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As foreign media has become more available in the West, Chinese period dramas such as “The Untamed” have experienced an explosion of popularity across the world. There’s a lot to love about a good C-drama. Fans have praised everything from their beautiful music, to their fast-paced action, to their passionate romances -- and to their costuming. For many new fans, it might seem fantastical, but to the Han ethnic majority of China, these styles of dress - called hanfu - are ancient traditions that can be traced back to over 3,000 years ago. Having said all of this, what exactly is hanfu? How does it look? Hanfu is - as defined by Vogue magazine - “a type of dress from any era when the Han Chinese ruled.” China has a long history of many dynasties with a wide variety of designs, patterns and dress codes. Most styles of hanfu are composed of an upper jacket with long, flowing sleeves and a skirt, although some varieties are a one-piece dress or include pants. When you combine that with an array of accessories and optional inner and outer garments, hanfu style becomes a very flexible form of dress, available during summer or winter, casually or formally. Despite being a historical garment, a lot of the appeal of hanfu clothing comes from its somewhat fantastical style. While some people do go out of their way for strictly historically accurate dress, it’s not uncommon to see more modern styles taking some artistic liberty. Some of the most popular styles of hanfu come from three of China’s most influential dynasties: the Tang, Song and Ming. The Tang dynasty, which is the first of these three dynasties, existed from 618 to 907 AD and was largely considered the Golden Age of China. While the beginning of the dynasty was heavily influenced by the Sui dynasty which preceded the Tang dynasty, styles shifted dramatically towards the end of the era. The narrow sleeves and skirts of the Sui dynasty gave way to the plump figures which had become the new fashion, resulting in loose, flowing styles of dress becoming more popular. The Tang dynasty allowed a lot of freedom of expression allowing women to show décolletage, or even to dress in menswear in public - both of which became fashionable by the end of the era. The Chinese people were allowed to dress in styles inspired by Persia or central Asia at the time, although those influences diminished greatly before the end of the Tang dynasty. Succeeding the Tang dynasty, the Song dynasty ran from 960 to 1279 AD. Although it inherited the styles of previous eras, the strong rise of Confucianism discouraged the extravagant styles of the Tang dynasty. Instead, people began placing a strong emphasis on modesty. Clothing became more subdued, slender silhouettes became popular, and foot-binding began to be practiced. Although at the time, commoners were mandated to wear white or black garb, day-to-day styles were actually much more colorful than that. Finally, the Ming dynasty, the most recent of the three, was the final Han dynasty in Chinese history. It began in 1368 after the collapse of the Yuan empire (which was the first dynasty not ruled by the Han people) and ended in 1644 when the Manchurian Qing dynasty rose to power. Having just recovered China from the Mongols (the Yuan), the new emperor banned Mongolian clothing and decreed a strict dress code that recalled the style of the Tang dynasty. Although the Mongols did not force the Han people to adopt their customs, many people had chosen to follow them for personal gain, or as a symbol of loyalty. By banning them outright, the new Ming emperor tried to create a strong Han Chinese cultural identity. Despite these efforts, occasional pieces of Mongolian clothing were still worn in court - even by the emperor himself. And although the dress code was strictly enforced at the beginning, by the mid-point of the period state control over the dress code weakened, until it was regularly transgressed by the end of the dynasty. As a result, styles of this period became a blend of Mongolian and traditional Han Chinese dress. Although nowadays hanfu is mostly worn during special occasions, it has recently seen a resurgence of popularity through social media. Across popular Chinese social media platforms, #hanfu has seen well over 50 billion views, which certainly speaks to hanfu’s growing appeal to people today. Videos and posts about traditional Chinese hobbies make up a majority of the hashtag’s popularity online, and many Chinese diaspora have embraced the hanfu trend as a way to stay connected to their family roots. While some have voiced concerns about an increasing drive for patriotism within the country, others have suggested that the trend has instead risen from both a desire for strong cultural identity and a desire to rebel against normality from a generation of youths exploring their freedom of expression. While much of what you see on screen is a fantastical adaptation of historical garb, hanfu remains a long tradition of beautiful, elegant dress. For more information on the trend, check out Vogue’s article on the topic. If you enjoyed this article, click below to subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! By S. Howie Immortal Staff Sources: Hanfu — Traditional Clothing of the Chinese Han Majority 4 Traditional Chinese Clothing and Dress: Hanfu, Qipao, Tang Suit, Zhongshan Suit A return to tradition: how Hanfu returned as a modern style statement Why China's Hanfu Trend Won't Cool Down | Jing Culture and Commerce Meet Shiyin, the Fashion Influencer Shaping China's Hanfu Style Revival Hanfu: Traditional Han Clothing | Omeida Chinese Academy Hanfu - Wikipedia Image sources: Please click the photos in question to be linked to their original websites.

