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“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.

Wandering heroes are found in almost every culture, stories of do-gooders who come across folks in trouble, and rush to their rescue, saving them from trouble or defeating the bad guys, without asking for anything in return. In Europe, they're called knights errant, in Japan they're rōnin samurai, and in China they're known as xia (the heroes of the wuxia genre). But whatever their name, these folk heroes have captured our imagination for centuries. Members of these groups were highly skilled in combat, and abided by a code of conduct. For knights, it was the code of chivalry, an informal code of manners and ethics that were loosely applied to knights from the twelfth century onwards. For samurai, it was Bushido, a strict set of rules by which they lived and died (also thought to have been established in the twelfth century, believe it or not). The xia code was a little more complex, consisting most of commonly held Confucian values followed by the rest of society, with some notable exceptions that set them apart from society at large. For the most part, we remember knights and samurai as fiercely loyal soldiers, completely devoted to their lords. Yet errant knights and rōnin samurai were lord-less wanderers, as in many cases were xia. While unremarkable in all aspects to contemporary thinking, this individualism is one of the key points that set xia apart from their societal peers, who strove for familial and communal peace above personal satisfaction. We may think it completely normal for such heroes to rebel against unjust commands from their lords or masters (or teachers), but that streak of individualism that we expect from our heroes is actually a strong deviation among these groups of soldiers who prized loyalty so highly. After all, heroes have to stand out from the crowd, right? Whether they wandered in search of revenge, or a new cause to call their own, personal loyalty and an innate sense of justice was something that all of these heroes had in common, and that justice is precisely what made them folk heroes to the poor and downtrodden they met in their journeys. Whether a knight in shining armor, a noble stranger, or an unexpectedly strong beggar, these saviors are found in many different stories no matter where you are from. However, one thing in particular that stands out about wuxia heroes, or xia, when compared to their counterparts in Japan and the West, is their background. Historically, knights and samurai both came from very privileged backgrounds; you had to be born into that class or status, and while it was something you dedicated your whole life to, it was not a life you chose for yourself. Outsiders were excluded, and knights and samurai were almost universally men. Xia on the other hand came from all classes and backgrounds, and could be either male or female. While we at Immortal are great fans of all three groups of heroes, and their stories (real, fictional, or a mix of both), we believe this key point is part of what makes the wuxia genre so unique. That every one of us can be a hero, is a story we all need to hear. by S. Sifton 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: Liu, James J.Y. The Chinese Knight-Errant. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd., 1967. https://www.heroic-cinema.com/eric/xia.html https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-bushido-195302#:~:text=The%20Samurai%20Code,-Share&text=Bushido%20was%20the%20code%20of,%22way%20of%20the%20warrior.%22 Image sources: please click the pictures in question for links to their webpages.

