The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber
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| The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber | |
| Author | Jinyong |
|---|---|
| Original title | 倚天屠龍記 |
| Country | China |
| Language | Chinese |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | ISBN 1-58899-183-0 |
Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (traditional Chinese: 倚天屠龍記; simplified Chinese: 倚天屠龙记; pinyin: yǐ tiān tú lóng jì) is a Chinese wuxia novel by Jinyong, first serialized in Ming Pao [1]. The literal translation is The Tale of the Heaven-Reliant Sword and the Dragon-Slayer Sabre.
Jinyong revised the novel in 1979 with a number of amendments and additions. This is the version most familiar to readers. A third revision was published in early 2005, incorporating later thoughts and a lengthier conclusion. The third revision added many changes and cleared up some mysteries in the second version, such as the origin of Jiu Yang Zhen Jing (means Nine-Yang True Blessing). However, some Jinyong Loyalists were disappointed with the new revisions.
The novel is intended to be the third part of a trilogy after The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes. It is set about a hundred years after the second novel, in the late Yuan Dynasty.
As in a number of his novels, Jinyong makes use of a number of historical figures in the story, including the founder of the Ming dynasty Zhu Yuanzhang, Chen Youliang, Zhang Sanfeng and the Ming Cult. The political clash between Han Chinese and the Mongols also features strongly in the plot.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The story revolves around a pair of priceless and extremely powerful weapons, known respectively as the Heaven Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber which all of wulin's martial artists covet. Either or both of them are thought to allow their wielder to rule the martial arts world, according to a widely circulating rumor in an oft-repeated mantra, though for some reason they are now lost.
The novel's hero is Zhang Wuji (張無忌), who through a series of dramatic events becomes a highly skilled martial arts practitioner and 34th leader of the Ming Cult.
Like in most Jinyong's novels, romance forms a major backbone to the book. Interwoven in the plot is the protagonist's romantic entanglements with four female characters.
The secret of the sword and saber is revealed midway in the novel, but the impetus of the narrative is not lost, as the author traces the upheavals which follow it.
The novel ends with a hint of the imminent founding of the Ming Dynasty by the treacherous Zhu Yuanzhang.
[edit] The two weapons
Midway through the book, it is revealed that the two weapons, Heaven Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber, are actually made from a single sword, Xuan-Tie-Jian, which Yang Guo had wielded in The Return of the Condor Heroes, which was set nearly 100 years ago. The great sword (a very heavy sword that weighed many kilogrammes, more like in the hundreds of kilogrammes) belonged to Dugu Qiu Bai (The hermit who seeks defeat), a great martial arts master whose skills were unmatched in his own lifetime. Yang Guo came upon the sword while he was recovering from the loveless flower poison and the loss of one of his arm. In the 3rd revised edition of the novel, the Heaven Sword is made from Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu's Gentleman and Lady swords while Dragon Saber remained unchanged made of Xuan-Tie-Jian.
Later, when Yang Guo and his master/wife, Xiaolongnü (Dragon Girl) left Xiangyang, he left the sword with Guo Jing and Huang Rong. It was said that the sword was melted, special steel material was added and made into the Heaven Sword and the Dragon Saber. Hidden within the Dragon Saber was the military textbook (Wu Mu Yi Shu) written by the late great Sung Dynasty general Yue Fei. Similarly, hidden within the Heaven Sword were 2 scrolls detailing the powerful martial art Jiu-Yin-Zhen-Jing and Xiang-Long-Shi-Ba-Chang (18 Dragon Slaying Palms) written by Guo Jing;. The former was given to Guo Jing and Huang Rong's son while the latter was bestowed upon their youngest daughter and twin sister, Guo Xiang who was Yang Guo's favorite and founder of the Emei Sect.
The content of the hidden book and scrolls, plus the fact that the two weapons can only be broken (thereby revealing said book and scrolls) when used against each other, was the source of the claim whoever possessed the saber will rule the world and yet only those who possessed the sword can stand against the owner of the saber.
The secret of the weapons was passed down via (and only through) the leaders of the Emei Sect. Zhou Ziruo was the latest leader of the sect, and about half-way into the novel, she managed to obtain the two weapons through her scheming and deception.