The Legend of Sword and Fairy 6 came out in 2015, and as a gamer and a fan of the Wuxia genre, I had very high expectations for this game. For the uninitiated, the hugely successful Chinese Paladin TV series is based on the Sword & Fairy PC game franchise, which has been going on since 1995. The first Chinese Paladin is highly influential, and a rarity in Chinese television since it was adapted from a video game back in 2005! It went on to pave the way for more TV dramas in the Wuxia subgenre known as Xianxia. I was able to pick up a copy to play on PS4, and I wanted to do a complete playthrough and I wanted to love this as a new extension of my favorite genre...but was let down by serious technical difficulties that should have been resolved prior to the game's release. The game begins with a familiar premise: the two main characters, Yue Jinzhao and Yue Qi, awaken with no recollection of their past. From there, they embark on a journey to discover their true identities, and stop an evil cult from kidnapping people. They befriend a diverse group of friends with complicated backgrounds and go through many twists and turns to discover who they truly are. It's a good story, and you want to keep playing to see their quest through. Of course, the promise of a good story comes hand in hand with the hope of good gameplay, and, unfortunately, the gameplay is very underwhelming. There are many instances where I could skip attacks from random enemies within proximity just by circling around. Even during boss battles, there is no real struggle as the bosses perform very simple attacks. The most difficult part of the gameplay (by far) was the controller. I played the PlayStation 4 version on the PlayStation 5, but the controls were originally based on a gaming keyboard and mouse, and whoever made this port never properly accounted for a PlayStation 4/5 controller. There are instances where I’m supposed to use the left analog stick to perform actions, and most of the time, it was undoable. When watching the walkthroughs of the PC version on YouTube, the aforementioned action is done easily with a mouse, but on PS4 it's simply not possible. Besides expecting good gameplay, one would also expect a relatively decent presentation for graphics and sound (this is the sixth game in their series after all, they've definitely worked out the bugs by now, right?). But yet again, they are underwhelming, and leave a lot to be desired. The graphics are reminiscent of a Sega Dreamcast game, and the game sometimes runs at very low frame rates (it feels like 10 fps/frames per second at times). Additionally, there are many instances of characters literally breaking up or freezing randomly. I even had instances where the game itself froze and I had to restart the game. The game is presented in its original Mandarin audio with English subtitles, which I have no objection to since it presents the game authentically, but the script of the English subtitles are sooooo tiny that I had to sit within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of my HDTV, and there are an embarrassing number of spelling and grammar mistakes. Given all of these bugs, I only finished 66% of the game, which is extremely rare for me given how much I love to throw myself into martial arts games. After a month of trying, I had to give up and accept that I'd been defeated by poor control optimization. Despite this, I still have hope that Sword & Fairy 7 for PlayStation 4/5 will be an improvement. This is only the start of Wuxia (and Xianxia) games being officially released in the West, and I hope that by bringing attention to these games, and providing honest feedback, we can honestly engage with the developers and localization teams, and show them that there's a huge desire for these games in North America if they can improve their ports and translations! PS - If you have also played this game, we'd love to hear from you in the comments below! If you enjoyed this, and want more, click below to subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! By B. Chansy Immortal Staff

The beginning of the 20th century was a tumultuous time for China. Westerners began taking positions of power, bringing with them Christianity and opium. As Christianity spread across the country, a divide was created between the xenophobic peasantry and the Chinese tradition-scorning foreigners. Everything eventually culminated in what was known as the Boxer Uprising, where a secret society known as the Righteous and Harmonious Fist (Yihequan) taught martial arts and partook in rituals that were said to make their bodies invincible. Officially condoned by the Empress Dowager, tens of thousands died in the conflict. This is where the story of Boxers & Saints begins. Written by best-selling author Gene Luen Yang, author of award winning American Born Chinese, and writer for Avatar: The Last Airbender and recent Shang-Chi comics, Boxers & Saints is the carefully crafted tale of two young Chinese commoners on opposite sides of the conflict. The two graphic novels, Boxers and Saints respectively, are 500 pages long altogether. Each follows one protagonist, but the two stories interweave. In Boxers, the protagonist, Little Bao lives a poor life in a small country village. He’s the youngest of three brothers, and spends as much time as he can enjoying the wandering Chinese opera troupes that come and go. Bao admires the gods and masks of the opera. They follow him as he does his chores and - after he gets pulled into the bloody and political tangle of the uprising - he channels them to fight off the “foreign devils.” On the opposite side of the conflict, from a nearby home, there lives Four-Girl. She’s the youngest of four children - and the only survivor. Her grandfather, superstitious that her birth is the fourth day of the fourth month as the fourth child, refuses to acknowledge her. He fears that four, sounding like death, is a magnet for bad luck. In turn, the other members of her family, with the exception of her mother, alienate her. Longing for a place in the world, Four-Girl is eventually visited by visions of Joan of Arc. From her, she discovers Christianity and converts. The church becomes a place she can belong, but she learns that not everyone is so friendly to foreign influence. Gene Luen Yang’s work is masterfully written, carefully balancing both factions. Neither side of the rebellion is painted as “good” or “evil”. The story of Boxers & Saints is dark and tragic, both sides kill and commit atrocities for their ideals. Houses are burned, fields are trampled and civilians are slaughtered. Yet at the same time, it’s easy to see what motivates these characters. There is good to both sides too. The Boxers empowered the downtrodden common folk to defend themselves, the Christians brought comfort to people that needed it. The writing of Boxers & Saints is wonderfully even to both, and subtle in some of its points. Gene Luen Yang really encourages his audience to pay attention and draw their own conclusions about Little Bao and Four-Girl. Boxers & Saints is, as a finalist for the 2013 National Book Awards for Young Adults, written with an educational bent for children and young adults. It frames the events of the Boxer Uprising in an almost simplified way through the eyes of its children protagonists, leaving some of the darker subtext out of its direct narration. This is a duology well-suited to both adults and older children, but is probably too heavy for young children. On the whole, this is a very character-driven story. It has some action and some politics, but the majority of the story follows the inner turmoil of the protagonists and they fight to navigate the complicated circumstances of the rebellion. For a more action-oriented view on the Boxer Rebellion, be sure to check out our latest comic, Fa Sheng: Origins, on our website! If you enjoyed this article, click below to subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! By S. Howie Immortal Staff Sources: Comic Book Legal Defense Fund - Graphic Novels in Education: Boxers & Saints Comics in the Classroom: A Teaching Guide to Boxers & Saints Views of the Rebellion - Gene Luen Yang's Boxers & Saints Britannica - Boxer Rebellion