We've been wanting to do Bleach for months, but had to pause it when we got busy with our Immortal Swordsmen launch. But now, we're so glad we did, because there's big news to share! Anime fans everywhere heard last month that Tite Kubo’s Bleach, one of Shonen Jump's most popular series, will be getting another anime season after a 10 year break. Resuming at the beginning of the manga’s final arc, Shonen Jump announced last month that in celebration of the series’ 20th anniversary, the series would resume in October 2022. So without further ado, today we’re going to look at Bleach through the lens of Essential Wuxia, something we’ve been excited to do for a while now! I gave Bleach a 14/15, a silver! Here's why... Is Ichigo Kurosaki a Wuxia Hero? I gave this section an 8 out of 8. Ichigo starts out as a jaded high schooler with a soft spot for ghosts, but Rukia’s attitude towards her work quickly rubs off on him. He soon finds himself reaching out to help people (both living and dead) that he never would have bothered with before, and frequently finds himself in harm’s way because of it. He decides to follow her example, and endeavors to save all souls, even at the risk of his own life. In a similar way, he starts off a bit stingy and selfish, but as his character grows, he rediscovers a version of himself from when he was younger, that gives selflessly of everything he has. As the series progresses, and his enemies are no longer just souls who’ve lost their way, we see Ichigo’s sense of justice extends not only to those innocents around him, but also to his enemies. His background in martial arts has given him an unshakeable sense of fair play and a healthy dose of respect for his opponents. He turns a fair number of enemies into comrades with this attitude, many of whom come from backgrounds quite different from his own. Ichigo is extremely loyal to his friends (even if they're former enemies), but, as is especially clear in the story of the upcoming anime, he isn’t afraid to stand up and stop them when he thinks they’re in the wrong. Is the series Essential Wuxia? While training and regular power-ups are a stock feature of the Shonen genre, Kubo Tite chooses to focus Ichigo’s training sessions on his inner world, the world inside his soul. We meet different aspects of Ichigo’s personality there, and different facets of his power; Ichigo variously accepts and overcomes them in turn. This emotional journey definitely devolves into fisticuffs fairly often, but the meditation we see Ichigo, and other characters, undergo in order to learn more about themselves (and get stronger) is actually very reminiscent of wuxia and xianxia training. In Bleach, almost every character has a unique weapon or power that's all their own. In the case of Ichigo and the other Soul Reapers, each of them has a sword that takes the shape of their soul power. Kubo Tite uses this to great effect, giving each individual in his impressive character roster a wide range of powers, and taking readers for a ride as he delves into their normal, released, and final release ("bankai") states. The soul reapers also have schools of sorcery ("kido"), and can learn some very qinggong-like movement skills ("shunpo") to give each character a greater range of abilities and specializations beyond simple sword techniques. Kubo Tite successfully intertwines several different worlds, each hidden from the other but directly impacting it in some way. He often describes the worlds like a dish of water that's very precariously balanced, illustrating each world as a different color in the bowl that swirls together with the rest but doesn't quite mix. His fascination with language meant that each of these were thematically created around Japanese words, English words, Spanish words, German words, and so on. The human worlds is, of course, oblivious to all of these parallel worlds, while still being aware of some forms of the afterlife through culture and legends. Essential Wuxia Score: 14/15! Missed Points: for all of the unique characters that Kubo Tite created in these other worlds, and all their diverse powers, there's still a very normal, human society at the heard of it, full of normal, average people with no powers. Ichigo and his friends want to protect these people at all costs, but it also means that not everyone can be a hero when they can't even see their opponents. The average person has no soul power, or Fullbringer power, or Quincy power, so they are not able to train or get stronger the way our protagonists do (though you do have to respect Don Kanonji for trying). by S. Sifton 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!

There's a lot to talk about, so let's dive right in and look at celebrations across Canada and the States! Though the traditions we have talked about over the past week are no less important to the various diaspora communities in North America, the holiday does not have the same legal protections it does elsewhere, so traveling and celebrations are limited even under normal circumstances. Many of the celebrations in Canada this year have been cancelled, or scaled down, due to COVID. Many families have been unable to reunite, but have still tried to continue their traditions at home wherever possible. In Toronto and Vancouver, public celebrations will still continue for the next two weeks with remote programs, performances, and cultural . Check out this great article for more information on how you can join in the fun this weekend (most of these start on Saturday, February 5th, so mark your calendars!): https://dailyhive.com/toronto/lunar-new-year-toronto. If you're on the west coast, check out this website for information about online and remote events in Vancouver this weekend: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/lunar-new-year-events-metro-vancouver. However, barring any changes, the Buddhist International Temple in Richmond should be open to everyone who wishes to offer their prayers there during the Spring Festival, so please check it out! For those down south in the United States, I hope you caught the parades in San Francisco, New York, Boston, Chicago, and Honolulu! While many cities will have already finished their celebrations on the first night, there's still some fun events to look forward to this weekend! In Honolulu, there are fireworks and special museum exhibits open in celebration of the Lunar New Year this weekend, and performances will be held all day this Saturday. In New York much of the celebrations have already finished, but there are festival games planned for the weekend, several storytelling events for children at libraries across the city (all about the history and legends around Lunar New Year and its traditions in different countries), and a concert by the world-famous New York Philharmonic. San Francisco also boasts a concert this weekend, as well as a beauty pageant, and purportedly the biggest Lunar New Year float parade in North America, scheduled for February 19th, the weekend after the Lantern Festival. Boston's parade is scheduled for February 13th (weather permitting), with special celebrations for Tết planned to be celebrated on February 6th this year (check out the link for some great food recommendations around Lunar New Year too). Chicago's Chinatown would like to give San Francisco a run for their money with their own floats and marching bands, also scheduled for Sunday, February 13th; like Boston, Chicago has separate celebrations for Tết this Saturday, February 5th. Obviously, this is far from a complete list of all the celebrations across North America (I didn't even have a chance to talk about the Lunar New Year festivals in Mexico!), so please drop us a comment at the bottom of this article, or on our social media, to tell us about Lunar New Year celebrations in your area! We'd love to hear from you. PS - and of course, please be safe and respect all social distancing and COVID guidelines in your province, state, or city. Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year! by S. Sifton 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! Photo sources: please click the photos to see their original webpages.

