History Main / Wuxia

Although some ''wuxia'' stories are set in modern times, or even the future, most take place in the "Martial Arts World" of ''Jiānghú'' (江湖 - literally "waterfront") a fantasy AlternateHistory of ImperialChina. The ''Jianghu'' is a "shared universe", populated by martial-artists and monks, [[KnightErrant wandering knights]] and beautiful princesses, thieves and beggars, priests and healers, merchants and craftsmen. The best ''wuxia'' writers draw a vivid picture of the intricate relationships of honour, loyalty, love and hate between individuals and between communities in this milieu. It is implicit that law and government are unjust, ineffective and/or corrupt, requiring the ''xia'' to settle differences by force moderated only by their chivalrous code, and often forcing them to live as outlaws despite their noble characters. In modern Chinese, perhaps as a result of these connotations of a separate world with its own rules, the term ''jianghu'' has taken on other meanings, including [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs the underworld or criminal gangs]].

Although some ''wuxia'' stories are set in modern times, or even the future, most take place in the "Martial Arts World" of ''Jiānghú'' (江湖 - literally "rivers and lakes") a fantasy AlternateHistory of ImperialChina. The ''Jianghu'' is a "shared universe", populated by martial-artists and monks, [[KnightErrant wandering knights]] and beautiful princesses, thieves and beggars, priests and healers, merchants and craftsmen. The best ''wuxia'' writers draw a vivid picture of the intricate relationships of honour, loyalty, love and hate between individuals and between communities in this milieu. It is implicit that law and government are unjust, ineffective and/or corrupt, requiring the ''xia'' to settle differences by force moderated only by their chivalrous code, and often forcing them to live as outlaws despite their noble characters. In modern Chinese, perhaps as a result of these connotations of a separate world with its own rules, the term ''jianghu'' has taken on other meanings, including [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs the underworld or criminal gangs]].

One of the oldest genres in Chinese literature, wǔxiá (武侠 - literally "martial-arts chivalry" or "martial arts heroes", and pronounced ''roughly'' [[http://tinyurl.com/wuxia woo-seeah]] in [[ChineseLanguage Mandarin]]) stories are tall tales of honourable warriors (侠 ''xiá'') fighting against evil, whether it be an individual villain, or a corrupt government. Notable for melodrama, [[ImplausibleFencingPowers spectacular swordplay]], and [[{{WireFu}} high-flying]] [[EverybodyWasKungFuFighting martial arts]].

[[UsefulNotes/{{China}} China]]'s version of HighFantasy and HeroicFantasy.

Contrast HeroicBloodshed and [[ChopSockey Modern Martial Arts Movie]].

* ''{{Journey to the West}}'', and ''DragonBall'', which was based on it.

[[AC:Games]]
* The ''DynastyWarriors'' series, obviously, since it's an action-based adaptation of ''RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms''. Also notable in that, for someone who's not familiar with the original novel, the feats the characters in the games perform seem absolutely ridiculous, while reading the novel, you can tell that, yes, that's the way they were originally portrayed.
* Some [[FightingGame fighting games]] have been influenced by this genre.
* ''JadeEmpire'' is probably the most notable video-game example.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* ''WaterMargin'', a novel dating from the fourteenth century, is probably the earliest example, although it is clearly based on even earlier folk stories. Especially influential in defining the ''Jiānghú'' world.
* ''RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'', again probably written during the fourteenth century, but based on earlier histories.
* ''JourneyToTheWest'', still another classic novel, probably fifteenth century in this case, also based on earlier folk stories.
* The novels and short stories of JinYong, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gu_Long Gu Long]], and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liang_Yusheng Liang Yusheng]], the great masters of modern ''wuxia'' literature.
* One of the legends in ''HitherbyDragons'' is a ''wuxia'' parody/homage.

[[UsefulNotes/{{China}} China]]'s answer to HighFantasy or HeroicFantasy.

HighFantasy or HeroicFantasy, essentially, [[UsefulNotes/{{China}} in China]].

* As a genre which is focused on awesome stunts, personal interactions, and a small group of people being vastly more powerful than anyone else, Wuxia has inspired a number of RPGs:

One of the oldest genres in Chinese literature, wǔxiá (武侠 - literally "martial-arts chivalry" or "martial arts heroes", and pronounced ''roughly'' [[http://tinyurl.com/wuxia woo-seeah]] in [[ChineseLanguage Mandarin]]) stories are tall tales of honourable warriors (侠 ''xiá'') fighting against evil, whether it be an individual villain, or a corrupt government. Notable for melodrama, spectacular swordplay, and [[{{WireFu}} high-flying]] [[EverybodyWasKungFuFighting martial arts]].

One of the oldest genres in Chinese literature, wǔxiá (武侠 - literally "martial-arts chivalry" or "martial arts heroes", and pronounced ''roughly'' [[http://tinyurl.com/wuxia woo-seeah]] in [[ChineseLanguage Mandarin]]) stories are tall tales of honourable warriors (侠 ''xiá'') fighting against evil, whether it be an individual villain, or a corrupt government. Notable for melodrama, spectacular swordplay, and [[{{WireFu}} high-flying martial arts]].

[[index]]
Common tropes include:

[[/index]]
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* The ''Chinese Ghost Story'' series has more of a fantasy element than most stories in the ''wuxia'' genre.

* ''FistOfTheNorthStar'' has all the elements of ''wuxia''... other than being set in a post-nuclear-apocalyptic Earth that has no law in the first place, rather than a corrupt one. Its {{Prequel}} ''FistOfTheBlueSky'' is actually closer in style and spirit to classical ''wuxia'' being set in Shanghai during the twilight years of classical China helps.

Although some ''wuxia'' stories are set in modern times, or even the future, most take place in the "Martial Arts World" of ''Jiānghú'' (江湖 - literally "rivers and lakes") a fantasy AlternateHistory of ImperialChina. The ''Jianghu'' is a "shared universe", populated by martial-artists and monks, [[KnightErrant wandering knights]] and beautiful princesses, thieves and beggars, priests and healers, merchants and craftsmen. The best ''wuxia'' writers draw a vivid picture of the intricate relationships of honour, loyalty, love and hate between individuals and between communities in this milieu. It is implicit that law and government are unjust, ineffective and/or corrupt, requiring the ''xia'' to settle differences by force moderated only by their chivalrous code, and often forcing them to live as outlaws despite their noble characters. In modern Chinese, perhaps as a result of these connotations of a separate world with its own rules, the term ''jianghu'' has taken on other meanings, including the underworld or criminal gangs.

A more romantic term known as ''Wulin'' (武林 - literally "Warrior's Forests") is used when one wants to talk specifically about the world of martial artists and warriors ''specifically'', divorced from the [[TheTriadsAndTheTongs ugly connotations of criminality]] that ''jianghu'' has come to embody. ''Wulin'' is basically a majestic way of saying "The World of Warriors."

A more romantic term known as ''Wulin'' (武林 - literally "Warrior's Forests") is used when one wants to talk specifically about the world of martial artists and warriors ''specifically'', divorced from the ugly connotations of criminality that ''jianghu'' has come to embody. ''Wulin'' is basically a majestic way of saying "The World of Warriors."

* No love for {{Exalted}}? Its stunts, martial arts and Charms are specifically set up to support wuxia-style play.

* No love for [[Exalted]]? Its stunts, martial arts and Charms are specifically set up to support wuxia-style play.