The monk - a master of mind and body, a follower of the Buddha, and inheritor of a long legacy of meditation and martial prowess. For centuries, tales of these legendary figures have captured people’s attention - and for good reason. While not all monks practice martial arts, they remain paragons of discipline and internal strength. Here’s a list of monk characters from popular stories that have captured our imagination, and fueled our collective obsession with this archetype. Jue Yuan - Shaolin Temple Set between the Sui and Tang dynasties, in the seventh century, Shaolin Temple tells the story of Jue Yuan, a novice of the titular Shaolin Temple. After the rebellions that ended the Sui dynasty, a brutal warlord takes the throne. Jue Yuan and his father, a practitioner of kung-fu, are prisoners forced to do hard labor. After Jue Yuan’s father is slain personally by the Emperor and he, himself, is heavily injured in an attempt at revenge, Jue Yuan makes his escape to the Shaolin Temple. There, he recovers and makes a decision that will forever change his life. Released in 1982, Shaolin Temple was directed by Chang Hsien Yen and was the first film acclaimed actor Jet Li starred in. By virtue of having actual, trained martial artists in the cast, the fight scenes in Shaolin Temple are a must-see for any wuxia enthusiast. This movie was so well-received, it’s even credited for reigniting public interest in the Shaolin Temple which, at the time of its release, did not even have an abbot. San Te - The 36th Chamber of Shaolin Liu Yide was a student who worked to rebel against the harsh Manchu Government. Before they could put plans into motion, their uprising was discovered and put to an immediate, bloody end. Anyone related to the rebellion was slain - even if they were merely friends or family to those involved. Liu Yide, injured in his escape, desperately makes his way to the Shaolin Temple, swearing to learn kung-fu and take vengeance on the oppressive government. Despite any initial resistance to accepting outsiders, the temple abbot takes pity on him and he begins his journey through the training chambers of the Shaolin Temple with a new name - San Te. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, or Master Killer, as it was titled in the West, was originally released in 1978 and directed by Lau Kar-leung. It has since become one of the best-known kung-fu movies of all time. San Te’s journey through the titular chambers of the Shaolin Temple is a treat to watch. While many of the lessons each chamber teaches are physical, his growth is just as much spiritual. At the beginning, his inexperience leads to many comedic moments, but as he improves, the challenges he faces become much more exciting. Lee - Enter the Dragon Enter the Dragon tells the story of a martial arts tournament, held on a private island where only the best of the best compete. Han, the host of this tournament, is suspected to be at the helm of an insidious crime ring involving themselves in abduction, drug trafficking and prostitution. Lee, an instructor at the Shaolin Temple, enters at the behest of an international intelligence agency to find proof of Han’s involvement. He and the other contestants slowly uncover the truth behind Han’s operations - even as the threat of death if they’re discovered looms over them. Lee, played by Bruce Lee, was by far his most successful role. Enter the Dragon was Bruce Lee’s fourth movie and final role, released in 1973. The movie premiered a month after his death, a fact that, paired with the incredible action work and narrative of the film, created a legacy of near-legendary status. Xu Zhu - Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils The plot of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils is somewhat less linear, due to it telling the story of three protagonists simultaneously. Xu Zhu, one of these three protagonists, is a Shaolin monk with a soft, kind personality and a strict adherence to Buddhism. He lives a quiet life at his monastery until, by accident, he gains possession of a precious treasure which causes his martial arts to suddenly progress leaps and bounds. Finding himself thrust into new dangers and heavy responsibilities, Xu Zhu longs for nothing more than to return to his previous life. Having been adapted from a novel by legendary author Jin Yong into multiple movies and live-actions, it’s difficult to provide a singular release date. Its most recent adaptation was released in 2021, its oldest released in 1977, while the original novel itself was published in 1963. Despite its age, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils remains popular to this day! Those with an interest in characters with strong morals and those that enjoy grand, complex adventures will definitely enjoy this story. Tang Sangzang - Journey to the West Tang Sangzang is a buddhist monk tasked by Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, to journey to the west and retrieve precious buddhist scrolls. Faced with a China full of greed and hedonism, the Tang Sangzang and his disciples, including the famous Sun Wukong, travel through perilous mountains and demon-infested lands to complete his mission. The story is told in something of an episodic monster-of-the-week fashion, for the most part. Journey to the West is a classic of Chinese literature, its roots dating back to the 16th century. Decades of dramas and movies have retold the story, and other tales - such as Dragonball - reference it very strongly. In English, it has several notable translations, with varying levels of scholarly language. The most well-known of these is an abridged version by Arthur Waley which is sometimes published as “Adventures of the Monkey God”. Tang Sangzang is by far one of the most popular monks to have existed in fictional media. If you enjoyed this article, click below to subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! By S. Howie Immortal Staff Sources: Buddhist Webnovel Recommendations The 36th Chamber of Shaolin Wiki The 36th Chamber Den of Geek Enter the Dragon Wiki Enter the Dragon TVTropes Shaolin Sect Wiki Shaolin Temple(1982) Wiki Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Wiki Journey to the West Image Source: The INCspot

