|
Post by texture on Apr 22, 2021 12:13:38 GMT
... 3) The first novel of Wang Dulu's "Crane-Iron Pentalogy" - Precious Sword, Golden Hairpin (《寶劍金釵》). Have that borrowed too. That said, I feel I'm sometimes rushing which results in me feeling pressure even when reading novels, which ought to be relaxing. The Crane Startles Kunlun occurs first, I think. Or do you mean something else? Take your time and enjoy your reading. I can understand wanting to make progress too though. Good luck! I enjoy reading your reviews and observations.
|
|
|
Post by kyc on Apr 22, 2021 12:25:21 GMT
... 3) The first novel of Wang Dulu's "Crane-Iron Pentalogy" - Precious Sword, Golden Hairpin (《寶劍金釵》). Have that borrowed too. That said, I feel I'm sometimes rushing which results in me feeling pressure even when reading novels, which ought to be relaxing. The Crane Startles Kunlun occurs first, I think. Or do you mean something else? Take your time and enjoy your reading. I can understand wanting to make progress too though. Good luck! I enjoy reading your reviews and observations. Thanks, texture! I'm now taking a break from reading wuxia novels. I read too much during the Covid lockdown and am still suffering from indigestion, so my next book will be ... months later I guess. Work has trickled back and I'm borrowing some movie discs to relax. "The Crane Startles Kunlun" is indeed the first of the pentalogy chronologically, but it's a prequel (written second). It is quite different from the other four parts as the protagonist is Jiang Nanhe (Jiang Xiaohe when young). I much prefer him as a protagonist to the pedantic Li Mubai. (Li Mubai is the son of Jiang Nanhe's late friend.) Anyway, keep safe everyone and take care!
|
|
|
Post by kyc on Apr 22, 2021 12:37:54 GMT
Actually, I'm not even sure if Zhang Sanfeng was a real person, since the Taoists make a lot of claims about him. A bit like Laozi. They say Zhang Sanfeng is/was an immortal, I would take his historical reality with a huge pinch of salt. Don't believe everything Jin Yong tells you. As for the Wudang Sect, sure, there are/were swordsmen and martial artists practicing at Wudang Mountains, but whether that constitutes a real sect like Shaolin is also debatable. But there are a lot of sects practicing neijia that claim origins from Wudang. Some early forms of Taiji already existed before the Ming Dynasty I believe.
|
|
|
Post by yenchin on Apr 26, 2021 9:50:26 GMT
The Ming General Qi Jiguang wrote a fist form manual in his “Jixiao Xinshu” which has some movements and stance names consistent with stances of Taiji. This has lead to some historians suspecting that there might be a connection, or Qi himself is the creator of the original forms.
Some other names often mentioned regarding the early lineage are Wang Zongyue (王宗岳) and Jiang Fa (蔣發) of late Ming. These two passed their art to the two Chen Families. One which derived into the popular branches today and the other, Zhaobao(趙堡) style. However, information regarding how they came to know their art is lacking.
The connection with Zhang Sanfeng is a more recent mentioned thing (late Ching). ZSF’s name is mentioned as the author of the Taichichuan Classic, but this lacks historical basis. However, besides the Chen Family, all of the other schools adopted this legend. And since ZSF is the legendary creator of the Taoist Wudang Sect, writers of Wuxia literature began writing the Wudang Sect as a school contrast to the Buddhist Monks of Shaolin.