The two weapons analogy: In the Chinese culture, the dragon is the symbol of the emperor, which is probably why many of the TV adaptations gave the saber a golden-copper color. The Dragon Slaying Saber means to kill the emperor (which in this case is the Mongolian ruler). However, dragons can get out of control and become tyrants. The Heavenly Sword is Heaven, the true and only authority in choosing a ruler and dethroning him. In other words, the secret within The Dragon Slaying Saber can be used to "kill" (dethrone) the (Mongolian) emperor and replace him with another (Chinese) emperor. However, should the new emperor turns out to be a tyrant, the secret within The Heaven Sword can be used to destroy the tyrant.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Protagonists
- Zhang Wuji (張無忌)
The main male character in the novel, Zhang Wuji was born on Ice and Fire Island. His father was Zhang Cuishan, and mother was Yin Susu. Living together with them on the island was his godfather, Xie Xun. He was named after Xie Wuji, Xie Xun's own infant son killed by Cheng Kun. When he was 10, Zhang Wuji returned to mainland China with his parents. Consumed by guilt of a past sin, and pressured by the Wuxia community to reveal the whereabouts of Xie Xun, Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu committed suicide on Mt. Wudang. Young Wuji was spared, but many regarded him as "evil" and "cursed" because his mother belonged to Sky-Eagle Cult, a branch of the Ming Cult.
Zhang Wuji was inflicted with the "Cold Venomous Palm" from Xuan Ming Elders at Mt. Wudang, another attempt to force the location of Xie Xun. From that point on young Wuji trained under Zhang Sanfeng, the founder/leader of Wudang Sect and Zhang Cuishan's master for a weeks. Wuji then travelled to Butterfly Valley to seek treatment from the "Divine Physician" Hu Qingniu, in a desperate attempt to preserve his life. Neither approach succeeded; however Zhang grew to be a kind-hearted young healer under Hu. After Hu was murdered by an old enemy, Zhang fled Butterfly Valley with Yang Buhui, a young girl with mixed history like him, whose own mother was killed in Butterfly Valley soon after the death of Hu (but for other circumstances). Wuji led Buhui to her father at the end of a long and perilous journey, near the border mountains of western China. After a slight misadventure, Wuji fell into a hidden valley and as incredible as it is, chanced upon the hidden martial arts manual [[Jiu Yang Zhen Jing] Nine Suns and Golden Armor]----the only thing in the world that could have saved his life at this stage.
He spent five years studying the martial arts from Jiu Yang Zhen Jing, healing his poisoned body in the process. He returned to Guang Ming Peak and fought to resolve the animosities between the Ming Cult and the six Major Sects. With his self-sacrificing acts, his mixed heritage (relating to both Ming Cult and Wudang Sect) and martial art skills (he accidentally acquire "Qian Kun Da Nuo E," Heaven and Earth Transformation, the Ming Cult's highest martial art, reserved only for the cult leader), he became Ming Cult's 34th leader and brought an uneasy ceasefire between the factions. He would continue to work as reluctant leader of the Ming Cult, allying the Wuxia forces to rise and rebel against the Mongolian government in China. Eventually however, through the scheming of his underling, he felt betrayed and left the Cult with his lover Zhao, probably giving up the chance to be the next Chinese emperor.
Zhang was described by the author as "a great friend, a great older brother, but not a great leader nor a good lover". He's too soft and indecisive as a character despite his great martial art skills.
- Zhao Min (趙敏)
Zhao Min is a very beautiful Mongolian princess and the heroine character of the novel. She was described to have ethnic Han Chinese looks and to be extremely pretty. In the initial version of the novel, she was known as Zhao Ming. Her Mongolia name was Minmin Temür, or Mingming Temür in the original version of the novel. She was born around 1340, and her father was Prince Chaghan Temür. She has an older brother Köke Temür, Chinese name Wang Baobao. Zhao started out as a mysterious antagonist, kidnapping the forces of the Six Major Sects, attacking Shaolin temple and Wudang Mountain and framing the Ming Cult for these acts. However she eventually fell in love with Zhang and severed all ties with her family and with her people so that she could be with him.
Although Zhao Min has a cunning nature and is prone to mischief, her love is sincere towards Wuji, and is returned as he felt her to be his truest love. However, their relationship is frown upon by most of the other protagonists for her past actions and ethnic heritage. During the first half of the novel, she played the "bad" girl while her nemesis Zhou Zhiruo played the "good" girl. However, in the second half of the novels, Min and Zhiruo basically reversed roles. This reversal of roles reflects on a recurring theme of the novel: prejudice (not only that of the characters in the novel, but also that of the readers) against a character because of his or her ethnicity(MinMongolian vs Zhiruo = Han Chinese), family/school/parents ( Min: cunning daughter of a Mongolian oppressor vs Zhiruo = smart, diligent, and orphaned martial artist from a respectable martial arts school), or past actions(Min: poisoning and kidnapping of reputable martial artists vs Zhiruo: severely injurying the innocent Yen Li, and taking revenge with ruthless means such as using hidden poison darts). Her sincere love and care for Zhang Wuji finally made Zhang realise that she was his truest love. She later went into seclusion with Zhang Wuji.