May the Fourth be with you! Today is Star Wars Day, and we have been just itching to do an Essential Wuxia Review ever since we first started this series. For this piece, we will be focus on the protagonist of the original trilogy; Luke is our wuxia hero for the sake of this argument, just to be clear. We gave the original series a 14 / 15, a silver! Read why below: Is Luke Skywalker a Wuxia Hero? I gave this section an 8 out of 8. Luke is an altruistic hero. If you’ve never met him, he’s the kind of kid that runs off into the enemy’s moon-sized base to rescue a random princess he’d never met, the kind of kid that puts his life on the line to help a group of folks he just met overthrow the morally bankrupt empire that rules them. Was that courageous? Absolutely! And though he arguably had a stake in the fight, since the empire killed his family and that one old guy he barely knew, but the revenge just makes it even more wuxia if we’re being completely honest. [Image source: https://screenrant.com/star-wars-luke-skywalker-obi-wan-kenobi-best-moments/] Luke’s not exactly one for following orders though, which is either his individual freedom manifesting itself, or just being a teenager, we’re not sure exactly which. He disappears for long stretches of time to heed the call of the Force, the literal life energy of the universe. This isn’t to say he doesn’t respect his master(s), or isn’t loyal to their teachings, but sometimes you’ve just got to go save that princess (again) y’know? [Image source: https://www.gamesradar.com/george-lucas-altered-the-ending-of-empire-strikes-back-after-it-was-already-in-theaters/] Being a very simple and straightforward hero archetype, Luke is very honest, and gives everything he has to those around him, even when he doesn’t have much to call his own. He checks every single point we have on our wuxia hero chart (and probably every other hero checklist too, thank you Joseph Campbell). Is the series Essential Wuxia? I gave this section a 7 out of 8, it unfortunately missed the critical point that we consider the most compelling of the fundamental wuxia traits: everyone can be a hero. But moving on... [Image source: https://ew.com/movies/2018/03/27/star-wars-empire-strikes-back-mark-hamill-luke-scream/] In the tragic backstory section of this space opera, Luke discovers a dark secret about himself, which leads him to question why he was set on his hero’s journey in the first place. Through constant training, he overcomes the fact that his father has a rage problem, cultivates his power for years to harnesses the life energy of the universe, and ultimately confronts the big, bad, evil emperor that keeps his father on life support. It’s a very compelling story, full of glowing swords that are passed down from father to son as family heirlooms, and Force-powered feats of martial prowess that look awfully similar to qigong. The ultimate conclusion of the secret war between the rival secret societies, the Jedi and the Sith, remains unclear at the end of Luke’s story and is further explored in the following trilogy, but is still a riveting part of the series’ lore nonetheless. Essential Wuxia Score: 14/15! Missed points: If you aren’t born with a strong connection to the Force, or aren't at the very least Force-sensitive, you’ll probably never beat someone who was born with that potential, in a fair fight. So we do have to take one point away from Star Wars’ Essential Wuxia score, otherwise it would have had full points. If you enjoyed this quirky read, click below to subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! by S. Sifton Immortal Staff

“The Shaolin Temple (1982)”, directed by Chang Hsin Yen, is a masterwork of dazzling blows and extreme martial arts, set in a semi-fictional time of upheaval. Inspired by real murals in the temple, the movie is heavily credited for the reinvigoration of the real Shaolin Monastery. The story begins in the early seventh century, during a transition between the Sui and Tang dynasties. At this point in time, local warlords waged constant war across the countryside, uncontrolled by Imperial rule. Jue Yuan (Jet Li) and his father are prisoners of war under General Wang Shichong, who deposed the previous Emperor and named himself “Emperor of the East Capitol”. After his father is beaten to death to protect another prisoner, Jue Yuan is heavily injured in an attempt to get revenge. Unfortunately, he finds himself heavily outmatched by the Emperor and he barely makes his escape to the Shaolin Temple. The monks, seeing it as their holy duty to help, take pity on him and nurse him back to health. Upon seeing their martial arts, Jue Yuan becomes determined to join the temple and learn from them, in the hopes of one day avenging his father. In a way, I would say this movie is about storytelling through martial arts. So much of “The Shaolin Temple” is beautifully choreographed action, and none of it feels redundant or there for the sake of being there. Even if there’s relatively little time between bouts, it never feels like the emotional aspect of the story is being overwhelmed. There are moments of excitement and tension; when, for example, Jue Yuan fights the Emperor to avenge his father. At the same time, they also use martial arts to push Jue Yuan’s emotional journey, like when he’s finally practicing with the other monks of the temple, only to realize it might not be the instant transformation he was hoping for. Jet Li does an amazing job of acting the slow realization and disappointment that overcomes Jue Yuan during that scene. A lot of “The Shaolin Temple” is a clever combination of personal and martial growth. From the beginning, Jue Yuan has some knowledge of kung fu from his father, but he’s rough, emotional and unable to compete with more skilled fighters. Even after becoming a novice at the temple, he remains impatient and fails to truly learn anything. When he learns that learning the basics at the Shaolin Temple will take years of practice, he rushes off in a reckless attempt to assassinate the Emperor only to - very predictably- fail and be forced to return to the temple. It’s only after he sees past his emotions to the consequences of his actions - with a little help from the other monks - that he truly progresses as a martial artist. Similarly, a large portion of the movie carries very deep moral themes surrounding violence and justice. Even before seeing Jue Yuan and his father as prisoners of war, we’re actually introduced to Jue Yuan as he’s taking his vows to become a full-fledged monk. When the abbot asks him whether he will abstain from killing, Jue Yuan is unable to answer immediately. Throughout the majority of the movie he fights out of anger or for revenge and he is beaten down or is narratively punished for it. It’s only when he realizes how he affects the temple as a whole, and how important they are to him, that he starts fighting to protect something. Coming from that place of protection makes him a much more resolute and effective fighter - essentially punishing him for violence out of malevolence, and rewarding it as a form of self-sacrifice and self-defense. In contrast to this, we see two conflicting opinions from the monks of the Shaolin Temple. When attacked, the head abbot tries to avoid conflict and come to a peaceful resolution by whatever means necessary. Unfortunately, not all people can be reasoned with, and he can’t react when things go wrong. In contrast, Jue Yuan’s Sifu decides to do whatever he can to defend the temple, and is prepared when the abbot’s attempts at peace fall through. Even though there are sacrifices, it is only through violence that they defend the legacy of the Shaolin Temple and in the long run, they are rewarded for their bravery. On the whole, “The Shaolin Temple” is an amazing martial arts movie. Its high-paced action sequences result in some very efficient storytelling and there’s never a dull moment. I highly recommend this movie to people looking for strong, unedited kung fu and a kick-ass female martial artist. By the way, there’s also a kick-ass female martial artist. She’s a shepherdess and beats people up for messing with her sheep - the movie’s worth watching if only for that scene alone. On the other hand, if you go into it expecting complex or nuanced dialogue or character interaction, - or even a satisfying romance - this might not be the movie for you. If you enjoyed this article, click below to subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! By S. Howie Immortal Staff

