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Wǔxiá (traditional Chinese: 武俠; simplified Chinese: 武侠, Mandarin IPA: [wùɕiɑ̌], Cantonese Pinyin: mou5 hap6), literally meaning "martial (arts) heroes", is a distinct quasi-fantasy sub-genre of the martial arts genre in literature, television and cinema. Wǔxiá has figured prominently in the popular culture of Chinese-speaking areas since ancient times to the present, and the most important writers have devoted followings. Kung fu redirects here. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The hundreds of different styles and schools of Chinese martial arts (中國武術) are collectively called Kung Fu (功夫), Wushu (武術), Kuoshu (國術), or Chuan Fa (拳法), depending on the persons or groups doing so. ... Kung fu or gongfu (功夫, Pinyin: gōngfu) is a well-known Chinese term often used today to refer to Chinese martial arts. ... WÇ”shù, in Simplified Chinese Wushu (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: wÇ”shù  ; Cantonese: mou5söt6) literally means martial art. It is a more precise term than the widely used term kung fu, which can mean either martial art or skill: a craftsperson or artisan could be said to have... San Soo is a form of Chinese martial arts also known as Kung Fu San Soo and San Soo Kung Fu. ... , Main gate of the Shaolin Monastery in Henan, China. ... wudang or wudangquan, see Wudangquan. ... Bodhidharma (or Tat Moh)(fl. ... Dong Haichuan (董海川) was born on the 13th of October 1797 in Zhu village, Wen An County, Hebei Province, China and died on the 25th of October 1882 in Beijing. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is 霍 (Huo) Huo Yuanjia (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) (c. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Wong. ... Wu Chuan-yu or Wu Quanyou 吳全佑 (1834-1902) the founder of the Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan was from an aristocratic Manchurian family that was famous for its martial skills. ... Yang Lu-chan 楊露禪 Yang Lu-chan or Yang Luchan, 楊露禪, also known as Yang Fu-kui 楊福魁 (1799-1872), born in Kuang-ping (Guangping), was an influential teacher of the soft style martial art known Tai Chi Chuan in China during the second half of the... Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industrys global fame. ... Gun (staff) event at the 10th All China Games Wushu (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; literally martial arts), also known as modern wushu or contemporary wushu, is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. ... Traditional Chinese characters refers to one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... Simplified Chinese character (Simplified Chinese: or ; traditional Chinese: or ; pinyin: or ) is one of two standard sets of Chinese characters of the contemporary Chinese written language. ... Standard Cantonese Pinyin is a romanization system for Standard Cantonese developed by the Yu Bingzhao (ch. ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... A genre [], (French: kind or sort from Greek: γένος (genos)) is a loose set of criteria for a category of literary composition; the term is also used for any other form of art or utterance. ...

The wǔxiá genre is a blend of the philosophy of xiá (俠, "honor code", "an ethical person", "knight-errant"), and China's long history in wǔshù ("kung fu" or "martial arts"). A male martial artist who follows the code of xiá is called a swordsman, or xiákè (俠客/侠客). Japan's samurai bushidō traditions, Western Europe's knight chivalry traditions, and America's gunslinger Western traditions all share some aspects with China's swordsman xiá traditions. The swordsmen in wǔxiá need not serve a lord or hold any military power and they are not required to be from an aristocratic class, although some are. The xia (俠) is a righteous person who excels in personal combat and may use their armed expertise to serve social unfairness or injustice (鋤強扶弱). Xia could be roughly compared to chivalry and identified with the Western concept of knights and knighthood, although they are not strictly... WÇ”shù, in Simplified Chinese Wushu (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: wÇ”shù  ; Cantonese: mou5söt6) literally means martial art. It is a more precise term than the widely used term kung fu, which can mean either martial art or skill: a craftsperson or artisan could be said to have... For other uses, see Samurai (disambiguation). ... Japanese samurai in armor, 1860s. ... A current understanding of Western Europe. ... The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 1850, intended to represent the Black Prince. ... Bors Dilemma - he chooses to save a maiden rather than his brother Lionel Chivalry[1] is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Gunslinger from The Great Train Robbery Gunslinger, also gunfighter, is a name given to men in the American Old West who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

