Wuxia

Wǔxiá (also Wu Xia) ({{zh-ts|t=武俠|s=武侠}}; pronounced "oo-shyah") literally meaning "martial arts chivalry" or "martial arts heroes", from Mandarin Chinese, is a distinct genre in Chinese literature and cinema. Wuxia figures prominently in the popular culture of all Chinese-speaking areas, and the most important writers have devoted followings.

Films

Wuxia film (or wuxia pian, Mo Hap film, Mo Hap Pin) ({{zh-tsp|t=武俠片|s=武侠片|p=wǔxiá piān}}) is a film genre originating in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Because of its distinguishing characteristics (a historical setting, action scenes centred on swordplay, a stronger emphasis towards melodrama and themes of bonding, friendship, loyalty, and betrayal), this genre is considered slightly different to the martial arts film styles.

Related Topics:
Film genre - Taiwan - Hong Kong - Martial arts film

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The modern form of the genre has existed in the Pacific Rim region since the mid 1960s, although the earliest films date back to the 1920s. King Hu, working from Taiwan, and the Shaw Studio, working from Hong Kong, were pioneers of the modern form of this genre, featuring sophisticated action choreography with plentiful wire-assisted acrobatics, trampolines and under-cranking.

Related Topics:
Pacific Rim - 1960s - 1920s - King Hu - Shaw Studio

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It is to be noted that originally the wuxia films were shot purely for as an alternative form of movie entertainment. The storylines in the early films were loosely adapted from existing literature. As was the case for the Hollywood films, with maturing taste and growing demands for the 'fame' phenomenon , actors, actresses, action director and directors in wuxia films became schools of styles in their own right. For example Cheng Pei-Pei and Jimmy Wang-Yu were two of the biggest stars in the days of Shaw Studio and King Hu, Jet Li is a more recent star of wuxia films, having appeared in Swordsman serialized films and Hero amongst others. Movies featuring Jet Li would later contain fast-paced action-packed style. Wushu or action-director Yuan He Ping who had many Jacky Chan martial arts films under his direction also worked on the Matrix trilogy which contained similarly stunning action-sequences in his style. PRC director Zhang Yimou's foray into wuxia films evolved into a school with the imaginative use of vivid colours and breathtaking background settings as his trademark.

Related Topics:
Jet Li - Hero - Jacky Chan - Matrix - Zhang Yimou

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Wuxia stories have also been repeatedly used as soap operas and mini-series in the television studios of Hong Kong, Taiwan and in the past 5 years CCTV of the PRC. Notably the works of Gu Long and Jin Yong have been most frequently adapted, the same novels could be televised more than once within a decade to appeal to younger audiences. For example Jinyong's Return of the Condor Hero or Shendiao Xiaryu has been adapted over 5 times in the past 30 years by various tv-studios in in Hong Kong Taiwan and China in which Andy Lau was featured in one 80's version.

Related Topics:
Hong Kong - Taiwan - CCTV - Gu Long - Jin Yong - Return of the Condor Hero - Andy Lau

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Wuxia was introduced to the Hollywood studios in 2000 by Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Following Ang Lee's footsteps, Zhang Yimou made Hero targeted for the international market in 2003, and House of Flying Daggers in 2004. There is a strong link between wuxia films and wuxia novels, such as those of Jinyong. Many of the films are based on novels; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is an example of this.

Related Topics:
Hollywood - 2000 - Ang Lee - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Zhang Yimou - House of Flying Daggers - Jinyong

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American audiences are also being introduced to wuxia through Asian-television stations in larger cities, which feature well-produced miniseries such as Warriors of the Yang Clan and Paradise, often with English subtitles. With complex, almost soap-opera storylines, lavish sets and costumes, and veteran actors in pivotal roles, these tales can appeal to Western viewers whether or not they catch the subtle nuances.

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Wuxia film style has also been appropriated by the West. In 1986, John Carpenter's film Big Trouble in Little China was inspired by the visuals of the genre. The Matrix trilogy has many elements of wuxia, although the heroes and the villains of The Matrix gain their supernatural powers from a different source. Similarly, when the Star Wars movie came out in the late 1970s, many Chinese audiences viewed it as a western wuxia movie set in a futuristic and foreign world.

Related Topics:
1986 - John Carpenter - Big Trouble in Little China - Matrix trilogy - Star Wars - 1970s

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Significant wuxia films include:

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• Torching the Red Lotus Temple (《火燒紅蓮寺》1928) — one of the earliest wuxia movies, followed by 17 sequels until the whole genre was banned by the Chinese government in 1931. Copies of the film were confiscated and burnt. In March of 1935, filmmakers in Hong Kong (then a British colony) introduced the 19th episode of the series in Cantonese. Its popularity launched a revival of the series.
• Ru Lai Shen Zhang (《如來神掌》1964) — Hong Kong's popular black and white wuxia movie series starring Cho Dat Wah (曹達華) and Yu So Chow (于素秋).
• Dragon Gate Inn (《龍門客棧》1966) — King Hu introduces wire-work into the genre. This style is later dubbed wire fu.
• The One-armed Swordsman (1967) — extreme bloodshed and a male hero.
• The Magic Blade (《天涯明月刀》1976) — definitive Shaw Brothers wuxia.
• Zu - Warriors from the Magic Mountain (《蜀山:新蜀山劍俠》1983) — Tsui Hark wuxia fantasy.
• Ashes of Time (1994) — Wong Kar-wai arthouse wuxia.
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) — genre's debut in Hollywood.
• Hero (2002) — another international box-office success.
• House of Flying Daggers (2004) — most recent globally released wuxia.
• Kung Fu Hustle (2004) - Stephen Chow's mo lei tau (無厘頭) parody of the wuxia genre, and one of the highest grossing films in Hong Kong's history