- Zhou Zhiruo (周芷若)
Zhou was an orphan whom Zhang Wuji first met when she was a 10-year-old. She is very smart and has strong martial arts and leadership skills. Because of these qualities, she was ordained by her master to become the fourth leader of Emei after her master's death. Zhou Zhiruo and Zhang Wuji had feelings for each other and she almost married him against her master Mie Jue's wishes. She wanted to please (or to not incur the wrath of) her master who made her vow not to marry Zhang Wuji, but she also loved Wuji and would rather give up the leadership of her Sect to marry him.
After her master died partly because of Zhao Min's attempt to poison and kidnap martial artists and extract martial arts from them, Zhou Zhiruo bore strong grudges against Zhao Min. Furthermore, that Zhao Min was a Mongolian princess and a rival for Zhang Wuji's heart increased her prejudice and grudge against Zhao Min. She tried to kill Zhao Min but was blocked by Yin Li who was semi-conscious. In her anger, she severely damaged Yin Li's face, resulting in Yin Li's coma. She then framed Zhao Min for the crime so that Zhang Wuji would forget Zhao Min.
Zhou Zhiruo hated Zhao Min to the bone after Zhao Min disrupted her and Wuji's wedding by luring Wuji away with a lock of hair from his godfather, Xie Xun or the Golden Haired Lion King. Zhiruo also vowed to seek revenge on Wuji after he humiliated her by leaving her for Zhao Min at their wedding ceremony, which was attended by all the famous people from the martial arts world.
After Wuji broke her heart, Zhou collected herself and carried out the wishes of her late master. She re-took the leadership of Emei and studied the martial arts written in the Jiu Yin script to establish her Sect as the best school of martial arts. However she opted for fast improvement and studied forbidden martial arts from the Script. She also schemed to take revenge on Zhang Wuji. Previously, she had acquired the two famed weapons, one of which originally belonged to the founder, Guo Xiang, of her Sect Emei, and used the secret that her late master told her to break apart the weapons and got the Jiu Yin martial arts script and art-of-war script hidden inside. During the Lion Slaying Tournament, she pretended to have married the unworthy Song Qing Shu to hurt Zhang Wuji, who still had feelings for her. Zhang's feelings for her and her markedly improved martial arts skills after diligent study and practice allowed her to defeat Zhang Wuji (only as Zhang was too soft-hearted to truly fight Zhou) and win the "Greatest under the Heaven" title for herself and her Sect.
Her conscience eventually led her to confess her crime against Yin Li to Wuji and asked for forgiveness from Yin who had woken by that time. Yin forgave her. She, in turn, forgave Wuji and found inner peace. Finally, she became a Taoist nun.
In the revised version of this novel, the ending is vague that Min, Zhiruo and Wuji had a life together.
- Yin Li (殷離)
Yin Li was Zhang Wuji's younger female cousin on his mother's side. Her father was Yin Yewang. Yin Li was also known as Zhu Er (Spider-girl). Yin Li fell in love with Zhang Wuji at a young age and at first sight, but when she met Wuji again she was not able to recognize him, due to his rugged outlook and use of a fake name. Golden Flower was her master in martial arts, but not Yin Li's "Thousand Spider Venom Pinch", which requires taking in spider venom to the body and disfiguring the person as a side effect.
After Wuji discovered her love for him, he was greatly affected, and intended to marry her; but Yin Li was obsessed with the fierce young Wuji of the past, and could not return the feeling of the gentle, older Zhang Wuji. She later betrayed Golden Flower to save Wuji's godfather, and was severely injured for her betrayal. After her apparent death, Wuji named her as "his wife" on her grave.
- Xiaozhao (小昭)
Xiaozhao was Purple Dragon and Han Qianye's (Golden Flower and Silver Leaf) daughter. Spending a childhood evading enemies of her parents, she infiltrated the Ming Cult Chinese headquarters in search of secret scrolls lost to the original Ming Cult of Persia. She was suspected by the Yangs early on, however, who kept a close eye on her. Wuji eventually met Xiaozhao on top of Guang Ming Ding, and taking care of her, who in turn act as his handmaiden. It was later explained that Xiaozhao was one-quarter one-half Persian and a "Holy virgin" for the Ming Cult of Persia. She was a candidate and eventually succeeded as leader of that Cult, in order to save Zhang Wuji, whom she had secretly loved.
Author Louis Cha had said on occasions that Xiaozhao is his personal favorite female character out of all whom he had created for this novel.