History

Earlier precedents

Wuxia stories have their roots in some early yóuxiá (游侠, "Chinese knight-errant") and cìkè (刺客, "assassin") stories around 2nd to 3rd century BC, such as the assassination attempts of Jing Ke and Zhuan Zhu (專諸/专诸) listed in Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian. In the section entitled "Assassins" (刺客列傳/刺客列传), Sima Qian outlined a number of famed assassins in the Warring States who were entrusted with the (then considered noble) task of political assassination. These were usually cì kè (刺客, literally "stabbing guests") who resided in the residences of feudal lords and noblemen, rendering services and loyalties much in the manner of Japanese samurai. In another section, "Roaming Xia" (游俠列傳/游侠列传), he detailed many embryonic features of the xia culture of his day. This popular phenomenon continues to be documented in historical annals like The Book of Han (汉书) and The Book of Later Han (後漢書/后汉书). The Chinese knight-errant or Yóuxiá (Traditional: 游俠 Simplified: 游侠) was a type of chivalrous hero, similar to Europes Knight-errant, which came into existence during the Han Dynasty and disappeared during the Qing Dynasty. ... Jing Ke (Chinese: 荊軻; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ching Ko) was a guest residing in the estates of Dan, crown prince of Yan and renowned for his failed assassination of the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang who reigned from 221 BC to 210 BC. His story is told in the chapter... Zhuan Zhu (died in 515 BC) was an assassin in the Spring and Autumn Period. ... Sima Qian Si Ma Qian (司馬遷) (c. ... The Records of the Grand Historian or the Records of the Grand Historian of China (Chinese: 史記; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Shih-chi; literally Historical Records), written from 109 BCE to 91 BCE, was the magnum opus of Sima Qian, in which he recounted Chinese history from the time of the mythical... Jack Ruby murdered the assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, in a very public manner. ... Alternative meaning: Warring States Period (Japan) The Warring States Period (traditional Chinese: 戰國時代, simplified Chinese: 战国时代 pinyin Zhànguó Shídài) takes place from sometime in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by Qin in 221 BC. It is nominally... Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum, itself borrowed from a Germanic root *fehu, a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held under certain obligations by feodati. ... For other uses, see Samurai (disambiguation). ... The Book of Han (Chinese: 漢書/汉书) is a classic Chinese historical writing covering the history of Western Han from 206 BC to 25. ... The Book of Later Han (Chinese:后汉书) is one of the official Chinese historical works which was compiled by Fan Ye in the 5th century, using a number of earlier histories and documents as sources. ...

Xiákè stories made a strong comeback in the Tang dynasty in the form of Chuanqi (傳奇/传奇, literally "legendary") tales. Stories like Nie Yin Niang (聶隱娘/聂隐娘), The Slave of Kunlun (崑崙奴/昆仑奴), Jing Shi San Niang (荆十三娘), Red String (紅線/红线) and The Bearded Warrior (虬髯客) served as prototypes for modern wuxia stories, featuring fantastic, out-of-the-world protagonists, often loners, who performed daring heroic deeds. For the band, see Tang Dynasty (band). ... Kunlun Nu (Traditional Chinese: - The K’un-lun Slave) was a wuxia romance written by P’ei Hsing (Traditional Chinese: ) (c. ...

The earliest full-length novel that could be considered part of the genre was Water Margin, written in the Ming Dynasty, although some would classify parts of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms as a possible earlier antecedent. The former was a political criticism of the deplorable socio-economical state of the late Northern Song Dynasty, whilst the latter was an alternative historical retelling of the post-Han Dynasty's state of three kingdoms. Water Margin's championing of outlaws with a code of honor was especially influential in the development of Jianghu culture. Three Kingdoms contained many classic close combat descriptions which were later borrowed by wuxia writers. This article is about the literary concept. ... It has been suggested that Guo Shiguang be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see Ming. ... Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Chinese: 三國演義, 三国演义, pinyin: Sān Guó Yǎn Yì), written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a classical Chinese historical novel about the turbulent period often referred to as the Three Kingdoms (AD 220... Alternative meaning: Song Dynasty (420-479) The Song dynasty (Chinese: 宋朝) was a ruling dynasty in China from 960-1279. ... Han Dynasty in 87 BC Capital Changan (202 BC–9 AD) Luoyang (25 AD–190 AD) Language(s) Chinese Religion Taoism, Confucianism Government Monarchy History  - Establishment 206 BC  - Battle of Gaixia; Han rule of China begins 202 BC  - Interruption of Han rule 9 - 24  - Abdication to Cao Wei 220... The Three Kingdoms period (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a period in the history of China, part of an era of disunity called the Six Dynasties. ... The Jiānghú (江湖; Cantonese: gong woo) world is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese classical wuxia stories are set. ...

