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Thread: Trying to get into wuxia

  1. #1
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    Default Trying to get into wuxia

    So, I'm a wuxia virgin and trying to get into the genre and use it to improve my Chinese skills. Somone suggested I read Jin Yong's Tian Long Ba Bu. Jin Yong is supposed to be the god of wuxia, whose books stand out for literary quality and psychological depth.

    I started reading and ... I'm just weirded out and confused by the way the main character behaves.

    OK, we first meet Duan Yu when he laughs at Gong Guangjie's feint. But he immediately realises that he's being impolite and puts his hand over his mouth to stop his laughter. "他隨即知道失態,忙伸手按住了口。" But suddenly when he talks to Zuo Zimu, he is really, really rude, with no explanation as to why his behavior has suddenly changed. We've known Duan Yu for, like, two minutes when the author is supposed to be establishing what sort of person he is and already I'm confused.

    Next, Duan Yu witnesses Gong Guangjie & Rong Ziju's horrible deaths without turning a hair. Wow, he's a cold-blooded mf, just goes on flirting with Zhong Ling'er. But as soon as Duan Yu gets outside, he suddenly decides to risk his life by asking the Shennongbang to spare the lives of the Wuliangjian because he's so compassionate. Where was his compassion five minutes ago?

    Then when Duan Yu gets to the chamber under the lake, he doesn't start desperately trying to find a way out (remember, he and Ling'er will both die horribly if he doesn't find a way out very soon)... he stares at the jade statue for "a long time", he stares at the calligraphy inscription for "a long time", then he stares at the jade statue for "a long time" again, then... he decides to kowtow 1000 times to the statue. Then he swears an oath to the jade statue to kill all members of the Xiaoyaopai, in complete contradiction to all of his nonviolent Buddhist beliefs!! Oh, then he stubles on a way out so maybe he and Ling'er won't die horribly after all. Usually, if a character in a novel was doomed, and then suddenly maybe wasn't doomed, there'd be some description of how he felt, like "Duan Yu was overjoyed, as now maybe he could save Ling'er's life and his own." But Jin Yong doesn't bother, he just moves on with the story in the very next sentence.

    Then Duan Yu gets to the valley, sees the "All Duans must die" sign, stupidly tells Ling'er's mother his real name... then he gets angry because she tells him to hide!Oh, now he's not angry again and agrees to hide. Oh, now he's angry again and yells out to Ling’er’s father that his name is Duan and I'm going to stop here.


    Does this stuff bother Chinese readers? Is Duan Yu meant to be a crazy character whose actions make no sense or does this stuff make sense in a Chinese cultural context?
    Last edited by NarHavass; 09-30-17 at 04:07 PM.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Snafu3721's Avatar
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    For a 1st timer, you sure dove into Wuxia hard and rough

    Wuxia as a genre requires a suspension of modern day belief systems and behavioral mores. Imagine the world of Superhero comics... The people in that world live with demi-gods that act very particular. Yet it is acceptable and is what makes the genre enjoyable

    As for TLBB and Dan Yu-- he's disliked by some readers who characterize him as very annoying for the reasons you have brought up. He's a bit naive, comes from royalty, and is easily obsessed with material beauty. But because of these character traits, it allows him to develop and interact with the other odd characters you'll soon be seeing.

    There is no best way to ready JY wuxia.
    But I think a good way to get into his style and sort of ease into Wuxia in general is by starting with The Condor Trilogy. This is just my opinion

    TLBB is a bit out there and I personally think it is best read after the trilogy (and then view it as a sort of related Prequel).

    Then you should definitely read SPW. The other books are then up to you.

    You can also start some GuLong, who has a very different style

  3. #3
    Senior Member CC's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NarHavass View Post
    So, I'm a wuxia virgin and trying to get into the genre and use it to improve my Chinese skills. Somone suggested I read Jin Yong's Tian Long Ba Bu. Jin Yong is supposed to be the god of wuxia, whose books stand out for literary quality and psychological depth.

    I started reading and ... I'm just weirded out and confused by the way the main character behaves.
    Yes, the starting chapters of TLBB and DY made for an annoying start to what I feel is JY's best novel.

    Just hang in there till Qiao Feng shows up and you be glad you read it.
    Its BIxie Jianfa Gawdammit you guys!!!!

