A Jin Yong Primer - The Classics
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douqiJin Yong's wuxia oeuvre consists of twelve novels, two novellas and one novelette. The novels were initially serialised in newspapers and then published in book form. There are three editions of each novel. The first edition, or 'Old Edition' of each novel, is the one closest to the serialised form. These are no longer in wide circulation (and may be out of print). The second edition, or 'Revised Edition', of each novel is the one that has been in circulation for the longest period of time, and generally considered the definitive edition by readers. They also form the basis for most of the major TV adaptations. The third edition, or 'New Revised Edition' of each novel was completed in Jin Yong's later life, and makes a number of major storyline changes, for which it has been criticised. I will note the pro English translations I'm aware of in the entry for each work.
Jin Yong's works have been adapted for film and television numerous times. The film 'adaptations' have tended to be based only loosely on the source material, due to the constraints of turning a five- or four-volume novel into a two-hour film. The television adaptations are generally more faithful. This note will therefore focus on the television adaptations only. The 1980s Hong Kong adaptations are considered the 'classic' ones among fans, but are difficult to find online with English subtitles. The more recent mainland Chinese adaptations can be more easily found subtitled, and are therefore more accessible. When linking to mainland adaptations in the entries below, I will link to the ones with English subtitles.
Classic #1: The Legend of the Condor Heroes (射雕英雄传 | 射鵰英雄傳). If you read just one Jin Yong, read this. A sprawling epic, set in a particularly turbulent point of Chinese history, and is quite possibly the trope codifier for many wuxia archetypes and plot points. A 12-volume English translation of the novel (by Anna Holmwood and Gigi Chang) is currently being published by MacLehose. The definitive Hong Kong television adaptation is the 1983 one starring Wong Yat Wah (Felix Wong) and Yung Mei Ling (Barbara Yung), linked here. Of the mainland Chinese adaptations (which can be more easily found subtitled on YouTube), I would probably recommend the 2008 one starring Hu Ge and Ariel Lin (and featuring established Hong Kong actors who used to star in Jin Yong adaptations in their youth in guest roles), linked here. CQL fans might also be interested in the 2017 adaptation (linked here), which features Meng Ziyi in an important secondary role.
Classic #2: The Return of the Condor Heroes, or The Giant Eagle and Its Companion (神雕侠侣 | 神鵰俠侶). Direct sequel to The Legend of the Condor Heroes, whose (now middle-aged) protagonists return as relatively important secondary characters. Known for THE definitive wuxia love story, between protagonist Yang Guo and his master Xiaolongnu (master-disciple relationships being taboo within orthodox wuxia circles). The definitive Hong Kong adaptation is the 1983 one (linked here) starring a very young Lau Tak Wah (Andy Lau) and Chan Yuk Lin (Idy Chan). I also have a soft spot for the 1995 Hong Kong adaptation (linked here) starring Koo Tin Lok (Louis Koo) and Lee Yeuk Tong (Carman Lee), mainly because of Lee (note for CQL fans: Lee also plays Lan Yi). Of the mainland adaptations, the 2006 one (linked here) starring Huang Xiaoming and Liu Yifei (Crystal Liu) is probably the most iconic, with Liu Yifei often being said to embody Xiaolongnu's otherworldly beauty perfectly.
Classic #3: The Heaven Sword and the Dragon Sabre, or The Sword and the Knife (倚天屠龙记 | 倚天屠龍記). A sequel of sorts to the two Condor Heroes titles, but only in a very loose sense. Not one of my personal favourites, mainly because I spent most of it wanting to yell 'make up your mind' at the protagonist. Offers a close look at life within the orthodox sects and a fairly nuanced portrayal of the 'Demonic Cult' (魔教), and at Han-Mongol hostilities. I have no strong views on the various adaptations (nor a sense that a particular one is considered 'classic'), but looking at the cast lists, the 1986 Hong Kong one (linked here) starring Leung Chiu Wai (Tony Leung) and Lai Mei Han (Kitty Lai) seems strong, and the 1994 adaptation features a particularly memorable turn from Chow Hoi Mei (Kathy Chow). I know nothing about the mainland ones, but have been able to find the 2003 one fansubbed here.
