Is mushy stuff necessary for wuxia novels/adaptations?

[Huang Rong]

Generally I like romantic passages/scenes in wuxia novels/adaptations such as:
- In Xiao Ao Jiang Hu: when Linghu Chong first saw the real face of Yingying beside the spring; when he talked to Yingying in the cave after rescueing her from Shaolin temple; when Yingying went to Hengshan sword school to save Linghu Chong from Dongfang's devilish plot.
- In LOCH: several passages concerning Huang Rong and Guo Jing.
- In DGSD: the passages describing the love between Xiao Feng and Ah Zhu.
- In HSDS: the passages concerned with the love between Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu; Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min.
...
I know quite a few wuxia readers/viewers don't like those scenes, they think that those are too mushy.
But I don't think so, IMO, romantic-stuff is integral to wuxia world. Without such romance, a work on wuxia would become very dry.

What do you think about romantic-stuff (or in other words: mushy-stuff) in a wuxia work? Necessary or Unnecessary?

[Serynsatina]

I think it's necessary, otherwise it would probably be focused completely on the plot, and plots in wuxia series are usually very fast-paced and overwhelming and involve lots of fighting, bloodshed, suicide, revenge, etc. We need a break every now and then and see some fluff. ^^

[GuGu]

of course it's necessary! if not, then most of the wuxia heros would be very lonely

[bellamia]

of course it's necessary! if not, then most of the wuxia heros would be very lonely

.....and you forgot to add boring!

I appreciate a good plot and good fighting. However, it's the romance that humanizes the characters. As the saying goes, “behind every great man is a great woman” so of course, the mushy stuffs matter. It’s important to see that it’s the woman that makes the man a better man.

[Candide]

As the saying goes eh? *looks down at signature*

Romance is essential to a hero's journey. It's a part of the theme. You have to have it, because everyone expects it.

[bellamia]

As the saying goes eh? *looks down at signature*

Romance is essential to a hero's journey. It's a part of the theme. You have to have it, because everyone expects it.

haha...I'm curious to hear from the men's perspective. They may not agree with us women. Though, no guy responds yet!

[Suet Seung]

What's a wuxia novel without some romance and comedy to even out the serious vengeance, tragedies, power struggles and etc?


Of course it's neccessary. Just the right sweetness just not too sweet. Romance and love is part of life, unless you're writing about monks and taoist and you know how boring that gets after a while.

[Bangs]

I love mushy stuff. YG for teh win!

[Ken Cheng]

Some of the LUK SIU FUNG books did very well with very little mushy material. It was done lightly, without dwelling on it, and was largely offset by *wu* and the *xia*.

LUK SIU FUNG is a great antidote to ROCH-style mushy excess.

[owbjhx]

Despite being a hard-drinking, football-watching alpha-male, I think romance is essential to modern wuxia.

Any of my fellow hairy brethren who disagree should read 'Outlaws of the Marsh'. That is crude, 200-proof, balls-to-the-wall bloodthirsty violence - think 100 consecutive chapters of TLBB's Juxianzhuang massacre - occasionally interrupted by scenes of men admiring one another's macho prowess. It's the sort of book Xiao Feng would have enjoyed (before he met A'Zhu and became a sissie, of course), and to be honest, I think it's sorely missing the feminine touch.

On a side note, I was flipping through the 3rd edition of 'Shen Diao' the other day, and it looks like Jinyong has really pumped up the mush factor. In Chapter 13, for instance, Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu have a long discussion about how many times a day they think of each other. (I can hear Ken Cheng vomiting already.)

[Yeung Gor]

Without love, this world would have lost all its meaning.

[Huang Rong]

Any of my fellow hairy brethren who disagree should read 'Outlaws of the Marsh'. That is crude, 200-proof, balls-to-the-wall bloodthirsty violence - think 100 consecutive chapters of TLBB's Juxianzhuang massacre - occasionally interrupted by scenes of men admiring one another's macho prowess. It's the sort of book Xiao Feng would have enjoyed (before he met A'Zhu and became a sissie, of course), and to be honest, I think it's sorely missing the feminine touch.

I think u're mentioning the novel "The Water Margin" (Shui Hu) here. I dislike that book, even though it is one of the most famous Chinese classics.
Killing, killing, killing and killing non-stop, that's nearly all that I've found in the book. I always feel so tired reading that kind of book.
But I dislike excessively mushy books such as: Hong Lou Meng,... too.
IMHO, a good wuxia work should have a balance between 2 factors "wuxia" and "romance".

[Candide]

Any of my fellow hairy brethren who disagree should read 'Outlaws of the Marsh'. That is crude, 200-proof, balls-to-the-wall bloodthirsty violence - think 100 consecutive chapters of TLBB's Juxianzhuang massacre - occasionally interrupted by scenes of men admiring one another's macho prowess. It's the sort of book Xiao Feng would have enjoyed (before he met A'Zhu and became a sissie, of course), and to be honest, I think it's sorely missing the feminine touch.

You forgot to mention cannibalism, which is often featured after some violent scenes.

[Sparky]

Romance is one of the most important parts of a wuxia novel

First of all, it is very interesting and of course appeals emotionally. Plus, romance is often what causes many of the conflicts in wuxia, and then with the conflicts, we can watch the hero show off his skills.

[K2Grey]

Mushy stuff is for women. Wuxia should put fire in a man's soul.

[redfirefly124]

I think mushy scenes in wuxia are good. Especially if they involve Guo Jing and Huang Rong.
I also agree with what Sparky said about romance causing conflicts, and watching the hero show off his skills.
~redfirefly124

[owbjhx]

But I dislike excessively mushy books such as: Hong Lou Meng,... too.

Hmmm, I wouldn't call 'Hong Lou Meng' mushy. Despite Jinyong being a wuxia writer, I'd say he writes *far* mushier stuff than anything in 'Hong Lou Meng', and that's not even counting the Yang Guo / Xiaolongnu relationship.

[Candide]

Yeah, despite the reputation, HLM isn't that lovey-dovey. It's more about family feuds.

[Huang Rong]

I know that it's one of the Fab Four of Chinese Classics. But I really can't stand the sloppy sentiments of Miss Lin Dayu, and the sissy guy Jia Baoyu. Er... I don't know what I should call Jia Baoyu, he or she?
If thrown in DGSD, I bet Jia Baoyu would beat Duanyu in terms of womanishness. And Lin Dayu would beat Wang Yuyan too.

[Candide]

That's why Baoyu was played by an actress dressed as a, well I suppose, man, in the mainland adaptation.