Everyone loves a good underdog story. There’s nothing quite like seeing someone fight their way to the top, using pure will power to get there. That sense of hard work and diligence is one of the most important attributes to a wuxia hero, often going hand-in-hand with themes like morality and honesty. As a result, cultivation is perhaps one of the most core elements of a wuxia series. At its heart, cultivation is the process of growing stronger and gaining a longer lifespan, but the details of how people cultivate and the impacts it has on a person are very individual to a story. The method of cultivation changes case-by-case. Even within the same world, it’s not uncommon for characters to use vastly different techniques. These can range from having to hunt dangerous beasts for materials, to making and drinking expensive elixirs, or to sitting and meditating for long periods of time. Having said that, most cultivation stories are heavily based on real-world Qigong. Qigong is an umbrella term for thousands of schools and styles, but at its core, Qigong is about the coordination of mind and body, and the long-term health benefits of martial arts. There are two kinds of Qigong: active Qigong which focuses on flowing patterns of movement, such as Tai Chi, and passive Qigong, which focuses more on meditation and breathing. Together they create a system of self-care which balances mind and body, and improves health. This is the system you see in series like “Nirvana in Fire”. More low-fantasy wuxia series might stop there, but more fantastical, or xianxia series, usually add to a basic Qigong system. Following traditional acupuncture, many of these stories will include the formation of “cores”, which is essentially the condensation of qi into a solid form. The qi is pooled in something called the “dantian” located in the lower abdomen and flows through the “meridians” - which are a bit like veins - through the rest of the body. Oftentimes this involves meditation, but can sometimes be done while moving or in combat. Beyond the addition of the core, many xianxia stories will add their own unique twist. Series such as “Douluo Dalu” or “Soul Land” for example, have a system of spirits that cultivators must improve. These spirits give them access to supernatural skills and abilities, but can only grow by consuming the life force of powerful beasts. After killing a beast, cultivators absorb their powers, changing and influencing their future growth. Xianxia stories tend to have a much greater scale than a more mundane wuxia world. Where a wuxia protagonist might be impressive for stopping bullets, a xianxia protagonist might reasonably blow up a mountain single-handedly. To quickly differentiate between levels in these worlds, authors often provide a series of “realms” or “grades” - some of which might be further subdivided into early, middle or late stages. As an example, a character could be an “early-stage earth immortal” and you would immediately be able to tell they’re more powerful than something like a “late-stage core formation expert”. Oftentimes, the final goal of cultivation is immortality. Over the course of their cultivation, the characters gain strength and grow their lifespan until they’re so strong, they essentially - or sometimes literally - become gods and ascend to the heavenly realm. A mortal gaining immortality goes against the “Will of Heaven” which, in retaliation, sends lightning to strike down cultivators in a “heavenly tribulation”. You might have seen these in series like “Ten Thousand Miles of Peach Blossoms”. Every time a character in these stories makes a great leap in their cultivation, they must withstand a heavenly tribulation, the strength of which changes. Usually it’s based on how powerful the cultivator is, but sometimes their cultivation method exceptionally aggravates the Will of Heaven, in which case they may face even greater challenges. Cultivation is a very deep and complex category of power systems. There are so many examples of exceptions and additions to the traditional system that it’s impossible to strictly define any given aspect of how cultivation works. Instead, cultivation becomes one of the most unique features of a wuxia or xianxia series and leads to some deeply creative world building. For further reading, check out this glossary of common terms and phrases. If you enjoyed this article, click below to subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! By S. Howie Immortal Staff Sources: https://www.wuxiaworld.com/page/cores-in-chinese-cultivation-novels https://immortalmountain.wordpress.com/glossary/wuxia-xianxia-xuanhuan-terms/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong https://www.nqa.org/what-is-qigong- https://www.tckpublishing.com/wuxia-martial-arts-stories/ https://www.tckpublishing.com/xianxia/ Image source: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/xianxia

If you’re new to wuxia, you may just see gibberish when I say it, but the jianghu (江湖) is the parallel world, inhabited by bandits, beggars, blacksmiths, and merchants; everyone who doesn’t fit in with the scholarly, Confucian world of ancient China. Most importantly, it’s usually where you find the heroes of wuxia, living on the fringes of respectable society. As warriors in times of peace, usually on a revenge quest of some kind of another, xia don’t fit in with normal society. The word “jianghu” first appeared around 400 BCE, and translates simply as “rivers and lakes.” Its meaning has changed many times since, at different times meaning something akin to a band of virtuous thieves (a la Robin Hood), or groups of vagabonds with their own code of rules (the outcasts of society grouping together to form their own parallel society), or sometimes a sanctuary for straight-up criminals (much like a criminal underworld in Western stories). For much of history, it did not include martial artists, who instead belonged to a third world, the “wulin” or martial arts world. With the advent of “New Wave” Wuxia, the jianghu grew to encompass the wulin, and has become a haven for craftsmen, wandering heroes, beggars and bandits alike. Different wuxia authors have depicted it as a society of practical rules (in contrast with traditional Confucian rules), or as a lawless society ruled only by the strong. It has become so ubiquitous to wuxia novels, that it's now an essential part of any wuxia story! Which author made you fall in love with the jianghu the most? If you enjoyed this quick read, click below to subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! by S. Sifton Immortal Staff Sources: https://daoistgate.com/jianghu-the-hidden-world/ http://en.chinaculture.org/chineseway/2012-10/09/content_443948.htm https://www.spcnet.tv/Jianghu-A-World-of-Martial-Arts-fridaythe13th-Opinions-aID11.html Image Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2309915/Chinas-Guangxi-Zhuang-region-Breathtaking-pictures-fisherman-Li-River-sunset.html

