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Classic Wuxia Novels


paimeifist

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On 2/10/2018 at 11:24 PM, NoKUNGFUforYU said:

Has anyone ever found a copy of Evergreen, the original southern Shaolin novel?

If Evergreen is available, it would probably be only in Chinese.  Searching on the internet, I can only find "Query about the wuxia novel 'Evergreen' " at - http://www.spcnet.tv/forums/showthread.php/5827-Query-about-the-wuxia-novel-quot-Evergreen-quot  

Read that - “The late Qing Dynasty martial arts novel Evergreen (the only Qing novel that discussed Shaolin) goes into some details about the [Shaolin/Wudang] conflict: the hostilities were first manifest in a series of local murders, then later the Qing court drew on the support of Wudang disciples to destroy the Shaolin monastery in Fujian by fire. Two popular stories were first recorded in Evergreen:  the story of Fang Shiyu’s boxing duel, and the story of Hu Huiqian’s attack on a textile mill.”   There's that and some more from Evergreen  in "A Study of the Hong Kong Martial arts Film:  The 4th Hong Kong International Film Festival publication, 1980, page 62.

"Later, Li Erhuan (the sister-in-law of Lei Laohu and the second daughter of Li Bashan) offered her services to the Emperor Qian Long, who was travelling the south incognito on a tour of inspection, she wishes to avenge the deaths of her sister, brother-in-law and father, all killed by Shaolin disciples.  Qian Long was glad to take the opportunity of enlisting the support of such Wudang masters as Feng Daode and Bai Mai in putting an end to the Shaolin Monastery in Fujian.  The Shaolin heroes Fang Shiyu, Hu Huiqian and Zhi Shan were all said to have died in the blaze.  However, since Evergreen was written during (and not after) the Qing Dynasty, the Shaolin heroes were described in its pages as "violent rebels" who "were justly executed"; any other way of putting it would have brought the author a government prosecution.  That is why he ended the last chapter of his book with the lines:

"The subversives are quelled, Order is restored,

Long live the infinite virtues of the Emperor"  "

Edited by whitesnake
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NoKUNGFUforYU

Wow!! I had no idea that the Shaolin heroes would be the villains in the novel. I believe that they are all creations of the triads to lend legitimacy to their criminal empires, to the point that they have become "historical figures", like a Daniel Boone in the USA. I know that sounds a little harsh, but the Hung name is intertwined to the gangs, martial arts and Huing Hsi Kwan. I can't remember where I read it, but others have thought the same thing with pretty good reason. Also, they can only find the Northern Shaolin Temple. PS, that doesn't mean I thought all Kung Fu masters have a connection or even had a connection to the triads. Lam Sai Wing was well known for fighting gangsters and refusing to pay protection money to this day, according to my relatives from HK. Also trained bladesman for the Chinese Army that the Japanese feared.

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Chu Liu Hsiang
On 10.2.2018 at 8:53 PM, whitesnake said:

It's out - the English translation of Jin Yong's Legend of the Condor Heroes, Vol.1.  It's on Amazon.com - A Hero Born: Volume 1 of The Condor Heroes, translated by Anna Holmwood, published by MacLehose Press.  Amazon.com lists a used hardback copy with an asking price of $1710 (already).  So as of a couple of minutes ago, I ordered a used pb copy (at a much cheaper price), shipping from the UK.  Or order it here - 

https://www.amazon.co.uk 

Book review and illustrated article here - 

http://www.dramapanda.com/2018/02/book-review-of-legend-of-condor-heroes.html

Legend of the Condor Heroes 1 A Hero Born Book Review

Thanks for the cue! It's still conveniently priced on amazon.de too. 

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Now that Legends of the Condor Heroes Vol.1 has been published, it's in stock at Amazon.com, for almost $10 more than 2 weeks ago.  This is the first of 12 translated novels planned in the series:  Legends of the Condor Heroes (4 books), Return of the Condor Heroes (4 books), and Heaven Sword, Dragon Sabre (4 books).  They will be published one novel a year, so if you persist, you'll finish the series in 2029.  Vol.1 includes a list of characters and some nice illos.  The translation is very good.  I should watch The Brave Archer #1 again, with Fu Sheng as the hero, Guo Jing.  (Scenes from Brave Archer 1 kept flashing through my mind as I found those scenes in A Hero Born.)   