|
|
|
Post by yenchin on Apr 28, 2022 4:13:56 GMT
wuxiasociety.freeforums.net/post/9095/threadFrom here since atumiwa asked about transsexual characters in LYS. IIRC in Seven Swords Leave Mt. Heaven LYS has a minor character called 郝飛鳳 who's a male with a more gentle, feminine appearance and he often crossdresses for the sake of getting close to females and rape them. It is mentioned that he is rumored to be a hermaphrodite but never confirmed. The novel also seemingly hints that there might be some sexual attraction between him and his leader. The other characters' views in regards of crossdressing and his appearance itself is the traditional "freak" (陰陽怪氣, 不男不女...etc). Additionally his nickname is "人妖" (human freak or something like that), which is the derogatory term in Mandarin for male to female transsexuals, regardless of details. I did a search and it seemed the character didn't even make it to the TV adaptation of Seven Swords. The only reason I remember him is probably because LYS took the pains to write such traits to such a throwaway character (to be frank I can't even remember his eventual fate as well as his relevance to the plot).
|
|
|
Post by atumiwa on Jul 9, 2022 11:15:51 GMT
does anyone know if the emei sect in LYS's universe is taoist or buddhist? emei sect appears on some of LYS' novels including 云海玉弓缘 (jin guang, the head of emei)
|
|
|
Post by yenchin on Jul 11, 2022 4:36:45 GMT
does anyone know if the emei sect in LYS's universe is taoist or buddhist? emei sect appears on some of LYS' novels including 云海玉弓缘 (jin guang, the head of emei) There's also a Dharma Master Fa-Hua in the sequel (風雷震九州). So it seems like they're mainly Buddhists. Though there are still some commoners such as Hsieh Yun-chun, a female.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jul 15, 2022 7:31:54 GMT
does anyone know if the emei sect in LYS's universe is taoist or buddhist? emei sect appears on some of LYS' novels including 云海玉弓缘 (jin guang, the head of emei) I think Emei Sect, although influenced by Budhist, but it's not a religious based martial art school. Otherwise, how could Zhou Zhiruo became a leader if she's not a nun? I (personally concluded) that Emei is Budhist, since Taoist sect nuns didn't have to cut off their hairs. Guo Xiang and Mie Jue definitely shaved their hairs.
|
|
|
Post by atumiwa on Apr 28, 2023 8:45:08 GMT
Found some articles in chinese baidu for strongest fighter in LYS' universe, 5 sources but they have nearly similar opinion and ranks. which one you like the most?
|
|
|
Post by kyc on Apr 28, 2023 11:17:20 GMT
Found some articles in chinese baidu for strongest fighter in LYS' universe, 5 sources but they have nearly similar opinion and ranks. View Attachmentwhich one you like the most? I would go with Zhang Danfeng as No. 1 and Jin Shiyi as No. 2... ranking is as far as I have read. Cannot be Zhuo Yihang... this guy couldn't even defeat the White-haired Demoness.
|
|
|
Post by soengyee on Apr 28, 2023 22:00:23 GMT
lol Someone placed Zhuo YiHang as number 1 on their list, this is actually very hilarious. He didn't have many or any impressive feats in the novel so I'm surprised. Lian NiChang, Yue MingKe, Tie Feilong, Murong Chong, Red Flower Demon are all much more powerful than him. I would put him on par with Jin DuYi perhaps but he has poison palms, but Zhuo YiHang is not adept at using poisons. As far as I know he didn't exactly learn new skills from the beginning to the end of the novel and even in later novels I'm not sure if the "older Zhuo YiHang" ended up learning the lost Wudang sword skills. I think his disciple "Xin LongZi" ended up learning them however but I don't find Xin LongZi to be all that powerful either even with the Sword skills.
|
|
|
Post by atumiwa on Apr 29, 2023 8:19:57 GMT
Found some articles in chinese baidu for strongest fighter in LYS' universe, 5 sources but they have nearly similar opinion and ranks. View Attachmentwhich one you like the most? I would go with Zhang Danfeng as No. 1 and Jin Shiyi as No. 2... ranking is as far as I have read. Cannot be Zhuo Yihang... this guy couldn't even defeat the White-haired Demoness. Your opinion for Lian Nishang vs Lv Siniang?
|
|
|
Post by kyc on Apr 29, 2023 9:17:53 GMT
I would go with Zhang Danfeng as No. 1 and Jin Shiyi as No. 2... ranking is as far as I have read. Cannot be Zhuo Yihang... this guy couldn't even defeat the White-haired Demoness. Your opinion for Lian Nishang vs Lv Siniang? I never thought highly of Lv Sining. She exists in two books with no very powerful fighters. So I have to go with Lian Nichang.
|
|
|
Post by kyc on May 29, 2023 14:49:14 GMT
It's been two years since I read a LYS novel. Gosh, I can't believe it took me so long.