Spring is taking its sweet time this year. The nights are still long, and so we've put together a few novels we've enjoyed reading this winter. Some of these you may be familiar with, but we hope you'll give the others a chance! In no particular order: I Shall Seal the Heavens Chapter count: 1616 chapters Author: Er Gen Tags: Exciting, Clever Protagonist, Dramatic The protagonist, Meng Hao, is a troubled young scholar. After his parents' passing, he spent the majority of his inheritance on his tuition in the hopes of one day becoming a rich official. Starving and unable to pass the imperial exams, his fate is dramatically changed when he is kidnapped by an immortal. Suddenly forced to join the Reliance Sect, “I Shall Seal the Heavens” tells the tale of Meng Hao’s unexpected rise to greatness as a cultivator in the Martial World. This is a long story, and it takes some patience getting into. The author takes his time setting up plot points and exploring the dynamics of the Reliance Sect and the Martial World beyond it. Meng Hao begins his journey in the servant quarters, but doesn’t stay there long. “I Shall Seal the Heavens” is a great read for those who enjoy a long read with clever protagonists. Douluo Dalu Chapter count: 336 chapters Author: Tang Jia San Shao Tags: Fantastical, Hard-Working Protagonist, Emotional Also known as “Soul Land”, “Douluo Dalu” tells the story of Tang San who - unable to bear the guilt of stealing his sect’s secrets - throws himself from a cliff and is reborn in a new world. Realizing he still carries memories of his past life, Tang San decides to continue the teachings of his sect in this new world. Together with a group of dependable allies, Tang San fights against enemies old and new, and slowly establishes the mighty Tang Sect. The world building in “Douluo Dalu” is very deep and features both a unique bestiary and power system. A large part of the fun of this series is getting to explore the continent and discover things with the main cast. The story spans a period of more than a decade, so the author really gets to flex their skills at creating a lot of growth and development over the course of their journey. Things that seem straightforward become much more dark as the author reveals things to the audience. “Douluo Dalu” has also been adapted to a live-action and an animated television series. This is a must-read for anyone that enjoys xianxia stories. Desolate Era Chapter count: 1450 chapters Author: I Eat Tomatoes Tags: Exciting, Fantastical, Dramatic Ji Ning originally lived on Earth. His parents were well off, but Ji Ning never got to enjoy a comfortable, or even mundane, life. He was a sick child and spent the majority of his life in hospital beds. Unable to stand the monotony, Ji Ning creates a business online. Right before he passes away, he donates the money he’s made to poor and sick children across the country. In the Netherworld, he discovers that this act of kindness has merited so much good karma that he’s going to be reborn in Heaven as an immortal. Unfortunately, something goes wrong and, before he knows it, Ji Ning finds himself reborn in the Mortal Realm with his memories intact. With a healthy body and a mature mind, Ji Ning resolves to never be weak again. I Eat Tomatoes is a very popular web-novelist whose other popular works include “Coiling Dragon” and “Stellar Transformation”. Readers who enjoyed these series will enjoy “Desolate Era” as it follows similar themes in a fresh light. For those who haven’t read anything by I Eat Tomatoes, this is a very solidly written xianxia series that will definitely leave you wanting more. Legend of the Condor Hero Chapter count: 40 chapters Author: Jin Yong Tags: Exciting, Romantic, Dramatic Two sworn brothers and fathers-to-be, Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin, live peaceful lives in a quiet village. One day, Yang Tiexin’s wife saves an injured warrior. This warrior, who turns out to be a prince, returns to destroy the village. In the scuffle, Guo Xiaotian is killed and Yang Tiexin goes missing. Yang Tiexin’s wife is forced to marry the prince she saved and Guo Xiaotian’s wife wanders into Mongolia. There, she gives birth to our protagonist, Guo Jing, who ends up being raised by Genghis Khan. “Legend of the Condor Hero” follows Guo Jing and his lover Huang Rong as they travel, meeting and learning from the greatest martial artists in the Martial World. Jin Yong is widely considered to be the greatest modern wuxia writer. “Legend of the Condor Hero” alone was adapted into eight movies and ten television series - not to speak of the works it more loosely inspired. This is a very classic wuxia tale, and well worth the read. Renegade Immortal Chapter count: 2088 chapters Author: Er Gen Tags: Dark, Antihero, Exciting Unlike the other stories on this list, “Renegade Immortal” is the story of a boy with no talent. He was born sickly and spent the majority of his youth reading. When his uncle gets him an invitation to the exam recruiting students to an immortal sect, he leaves with confidence. Then he is told he has no talent. Perseverance doesn’t save him. No one takes pity on him. Everything seems hopeless - until he finds a strange bead. Using the strange bead and his wits, the boy makes his way into the world of cultivation. Er Gen is, like I Eat Tomatoes, a very popular web-novelist and the author of “I Shall Seal the Heavens”. Unlike “I Shall Seal the Heavens”, “Renegade Immortal” is a fairly dark story. The protagonist lives in a harsh world and he fights very hard to stay in it. For those who enjoy a more heavy plot, “Renegade Immortal” features deep and interesting character writing. by S. Howie Immortal Staff If you like our articles, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter (click the button at the very bottom of this page), or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more!

In wuxia, there are many different kinds of staves and rods that are used as weapons, symbols of power, or "ordinary" walking sticks. They vary in form and fighting style, but are one of the four most prominent weapons, "the grandfather of all weapons." When you hear "staff," you might think of a quarterstaff, or picture Gandalf bonking someone on the head with his wizard staff. A gun staff (棍) for example might be as long as a quarterstaff (about six feet long), but is thicker at one end and narrower at the top, whereas a quarterstaff is meant to be equally balanced. A bang staff (棒) on the other hand is shorter staff, which might be called a rod or a cudgel in English. The Dog Beating Staff (aka Dagou Bang, 打狗棒), from Jin Yong's The Legend of the Condor Heroes, would fall into the second category. While it might be mistaken for a simple bamboo rod, it looks to be made of jade when inspected closely. Like the taller gun staff, it's thicker at one end and tapered almost to a point at the other, with a hand grip (wrapped or carved, depending on the adaption) near the top. But it wasn't just a weapon, it was also a symbol of leadership, and a secret technique. Check out the excerpt below from the 2008 TV series to see how both characters use it: [PSA - I know what the subtitles say, but please don't Google "Dog Beating Stick," thank you.] The tremendous popularity of The Legend of the Condor Heroes (with over 11 television and film adaptions to choose from) has even seen this particular weapon introduced as a high level weapon in several wuxia-style video games. Send us a screenshot if you've collected one in the past! If you enjoy these articles, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter (click the button at the very bottom of this page), or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more wuxia. by S. Sifton Immortal Staff Sources: https://owlcation.com/humanities/A-Wuxia-Glossary https://borg.com/2019/12/19/the-legend-of-the-condor-heroes-the-greatest-epic-fantasy-adventure-you-havent-seen-yet/ https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/explore/view/article/e/jLFSbFxI4o4/chinese-bang-staff.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_(staff) https://www.britannica.com/technology/quarterstaff https://wuxia.fandom.com/wiki/The_Legend_of_the_Condor_Heroes Image source: please click the image for a link to its original webpage.

