Best Chinese Wuxia Novels
Title↕ | Author↕ | Year↕ | Historical Setting↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Legend of the Condor Heroes | Jin Yong (Louis Cha) | 1957 | Southern Song dynasty, early 13th century | First book of Condor Trilogy, Guo Jing and Huang Rong, defining wuxia novel |
The Return of the Condor Heroes | Jin Yong (Louis Cha) | 1959 | Late Southern Song dynasty | Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu, forbidden romance, most adapted Chinese novel |
The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber | Jin Yong (Louis Cha) | 1961 | Late Yuan dynasty, mid-14th century | Condor Trilogy finale, Zhang Wuji and six love interests, Ming dynasty founding |
The Smiling, Proud Wanderer | Jin Yong (Louis Cha) | 1967 | Ming dynasty, fictional wulin | Linghu Chong, political allegory of Cultural Revolution, swordplay masterpiece |
The Deer and the Cauldron | Jin Yong (Louis Cha) | 1969 | Early Qing dynasty, Kangxi Emperor era | Jin Yong's final and most experimental novel, trickster Wei Xiaobao, seven wives |
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils | Jin Yong (Louis Cha) | 1963 | Northern Song dynasty, 11th century | Three protagonists, Buddhist themes, complex epic often ranked Jin Yong's best |
The Book and the Sword | Jin Yong (Louis Cha) | 1955 | Qianlong era, mid-Qing dynasty | Jin Yong's debut novel, Red Flower Society rebels against Manchu emperor |
Sword Stained with Royal Blood | Jin Yong (Louis Cha) | 1956 | Late Ming dynasty collapse | Yuan Chengzhi seeking revenge, backdrop of fall of Ming dynasty |
Chu Liuxiang | Gu Long | 1967 | Undefined Ming-era jianghu | Gu Long's signature sleuth-swordsman, series of detective wuxia novels |
The Sentimental Swordsman | Gu Long | 1969 | Fictional jianghu world | Li Xunhuan, Little Li Flying Dagger, Gu Long's defining tragic hero |
Xiao Shiyi Lang | Gu Long | 1973 | Fictional jianghu | Wandering swordsman outsider, Gu Long's minimalist style |
White Haired Demoness | Liang Yusheng | 1957 | Late Ming dynasty | Tragic romance between Lian Nichang and Zhuo Yihang, multiple film adaptations |
Seven Swords of Mount Heaven | Liang Yusheng | 1956 | Early Qing dynasty anti-Manchu resistance | Adapted by Tsui Hark as Seven Swords 2005 film, pioneering new-school wuxia |
A Step into the Past | Huang Yi | 1994 | Warring States era, 3rd century BC | Time-travel wuxia, protagonist advises Qin Shi Huang, huge TVB series |
Grandmaster Strategist | Wen Rui An | 1981 | Song dynasty, Four Great Constables series | Four Great Constables series, modern wuxia evolution |
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