- Xie Xun (謝遜)
Xie Xun or Golden Haired Lion King, is one of the four guardians of Ming Sect and godfather of Zhang Wuji. He had a tragic past, in that his martial master Cheng Kun killed his entire family in a secret plot to bring infamy to the Ming Cult. Xie Xun had his own share of atrocities, by murdering famous but innocent martial artist and framing Cheng Kun, in a desperate but futile attempt to entrap Cheng. He claimed that he trusted beasts more than men, and that he killed more humans than animal during his 13-year rampage. After he acquired the Dragon Slaying saber, he forced Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu out to sea with him, ultimately resulting in their getting stranded on Ice-and-Fire Island.
During his 13 year reign, he managed to acquire a martial arts scroll that taught him the the Qi Shang Quan (Seven Damaging Fist Technique). These techniques although very powerful in its own right, is only beneficial to the user if his Nei Gong (Inner Power) is very high, but if the user has slightly lower Nei Gong, it would cause harm to himself that included damage to the heart and brain. Because Xie Xun's Nei Gong had yet to reach the level required to learn all seven techniques of the Qi Shang Quan, he suffered a mental damage to his brain which would cause him to go into blinding rage on occasions, killing friend or foe. After reaching Ice-and-Fire Island he had one such rampage, during which his eyes was blinded permanently by Yin's needle darts, who did it in order to save Zhang. Nevertheless he remained a powerful martial artist. He lived a life of inactivity, though not true peace, with the Zhangs for 10 years until they left for the Mainland China. However after news of the elder Zhangs' suicides and Wuji's subsequent orphancy, he returned to the mainland to find his godson, at huge personal risk to himself----his head was sought by relatives of all he's slain, his saber a prize for many wanting fame and power, and he was a wanted rebel by the government. Finally he was reunited with Wuji, and had an epic showdown against Cheng Kun. After blinding Cheng, the Lion King spared his life and ruined his own martial arts skills taught by the treacherous master----thus ending all past involvements between the two. After setting the score with the relatives of those he slained, Xie Xun becomes a Shaolin monk.
[edit] Antagonists
One of the reasons why Jinyong is considered such a great writer is that he creates villains that are not evil for evil's sake. The reader can often empathize, if not outright agree, with their motivations even though their methods may be despicable.
- Cheng Kun (成昆)
Cheung Kun is the primary villain of the novel. He won the heart of his martial-sister, but lost her to the powerful leader of the Ming Sect(明教). When the two lovers was discovered by her husband, who was in the middle of a critical stage of martial arts training, he accidentally killed himself----and she committed suicide for her sin against her husband. Forever denied the chance of revenge, Cheng vowed to destroy the Ming Sect in China. He has no compunction whatsoever in whom he has to deceive, implicate, or murder in order to accomplish his goal. Slowly, however, he became corrupted in his goals and sought to rule the Wuxia world, collaborating with the Mongolian military. He also becomes a Shaolin monk with the name 圓真, secretly planning to take control from within. He is Zhang Wuji's Godfather's master and enemy. He was eventually defeated, blinded----but spared after a climatic showdown with his own pupil, Xie Xun the Golded-haired Lion King.
- Chen Youliang (陳友諒)
Chen Youliang is a disciple of Cheng Kun. He also serve the Beggar's Sect but only as a spy for Cheng Kun. He convinced Song Qingshu (宋青書) to betray Wudang Sect (武當) and join the Beggar's Sect. Defecting to the Ming Sect when Cheng Kun was defeated by Xie Xun, he eventually became a major warlord himself after betraying the Ming lord he defected to.
- Miejue (滅絕)
Mie Jue is the dogmatic leader of the Emei Sect. She wishes to make Emei the top school in the Wuxia world, and hopes to achieve that by obtaining both the Dragon Saber and the Heaven Sword. She detests anything she regards as evil, working hard to eradicate them and prevent her disciples from falling under evil influences through any means necessary. Since the Ming Sect has been prejudiced as an evil sect, Mie Jue will not allow them or anything associated with them to exist. Her name literally meant "destruction and extermination".
Mie Jue killed Ji Xiaofu because she allowed herself to be deceived by the 'evil' Yang Xiao and would not repent by killing him. After making Zhou Zhiruo the next leader to Emei, she made her swear to recover the Dragon Saber and Heaven Sword, and destroy Zhang Wu Ji and the Ming Sect, and never to fall in love with him or she would be facing eternal damnation. With this done, she committed suicide by refusing Zhang Wu Ji's help during the rescue of the Six Sects by the Ming Sect.
Although she was thinking what's best for Zhou according to her ideals, and also because she had already lost one disciple to the evil sway of the Ming Cult and didn't want to lose another good disciple to them, she was one of the main reasons why Zhou became hardened and vicious in the latter part of the story.
