Whether it be movies, series or games – China is involved in all entertainment products and transports its own genres abroad. One of the best-known is Wuxia. But what exactly is that?
What is Wuxia? Simply put: Wuxia is the term for a specific genre of Chinese works. Wuxia (武俠) consists of 2 words. As wukong Education explains, wǔ
means something like martial or military and xiá
means something like hero or chivalrous person.
Protagonists are often wandering heroes, comparable to knights, who stand out primarily through their martial arts. A certain sense of honor is also present. Essentially, they are hero stories.
The Wuxia genre that is associated with the term today is mainly based on the works of Liang Yusheng (his real name is Cheng Wentong). Together with Jin Yong and Go Long in the 1950s, he established the New School of Wuxia and many elements that are indispensable in the genre.
Liang Yusheng mixed classical Chinese literature, poetics, and history, thus solidifying the genre, which still relies on these elements today. According to WuxiaSociety, one must have 3 elements to properly implement a Wuxia work:
- Knowledge of history, geography, religion, and customs
- Knowledge of classical Chinese literature and literary techniques
- Basic knowledge of Chinese martial arts
Initially, Wuxia referred only to novels, but over time, films, series, and games have also adapted the genre. To this day, these 3 pillars remain important.
One of the most recent titles in the Wuxia genre is the game Where Winds Meet:
Features of Wuxia
How to recognize Wuxia works? On one hand, the time period is important. Wuxia works often have a historical setting, usually between the Yuan Dynasty (1279 to 1368) and the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911). The focus is on martial arts and Qi, the term for life energy.
Although the fighters in the works often use extraordinary techniques – they can jump several meters high or glide through the air – there are no supernatural powers like ghosts.
While martial arts are at the center, unlike Kung Fu works, it’s not about fighting itself, but about what the fighters represent and the morals that the heroes follow.
As is often the case, works can incorporate elements from multiple genres. Sometimes the focus is on the fights, sometimes on the story, sometimes on the historical context.
Wuxia in Film
What about Wuxia films? The first Wuxia films in China appeared as early as the 1920s (Source: Mapping Contemporary Cinema). Since then, Wuxia has been an important part of the Chinese film and series landscape, albeit not without controversy. Between 1933 and 1938, the genre was banned, and again in 1949 (Source: escholarship.org). Later, the genre was revived.
The various films also contain central elements, in addition to those established by Liang Yusheng:
- They are often produced as epics. There are large, historical sets, gigantic armies, extravagant costumes, and props.
- Generally, many Wuxia films are colorful. They play with colors, not only in clothing but also in sets and weather effects.
- In acting, one often notices a certain theatricality. Emotions are presented broadly and dramatically, often love and honor are themes.
- The fights incorporate elements of traditional martial arts, but mix them with superhuman elements, such as high jumps, gliding, and various weapons. Elaborate choreography is an important aspect.
- A historical context is usually ever-present.
- Main characters often do not have a happy ending. They sacrifice themselves for their ideals, even if it means dying for it.
Important film works of the Wuxia genre include Hero and House of Flying Daggers by Zhang Yimou, Tiger and Dragon by Ang Lee, or Once Upon a Time in China by Tsui Hark. There are also still Wuxia works in modernity. With Sakra (2023), Shadow (2018), or the Detective Dee series (2010–2018), well-known films in the genre were released not too long ago.
Wuxia in Video Games
Are there many Wuxia games? Yes. In the video game area, the genre is represented just as strongly as in films. A current example is Where Winds Meet, but the following games also have elements of the genre:
- Wuchang Fallen Feathers
- Jade Empire
- The Dynasty Warriors series
- Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
- Sword of Justice
- Naraka: Bladepoint
And it doesn’t seem to be ending, as China is becoming an increasingly powerful force in the entertainment sector. A new action-RPG also wants to prove itself in the Wuxia genre: New action-RPG on PS5 impresses me after just 5 seconds, reminiscent of Kung Fu classics that my father and I used to devour