Many works in this vein during the Ming and Qing dynasties were lost due to prohibition by the government. 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, and stifled some of its growth. Nonetheless, the genre continued to be enormously popular, with certain full-length novels such as The Strange Case of Shi Gong (施公案奇聞/施公案奇闻) and The Romance of the Heroic Daughters and Sons (兒女英雄傳/儿女英雄传) cited as the clearest nascent wuxia novels. Justice Bao stories seen in San Xia Wu Yi (三俠五義/三侠五义, which was later extended and renamed Qi Xia Wu Yi 七俠五義) and Xiao Wu Yi (小五義/小五义) incorporated much of social justice themes of later wuxia stories. For other uses, see Ming. ... Flag (1890-1912) Anthem Gong Jinou (1911) Qing China at its greatest extent. ... Bao Zheng (包拯) (998 - 1061) was a much-praised judge from China. ... Social justice refers to the concept of an unjust society that refers to more than just the administration of laws. ...

20th century

The modern wuxia novel genre started in the early 20th century. The early 20th century and the 1960s to 1980s are often regarded as two golden ages of wuxia writing. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999...

Wuxia fiction was banned by the Chinese Communist Party when they came to power in the People's Republic of China. (The ban was lifted in the 1980s, with China's liberalization.) As a result wuxia writing continued in earnest only in 1960s in Taiwan and especially Hong Kong, headed by pioneers Liang Yusheng and Louis Cha, who founded the 'new school'. Writing serially for papers and magazines, they incorporated many fictional techniques from the West. Although Cha declared the genre effectively dead in the 1990s, its fiction is facing a resurgence, as seen in the sci-fi wuxia novels of Huang Yi and countless amateur Internet writers. Communist Party of China flag The Communist Party of China (Simplified Chinese: 中国共产党; Traditional Chinese: 中國共産黨; pinyin: Zhōnggu ngchǎndǎng) is the ruling party of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Liang Yusheng (Chinese: ; pinyin: LiángYÇ”ShÄ“ng) (born 5 April 1926) is the penname of Chen Wentong (Chinese: ), a famous wuxia novelist born in Guangxi, China. ... Louis Cha, (born June 6, 1924), known to most by his penname Jinyong or Kam-yung, is one of the most influential Chinese-language novelists. ... For other uses, see Fiction (disambiguation). ... Look up amateur in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Theme, Plot and Settings

The modern wuxia stories are basically adventure stories set in ancient China. Plot differs largely from writer to writer, but there are very clear similarities with wuxia protagonists and those of the modern Western fantasy genre. The fantasy element is not a prerequisite; it is possible for wuxia fiction to be largely realistic, such as Louis Cha's Swordswoman Riding West on White Horse or The Book and the Sword. But as the genre requires, some, perhaps most, of its characters should know martial arts. Look up adventure in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ... Louis Cha, (born June 6, 1924), known to most by his penname Jinyong or Kam-yung, is one of the most influential Chinese-language novelists. ... The White Horse in the West Wind (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a wuxia novella written by Jinyong. ... Cover of the English translation of The Book and the Sword published by the Oxford University Press in 2005. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ...

A common plot typically features a young male protagonist in ancient China, who experiences a tragedy (e.g. the loss of a family or an old master) and goes through exceeding hardship and arduous trials to learn. Eventually the protagonist emerges as a supreme martial arts master unequalled in all of China, who then proffers his skills chivalrously to mend the ills of the "Jianghu" world.

Another common thread would involve a mature, extremely skillful hero with an equally powerful nemesis with whom he has had misgivings, and the storyline would meander to a final showdown between the protagonist and his nemesis.

Other novels, especially those by Gu Long, create detective-type and romance stories in the setting of ancient China. Xiong Yaohua (Chinese: ) (1937 – September 21, 1985), who wrote under the pen name Gu Long (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ), was a Taiwanese writer of wuxia novels. ...

The Code of Xia

To understand the concept of xia from a Western perspective, consider the Robin Hood mythology: an honourable and generous person who has considerable martial arts skills which he puts to use for the general good rather than towards any personal ends, and someone who does not necessarily obey the authorities. For other uses, see Robin Hood (disambiguation). ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ...

Foremost in the xia's code of conduct are yi and xin, righteousness and honour, which emphasize the importance of gracious deed received or favours (恩 ēn) and revenge (仇 chóu) over other ethos of life. Nevertheless, this code of the xia is simple and grave enough for its adherents to defend for.

The importance of revenge is disputed, since a considerable number of wuxia fiction are influenced by Buddhist idea of pacifism, which stresses forgiveness, compassion and prohibits killing. A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... Pacifism is the opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes or gaining advantage. ...