Legend of the Condor Heroes Vol.2: A Bond Undone is available for pre-order  (due eleven months from now) at www.amazon.co.uk.  The website has a link you can click to "Deliver to United States".  

51FMH73pZHL._SX320_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

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I wonder if these books are cut as in the French translation, where just in a middle of the fight, you have a line such as " they fought for one hour"  and then, it jumps to another situation ir chapter without even saying who won the fight...

The French translation is also in 2 books.

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Chu Liu Hsiang

I wonder that too, and dearly hope they are not cut. Happy as I was to get at least a French translation, it was a bitter disappoinment to learn they were cut.

Another cut translation is Les Quatre Brigands de Huabei (Happy Heroes, Gu Long), translated by Christine Corniot, éditions Philippe Picquier, which is missing the last chapter(s). I only realized that after watching Taiwanese movie adaption Brotherhood of Heroes. It is still a really good read, and ends with a satisfying conclusion. I would not hesitate to recommend it (as long as there is no complete translation).

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On 5/3/2018 at 9:03 AM, Chu Liu Hsiang said:

Another cut translation is Les Quatre Brigands de Huabei

I'm ashamed to confess that I have bought this one a while ago and still haven't found time to read it !!

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Chu Liu Hsiang

"The Gripping Stories, and Political Allegories, of China’s Best-Selling Author" - article on Jin Yong/ Louis Cha published by "The New Yorker" writer Nick Frisch on April 13, 2018.

https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-gripping-stories-and-political-allegories-of-chinas-best-selling-author

I tried to find the 2014 interview mentioned in the article but no luck so far.

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Chu Liu Hsiang

French publisher Libraire You Feng issued the 3rd tome of Jin Yong's Tian Long Ba Bu (Semi Gods and Demi Devils). As much as I appreciate what they are doing, I hope they will also bring some more Gu Long novels in the future.

 

 

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Reminder - A Bond Undone: Legends of the Condor Heroes Vol. 2 in trade paperback, by Jin Yong, translated by Gigi Chang, is now available for pre-order at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bond-Undone-Legends-Condor-Heroes/dp/0857054619/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1543462217&sr=1-1&keywords=legend+of+the+condor+heroes

Release date is 24 January 2019.  There's an option to ship it to the U.S.  Maybe it can be shipped to other countries too.  Also available on Kindle.

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I finally ordered Tian Long Ba Bu ffrom a books shop today. I should receive it in around ten days !

I'm very impatient to get it, thought I still don't know when I'll be able to find a while to read it...

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Chu Liu Hsiang
16 hours ago, ShawAngela said:

I finally ordered Tian Long Ba Bu ffrom a books shop today. I should receive it in around ten days !

I'm very impatient to get it, thought I still don't know when I'll be able to find a while to read it...

When I was a child I felt  it was sooo unfair that time did not  stop while I was reading, because I lost any sense in time anyway while immersed in a book. I still think that would be a really nice feature :) 

Legend of the Condor Heroes Volume III has been announced for February 2020! 

51LlpK1tRPL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Snake-Lies-Waiting-Legends-Condor/dp/0857054627?

 

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3 hours ago, Chu Liu Hsiang said:

When I was a child I felt  it was sooo unfair that time did not  stop while I was reading, because I lost any sense in time anyway while immersed in a book. I still think that would be a really nice feature :) 

Exactly the same as me !! I'm a mad reader, I have a lot of books and it sometimes happens that I read two books in a day !!

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It looks like the Jin Yong English translations are getting different covers for the American-published editions.  Amazon has A Hero Born available in hardcover, Audible Audiobook, and Kindle, as of September 17, 2019.  A Hero Born hardback  cover - 

51%2BEUPkkbqL._SX334_BO1,204,203,200_.jp

A Hero Born paperback will be published March 10, 2020 - 

51NrfTF3d%2BL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jp

A Bond Undone - Audible Audiobook, Kindle and paperback on March 24, 2020 -  

A Bond Undone: The Definitive Edition

And here's a rare edition (really, it's listed just like this - "A Hero Born published in hardcover by MacLehose Press - 1878 " -  at https://www.amazon.com/Hero-Born-Condor-Heroes-2017-01-26/dp/B01N1EZBV4/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=a+hero+born+by+jin+yong&qid=1578198693&sr=8-5       

51O8WqvcI7L._SX316_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

 

Edited by whitesnake
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Here's Gu Long's filmography. I'm assuming where it says "Story," he did the source novel, and "Writer" means he did the screenplay. His life was tragically short--he died in 1985.

