Wuxia

Your typical Wuxia. A Dex focused swordsman who can walk in the air, shooting air blast from his palm, knocking out a person with one finger and doing them all without wearing heavy armor. Some of them are armed with Chinese Jian and not filthy 9000-times-folded-nippon-invader-blade.

Wuxia is a form of Setting Aesthetics that can be crudely defined as Chinese Anime "the Oriental Adventures version of Heroic Fantasy", but this Chinese fantasy genre has traits unique to it and is widely entrenched in Chinese culture. The chief examples of RPGs using this setting are Legends of the Wulin and Feng Shui.

The definition of Wuxia

The word "wǔxiá" is a compound composed of the elements wǔ (武, literally "martial", "military", or "armed") and xiá (俠, literally "chivalrous", "vigilante" or "hero"). A martial artist who follows the code of xia is often referred to as a xiákè (俠客, literally "follower of xia") or yóuxiá (遊俠, literally "wandering xia"). In some translations, the martial artist is referred to as a "swordsman" or "swordswoman" even though he or she may not necessarily wield a sword.

Common setting and tropes

The heroes in wuxia fiction typically do not serve a lord, wield military power, or belong to the aristocratic class. They often originate from the lower social classes of ancient Chinese society. A code of chivalry usually requires wuxia heroes to right and redress wrongs, fight for righteousness, remove oppressors, and bring retribution for past misdeeds. Chinese xia traditions can be compared to martial codes from other cultures such as the Japanese samurai bushidō.

Modern wuxia stories are largely set in ancient or pre-modern China. The historical setting can range from being quite specific and important to the story, to being vaguely-defined, anachronistic, or mainly for use as a backdrop. Elements of fantasy, such as the use of magic powers and appearance of supernatural beings, are common in some wuxia stories but are not a prerequisite of the wuxia genre. However, the martial arts element is a definite part of a wuxia tale, as the characters must know some form of martial arts. Themes of romance are also strongly featured in some wuxia tales.

A typical wuxia story features a young male protagonist who experiences a tragedy – such as the loss of his loved ones – and goes on to undertake several trials and tribulations to learn several forms of martial arts from various fighters. At the end of the story, he emerges as a powerful fighter whom few can equal. He uses his abilities to follow the code of xia and mends the ills of the jianghu. For instance, the opening chapters of some of Jin Yong's works follow a certain pattern: a tragic event occurs, usually one that costs the lives of the newly introduced characters, and then it sets events into motion that will culminate in the primary action of the story.

Other stories use different structures. For instance, the protagonist is denied admission into a martial arts sect. He experiences hardships and trains secretly and waits until there is an opportunity for him to show off his skills and surprise those who initially looked down on him. Some stories feature a mature hero with powerful martial arts abilities confronting an equally powerful antagonist as his nemesis. The plot will gradually meander to a final dramatic showdown between the protagonist and his nemesis. These types of stories were prevalent during the era of anti-Qing revolutionaries.[citation needed]

Certain stories have unique plots, such as those by Gu Long and Huang Yi. Gu Long's works have an element of mystery and are written like detective stories. The protagonist, usually a formidable martial artist and intelligent problem-solver, embarks on a quest to solve a mystery such as a murder case. Huang Yi's stories are blended with science fiction.

Despite these genre-blending elements, wuxia is primarily a historical genre of fiction. Notwithstanding this, wuxia writers openly admit that they are unable to capture the entire history of a course of events and instead choose to structure their stories along the pattern of the protagonist's progression from childhood to adulthood instead.[citation needed] The progression may be symbolic rather than literal, as observed in Jin Yong's The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, where Linghu Chong progresses from childish concerns and dalliances into much more adult ones as his unwavering loyalty repeatedly thrusts him into the rocks of betrayal at the hands of his inhumane master.

The eight common attributes of the xia are listed as benevolence, justice, individualism, loyalty, courage, truthfulness, disregard for wealth, and desire for glory. Apart from individualism, these characteristics are similar to Confucian values such as ren (仁; "benevolence", "kindness"), zhong (忠; "loyalty"), yong (勇; "courage", "bravery") and yi (義; "righteousness").[11] The code of xia also emphasises the importance of repaying benefactors after having received deeds of en (恩; "grace", "favour") from others, as well as seeking chou (仇; "vengeance", "revenge") to bring villains to justice. However, the importance of vengeance is controversial, as a number of wuxia works stress Buddhist ideals, which include forgiveness, compassion and a prohibition on killing.

In the jianghu, martial artists are expected to be loyal to their master (Shifu). This gives rise to the formation of several complex trees of master-apprentice relations as well as the various sects such as Shaolin and Wudang. If there are any disputes between fighters, they will choose the honorable way of settling their issues through fighting in duels.

The martial arts in wuxia stories are based on wushu techniques and other real life Chinese martial arts. In wuxia tales, however, the mastery of such skills are highly exaggerated to superhuman levels of achievement and prowess.

Wuxia Vocabulary

• jianghu (江湖) - crudely translated from Chinese to English would be just "river(江)" and "lake(湖)". What it actually meant is the secret part of the society where these martial art using badass resides. In modern times, it could very well translated into "underworld", as in THE criminal underworld with mafia and stuff (criminals love to romanticize their lifestyle, after all).
• wushu (武術) - martial(武) art technique(術).
• wulin (武林) - martial(武) + forest (林). When combine, it means the community of martial artists.
• Youxia (游侠) - wander(游) + "chivalrous", "vigilante" or "hero"(侠). Commonly translated as "knight-errant" or less commonly as "cavalier", "adventurer", "soldier of fortune" or "underworld stalwart".
• Miji (秘籍) - secret(秘) + manual, book, record(籍). Secret manual that often contain martial art secrets.
• Mojiao (魔教) - magic, demonic(魔) cult, teach(教). Heretic sects, evil gangs, etc.
• Lianwu (练武) - practice, train(练) + martial(武). Martial art training, or just training, not exactly like working out since it include mind training and spiritual training.
• Anqi (暗器) - dark, hidden(暗) + device, tool(器). Hidden or concealed weapons such as throwing knives, dagger, shuriken even coin.
• Binqi (兵器) - Soldier(兵) + device, tool(器). Weapons that are military used by soldiers.