The Use of Wushu

Although wuxia is based on true-life martial arts, the genre elevates the mastery of this art to fictitious levels of attainment. Combatants have the following skills: Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ...

• Kung fu. Fighting using a codified sequence of movements known as zhāo (招), based on actual Chinese martial arts.

• Use of objects such as sewing needles, ink brushes, benches, abaci, or musical instruments as weapons with unfailing accuracy. The sword, staff, and spear weapons are still the most commonly used by combatants.

• Use of qīnggōng (T: 輕功 S: 轻功), or the ability to move swiftly and lightly, allowing them to scale walls, glide on waters or mount trees. This is based on real Chinese martial art practices. Real life martial art exponents practise qinggong by going through years of attaching heavy weights onto their legs. Its use, however, is greatly exaggerated in wire-fu movies where practioners appear to circumvent gravity.

• Use of nèijìn (內勁) or nèilì (内力), which is the ability to control mystical inner energy (qi) and direct it for attack, defense, healing, or to attain superhuman stamina.

• Use of diǎnxué (T: 點穴 S: 点穴) through dim mak (點脈), chin na (擒拿), or other related techniques for killing, paralyzing, poisoning, or controlling opponents by hitting or seizing their acupressure points (xué 穴) with a finger, knuckle, elbow or weapon. Real life martial artists train in these seizing and paralyzing techniques. Their effectiveness is greatly exaggerated in wuxia stories.

These skills are usually described as being attainable by those who devote themselves to diligent study and practice. The details of the most powerful skills are often to be found in manuals known as mìjí (秘笈). In some stories, specific techniques can be learned by spending several years either in seclusion with a master or cloistered with the Buddhist monks at a Shaolin temple. Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... Needles used for sewing A sewing needle is a long slender object with a pointed tip. ... Ink brushes (筆, in Japanese fude) are speciality brushes used in East Asian calligraphy. ... Classic garden bench For metonymic and other uses see Bench (metonymy) and Bench A bench is a piece of furniture, which mostly offers several persons seating. ... It has been suggested that Abax be merged into this article or section. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... For the novel of the same name, see Eric Van Lustbader. ... Gun event at the 10th All China Games The Chinese word Gun (Chinese: ; pinyin: gùn) refers to a long Chinese staff weapon used in Chinese martial arts. ... 10th All China Games 10th All China Games Qiang (qÄ«ang,槍) is the Chinese term for spear. ... Qinggong (qÄ«nggōng T: 輕功 S: 轻功) is a martial art training that prepares its practitioners to jump exceptional distances. ... Traditional Chinese (Traditional Chinese: 正體字/繁體字, Simplified Chinese: 正体字/繁体字) refers to one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Wire fu is an action film genre in which the actors use wire-work to perform amazing stunts. ... Gravity is a force of attraction that acts between bodies that have mass. ... Nei jin, Wade-Giles: nei chin or Pinyin: nèi jìn, 內勁, is an internal power or coordination said to be acquired through the practise of Chinese martial arts. ... For other uses, see Qi (disambiguation). ... Traditional Chinese (Traditional Chinese: 正體字/繁體字, Simplified Chinese: 正体字/繁体字) refers to one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Dim Mak, Death Touch, or literally Touch Point (dim mak is an approximate Cantonese pronunciation of 點脈, as subset of 點穴, pinyin diÇŽnxuè) is said by its adherents to train attacks on pressure points and meridians in some styles of Chinese martial arts to kill, incapacitate, or otherwise control an opponent. ... Chin Na or Qinna (æ“’æ‹¿, pinyin: qín ná, Wade-Giles: chin2 na2) is a Chinese term describing joint-manipulation techniques for self defense used in the Chinese martial arts. ... Acupressure (a portmanteau of acupuncture and pressure) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) technique based on the same ideas as acupuncture. ... , Main gate of the Shaolin Monastery in Henan, China. ...

Jiang Hu: "The World of Martial Arts"

Jiang Hu (江湖) (Cantonese: Gong Woo), literally means "rivers and lakes" and is translated as "The World of Martial Arts" or "the martial (arts) world". The jiang hu or gong woo world is the fictional environment in which many wu xia stories are set. ...

The Jiang Hu is a "shared world", an alternate universe, made up of martial artists and pugilists gathered in wulin (武林), usually congregrating in sects, clans, disciplines and schools of martial arts learnings. It is inhabited by wandering knights and princes, thieves and beggars, priests and healers, merchants and craftspeople. The best wuxia writers draw a vivid picture of the intricate relationships of honor, loyalty, love and hatred between individuals and between communities in this milieu. A Shared universe is a literary technique in which several different authors share settings and characters which appear in their respective works of fiction, often referring to events taking place in the other writers stories. ...

