The Ming Emperor in THE DUEL

[Ken Cheng]

In wuxia fiction, Chinese emperors are generally depicted as being clueless about the martial world. The Ming Emperor in LUK SIU FUNG, Vol. 3: THE DUEL was a scholarly type, but he was also very knowledgeable about matters in the martial world. For example, he knew whom Sai Mun Chui Sheut and Yip Goo Sing were, and recognized Yip Goo Sing's Celestial Angel Sword Technique. Moreover, even Yip Goo Sing respected the Emperor's courage, strength of character, and wisdom, and observed that if the Emperor had been a martial artist, he would have been among the ten best martial artists in the world of the time. How did this emperor become so knowledgeable about the world of martial arts?

[Trien Chieu]

I think the Emperor is Wanli, who was very capable when he was young but neglect the kingdom entirely later on.

[Suet Seung]

I think the Emperor is Wanli, who was very capable when he was young but neglect the kingdom entirely later on.

Totally missed the question posted above. Was he even asking for who the that emperor is? Wanli? Which dynasty emperor are you referring to?

[Trien Chieu]

Totally missed the question posted above. Was he even asking for who the that emperor is? Wanli? Which dynasty emperor are you referring to?

I didn't answer his question. I just made a comment.

[flymikee]

the 4 guards protecting the emperor were all famous martial artists, its possible that they tell stories about jianghu to the emperor, not to mention the other bodyguards who didnt show up till the last second(forgot their name, but i think there was 7 of them),

[Ian Liew]

Totally missed the question posted above. Was he even asking for who the that emperor is? Wanli? Which dynasty emperor are you referring to?

Wanli was a Ming dynasty emperor - he reigned for around 40 years, the 1st half being a good emperor with 20 years of development, and his later 20 years being terrible. He was so corpulent that he couldn't walk and had to be carried. Wanli irrevocably set in chain the events which would destroy the Ming dynasty by the time Chongzhen inherited the throne, as both Taichang and Tianqi did nothing to stop, and probably even hastened, the slide.

The Emperor must have known that his guards were all going to be away that night (you couldn't just leave the palace empty without informing his majesty). Wei Zhiyun and his friends might have given him a detailed report on who was dueling, their background, their skills, the significance of the duel and why all the guards HAD to go and watch this once-in-a-lifetime match. It says a lot for the Emperor's self-restraint (or his lack of interest in martial arts) that he wasn't on the rooftop himself, really.

[Ken Cheng]

Wanli was a Ming dynasty emperor - he reigned for around 40 years, the 1st half being a good emperor with 20 years of development, and his later 20 years being terrible. He was so corpulent that he couldn't walk and had to be carried. Wanli irrevocably set in chain the events which would destroy the Ming dynasty by the time Chongzhen inherited the throne, as both Taichang and Tianqi did nothing to stop, and probably even hastened, the slide.

The Emperor must have known that his guards were all going to be away that night (you couldn't just leave the palace empty without informing his majesty). Wei Zhiyun and his friends might have given him a detailed report on who was dueling, their background, their skills, the significance of the duel and why all the guards HAD to go and watch this once-in-a-lifetime match. It says a lot for the Emperor's self-restraint (or his lack of interest in martial arts) that he wasn't on the rooftop himself, really.

I bet those imperial guards also abandoned the emperor last night so they could find out where LeBron would play next season.

[hyoyatika]

I bet those imperial guards also abandoned the emperor last night so they could find out where LeBron would play next season.

I wonder where will LeBron play next season...

[Trien Chieu]

Wanli was a Ming dynasty emperor - he reigned for around 40 years, the 1st half being a good emperor with 20 years of development, and his later 20 years being terrible. He was so corpulent that he couldn't walk and had to be carried. Wanli irrevocably set in chain the events which would destroy the Ming dynasty by the time Chongzhen inherited the throne, as both Taichang and Tianqi did nothing to stop, and probably even hastened, the slide.

The Emperor must have known that his guards were all going to be away that night (you couldn't just leave the palace empty without informing his majesty). Wei Zhiyun and his friends might have given him a detailed report on who was dueling, their background, their skills, the significance of the duel and why all the guards HAD to go and watch this once-in-a-lifetime match. It says a lot for the Emperor's self-restraint (or his lack of interest in martial arts) that he wasn't on the rooftop himself, really.

Luk Siu Fung is written by Gu Long. Pretty much all Gu Long's novels take place during the Ming Dynasty. Wudang and Emei sects appear in pretty much all of his novels and based on how the characters dress, they are not belong to the Qing Dynasty. The country is also not in civil war with the Mongols. Ming Dynasty is pretty much the only possible choice.

[mawguy]

looked through some notes from an old discussion about this. one reader very astutely pointed out that there is explicit reference to Japan's Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣 秀吉, March 17, 1537 – September 18, 1598) in the LXF books, therefore, the books occurred during the Ming Wanli Emperor's reign. of course, like others have pointed out, GL is vague and inconsistent with his historical references, though this reference and other hints do point to the Ming as being the most likely dynasty in which the LXF stories are set.

[Ken Cheng]

Additionally, characters in the LUK SIU FUNG and DAGGER LEE novel series are observed smoking what appears to be tobacco. This would be possible only after the beginning of the 1500s, when the Chinese could have acquired tobacco from European traders who had, in turn, acquired tobacco from the Western Hemisphere after the voyages of Columbus during the 1490s.

[Ian Liew]

The only era-wise error Gu Long made in the Duel was his reference to the Taihedian, which was only renamed as such during the Qing Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, if I'm not mistaken, it would have been called the Fengtiandian. Nevertheless, it was pretty obvious that it was the Ming Dynasty setting - I'm not even sure if the Qing Dynasty had those Jinyiwei brocaded guards.

[mawguy]

yes, while there would've been guards at the palace for all emperors, the term "jinyiwei" (gum yee wai) is specific to the ming emperors' guards/secret service.