The novel I am reviewing is 《龍鳳寶釵緣》("Romance of the Dragon and Phoenix Hairpins"). The time setting is just before the end of the An Lushan rebellion, Tang Dynasty.
It's partly about the romance between Duan Kexie (段克邪) and Red Thread (紅線), who later goes by the name Shi Ruomei (史若梅). They suffer a lot of misunderstandings before becoming a couple.
The main plot thread of this novel, however, involves Mou Shijie (牟世傑) who, after becoming the leader of the brigands in China, consolidates his power to overthrow the Tang Dynasty. In this, he is opposed by Tie Mole (鐵摩勒) and Duan Kexie. Nie Yinniang (聶隱娘) is secretly in love with Mou Shijie, but shifts her love after realizing that he is too power-hungry. Another antagonist is Shi Chaoying (史朝英), Mou Shijie's wife, a cunning woman who also tragically dies. Kongkong'er and Jingjing'er make appearances in the novel.
Mou Shijie starts off as a decent enough guy but becomes progressively bloodthirsty, egged on by his wife. In this, he is a bit like Macbeth. I wonder whether LYS had the Shakespeare play in mind when he wrote this book.
Generally, a very good novel where you can see the puppet strings of LYS pulling male/female characters together in romance. There are at least four couples at the end of the book.
It lives up to the high standards of most LYS wuxia novels. The sequel is Huijian Xinmo (《慧劍心魔》).
|
|
|
Post by kyc on Jun 5, 2023 11:04:19 GMT
I had some time these few weeks, so I finished the last installment of the Datang 大唐 trilogy, Huijian Xinmo (《慧劍心魔》). The title comes from Buddhism, meaning one must exorcise the demons of one's heart by slashing them away with a sword of wisdom.
The novel starts intriguing enough, with Zhan Bocheng 展伯承 as the main protagonist. His parents have been murdered in a vendetta dating back to the first installment, Datang Youxia Zhuan, but his mother forbids him to take revenge. He takes refuge in a village with a close friend of his maternal grandfather, Chu Sui 褚遂, who wants him to marry his grand-daughter, Chu Baoling 褚葆齡, but she already has a sweetheart Liu Mang, 劉芒. They end up in a love triangle. Hence, Huijian Xinmo means people must slash away the entanglements of the heart and be devoted to a single partner.
Of course, as with almost all LYS novels, many couples tie the knot at the end. People who read LYS novels will know what I mean. Zhan Bocheng later ends up with the daughter of Tie Mole, Tie Ning 鐵凝.
Starting from midway in the novel, the political plot line becomes the main thread. The Uighurs (回紇) try to take control of smaller states and threaten the Tang Dynasty. The Tang emperor had invited them to help in the An Lushan rebellion, but now, the Uighurs are attempting to seize power. Fortunately, by the end of the novel, they have been repelled from Youzhou 幽州.
I do find the novel on the formulaic side. The younger generations will meet some baddies whom they cannot defeat, then some senior fighters will appear to save them. Then they part. The same thing will happen again. I have no complaints about the language though. I do think LYS has a poetic style which is enjoyable if you can appreciate it.
So the Datang trilogy ends: Datang Youxia Zhuan --> Longfeng Baochai Yuan --> Huijian Xinmo. This is the shortest of the interconnected novels of LYS.
Next up, I shall continue with the woefully long Tianshan series (Qing Dynasty).
|
|