A common aspect to jiang hu is the tacit suggestion that the courts of law are dysfunctional. Differences can only be resolved by way of force, predicating the need for xia and their chivalrous ways. Law and order is maintained by the alliance of wulin or wulin mengzhu, the society of martial artists. They are elected and commanded by the most able xia, who is usually (but not always) the protagonist of that novel (in some versions, such as the TV miniseries Paradise, the position is hereditary). This alliance leader is an arbiter, who presides and adjudicates over inequities and disputes. He is a de jure chief justice of the affairs of the jiang hu. Look up De jure in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Popular Comics

Although new and original wuxia writings have dwindled significantly in the last twenty five 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 kinds in comic strips in places like Hong Kong and Taiwan, with the core essentials of the wuxia living on in weekly editions equivalent of the Japanese manga comic books.

Films

The earliest wuxia films date back to the 1920s. Films created by King Hu and Shaw Studio 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. The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... King Hu (胡金銓, pinyin: Hú Jīnquán, April 29, 1931 - January 14, 1997) was a Hong Kong and Taiwan-based Chinese film director whose wuxia films brought Chinese cinema to new technical and artistic heights. ... The Shaw Studio (邵氏片場), owned by Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd. ...

Cheng Pei-Pei and Jimmy Wang-Yu were two of the biggest stars in the days of Shaw Studio and King Hu. Cantonese screen idol Connie Chan Po-chu grew up starring in wuxia films and was famous for her male roles. Jet Li is a more recent star of wuxia films, having appeared in the Swordsman series and Hero amongst others. Yuen Woo Ping was a choreographer who achieved fame by crafting stunning action-sequences in films of the genre. Mainland Chinese director Zhang Yimou's foray into wuxia films was distinguished by the imaginative use of vivid colours and breathtaking background settings. Cheng Pei-pei (Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ; born December 4, 1946 in Shanghai, China) is an actress best known for her performance in the seminal 1966 King Hu wuxia film Come Drink with Me. ... Jimmy Wang Yu (born March 28, 1943, also known as Wong Yu-lung and Wang Yue) was a multi-talented Chinese actor, director, producer, and scriptwriter. ... Connie Chan Po-chu (Chinese: ; pinyin: Chén BÇŽozhÅ«) was born in 1947 in Guangdong, China. ... Jet Li (born April 26, 1963) is a Chinese martial artist, actor, Wushu champion, and international film star. ... Hero (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) is a Chinese wuxia film, directed by Zhang Yimou with music by Tan Dun. ... Yuen Woo-ping (Chinese: 袁和平; Pinyin: ; born 1945 in Guangzhou, China) is a martial arts choreographer and film director, renowned as one of the most successful and influential figures in the world of Hong Kong action cinema. ... Zhang Yimou (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ;  ) (born November 14, 1951) is an internationally acclaimed Chinese filmmaker and one-time cinematographer. ...

Wuxia was introduced to the Hollywood studios in 2000 by Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Following Ang Lee's footsteps, Zhang Yimou made Hero, targeted for the international market, in 2003, and House of Flying Daggers 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. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Ang Lee (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) (born October 23, 1954) is an Academy-Award winning film director from the Republic of China (Taiwan). ... For other uses, see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (disambiguation). ... Ang Lee (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) (born October 23, 1954) is an Academy-Award winning film director from the Republic of China (Taiwan). ... Zhang Yimou (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ;  ) (born November 14, 1951) is an internationally acclaimed Chinese filmmaker and one-time cinematographer. ... Hero (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) is a Chinese wuxia film, directed by Zhang Yimou with music by Tan Dun. ... House of Flying Daggers (Chinese: ; pinyin: ), is a 2004 action/romance movie directed by Zhang Yimou. ...

Significant wuxia films include:

• Lady Swordfighter of Jiang-Nan (1925) serial starring Zhi-Gong Chen
• The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple (《火燒紅蓮寺》1928) — early wuxia film
• Red Heroine (1929); revenge-themed 13-film serial starring Fan Xuepeng [1]
• Ru Lai Shen Zhang (《如來神掌》1964) — starring Cho Tat Wah and Yu So Chow
• Dragon Gate Inn (《龙门客栈》1966) — King Hu wuxia
• The Magic Blade (《天涯明月刀》1976) — Shaw Brothers wuxia
• Zu - Warriors from the Magic Mountain (《新蜀山劍俠》1983) — A Tsui Hark Film;
• The Legend of Condor Heroes (《射雕英雄传》1983) — serial starring Barbara Yung
• A Chinese Ghost Story (《倩女幽魂》1987)
• Swordsman II (《笑傲江湖之東方不敗》1992) — the high water mark of 90s wuxia pian
• The Bride with White Hair (《白髮魔女傳》1993) — A Ronny Yu Film;
• Ashes of Time (《东邪西毒》1994) — A Wong Kar-wai Film;
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (《卧虎藏龙》2000) — A Ang Lee Film; Hollywood wuxia
• The Legend of Zu (《蜀山传》2001) — A Tsui Hark Film;
• Hero (《英雄》2002) — A Zhang Yimou Film; Movie set at time of Qin Shi Huang with Jet Li as Nameless.
• House of Flying Daggers (《十面埋伏》2004) — A Zhang Yimou Film; A movie starring Takeshi Kaneshiro and Ziyi Zhang
• Kung Fu Hustle (《功夫》2004) — A Stephen Chow Film; A parody of wuxia
• The Promise (《无极》2005) — A Chen Kaige Film; A movie based on the wuxia story "The Slave of Kunlun"
• Seven Swords (《七剑》2005) — A Tsui Hark Film; Adapted from wuxia author Liang Yusheng's novel
• Curse of the Golden Flower (《满城尽带黄金甲》2006) — A Zhang Yimou Film; A movie starring Gong Li and Chow Yun-Fat
• The Banquet (《夜宴》2006) — A Feng Xiaogang Film; A movie starring Zhang Ziyi and Daniel Wu