  4. #4
    Senior Member Ian Liew's Avatar
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    I'd start with a Gu Long if you're trying to improve your Chinese - the writing is much easier to read as there's more script-like dialogue and less narrative exposition. It's easier to read line after line of conversation text, than whole paragraphs when you're first starting out.

    After you've finished your first Gu Long, then you can try a Jin Yong. It took me two weeks to finish Xiakexing when I first started, and only a week to finish Silver Hook Casino - which was far easier to read.

    I'd also agree that TLBB isn't necessarily the best story JY wrote, nor is the plot particularly coherent initially as it jumps between characters too much for my liking. It does get better, but starting with the Condor Heroes, Smiling Proud Wanderer, or even Flying Fox would be much easier.

  5. #5
    Moderator kidd's Avatar
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    I agree with Ian Liew. Read a Gu Long book first or start with a shorter Jin Yong book like Xia Ke Xing. XKX was actually the first wuxia novel I read, and the first chinese novel I read. My chinese reading improved a lot after finishing this novel. And I can blame the 'abnormal' things SPT did as a result of his very isolated upbringing.

    When choosing a Gu Long book, remember to choose book written during his 2nd and 3rd writing phase. He only changed his style mid-way in his writing career. His earlier books were written in quite classical/traditional way, and even harder to read that Jin Yong's novels (e.g. Hu Hua Ling). Try start with the Lu Xiao Feng series. Those are short and easy to read.
    Last edited by kidd; 10-05-17 at 02:15 AM.
    什麼是朋友?朋友永遠是在你犯下不可原諒錯誤的時候,仍舊站在你那邊的笨蛋。~ 王亞瑟

    和諧唔係一百個人講同一番話,係一百個人有一百句唔同嘅說話,而又互相尊重 ~ - 葉梓恩

  6. #6
    Senior Member mawguy's Avatar
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    @NarHarvass that's so great that you've decided to try out wuxia! sorry that you've hit a snag on your first attempt!

    i agree with other members that while TLBB is a great work (and you'll find that out further into the story), it's probably not the best one to read as your introduction into wuxia and into JY. if you are only interested in JY, then i agree with the suggestion of the condor trilogy. the first set of books (she diao yingxiong zhuan), especially, are more standard format and will give a good idea about the genre.

    given that you were able to follow the story of TLBB sufficiently to complain about it, i think your chinese is sufficient to read other novels by other authors who follow the more conventional wuxia format, for example, wolong sheng or liang yusheng. that is, if you're interested in the genre itself and not just jin yong. if you're interested in recommendations by authors such as the ones mentioned, please let us know!

    gu long is very easy to read, but he can be very off-putting to newcomers because he has a very different style of writing, of format, of storyline, and it's not to everyone's taste. his earlier works follow the more traditional format, so you can probably try out huhua ling or wulin waishi, for example. but if you're looking for typical wuxia format, he's not your best bet.

    so, let us know what your interests are! it's very exciting to know there might be a new person to join in discussions, and we definitely don't want to lose you yet!
    nostalgic for wuxiasociety? http://wuxiasociety.freeforums.net/

  7. #7
    Moderator kidd's Avatar
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    Gu Long started writing his 2nd phase novels around mid 60s. Seeing that it's already 50 years long and him being one of the big 3 of modern wuxia novelists, his style/format/storyline should have already been accepted as part of wuxia format. In fact, I have read some work by other authors that reminds of GL's style. One of them is Wen Rui An's.
    什麼是朋友?朋友永遠是在你犯下不可原諒錯誤的時候,仍舊站在你那邊的笨蛋。~ 王亞瑟

    和諧唔係一百個人講同一番話,係一百個人有一百句唔同嘅說話,而又互相尊重 ~ - 葉梓恩

  8. #8
    Senior Member Ian Liew's Avatar
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    As Ian opened the book, the words came to life.

    Were they just words? Or could they portray the true emotions of the characters depicted? Ian smiled to himself - the English translations didn't let him down, and neither would the original text.

    The minutes passed, and before he knew it, he had spent an hour reading.

    An hour. Some people live a lifetime in an hour.

    But not everyone had a Gu Long novel in their hand. The plot beckoned. Dinner could wait.



    So yeah, if you don't mind reading that style of writing, then you should have no trouble reading Gu Long.

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    Flying Fox of the Snowy Mountain is a good one to start too. It gives a unique feeling.

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