Filmography (1971-2016)
 
  Production Manager (1 film)
    The Story of Lu Sheau-Feng (1981)    
 
  Producer (4 films)
    The Romantic Double Rings (1979)    
    Chu Liu Hsiang and Hu Tieh Hua (1980)    
    Awe Inspiring Weapon (1980)    
    The Story of Lu Sheau-Feng (1981)    
 
  Story (73 films)
    Swordsman at Large (1971)    
    The Magic Blade (1976)    
    Killer Clans (1976)    
    The One-Armed Swordsmen (1976)    
    To Kill a Jaguar (1977)    
    Pursuit of Vengeance (1977)    
    Death Duel (1977)    
    The Sentimental Swordsman (1977)    
    Pai Yu-Ching (1977)    
    The Lost Swordship (1977)    
    Clans of Intrigue (1977)    
    Clutch of Power (1977)    
    Jade Tiger (1977)    
    Swordsman and Enchantress (1978)    
    Witty Hand, Witty Sword (1978)    
    The Master and the Kid (1978)    
    Clan of Amazons (1978)    
    Legend of the Bat (1978)    
    Big Land, Flying Eagles (1978)    
    Desperate Killer (1978)    
    Full Moon Scimitar (1979)    
    The Proud Twins (1979)    
    Love and Sword (1979)    
    Murder Plot (1979)    
    Wanderer with Nimble Knife (1979)    
    The Silver Spear (1979)    
    The Legend of Broken Sword (1979)    
    Lu Hsiao Fury (1979)    
    Middle Kingdom's Mark-of-Blood (1979)    
    Flying Sword Lee (1979)    
    The Romantic Double Rings (1979)    
    A Sword Shot at the Sun (1979)    
    The Deadly Sword (1980)    
    The Young Moon Legend (1980)    
    Heroes Shed No Tears (1980)    
    Bruce Tuan's 7 Promises (1980)    
    A Brotherhood of Heroes (1980)    
    Fight for Glory (1980)    
    Legend of Chu Liu Hsiang (1980)    
    Chu Liu Hsiang and Hu Tieh Hua (1980)    
    The Sword of Justice (1980)    
    Legend of Lu Xiao-Fong (1980)    
    Beauty Escort (1981)    
    Return of the Sentimental Swordsman (1981)    
    Bloody Parrot (1981)    
    Return of the Deadly Blade (1981)    
    The Duel of the Century (1981)    
    The Last Duel (1981)    
    A Sword Named Revenge (1981)    
    Ambitious Kung Fu Girl (1981)    
    The Flower, the Killer (1981)    
    Survival of a Dragon (1981)    
    Chivalry Deadly Feud (1981)    
    The Story of Lu Sheau-Feng (1981)    
    Bloody Mission (1982)    
    Clan Feuds (1982)    
    The Spirit of the Sword (1982)    
    Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman (1982)    
    Night Orchid (1982)    
    Eagle Flying in September (1982)    
    The Denouncement of Chu Liu Hsiang (1983)    
    Take the Rap (1983)    
    Last Hero in China (1984)    
    Handsome Siblings (1992)    
    A Warrior's Tragedy (1993)    
    Butterfly Sword (1993)    
    Clans of Interigue (1993)    
    Clan of Amazons (1996)    
    The Duel (2000)    
    The Legend of the Flying Swordsman (2000)    
    The Master Swordsman Returns (2002)    
    The Spirit of the Swords (2015)    
    Sword Master (2016)    
 
  Planning (5 films)
    Wanderer with Nimble Knife (1979)    
    The Romantic Double Rings (1979)    
    Chu Liu Hsiang and Hu Tieh Hua (1980)    
    The Sword of Justice (1980)    
    The Story of Lu Sheau-Feng (1981)    
 
  Presenter (3 films)
    Legend of Chu Liu Hsiang (1980)    
    The Story of Lu Sheau-Feng (1981)    
    Night Orchid (1982)    
 