Chen in Swordswoman of Huangjiang (1930) Zhi-Gong Chen (also Tsi-(H)Ang Chin and Chi-Ang Chi) (born 1909 in Shanghai) was one among the earliest martial-arts actors of the Chinese film industry, and its first female star. ... Huo shao hong lian si (The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple) is a 1928 Chinese silent movie about the rescue of a commander held captive in a temple full of traps. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Cho. ... Yu So Chow at Hong Kong Avenue of Stars in 2004 Yu So Chow (Chinese: 于素秋; pinyin: Yale Cantonese:Jy¹ Sou³ Tsau¹) was born in Beijing on July 9, 1930 to a Peking opera family. ... Dragon Gate Inn (TC: 龍門客棧, SC: 龙门客栈, pinyin: Lóng mén kè zhàn), also known as Dragon Inn, is a 1966 film directed by King Hu starring Shang Kuan, Chun Shih, Ying Bo, Jian Tsao and Han Xue. ... King Hu (胡金銓, pinyin: Hú Jīnquán, April 29, 1931 - January 14, 1997) was a Hong Kong and Taiwan-based Chinese film director whose wuxia films brought Chinese cinema to new technical and artistic heights. ... The Shaw Studio (邵氏片場), owned by Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd. ... Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain is a 1983 Hong Kong film. ... Tsui Hark (Chinese: 徐克; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Hsü Ko) (born Tsui Man-kong (徐文光) on February 15, 1950) is a New Wave film director in Hong Kong who is also a highly influential producer, often likened to Steven Spielberg for a similar galvanizing effect on his countrys cinematic scene. ... Barbara Yung Mei-ling was born in Hong Kong on May 7, 1959. ... A Chinese Ghost Story (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chien-nü Yu-hun, literal meaning: The Ethereal Spirit of a Beauty) is a 1987 Hong Kong movie starring Leslie Cheung, Joey Wong and Wu Ma, directed by Ching Siu-tung and produced by Tsui Hark. ... Swordsman II (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: Xiào Ào Jiāng Hú ZhÄ« Dōng Fāng Bù Bài; Cantonese Yale: Siu3 Ngou6 Gong1 Wu4 Ji1 Dung1 Fong1 Bat1 Baai6) is a Hong Kong action film made in 1991. ... The Bride with White Hair is a fantasy/martial arts film directed by Ronny Yu. ... Ronny Yu (Chinese: ) (born 1950) is a Chinese director, producer, and movie writer. ... Ashes of Time (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: , literally The Heretic East and the Venomous West) is a 1994 Hong Kong wuxia film directed by Wong Kar-wai, based very loosely on four characters from the Louis Cha novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. ... Wong Kar-wai (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: ; Cantonese Yale: Wòhng Gà Waih; Shanghainese Latin method: Wan Kawe; born July 17, 1958) is a Hong Kong film director known for his visually unique, highly stylized art films. ... For other uses, see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (disambiguation). ... Ang Lee (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) (born October 23, 1954) is an Academy-Award winning film director from the Republic of China (Taiwan). ... ... The Legend of Zu (known as Zu Warriors in the US) is a 2001 martial arts/fantasy film starring Ekin Cheng and Sammo Hung. ... Tsui Hark (Chinese: 徐克; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Hsü Ko) (born Tsui Man-kong (徐文光) on February 15, 1950) is a New Wave film director in Hong Kong who is also a highly influential producer, often likened to Steven Spielberg for a similar galvanizing effect on his countrys cinematic scene. ... Hero (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) is a Chinese wuxia film, directed by Zhang Yimou with music by Tan Dun. ... Zhang Yimou (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ;  ) (born November 14, 1951) is an internationally acclaimed Chinese filmmaker and one-time cinematographer. ... The monarch known now as Qin Shi Huang (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chin Shih-huang) (259 BCE – September 10, 210 BCE),[1] personal name Yíng Zhèng, was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 247 BCE to 221 BCE (officially still under the Zhou Dynasty), and... Jet Li (born April 26, 1963) is a Chinese martial artist, actor, Wushu champion, and international film star. ... House of Flying Daggers (Chinese: ; pinyin: ), is a 2004 action/romance movie directed by Zhang Yimou. ... Zhang Yimou (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ;  ) (born November 14, 1951) is an internationally acclaimed Chinese filmmaker and one-time cinematographer. ... Takeshi Kaneshiro (Japanese and Chinese: 金城武, Hepburn: Kaneshiro Takeshi, Pinyin: JÄ«nchéng WÇ”), (born October 11, 1973) is a male actor and model. ... Zhang Ziyi ZHANG Ziyi (章子怡; pinyin: Zhāng Zǐyí, pronounced like Jahng Dzih-ee) (born February 9, 1979) is a Chinese actress and dancer. ... Kung Fu Hustle (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) is a 2004 Hong Kong martial arts film co-written, co-produced and directed by Stephen Chow, who also stars in the film. ... Stephen Chow (also Stephen Chiau) (traditional Chinese: 周星馳; simplified Chinese : 周星驰; often Romanized as Chow Sing Chi; pinyin : Zhōu XÄ«ngchí; jyutping : zau1 sing1 ci4) (born June 22, 1962) is a director and actor in many blockbuster movies in Hong Kong. ... The Promise (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; literally Limitless) is an epic fantasy movie directed by Chen Kaige and starring Jang Dong-gun, Hiroyuki Sanada, Cecilia Cheung and Nicholas Tse. ... Chen Kaige (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Chen Kai-ko) (born August 12, 1952) is a Chinese film director. ... Seven Swords poster Seven Swords (Chinese:七劍) is a 2005 Hong Kong film directed by Tsui Hark and adapted from renowned Wuxia writer Liang Yusheng. ... Tsui Hark (Chinese: 徐克; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Hsü Ko) (born Tsui Man-kong (徐文光) on February 15, 1950) is a New Wave film director in Hong Kong who is also a highly influential producer, often likened to Steven Spielberg for a similar galvanizing effect on his countrys cinematic scene. ... Liang Yusheng (Chinese: ; pinyin: LiángYÇ”ShÄ“ng) (born 5 April 1926) is the penname of Chen Wentong (Chinese: ), a famous wuxia novelist born in Guangxi, China. ... Curse of the Golden Flower (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ), also known literally as When Golden Armor Covers the Entire City, is an Academy Award-nominated 2006 Chinese historical drama film directed by Zhang Yimou. ... Zhang Yimou (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ;  ) (born November 14, 1951) is an internationally acclaimed Chinese filmmaker and one-time cinematographer. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Gong Gong Li (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) (born December 31, 1965) is a Chinese film actress. ... Chow Yun-Fat (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) (born May 18, 1955) is a Hong Kong actor. ... The Banquet (Chinese: ; pinyin: Yè Yàn; literally The Night Banquet) is a 2006 Chinese wuxia-drama film, directed by Feng Xiaogang and starring Zhang Ziyi. ... Zhang Ziyi (章子怡; pinyin: Zhāng Zǐyí) (born February 9, 1979 in Beijing, China) is one of the most well-known Chinese film actresses working today, with a string of Chinese and international hits to her name. ... Daniel Wu (Chinese: 吳彥祖; Cantonese: Ng Yin-Cho; Mandarin: Wú YànzÇ”) (born September 30, 1974 in San Francisco, California) is an American film actor famous for his work in Hong Kong. ...