Nirvana in Fire (also known as Langya Bang) is an exceptionally well-written Chinese drama, available with English subtitles on Viki and YouTube. The drama is a riveting story of political intrigue in a world where might makes right and members of the Imperial Court are more interested in the profit than the people. Everything from the writing to the acting feels well-thought-out and smartly presented. In fact, the sheer craftsmanship of this drama is by far its best feature. To say that it was popular is something of an understatement. Released in 2015, the 56-episode series topped viewership ratings in fifty cities in China. It won some of the highest awards available in China, and was recognized by the Chinese government as one of the best dramas of the year. While it does have a second season, only a few characters overlap between the two and the stories are completely unrelated. Set in roughly 6th-century China, Nirvana in Fire tells the story of Young Marshal Lin Shu (played by actor Ge Hu) after his army was betrayed, the majority of soldiers - including Lin Shu’s father - are killed in combat and he himself grievously injured. Although Lin Shu survives, he is deeply changed by his injury. His face is completely altered and his body weakened to the point where he can no longer practice martial arts. Unwilling to leave the Chiyan Army’s name in ruins, he takes the name Mei Changsu and founds the Jiang Zuo Alliance, which becomes the largest martial arts sect in the world. After 12 years of careful preparation, Lin Shu turns his sight to the capital. Taking his first steps into the complex fight for succession, Lin Shu faces the advances of both the incompetent Crown Prince (Xin Gao) and the selfish Prince Yu (Wei-De Huang), favored son of the Emperor, as they fight to have him on their side. Openly, he pretends to support Prince Yu, but in secret he becomes a trusted advisor to Prince Jing (Kai Wang). Prince Jing is a very just leader, someone who’s unwilling to overlook corruption. This makes him unpopular in the court which has grown self-serving under the reign of the current Emperor. With the ultimate goal of restoring the Chiyan Army’s good name, Lin Shu slowly removes his enemies one by one. First of all, Lin Shu is one of the best-written characters I’ve seen in a C-drama. He’s consistently calm and composed, always thinking ten steps ahead. Case in point, he has a deck of cards with names that he asks his subordinates to pull randomly from, goes “Oh, this guy, huh?” and then casually deposes some of the highest ranking members of government. Partway through, the question changes from “Can he do this?” to “How is he going to do this?”. It’s not uncommon to see characters that are intelligent, but it’s rare to see intelligent characters that are so clearly rationalized. There are points when Lin Shu explains his plans as they’re in motion, or after the fact, and those times really let you sympathize with the awe felt by the characters he’s explaining to. He always has reasons for his actions. Lin Shu is very deep and the more you get to know him, the more impressive he gets. All of the actors in the cast of Nirvana in Fire are amazing. There are so many moments of high emotion - betrayals, sacrifices, shocking revelations - and they consistently give amazing performances without over-acting. It feels very real when Prince Yu is screaming in heartbreak at the Emperor by the end of the drama. It feels very real when Princess Ni Huang (Liu Tao) reunites with her betrothed. Even in moments of calm, the way that characters play off each other - especially any interaction with Lin Shu’s young bodyguard, Fei Liu (Leo Wu) - is so fun to watch. These characters have such charisma to them. Even with such a large cast, side characters are memorable and three dimensional. The worst thing I can say about these characters is that it might be hard to keep their names straight. There are a lot of players in this game of chess, many of whom go by several names or titles. Almost every main character has two or three names. It can be confusing, especially if you’re not familiar with Chinese names or naming conventions. On his own, for example, the protagonist goes by the names Lin Shu, Mei Changsu and Su Zhe. For those that do get confused, it can be very helpful to find a guide online. There are some awesome references with names and short descriptions that can make remembering who’s who much easier. If you ever find yourself wondering, “who was Marquis Yan again?” or “wait, which prince was Xiao Jing Xuan?” a guide can really help. Another potential negative is that, even though this is a wuxia series, it’s mostly focused on its politics and strategies. There’s a lot of sitting down and talking in this series, so people that come into it expecting a high paced action drama might be disappointed. What action sequences Nirvana in Fire does have are not terrible for the most part. The opening battle was by far the worst in terms of production value. If you can get past that, the rest aren’t too bad. Many of these sequences felt too choreographed to take seriously, but aesthetically a lot of their movements are very graceful. They can feel more like dances than fights at times, which doesn’t really allow them to create too much tension. On the whole, fight scenes in Nirvana in Fire are fun to watch, even if they’re not very suspenseful. For people that enjoy deep character writing and strategy, I very highly recommend this show. It’s a great change of pace for both new and veteran C-drama viewers alike. While it might require some patience as it sets-up its story, Nirvana in Fire is a really great watch that has a special way of drawing you in. by S. Howie Immortal Staff If you like our articles, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter (click the button at the very bottom of this page), or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more! Image sources: please click the images for links.

