Hello everyone. Ive have read and enjoyed this forum for sometime now. Although I like the discussion of who is the best fighter, which kung fu is better and so on and so on. But I feel that we are all missing the big picture.
Wuxia novels are not just about fighting. In fact, I believe it is just a small part of it. Most of Jing Yong novels have deeper meenings or contain political comments.
For example LOCH; one do not have to be smart, handsom etc to be a hero. GJ is a true hero, he has courage and is willing to sacrafice for his people. This is a story of what it takes to be a hero.
ROTCH; is about alianation, prejudes and disputing unfair social standards. YG is looked down because his father were bad. He has a rokcy start, but in the end able to rise above and becoming a hero. He married his teacher, who is not a virging, this was a No No.
HSDS; is about brotherhood, the line between good and evil, the lpain of losing someone you love(spouse, children, lover, parent).
This just is my humble opinion, and you are welcome to comment.
But to my question; who is the greatest hero?
I believe it is XF. He was stuck between Hans and Khitans, but still wish to gain peace between them. When he was a lord of the Khitans, he could have sendt an army to punish the Hans for the unjust he have been through, but he do not wish to harm civilians. At the end he sacrafice his life for his people, both the Hans and the Khitans. This act alone makes him the greatest hero, and DGSD to be a great novel. XZ and sweeper monks great power and kung fu is not important. And spare me the story of DY.
Another great hero is GJ (and HR) who defend the Hans against the mongols. He too sacrafice his life.
To a lesser extends, ZMJ is also a hero. He did not seek revenge for his parents, but instead seek peace between the "evils" and the "good" of the martial world.
Have I missed someone?