes a staunch supporter of the Sung
emperor, and vows to stop the Mongol invasion. Kwok falls in love with Wong Yung, the daughter
of Wong Shin-yeung, one of the five greatest martial artists of the time. The others are: Wong

Yat-si (The Sinister East); Ou Yeung-fung (The Evil West); Hung Chat-gung (Northern Beggar);
and Duen Zhi-shing (Southern emperor).
The Return of the Eagle heroes 神雕侠侣
(San Dil Hap Lui)
The second part of the trilogy. Set around twenty years after the first book, the Mongol hordes are
invading China; Kwok Jing and his wife, Wong Yung, are desperately trying to save the city of
Seung Yeung from falling to the Mongols. Although Kwok and his wife are featured prominently in
the novel, the real hero of the book is Yeung Gor, the orphaned son of Yeung Hong (friend/enemy
of Kwok Jing). Yeung has had a troubled upbringing, and is more of a rebel of the traditional
themes. He meets a beautiful young woman called Little Dragon Girl, who teaches him martial arts.
Later they fall in love, but due to fateful circumstances, they have to wait another sixteen years to
be finally together.
Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre 倚天屠龙记
(Yee Ting Tung Lung Gey)
Final part of the trilogy. Set around a hundred years after part two, the story revolves around the
two greatest weapons on earth: the Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, said to be forged by Kwok
Jing and Wong Yung. If combined together, the weapons would give the bearer ultimate power, so
that he/she could rid China of the Mongols. The hero of the story is an orphan boy called Cheung
Mo-kei, who gained great power from the Nine Sacred Scrolls. He becomes leader of the Ming Sect,
and by the end of the novel, enables one of his commanders, Zhu Yuan Zhuang, to become the
founder of the new Ming Dynasty; while Mo-kei runs off into the sunset with a Mongol princess.
Demi Gods and Semi Devils 天龙八部
(Ting Lung Bak Bo)
Regarded as one of Jin Yong's greatest pieces of work. Demi Gods and Semi Devils is a very long
story about the different behaviour aspects of people turned good/bad. The three heroes of the
book are: Qill Fung, the leader of the Beggar society. Brought up by a Han couple, he believed
himself to be of Han descent, but when it is revealed that he is actually a Khitan, his fellow
members forces him out; Duen Yuet, a prince of Dali, is a young happy-go-lucky man whose good
luck gets him the best of everything; and finally, Zhu, the cowardly monk, whose inability to fight
becomes much a farce. But he overcomes his fears and becomes a master martial artist.
Way of the Heroes 侠客行
(Hap Hak Hang)
Story about twins, whose separation at birth leads them to have very different personalities. One
is a serious goody-two-shoes, while the other is a mischievous brawler, whose obsession with good
looking girls net him half a dozen wives.

Requiem of Ling Sing 连城诀
(Ling Sing Kuet)
One of the most depressing stories ever written by Jin Yong. Yun has had a poor upbringing, but his
friendship with a girl gives him hope. However, she goes off with another bloke, which leaves poor
Yun heartbroken. He learns some damn good martial arts, but is betrayed by people he thought to
be friends.
The Proud Smiling Wanderer 笑傲江湖
(Sill Ou Gong Wu)
One of the most famous of his works, this was different in respect that there were a number of
anti-traditional themes within the story. Main hero Ling Wu Chung loses his girlfriend to another
bloke; is betrayed by his master, and later faces Asia the Invincible.
Deer and the Cauldron aka Duke of Mount Deer 鹿鼎记
(Luk Ding Gey)
Another one of Jin Yong's classics, and the last one he ever wrote. This is more of a comedy than
a serious outlook on the jiang hu world. The hero Wai Siu Bo is more of an anti-hero, whose
characteristics are certainly the very opposite of a traditional hero. He doesn't know any martial
arts at all, and his crude womanising ways is certainly something a true hero would frown upon.
However, his endearing qualities mean that he is quick to make friends, even turn enemies into
friends, and he remains one of the best loved characters created by Jin Yong.