Classic #4: Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (天龙八部 | 天龍八部). If The Legend of the Condor Heroes was epic, this is epic-plus. It features three protagonists (a prince, a wuxia leader and a monk) and covers the length and breadth of the Jianghu from the northern Liao empire to the southern Dali kingdom. Meditations on philosophy, the nature of vengeance and patriotism are intertwined with Just A Lot of Batshit Crazy stuff. The chapter titles for each volume are based on a different Song Dynasty lyric, which is absolutely metal (I may or may not have the one for the second volume memorised). No pro English translation, but there is a French one available. Opinion as to the definitive Hong Kong adaptation is split between the 1982 one starring Leung Ka Yan (Bryan Leung), Tong Chun Yip (Kenneth Tong) and Wong Yat Wah (Felix Wong) and the 1997 one (linked here) starring Wong Yat Wah (Felix Wong), Chan Ho Man (Benny Chan) and Fan Siu Wong (Louis Fan). Of the mainland adaptations, I have a mild preference for the 2003 one (linked here), quite possibly because I am old and still remember when Jimmy Lin used to be popular.
Classic #5: The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, or State of Divinity (笑傲江湖). The Jin Yong novel I feel does the best job of interrogating the genre's conventions and assumptions. The protagonist is a charming, somewhat roguish expert swordsman who loves wine, and is eventually expelled from his sect for doing what he thinks is right in the face of opposing views within the orthodox sects (sound familiar? he also loses all of his qi at one point). Features Jin Yong's only canonically queer character, in the form of 'Demonic' Cult leader Dongfang Bubai (though also: major major content note for treatment of the queer character). Of the Hong Kong adaptations, the 1984 one starring Chow Yun-Fatt is probably the most iconic one, though IMO this is one role Fatt-gor could not pull off. The 1996 one (linked here) starring Lui Chung Yin (Jackie Lui) is ... acceptable, but gets major points from me for featuring He Mei Tian as THE definitive Yilin the nun (or at least, my definitive Yilin). Again, I know very little about the mainland adaptations, though the 2001 one looks like it should be okay (judging by the cast list). However, the only English-subtitled one I have been able to find is the 2013 one (linked here) starring Huo Chien-hwa (Wallace Huo). The 2018 one should be avoided if you're looking for a faithful adaptation, as it makes multiple changes.
Classic #6: The Deer and the Cauldron, or The Duke of Mount Deer (鹿鼎记 |鹿鼎記). I detest this book intensely, but still think its inclusion is warranted. It's Jin Yong's final novel, and he's clearly playing with the form. The protagonist is a charming, quick-witted, amoral, selfish young man who knows no martial arts and performs no chivalric deeds (except by accident, or when it's convenient for him). It is, in a very real sense, an anti-wuxia novel. The iconic Hong Kong adaptation is unquestionably the 1984 one (linked here) starring Leung Chiu Wai (Tony Leung) and Lau Tak Wah (Andy Lau). Of the mainland adaptations, the 2020 one (linked here) is most easily accessible (with official English subtitles). There is a highly abridged English translation by John Minford, published by Oxford University Press.
Next time: A Jin Yong Primer - The Others
Jin Yong's works have been adapted for film and television numerous times. The film 'adaptations' have tended to be based only loosely on the source material, due to the constraints of turning a five- or four-volume novel into a two-hour film. The television adaptations are generally more faithful. This note will therefore focus on the television adaptations only. The 1980s Hong Kong adaptations are considered the 'classic' ones among fans, but are difficult to find online with English subtitles. The more recent mainland Chinese adaptations can be more easily found subtitled, and are therefore more accessible. When linking to mainland adaptations in the entries below, I will link to the ones with English subtitles.
Classic #1: The Legend of the Condor Heroes (射雕英雄传 | 射鵰英雄傳). If you read just one Jin Yong, read this. A sprawling epic, set in a particularly turbulent point of Chinese history, and is quite possibly the trope codifier for many wuxia archetypes and plot points. A 12-volume English translation of the novel (by Anna Holmwood and Gigi Chang) is currently being published by MacLehose. The definitive Hong Kong television adaptation is the 1983 one starring Wong Yat Wah (Felix Wong) and Yung Mei Ling (Barbara Yung), linked here. Of the mainland Chinese adaptations (which can be more easily found subtitled on YouTube), I would probably recommend the 2008 one starring Hu Ge and Ariel Lin (and featuring established Hong Kong actors who used to star in Jin Yong adaptations in their youth in guest roles), linked here. CQL fans might also be interested in the 2017 adaptation (linked here), which features Meng Ziyi in an important secondary role.
