Wuxia

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Synonyms: 武俠, martial arts heroes, martial arts fantasy
See also: xianxia
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Wuxia (武俠, lit. martial arts heroes) is a Chinese fantasy genre focused on martial artists in ancient China. Protagonists in wuxia works follow a code of chivalry and often fight to correct wrongs, remove oppressors, and otherwise help others.[1] Wuxia works are also characterized by a flashy and exaggerated approach to depicting martial arts.

History

Biography of Old Dragon-Beard by Du Guangting, is a Tang-dynasty-era story that is commonly identified as the first piece of wuxia literature. Other works that are commonly mentioned as early examples of wuxia include The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and The Water Margin (also known as Outlaws of the Marsh). Starting in the late Qing dynasty, wuxia moved away from including supernatural elements and toward focusing on human protagonists who improved themselves through taoism. [2]

The name of the genre comes from the Japanese term bukyou (武侠), a term originating in novelist Oshikawa Shunro's 1902 book Bukyou no Nihon that is composed of kanji meaning "samurai" and "of manly character." The 1922 Chinese novel The Legend of the Strange Swordsmen was responsible for popularizing the term.[3] The Condor Trilogy by Jin Yong, first serialized from 1957-1963 and adapted numerous times since, is also recognized as a foundational text of the genre. The series contained heavy political undertones, and was banned for some time by the Chinese Communist Party. [2] In recent years, wuxia stories have been produced and adapted into basically every popular medium in China, from web fiction to donghua. In addition, Chinese diaspora writing in English as well as translations of Chinese-language works have spread the genre into English-speaking fandom. [4]

Genre Characteristics

Wuxia novels feature martial artists acting as heroes in a setting known as the jiaghu (lit. rivers and lakes). They possess superhuman skills and often step in to provide justice when larger systems fail. Some wuxia novels are largely grounded in reality, while others make little attempt at realism. Especially in newer wuxia works, it is popular to give both characters and martial arts techniques complex, memorable titles. Wuxia works often incorporate other genres such as romance or historical fiction.[4] Many English-speaking fans have compared wuxia to other genres, such as the English chivalric tradition, Japanese samurai media, and stories of the American West. However, often Chinese fans see these comparisons as being oversimplifications. Due to globalization, many wuxia creators have been influenced by international media, but the core of the genre is still linked to specific aspects of Chinese culture. [4]

Relationship to Xianxia

Xianxia is often considered to be a sub-genre of wuxia. Where wuxia is focused mainly on human martial artists and does not include supernatural beings, xianxia frequently includes supernatural beings such as demons and fairies.[5] Additionally, while it is common for wuxia protagonists to engage in daoist cultivation in order to become stronger, xianxia characters typically do so specifically in pursuit of the goal of becoming powerful immortals. [6]

Examples

Fandom Examples

Links & Resources

References

  1. ^ Wikipedia: Wuxia
  2. ^ a b Ng, Jeannette. "The History and Politics of Wuxia". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022.
  3. ^ Teo, Stephen. "Chinese Martial Arts Cinema" (PDF). euppublishing.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "What Speculative Fiction Writers Can Learn from the Origins and Evolution of the Wuxia Genre". Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America. Archived from the original on 27 Jan 2022.
  5. ^ "What's the difference between wuxia, xianxia, and xuanhuan". Wuxia Society. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022.
  6. ^ Wikipedia: Xianxia
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