Wuxia literally means "Martial Heroes". Fictional stories about regular humans who can achieve supernatural fighting ability through Chinese martial arts training and internal energy cultivation. Themes of chivalry, tragedy, revenge & romance are common.
The genre goes back centuries and has been a staple of Chinese culture for a long time. Martial arts and heroism play a big part in wuxia culture, with the idea being one can adventure throughout the world unhindered if one is skilled enough in their martial arts.
It has to be said however that these works are still fantasy, so one might wonder where is the fantasy?
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A wuxia has an essentially 'real' world filled with people who do incredible things through martial arts and generating 'qi', which allows them to leap long distances across rooftops and skip across water. These novels are grounded in real-life Chinese martial arts and internal energy cultivation (qigong) techniques that are exaggerated to extreme proportions.
Here are some concepts that are common in wuxia:
● Qi (气) – the vital energy which exists in all things. The cultivation of Qi is a major theme in Wuxia, Xianxia & Xuanhuan novels;
● Jianghu (江湖 jiānghú) – literally translates as "Rivers and Lakes", but figuratively refers to the "Martial World" or the "underground world of martial arts". A section of society consisting of martial artists, gangsters, thieves, beggars, prostitutes, merchants, entertainers, and anyone else wanting to operate outside of mainstream society or in the grey area of the law;
● Xia (侠 xiá) – a Hero of the martial world. Righteous, skilled martial artists who follow their own moral code. They sometimes come into conflict with the law, especially in novels where society or the government is depicted as corrupt;
● Sect (宗 zōng) (派 pài) – an organization dedicated to the practice of cultivation and/or martial arts. Typically led by a Sect Leader (掌门) or Patriarch (老祖). With the help of Sect Elders (老), they instruct Disciples (弟子) in the proper methods of cultivation or training in the martial arts styles of the Sect. The Disciples live in the Sect, which provides for their daily needs. There is practically always a strict hierarchy amongst members of a Sect, and respect for the elder generations is demanded;