  Writer (26 films)
    Swordsman at Large (1971)    
    The Killer Meteors (1976)    
    The One-Armed Swordsmen (1976)    
    Super Dragon (1976)    
    Return of the Chinese Boxer (1977)    
    To Kill with Intrigue (1977)    
    Jade Tiger (1977)    
    Clutch of Power (1977)    
    Pai Yu-Ching (1977)    
    The Legendary Strike (1978)    
    Magnificent Bodyguards (1978)    
    The Master and the Kid (1978)    
    The Romantic Double Rings (1979)    
    The Legend of Broken Sword (1979)    
    Wanderer with Nimble Knife (1979)    
    Awe Inspiring Weapon (1980)    
    Moonlight Murderer (1980)    
    Bruce Tuan's 7 Promises (1980)    
    Chu Liu Hsiang and Hu Tieh Hua (1980)    
    Legend of Chu Liu Hsiang (1980)    
    Legend Of Peach Blossom (1980)    
    Gold Constables (1981)    
    The Story of Lu Sheau-Feng (1981)    
    Night Orchid (1982)    
    Eagle Flying in September (1982)    
    The Denouncement of Chu Liu Hsiang (1983)
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Chu Liu Hsiang

I just got a beautiful bilingual (Chinese - English) 3 volume hardcover edition of the classical novel  "The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants" (translation Son Shouquan). I consider taking all of my 2020 leave right now!

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3 minutes ago, Chu Liu Hsiang said:

I just got a beautiful bilingual (Chinese - English) 3 volume hardcover edition of the classical novel  "The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants" (translation Son Shouquan). I consider taking all of my 2020 leave right now!

Is it the same as this one ?

https://www.purpleculture.net/the-seven-heroes-and-five-gallants-p-11854/

I got the 3 volumes at least 3 or 4 years ago, and I only read the first volume by lack of time.

All these Bao Zheng anecdotes are interesting to read, you won't regret it.

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Purple Culture also has Creation of the Gods (aka Investiture of the Gods, aka Fengshen Yanyi) in English in 4 volumes, but for $400!  The English language version I bought decades ago as a 2-volume set is now on Amazon with the cheapest price for Vol. 1 = $110 and cheapest price for Vol. 2 = $54. 

Creation of the Gods, Vol. 1 by Xu Zhonglin (1992-11-01)

Fenbshen Yanyi is a Ming dynasty novel set 3,000 years ago at the end of the Shang dynasty.  It is the source for the Shaw Brothers movie, NaCha the Great, League of Gods (with Jet Li), the 1976 Hong Kong animated feature Chinese Gods, the 2019 Chinese-animated feature NeZha (Blu-ray/DVD from Well Go USA on March 3, 2020, and the 2020 sequel, Jiang Ziya (aka Legend of Deification), which won't be released anywhere else until it gets a release in China (Chinese release now delayed thanks to the coronavirus threat).  Chinese director Wuershan (Mojin - The Lost Legend; Painted Skin: The Resurrection) also has his Fengshen Trilogy set for release in 2020.  The first teaser trailer for Fengshen Trilogy includes a glimpse of NaCha (or NeZha) with ring and flaming wheels.  The Fengshen Trilogy Youtube Channel has some additional related videos.   

 

 

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whitesnake

Here is the cover for the U.S. edition of A Snake Lies Waiting, Book 3 in the series, to be published by St. Martin's Griffin on September 8, 2020 in hardcover.  (The paperback edition offered on Amazon.com by various sellers is the British pb.)  

51pWPh1vkhL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Edited by whitesnake
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Chu Liu Hsiang

I wish I had waited for hardcover editions! But I take good care of my books so, oh well ... 

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whitesnake

I just found this on Amazon.com - Wuxia, 88 Tales of Chinese Chivalry and Martial Arts, translations from the classics by Hwong Seng, August 24, 2019, Kindle Edition, $5. Amazon lets you take a look inside. I might finally get a Kindle.

WUXIA, 88 Tales of Chinese Chivalry and Martial Arts: translations from the classics by [HWONG SENG]

 

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Chu Liu Hsiang

The 4th volume of Legends of the Condor Heroes: A Heart Divided was postponed to April 2021.

I just now discovered that Libraire You Feng has  published tomes 4 and 5 of Tian Long Ba Bu (Semi-Gods and Demi-Devils) which is great timing as I am close to finishing tome 2. 

Heyne Verlag published the first volume of Legend of the Condor Heroes as Die Legende der Adlerkrieger so it's now also available in German.

 

tianlong4.jpg

tianlong5.jpg

legendederadlerkrieger.jpg

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