Six Degrees of Separation in wuxia

[Han Solo]

"Six degrees of separation" is a common phrase, heck they even made a movie out of it with Will Smith in it.

Based on the work on Milgram, this phrase taken to its extreme implies that every person in this world is connected to another person through no more than six separate other friends/families/acquintance.

This is truly a very astounding fact that is true as well in the way the neurons in the brain wired together, or how the internet linked with each other etc.

I'm sure most of you all have heard of the Oracle of Kevin Bacon, where ppl attempt to link all actors in Hollywood with Kevin Bacon?

Well in this game of six degree of separation in Wuxia, take GJ in JY, i challenge you all to find a character in JY that takes more than six steps to link to GJ.

Good Luck,
Han Solo

[Ardor]

WXB?

[ruroshin]

Originally posted by Ardor
WXB?

hrm,

1. WXB used a poison created by AYF
2. AYF was a "father" to YG
3. YG vs GJ ok YG was briefly raised by GJ.

only 3 steps, did I do that right?

do short story count? Try and link the Yuen maiden.

[rabadi]

Originally posted by ruroshin
do short story count? Try and link the Yuen maiden.

Here's the link: Yueh Maiden's monkey was ZWJ's gorilla's ancestor j/k

[Laviathan]

Di Yun from Link Cities...?

Shi Potian of Ode to Gallantry?

Yuan Guannan of Yuanyang Sabers?

Li Wenxiu of White Horse?

Hu Fei?

Chen Jialuo?

[Laviathan]

Originally posted by ruroshin
do short story count? Try and link the Yuen maiden.

The seventh teacher (female one) of Guo Jing was a practitioner of the Yue Maiden Sword. Guo Jing himself learned this style.

[PJ]

Let's try Shi Potian of Ode to Gallantry

1. Shi Potian lives with Xie Yanke for several years.
2. Xie Yanke practices a martial art called "Tan Zhi Shen Tong"
3. this art, of course, is Huang Yaoshi's signature style
4. Huang Yaoshi is Guo Jing's father-in-law

[Laviathan]

Originally posted by PJ
Let's try Shi Potian of Ode to Gallantry

1. Shi Potian lives with Xie Yanke for several years.
2. Xie Yanke practices a martial art called "Tan Zhi Shen Tong"
3. this art, of course, is Huang Yaoshi's signature style
4. Huang Yaoshi is Guo Jing's father-in-law

A bit far-fetched, innit? Then I could say:
1. Chen Jialuo was from the province of Zhejiang
2. Guo Jing's mum was also from Zhejiang

Xie's Tanzhi Shentong is probably not the same as Huang's, does that still count?

[convoy]

Well,

Li Wenxiu is a character in a novel by Jin Yong.
Guo Jing is also a character in a novel by Jin Yong.

[KJ]

Let's try Shi Potian of Ode to Gallantry
1. Shi Potian lives with Xie Yanke for several years.
2. Xie Yanke practices a martial art called "Tan Zhi Shen Tong"
3. this art, of course, is Huang Yaoshi's signature style
4. Huang Yaoshi is Guo Jing's father-in-law

Doesn't it have to be a direct connection. Something like,
1. Shi Potian lives with Xie Yanke for several years.
2. Huang Yao Shi taught Xie Yanke a martial art called "Tan Zhi Shen Tong" (of course, this can't be possible since the time difference is too great, but that's the idea.)
3. Huang Yaoshi is Guo Jing's father-in-law

[PJ]

yeah you guys are right, I should think of a more direct connection. Let me ponder for some time...

[Ardor]

I think it has to be within 100 years of Guo Jing's existance for it to be linked in some way...

[PJ]

actually, maybe my attempt wasn't so far-fetched..

Laviathan linked GJ's 7th teacher to learning Yue Maiden sword

I linked Xie Yanke to learning Tan Zhi Shen Tong (of Huang Yaoshi).

only diff is we don't know if those 2 Divine Snaps are of the same origin. But they *might* be, so I assume they are for my benefit of the doubt.

The only other link of XKX to Trilogy I can think of is Zhang Sanfeng. A rather pathetic link could be created as such:

-Priest Yu Cha of Wu Dang presumably learned Tai Chi style passed down by Zhang Sanfeng
-Zhang Sanfeng has met Yang Guo
-Yang Guo to Guo Jing is easy

But that is like cheating, since most novels after HSDS have Wudang sect, and somebody would have learned ZSF's martial arts...

