Liang Yusheng
Encyclopedia
Chen Wentong better known by his pen name Liang Yusheng , is a Chinese writer of wuxia
novels.
He is credited as the pioneer of the "new school" (新派) wuxia genre in the 20th century, as well as one of the three most esteemed wuxia writers in the second half of the 20th century (the other two being Jin Yong and Gu Long
).
, Guangxi
, China
in 1926. He came from a family of scholars and was well versed in ancient Chinese classics and Duilian
. He could recite the Three Hundred Tang Poems
at the age of seven. While studying in Guilin High School in Guangxi, he started writing poems. He went to Mengshan during the Japanese invasion. He was tutored by Jian Youwen, who was well versed in the history of the Taiping Rebellion
, and Rao Zongyi, who was good in poetry, humanities, art and the history of Dunhuang
. Chen learnt history and literature from both of them and entered Lingnan University
in Guangzhou
later. In 1949, he settled in Hong Kong
and became an editor for the newspaper Ta Kung Pao
and a member of the executive committee through the principal's recommendation. The next year, he was sent to work in the Sin Wun Pao newspaper as a copy editor.
In 1954, Chen's major breakthrough in his career when he wrote his first wuxia novel Longhu Dou Jinghua to entertain readers due to an ongoing contest between two schools of martial arts, which was the talk of the town that year. This marked the start of the new generation of wuxia novels, with Chen as its pioneer and the emergence of other wuxia writers such as Louis Cha (Jin Yong). Over his writing career, Chen wrote a total of 33 wuxia novels, of which Baifa Monü Zhuan (白髮魔女傳) and Yunhai Yugong Yuan (雲海玉弓緣) are some of the more well known ones. Many of his novels have been adapted into television series and films. As a multitalented writer interested in history and literature, he wrote columns, critiques and essays under different names including Liang Hueru and Fong Yuning.
In the 1980s, Chen retired to Sydney, Australia with his family. In August 2004, he was granted an Honorary Doctorate by Hong Kong's Lingnan University
, from where he originally graduated in 1948 in economics.http://english.people.com.cn/200408/21/eng20040821_154140.html.
In 2005, film producer Tsui Hark
adapted Chen's Qijian Xia Tianshan (七劍下天山) into the film Seven Swords
and its derived television series counterpart Seven Swordsmen
. The 1993 film The Bride with White Hair
is also an adaptation of Chen's Baifa Monü Zhuan.
After suffering a stroke during a visit to Hong Kong in 2007, Chen died in Sydney on January 22, 2009 of natural causes.
and Wudang
as the leading sects in the wulin
. Instead, he features the Mount Heaven Sect
as the leading sect.
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
novels.
He is credited as the pioneer of the "new school" (新派) wuxia genre in the 20th century, as well as one of the three most esteemed wuxia writers in the second half of the 20th century (the other two being Jin Yong and Gu Long
Gu Long
Xiong Yaohua , better known by his pen name Gu Long , was a Chinese novelist and screenwriter. Xiong is best known for writing wuxia novels and novel series, which include: Juedai Shuangjiao, Xiaoli Feidao Series, Chu Liuxiang Series, Lu Xiaofeng Series and Xiao Shiyilang...
).
Biography
Chen was born in MengshanMengshan County
Mengshan County is a county in Wuzhou, Guangxi Province, China. Its seat is located in Mengshan Town.- Administrative divisions :Mengshan County has nine fourth-level administrative units: Six Rural Towns, One Townships and Two Yao ethnic townships....
, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1926. He came from a family of scholars and was well versed in ancient Chinese classics and Duilian
Duilian
In Chinese poetry, a couplet is a pair of lines of poetry which adhere to certain rules . Outside of poems, they are usually seen on the sides of doors leading to people's homes or as hanging scrolls in an interior...
. He could recite the Three Hundred Tang Poems
Three Hundred Tang Poems
The Three Hundred Tang Poems is an anthology of poems from the Chinese Tang Dynasty first compiled around 1763 by Sun Zhu , the Qing scholar also known as Hengtang Tuishi . Various later editions also exist...
at the age of seven. While studying in Guilin High School in Guangxi, he started writing poems. He went to Mengshan during the Japanese invasion. He was tutored by Jian Youwen, who was well versed in the history of the Taiping Rebellion
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, who, having received visions, maintained that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ, against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty...
, and Rao Zongyi, who was good in poetry, humanities, art and the history of Dunhuang
Dunhuang
Dunhuang is a city in northwestern Gansu province, Western China. It was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. It was also known at times as Shāzhōu , or 'City of Sands', a name still used today...