Combat techniques introduced in Wuxia

The following is a list of skills and abilities a typical fighter in a wuxia story possesses:

• Martial arts (武功): Fighting techniques in a codified sequence called zhaoshi (招式), which are based on real life Chinese martial arts.
• Weapons and objects: Combatants use a wide range of weapons in combat. The most commonly used ones are the dao (broadsword or saber), jian (sword), gun (staff), and qiang (spear). Everyday objects such as abaci, benches, fans, ink brushes, smoking pipes, sewing needles, or various musical instruments, are also used as weapons as well.
• Qinggong (輕功): A form of real Chinese martial arts.[19] In wuxia fiction, however, its use is exaggerated to the point that characters can circumvent gravity to fly, cover tremendous distances in a single stride, run across surfaces of water, mount trees, and jump over or scale high walls.
• Neili (内力; lit "internal force" or "internal strength")/Neigong (內功; literally "internal skill" or "internal function"): The ability to build up and cultivate inner energy known as qi and utilise it for attack and defensive purposes. Characters use this energy to attain skills such as superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability and healing as well as the ability to project energy beams and elemental forces from their bodies.
• Dianxue (點穴; literally "touching acupuncture points"): Characters use various acupuncture techniques to kill, paralyse, immobilise or even manipulate opponents by attacking their acupressure points with their bare hands or weapons. Such techniques can also be used for healing purposes, such as halting excessive bleeding. Real life martial artists do use such techniques to paralyse or stun their opponents, however, their effectiveness is highly exaggerated in wuxia stories.

In wuxia stories, characters attain the above skills and abilities by devoting themselves to years of diligent study and exercise, but can also have such power conferred upon them by a master who transfers his energy to them. The instructions to mastering these skills through training are found in secret manuals known as miji (秘笈). In some stories, specific skills can be learned by spending several years in seclusion with a master or training with a group of fighters.

Notable Wuxia Sect/Factions featured in novels

• Wudang Sect(武當派) - Named after the place it's based: Wudang Mountain, it often featured as a leader of all orthodox sects in the wulin alongside Shaolin. The members of Wudang followed Taoist belief and pecialized in Taiji(太極) related martial arts like "taijiquan(太極拳)" or "taijijian(太極劍)", which specialized in overcome their opponent's brute force with softness (like yin and yan). Wudang has the best "inner energy" skills and qinggong among the wulin. It was founded by Zhang Sanfeng(張三丰), a real life legendary Taoist who invented Taiji. A definite creator's pet faction in most Wuxia novel since most MC were of a Wudang Wuxia.
• Shaolin Sect(少林派) - Your typical bald Buddhist martial artist. The sect contain only monk with strict rule that they are all vegetarian and no womans, marriages allowed. For martial arts, they have a variety of palm strike martial arts as a resemblance to their god Buddha as well as other art of self healing and self hardening.
• Beggars' Sect(丐幫) - Literal beggar gang that can use martial arts! They are also the largest sect of all thanks to the poor economy in ancient China and are very good at inormation gathering (because beggars are frigging everywhere). Not all members are beggars since they have a hierarchy of those with dirty clothing or clean clothing. Since members are not limited to only beggars, people from all walks of life, including scholars and soldiers, join the sect. As such, the sect's martial arts are rather diverse and you can find a member of beggar's sect that can use the martial arts from other sects. They do have their own unique martial arts however, like the "Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms (降龍十八掌)" and the "Dog Beating Staff Technique (打狗棒法)". The sect's chief knows both of the martial arts with the later staff technique known only to him (not the other members, even the elders) and had to be personally passed down from chief to his/her successors.
• Emei Sect(峨嵋派) - An female only martial artist sect founded by a Buddhist nun. Located in real life Mount Emei (峨眉山), the sect was founded by Guo Xiang(郭襄). Her father is Guo Jing(郭靖), a well known Wuxia hero of the northern China. She escaped a deadly conflict with a legendary sword known as "the Heaven Reliant Sword"(倚天劍) and become a great Youxia in the jianghu. She founded the sect around the same time as the Wudang Sect at the designated location after become a nun at age 40. She also possessed a powerful manual that contained many godly martial arts known as Jiuyin Zhenjing(九阴真经). Like Wudang, Emei's skills have two sides to them, encompassing elements of "roughness" and "softness", "long range" and "short range" attacks, all in the same style of fighting. They rotate between deceptive and direct attacks and can be used effectively by women to overcome opponents who are physically stronger than them. Some movements in Emei's swordplays are feminine in nature and are named after ancient Chinese beauties and Chinese idioms used to describe feminine beauty. Often the heroine's main sect in most Wuxia novel.

Wuxia-inspired /tg/ Settings

• Legend of the Five Rings: You have no idea.
• Book of Nine Swords: Also called the Book of Weeaboo Fightan Magic. More than a few of the tropes used in this book are wuxia-inspired, such as Iron heart surge, which works somewhat similarly to low-power Neili.
• Avatar: The Last Airbender: Timmy's first Wuxia, with all that entails. The sequel series tones the Wuxia down and adds several drops of Urban Fantasy in its place.