[Laviathan]

PJ: But that is like cheating, since most novels after HSDS have Wudang sect, and somebody would have learned ZSF's martial arts...

Nah, it's OK I guess. Shi Potian really can be linked to Guo Jing according to your example:

1. Shi Potian is the fiance of Bai Xiu
2. Bai Xiu is the granddaughter of Bai Zizai
3. Bai Zizai sparred with priest Yucha of Wudang on Gallant Island
4. Priest Yucha traces his lineage to Zhang Sanfeng
5. Zhang Sanfeng met Guo Jing on Huashan when he was teenager

Same goes for Hu Fei:

1. Hu Fei learned Taiji principles from Zhao Banshan and swore brotherhood with him
2. Zhao Banshan is the Taiji authority during the reign of Qing emperor Qianlong
3. Zhang Sanfeng is the founder of Taiji
4. Zhang Sanfeng met Guo Jing on Huashan when he was teenager

[rabadi]

Originally posted by Laviathan
2. Zhao Banshan is the Taiji authority during the reign of Qing emperor Qianlong
3. Zhang Sanfeng is the founder of Taiji

Long time ago I asked Athena about Zhao Banshan and his Taichi skill. I can't remember the detail, but I think she mentioned that Zhao's Taichi skill was somehow not connected to Wudang's Taichi or something. In other words, Zhao Banshan had no direct connection to Wudang at the time except that Hidden Needle Liu from Wudang was one of his best friends. Sorry I can't remember more clearly. Athena would be the best to answer this if she is around. Perhaps JY made changes in the revision or something.

[SolidSnake]

How about the eldest of Guangdong 6 Devils (a character in Book and Sword) ?

[Han Solo]

Originally posted by Laviathan
Nah, it's OK I guess. Shi Potian really can be linked to Guo Jing according to your example:

1. Shi Potian is the fiance of Bai Xiu
2. Bai Xiu is the granddaughter of Bai Zizai
3. Bai Zizai sparred with priest Yucha of Wudang on Gallant Island
4. Priest Yucha traces his lineage to Zhang Sanfeng
5. Zhang Sanfeng met Guo Jing on Huashan when he was teenager

Same goes for Hu Fei:

1. Hu Fei learned Taiji principles from Zhao Banshan and swore brotherhood with him
2. Zhao Banshan is the Taiji authority during the reign of Qing emperor Qianlong
3. Zhang Sanfeng is the founder of Taiji
4. Zhang Sanfeng met Guo Jing on Huashan when he was teenager

Yup, I was also thinking about the Tai Chi connection, and the same can also be used for Chen Jia Lao.

Anyway, Shi Po Tian can also be connected via the following:
1) Shi Po Tian fought with the two island masters
2)... whose disciples blocked Shaolin's gate for ages...
3) where JY once resided...
4) who met GJ at the 2nd Huashan tournament.

Not really statisfying the person to person contact, but i guess that you can't really ask for more, given the lack of details of everyone that ever exist in a JY story.

Btw, it is interesting to note that the bigger the sample size that you have, the easier it is (relative to the total population), to link up everyone.

How about the eldest of Guangdong 6 Devils (a character in Book and Sword) ?

The link would have to be via Chen Jia Lao, i think.

Di Yun from Link Cities...?

Yuan Guannan of Yuanyang Sabers?

Li Wenxiu of White Horse?

Don't know..... Anyone?

When i made the challenge, i know that it is going to be hard to make connections to those stand alone novels.

Enjoy,
Han Solo

[SolidSnake]

Originally posted by Han Solo

3) where JY once resided...
4) who met GJ at the 2nd Huashan tournament.


The link would have to be via Chen Jia Lao, i think.

Let see:

1. Eldest of Guangdong 6 devils wants to take revenge for his junior brother..
2. ..whom was killed by HQT..
3. ..whom is in love with CJL..
4. ..whom is the foster son of YMT..
5. ..whom was a shaolin disciple..
6. ..where once resided a person JY..
7. ..who met GJ at Huashan.

That's 7 step. Can we make it shorter?

[Han Solo]

Well, CJL fought in Shaolin. So that's one less step.