Classic #2: The Return of the Condor Heroes, or The Giant Eagle and Its Companion (神雕侠侣 | 神鵰俠侶). Direct sequel to The Legend of the Condor Heroes, whose (now middle-aged) protagonists return as relatively important secondary characters. Known for THE definitive wuxia love story, between protagonist Yang Guo and his master Xiaolongnu (master-disciple relationships being taboo within orthodox wuxia circles). The definitive Hong Kong adaptation is the 1983 one (linked here) starring a very young Lau Tak Wah (Andy Lau) and Chan Yuk Lin (Idy Chan). I also have a soft spot for the 1995 Hong Kong adaptation (linked here) starring Koo Tin Lok (Louis Koo) and Lee Yeuk Tong (Carman Lee), mainly because of Lee (note for CQL fans: Lee also plays Lan Yi). Of the mainland adaptations, the 2006 one (linked here) starring Huang Xiaoming and Liu Yifei (Crystal Liu) is probably the most iconic, with Liu Yifei often being said to embody Xiaolongnu's otherworldly beauty perfectly.
Classic #3: The Heaven Sword and the Dragon Sabre, or The Sword and the Knife (倚天屠龙记 | 倚天屠龍記). A sequel of sorts to the two Condor Heroes titles, but only in a very loose sense. Not one of my personal favourites, mainly because I spent most of it wanting to yell 'make up your mind' at the protagonist. Offers a close look at life within the orthodox sects and a fairly nuanced portrayal of the 'Demonic Cult' (魔教), and at Han-Mongol hostilities. I have no strong views on the various adaptations (nor a sense that a particular one is considered 'classic'), but looking at the cast lists, the 1986 Hong Kong one (linked here) starring Leung Chiu Wai (Tony Leung) and Lai Mei Han (Kitty Lai) seems strong, and the 1994 adaptation features a particularly memorable turn from Chow Hoi Mei (Kathy Chow). I know nothing about the mainland ones, but have been able to find the 2003 one fansubbed here.
Classic #4: Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (天龙八部 | 天龍八部). If The Legend of the Condor Heroes was epic, this is epic-plus. It features three protagonists (a prince, a wuxia leader and a monk) and covers the length and breadth of the Jianghu from the northern Liao empire to the southern Dali kingdom. Meditations on philosophy, the nature of vengeance and patriotism are intertwined with Just A Lot of Batshit Crazy stuff. The chapter titles for each volume are based on a different Song Dynasty lyric, which is absolutely metal (I may or may not have the one for the second volume memorised). No pro English translation, but there is a French one available. Opinion as to the definitive Hong Kong adaptation is split between the 1982 one starring Leung Ka Yan (Bryan Leung), Tong Chun Yip (Kenneth Tong) and Wong Yat Wah (Felix Wong) and the 1997 one (linked here) starring Wong Yat Wah (Felix Wong), Chan Ho Man (Benny Chan) and Fan Siu Wong (Louis Fan). Of the mainland adaptations, I have a mild preference for the 2003 one (linked here), quite possibly because I am old and still remember when Jimmy Lin used to be popular.
Classic #5: The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, or State of Divinity (笑傲江湖). The Jin Yong novel I feel does the best job of interrogating the genre's conventions and assumptions. The protagonist is a charming, somewhat roguish expert swordsman who loves wine, and is eventually expelled from his sect for doing what he thinks is right in the face of opposing views within the orthodox sects (sound familiar? he also loses all of his qi at one point). Features Jin Yong's only canonically queer character, in the form of 'Demonic' Cult leader Dongfang Bubai (though also: major major content note for treatment of the queer character). Of the Hong Kong adaptations, the 1984 one starring Chow Yun-Fatt is probably the most iconic one, though IMO this is one role Fatt-gor could not pull off. The 1996 one (linked here) starring Lui Chung Yin (Jackie Lui) is ... acceptable, but gets major points from me for featuring He Mei Tian as THE definitive Yilin the nun (or at least, my definitive Yilin). Again, I know very little about the mainland adaptations, though the 2001 one looks like it should be okay (judging by the cast list). However, the only English-subtitled one I have been able to find is the 2013 one (linked here) starring Huo Chien-hwa (Wallace Huo). The 2018 one should be avoided if you're looking for a faithful adaptation, as it makes multiple changes.
Classic #6: The Deer and the Cauldron, or The Duke of Mount Deer (鹿鼎记 |鹿鼎記). I detest this book intensely, but still think its inclusion is warranted. It's Jin Yong's final novel, and he's clearly playing with the form. The protagonist is a charming, quick-witted, amoral, selfish young man who knows no martial arts and performs no chivalric deeds (except by accident, or when it's convenient for him). It is, in a very real sense, an anti-wuxia novel. The iconic Hong Kong adaptation is unquestionably the 1984 one (linked here) starring Leung Chiu Wai (Tony Leung) and Lau Tak Wah (Andy Lau). Of the mainland adaptations, the 2020 one (linked here) is most easily accessible (with official English subtitles). There is a highly abridged English translation by John Minford, published by Oxford University Press.
Next time: A Jin Yong Primer - The Others
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