Books

Wuxia novels constitute a highly popular genre of their own throughout Greater China, Singapore and Chinese speaking communities around the world. Wuxia novels, especially by eminent authors like Jinyong and Gu Long, have a devoted following. Important wuxia novelists include: Greater China in dark green, and areas with strong Chinese cultural influence in light green Greater China (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ), or simply 大华/大華, is a term referring collectively to both the territories administered by the Peoples Republic of China as well as Hong Kong and Macau, and territories...

• Jinyong
• Gu Long
• Huang Yi
• Wen Ruian
• Liang Yusheng
• Sima Ziyan
• Xiao Yi
• Shi Weihan
• Xiao Duan
• Wang Dulu - author of the Crouching Tiger series
• American Wuxia novelist: Albert A. Dalia [[2]]

Louis Cha, (born June 6, 1924), known to most by his penname Jinyong or Kam-yung, is one of the most influential Chinese-language novelists. ... Xiong Yaohua (Chinese: ) (1937 – September 21, 1985), who wrote under the pen name Gu Long (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ), was a Taiwanese writer of wuxia novels. ... Wen Ruian Wen Ruian (Chinese: ) is a Chinese writer of wuxia novels. ... Liang Yusheng (Chinese: ; pinyin: LiángYǔShēng) (born 5 April 1926) is the penname of Chen Wentong (Chinese: ), a famous wuxia novelist born in Guangxi, China. ... Shi Weihan(Chinese: 时未寒), born early 1970s, pen name of Wang Fan (simplified Chinese: 王帆), is one of the most influential representatives of modern China mainland martial arts novelists. ... Wang Dulu (王度盧 1909–1977) was a Chinese author whose story Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was made into a successful film by director Ang Lee (see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). ...

Video Games

• Sword of Xuan Yuan
• The Legend of Sword and Fairy
• Jade Empire
• Dynasty Warriors
• Demon Sword

Xuan Yuan Jian 3: Beyond Clouds and Mountains, Released by Softstar in 1999 Sword of Xuan Yuan refers to a series of Taiwanese computer role-playing game developed by DOMO group of Softstar, Inc. ... The Legend of the Sword and Fairy[1], originally named Xianjian Qixia Zhuan (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: ), also known as The Magic Sword and the Chivalrous Youngsters[2], Chinese Paladin or PAL for short, is made by Taiwans Softstar Entertainment. ... Jade Empire is an action RPG developed by Canadian developer BioWare. ... The Logo of Shin Sangokumusou 5 (Dynasty Warriors 6) Dynasty Warriors ( 真・三國無双:Shin Sangokumusou in Japan; literally meaning True - Unrivaled Three Kingdoms) is a series of video games created by Koei based loosely around the Romance of the Three Kingdoms epic, and is a spinoff series of another Koei game Romance... Demon Sword is an action video game developed by Taito in 1989 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. ...

Comics

• The Storm Riders
• The Chinese Hero
• Romance of the Three Kingdoms
• The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre

Cloud (left) and Wind Tin Ha (Chinese:天下) is a manhua series in Hong Kong. ... Title of manga: 三國志 Manga author: Li Zhiqing Language: Chinese Published in: Hong Kong, Japan Start year: 1991 Based on the Chinese novel of the same name, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. ... Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (Traditional Chinese: , Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: yǐ tiān tú lóng jì) is a Chinese wuxia novel by Jinyong, first serialized in Ming PaoISBN 1-58899-183-0[1]. Jinyong revised the novel in 1979 with a number of amendments and additions. ...

Further reading

Liu, James J.Y. The Chinese Knight Errant. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1967 (ISBN 0-2264-8688-5)

See also

• Cinema of China
• Cinema of Hong Kong
• Hong Kong action cinema
• Martial arts film
• Wire fu
• Zhou Tong (archer)

The history of Chinese language cinema has three separate threads of development: Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of China, and Cinema of Taiwan. ... The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan. ... Hong Kong action cinema is the principal source of the Hong Kong film industrys global fame. ... Martial arts film is a film genre that originated in the Pacific Rim. ... Wire fu is an action film genre in which the actors use wire-work to perform amazing stunts. ... Zhou Tong (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ; d. ...

External links

• Introduction to the Wuxia genre
• Heroic Grace An introduction to Wuxia with an emphasis on explaining the more unlikely elements for new readers.
• WuxiaWorld Site devoted to Wuxia literature, films, TV Series, and translations
• 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 (with a tripod ad)
• A Chinese page on the history of wuxia film
• Zhang Ziyi CSC: Wuxia Fiction
• Wu Xia / Martial Arts World @ Sensasian
• Wuxia Pien With Wuxia film database attached. At Kung Fu Cinema.