Feeling bored, but can't find something good on Netflix? Are you interested in brilliant writing, deep characters and tense drama? Then take a look at five of the most exciting wuxia dramas available right now on Netflix, ranked in no particular order: The Untamed Episode count: 50 episodes Episode length: 45 minutes Tags: Emotional, Exciting, Mystery This is a story that begins with the protagonist’s death. Wei Wuxian, the greatest villain in the martial world, is killed by hordes of righteous cultivators. The world is at peace, and everything is well and good. That is, until he’s revived sixteen years later. Back and in a new body, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wang Ji, a close frenemy of his before Wei Wuxian’s death and his current soulmate, must investigate to discover the mastermind behind tragedies both past and present. Based on “The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation” by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, the story is both a deep mystery in a fantasy setting and an epic love spanning across decades. Due to censorship in China, the romance in “The Untamed” between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji is platonic, but certainly edges as close to the line as it can. They consider each other ‘soulmates’, also sometimes translated as ‘lifelong confidantes’ and their relationship is subtle but deep - much to the appreciation of fans across the world. Eternal Love Episode count: 58 episode Episode length: 45 minutes Tags: Romantic, Fantastical, Strong Female Lead Also known as “Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms”, this is the Mulan-esque tale of an immortal fox spirit trying desperately to protect the people she loves. Bai Qian, a nine-tailed fox spirit, is sent to Kunlun Mountain and disguises herself as a boy to study under the God of War. She enjoys her time with her beloved master and older disciple brothers - until betrayal results in her master self-sacrificing to seal a demon lord. As the only disciple to have been taught the sealing spell, Bai Qian spends thousands of years preparing to follow in her master’s footsteps. Things don’t go her way though and she is thrown into the mortal realm with her memories sealed. While living alone in the mountains as a mortal, she saves the Crown Prince of Heaven and the two slowly begin to fall in love. This series has a lot of names, both inside the story and outside of it. “Eternal Love” also known as “Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms” is based on a novel by author Tang Qi whose english title was translated as “To the Sky Kingdom”. The story is a bit complicated, but the chemistry between the male and female leads is enjoyable to watch. You can’t help but cheer them on. Ashes of Love Episode count: 63 episodes Episode length: 45 minutes Tags: Exciting, Romantic, Fantastical “Ashes of Love” tells the story of a naive grape fairy trapped in the Floral Realm and her fateful encounter with a great deity of fire. Jin Mi, who is the child of the late Floral Goddess, was raised inside of a heavily protected barrier her whole life. Her mother, worried that Jin Mi will follow in her footsteps, leaves strict instruction to her vassals to raise Jin Mi quietly. Jin Mi herself, on the other hand, can’t wait to leave the small courtyard she was raised in. A chance encounter with the Fire Deity grants her a chance to escape - and causes unintended ripples across the six realms. “Ashes of Love” is first and foremost a love triangle. The protagonist, Jin Mi, cannot fall in love due to an elixir her mother gave her and must face the advances of two princes. It’s an interesting story, with some pretty surprising twists, but somewhat slow. With a total of 63 episodes it’s definitely a longer drama and could probably stand to be a few episodes shorter. If you have the patience to sit through it though, “Ashes of Love” is worth the watch. Handsome Siblings Episode count: 44 episodes Episode length: 46 minutes Tags: Revenge, Exciting, Emotional A pair of twins separated at birth find their paths crossing as they work to discover the mystery behind their parent’s deaths. Jiang Xiao Yu was raised in the Villain’s Valley to become a force of chaos and evil in the martial world, but grew up with a good heart. Hwa Wu Que, on the other hand, was raised in the Yi Hua Palace by Princess Yao Yue who wanted to take revenge on their father - whom she carried an unrequited love for - to be Jiang Xiao Yu’s enemy. Despite that, they end up becoming friends. Together they fight against their parents' enemies for the stability of the martial world - and their own revenge. The source material, a novel called “Juedai Shuangjiao” by Gu Long, was actually published in 1966. Since then, it has spawned four movies and eight television series. “Handsome Siblings” is the most recent adaptation of this novel. It really shows, visually, as some of the shots in this drama are amazing. Word of Honor Episode count: 36 episodes Episode length: 45 minutes Tags: Emotional, Exciting, Suspenseful This one is a bit dark, but has amazing character growth. After unintentionally killing his brother’s lover, master assassin Zhou Zi Shu undergoes extreme pain by inserting seven nails into his body - which will kill him in three years - in order to escape the organization he worked for. Bearing the guilt of the loss of his entire clan, he wanders the world drinking away his days until an unexpected debt lands him in one of the biggest power struggles of the martial world. With the help of Wen Ke Xing, a powerful martial artist and serious flirt, Zhou Zi Shu navigates the dangerous forces of greed that threaten to consume them all. This series also features a pair of ‘soulmates’. Adapted from “Faraway Wanderers” by Priest, “Word of Honor” depicts two men with dark pasts as they bond and heal. Due to the nature of this, the beginning is a bit more action-heavy and the end focuses more on their relationship. Regardless, this drama has some really amazing fight scenes. Both Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Ke Xing use unique weapons throughout the series; everything from their usual weapons, a fan and a whip sword, to household objects. If you’ve ever wanted to see a lone man defeat well over ten assailants with a single piece of wet cloth, this is the series for you. by S. Howie Immortal Staff If you like our articles, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter (click the button at the very bottom of this page), or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more! Sources: https://www.buzzfeed.com/claratsacwang/best-c-dramas-netflix https://www.reddit.com/r/CDrama/comments/mlzma0/wuxia_and_xianxia_shows_on_netflix_and_prime/ https://www.insider.com/best-chinese-south-korean-period-dramas-on-netflix-amazon-prime-2020-4 https://mydramalist.com/search?adv=titles&ge=20&so=popular&or=desc&page=3 https://dramaslot.com/eternal-love-2017-review/ https://www.vox.com/2020/3/27/21192718/the-untamed-netflix-review-rec-mdzs-cql https://dramaslot.com/ashes-of-love-review/ https://dramapearls.com/2020/03/15/handsome-siblings-%E7%BB%9D%E4%BB%A3%E5%8F%8C%E9%AA%84-chinese-drama-review-episode-gui Image sources: please click the images to be taken to their original websites.