. Chen learnt history and literature from both of them and entered Lingnan University
Lingnan University (Guangzhou)
Lingnan University in Canton, Kwangtung Province, China , was a private university established by a group of American missionaries in 1888. At its founding it was named Canton Christian College .It was incorporated into Chung Shan University in 1953...
in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
later. In 1949, he settled in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and became an editor for the newspaper Ta Kung Pao
Ta Kung Pao
Ta Kung Pao is the oldest active Chinese language newspaper in China. It is based in Hong Kong and has been funded by the government of the People's Republic of China since 1949...
and a member of the executive committee through the principal's recommendation. The next year, he was sent to work in the Sin Wun Pao newspaper as a copy editor.
In 1954, Chen's major breakthrough in his career when he wrote his first wuxia novel Longhu Dou Jinghua to entertain readers due to an ongoing contest between two schools of martial arts, which was the talk of the town that year. This marked the start of the new generation of wuxia novels, with Chen as its pioneer and the emergence of other wuxia writers such as Louis Cha (Jin Yong). Over his writing career, Chen wrote a total of 33 wuxia novels, of which Baifa Monü Zhuan (白髮魔女傳) and Yunhai Yugong Yuan (雲海玉弓緣) are some of the more well known ones. Many of his novels have been adapted into television series and films. As a multitalented writer interested in history and literature, he wrote columns, critiques and essays under different names including Liang Hueru and Fong Yuning.
In the 1980s, Chen retired to Sydney, Australia with his family. In August 2004, he was granted an Honorary Doctorate by Hong Kong's Lingnan University
Lingnan University (Hong Kong)
The Lingnan University is a public liberal arts university in Hong Kong. It was granted full university status on 30 July 1999.The Lingnan University administration believes that it provides students with a quality education distinguished by the best liberal arts tradition from both East and West...
, from where he originally graduated in 1948 in economics.http://english.people.com.cn/200408/21/eng20040821_154140.html.
In 2005, film producer Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark , born Tsui Man-kong, is a Hong Kong New Wave film director and producer. He is viewed as a major figure in the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema .-Early life:...
adapted Chen's Qijian Xia Tianshan (七劍下天山) into the film Seven Swords
Seven Swords
Seven Swords is a 2005 Hong Kong wuxia film adapted from Liang Yusheng's novel Qijian Xia Tianshan. It was produced and directed by Tsui Hark, and starred Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Charlie Yeung, Sun Honglei, Lu Yi and Kim So-yeon...
and its derived television series counterpart Seven Swordsmen
Seven Swordsmen
Seven Swordsmen is a 2006 television series directed by Clarence Fok and produced by Tsui Hark. The series is adapted from Liang Yusheng's novels Qijian Xia Tianshan and Saiwai Qixia Zhuan...
. The 1993 film The Bride with White Hair
The Bride with White Hair
The Bride with White Hair is a 1993 Hong Kong film directed by Ronny Yu and starring Brigitte Lin and Leslie Cheung.The film's main character, Lian Nichang, is loosely based on the protagonist of Liang Yusheng's novel Baifa Monü Zhuan, which had earlier served as source material for the 1982 film...
is also an adaptation of Chen's Baifa Monü Zhuan.
After suffering a stroke during a visit to Hong Kong in 2007, Chen died in Sydney on January 22, 2009 of natural causes.
Style of writing
The opening of Chen's novels are always marked with a poem, which signified his interest in poetry. The protagonists of his novels are also multi-talented, versatile and interested in literature. Chen also infuses historical elements into his fictional stories, a style which was later followed by other wuxia writers such as Jin Yong. Unlike many wuxia writers, Chen does not regard ShaolinShaolin Sect
The Shaolin Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several wuxia works. It is one of the largest, most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is at present-day Shaolin Monastery in Henan...
and Wudang
Wudang Sect
The Wudang Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several works of wuxia fiction. It is one of the most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is in the Wudang Mountains...
as the leading sects in the wulin
Jianghu
The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set.In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set...
. Instead, he features the Mount Heaven Sect
Mount Heaven Sect
The Mount Heaven Sect, also known as the Tianshan Sect, is one of the major Chinese martial arts sects in the jianghu in some wuxia stories, most notably Liang Yusheng's Qijian Xia Tianshan. It is featured in Jin Yong's Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils as a minor sect which plays an important role in...
as the leading sect.
External links
- Liang Yusheng
- Liang Yusheng - The Pioneer
- The Wanderer Chronicles (萍踪侠影录) - Read a chapter-by-chapter English summary of Liang Yusheng's Ping Zong Xia Ying Lu (via WuxiaSociety.org - formerly known as wuxiamania.phorumz.com)
- Seven Swords Novel Translation English Summary translation of the "Seven Swords" (updated August 27, 2007) done by Yenchin of Wuxiasociety.org