Tonight marks the eve of the Lunar New Year, and celebrations around the world are well underway. The Lunar New Year festivities in Korea are very short compared to many other places, they're just three days long! But there's still a lot to pack into Korea's Seollal celebration. The first night of Seollal is the eve of the Lunar New Year, with celebrations continuing through through the next two days. Besides gifts to your family, the work culture in Korea means you often give gifts to your coworkers and employees as well. Families gather in their hometowns to honor their ancestors ("charye"), and children greet the adults of their family with very deep, traditional bows after dinner ("sebae"). Food traditions vary by region, but there's a universal tradition surrounding tteokguk in South Korea (its equivalent in North Korea is manduguk). Each Lunar New Year is the equivalent of a birthday in Korea, so Seollal is the new year, your family reunion, and your birthday, and everyone else's birthday, all rolled into one! When you are born in Korea, everyone starts off at one year old (the year you spent in the womb counts), and then everyone becomes a year older on the day of Seollal. Some traditions say you only age after eating a delicious bowl of tteokguk, or rice cake soup, on new year's day, so it's an extra special dish for children! Colorful hanbok (traditional Korean outfits dating back to the Joseon Dynasty and earlier) are often seen at significant events and milestones like weddings throughout the year, but it is traditional to wear a brand new hanbok for the first time at Seollal. For some families, this may mean renting them (as brand new outfits can be quite expensive), but it makes the celebration extra special. We barely scratched the surface with many of these traditions, as some of them go back a thousand years or more, but we hope we were able to help everyone get a glimpse of the rich culture of each country we visited this week. Once again, we at Immortal Studios would like to wish everyone happiness and prosperity in the new year as the celebrations begin! by S. Sifton 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! Photo sources: please click the photos to see their original webpages.

In Vietnam, the Spring Festival is called Tết Nguyên Đán, or Tết for short. It almost always starts the same day as Lunar New Year in other parts of Asia, but every so often it will actually start a day earlier, due to the time difference between Vietnam and China. The biggest holiday of the year is also the longest work holiday, as folks leave the big cities and go home to their families over the 10 day festival. One of the most beloved holiday treats is banh chung, a sticky rice cake filled with red beans, onions, and pork, and wrapped in leaves (usually dong leaves) to cook in a steamer. Legend has it that a Vietnamese king could not decide which of his many, many sons would become his successor, and decided to give them all a test: he asked all of his sons to create a brand new dish for him to eat. All of them created complex, delicious dishes for their father, but one son created something very simple, which beat them all. Each part of the dish was steeped in symbolism, and their combination was so delicious, that the king decided immediately that his poorest son (the one who created the banh chung) would be the one to succeed him. It has been a Tết tradition, given by children to their parents as a sign of respect and filial piety. As in many other traditions, Tết in Vietnam marks when the gods all return to the heavens. At the start of Tết, it is customary to make offerings to the household gods, in the hopes they'll put in a good word for the family when they make their annual reports to the Jade Emperor. Another tradition that is unique to Vietnamese Tết is the cay neu, or bamboo tree. Similar to the kumquat or peach blossoms used in other countries, Vietnamese families put these in their yards or in front of their homes, and hang flowers, origami, fish decorations, and good luck charms in order to protect their home and family from evil spirits. The traditional charms vary from region to region, such as cactus branches instead of fish in some areas. We wish everyone a happy and safe Tết this year, Chúc mừng năm mới! by S. Sifton 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.vietnam-briefing.com/news/how-should-foreign-businesses-prepare.html/ https://sonasia-holiday.com/sonabee/tet-vietnam http://yummyvietnam.net/original-banh-chung-recipe-how-to-make-best-square-cake-recipe/ https://www.archstl.org/chc-mng-nm-mi-happy-new-year-1091 https://studentexchange.vn/tet-traditions-vietnam-lunar-new-year/ Image sources: please click the photos to view their original sources.