- Song Qingshu (宋青書)
Song Qingshu was the son of Wudang's Song Yuanqiao (宋遠橋), and was universally seen as the most hopeful of Wudang's 3rd generation and the future leader of the sect. Unfortunately for him, he was not able to control his emotions and became infatuated with Zhou Zhiruo, giving up everything to have her become his wife, which eventually became his downfall. For Zhiruo, he even gave up one of his fingers, to protect her from harm, when the Mongolian princess Zhao Min captured the 6 Sects. His love for Zhiruo, along with unfortunate circumstances, lead him to his evil actions, betraying his sect and killing indiscriminately for Zhou. He is the very epitome of forsaking everything, even integrity and honor for love.
- Zhu Yuanzhang (朱元璋)
An ambitious low-level officer of the Ming Cult, who rose through the ranks and eventually usurped the leadership of the anti-Yuan rebel forces in general. He persecuted erstwhile comrades after becoming the Emperor and establishing the Ming Dynasty.
[edit] Other Characters
- Fan Yao (范遥)
The appointed the Bright Right Messenger (光明右使) of Ming Cult. Fan Yao and Yang Xiao are sworn brothers and make a great team together. Because both men are extremely handsome, they are given the nickname "Twin Fairies" (逍遥二仙). Fan Yao once fell in love with Daiqisi(黛绮丝)/ Purple Dragon ( leader of the 4 Ming Sect's Overlords) at his first sight of her but was rejected. Later on, he disfigured his own face to infiltrate the Mongolian government under the guise of a mute monk Ku Tou Tuo (苦頭陀), and became a martial arts teacher for Zhao Min (赵敏). He returned to the Ming Sect when Zhang Wuji (张无忌) appeared and has proven himself during the rescue of the Six Sects. He is regarded by many as cruel and cunning, but is nevertheless heroic and loyal.
- Yang Xiao (杨逍)
The appointed Bright Left Messenger (光明左使) of Ming Cult. He resided in a main castle of the Kunlun Mountains and acted as temporary leader after the missing of the Ming Sect's previous leader, which was characterized as a time of chaos and factional infighting. After Zhang Wuji saved the Ming Cult and was proclaimed the 34th leader, peace among the sect was restored, and Yang Xiao became Zhang's chief of staff. Later on, he becomes 35th Leader after Zhang Wuji retired from the position. He was taught the basics of the Ming Sect's sacred technique — Universal Grand Shift (乾坤大挪移), but wasn't able to master it. He fell in love with Ji Xiaofu (紀曉芙), the beloved disciple of E'Mei's Mie Jue, and was the direct cause of her death in the hands of her master.
- Ji Xiaofu (紀曉芙)
She was a gifted disciple of Miejue, the leader of Emei Sect, and was arranged to marry Yin Liting of Wudang Sect. However she was abducted and raped by Yang Xiao ( depending the version, one version she fall in love with Yang Xiao after he saved her from Yin Ye Wang attempted rape), but eventually fell in love and conceived a daughter with him. Naming the child "Buhui", she hid her daughter for ten years, and eventually left her sect to live with her. She was confronted by Miejue in Butterfuly Valley, and was given a chance to return to grace by killing Yang Xiao. She refused and was promptly killed by Miejue. With her dying breath, she asked young Zhang Wuji to take Yang Buhui to Yang Xiao, a feat Wuji accomplished after great hardship.
- Yang Buhui (杨不悔)
Her name literally meant "no regret". Her mother gave her that name to show everyone that she didn't regret the affair with Yang Xiao. Like Zhang Wuji, Yang Buhui had a mixed heritage, with a mother from the "good sect" and a father from the "evil sect". Buhui was hidden and lived a secret life at a time because of the illegitimacy. After several years, Buhui met Zhang Wuji in Butterfly Valley, after her mother was injured by Lady Golden Flower. After her mother's death, the two young children journeyed to find Yang Xiao. After reuniting with her father, Zhang Wuji left and Buhui has ever since lived together with her father until the attack of the six sects on the Ming Cult headquarter and the reappearance of Zhang Wuji. After the Six Sects gave up the attack and went home, she met Yin Liting (殷梨亭) of Wudang Sect, who was her mother's supposed fiancé. Yin Liting was gravely injured, and it was during this time that she came to care for him and fell in love with him. Despite their age differences, they were happily married, and expecting a child near the end of the novel.
- Yin Liting (殷梨亭)
He is Zhang Sanfeng's (张三丰) sixth disciple and renowned as Wudang's 6th Hero. He is an exceptionally good swordsman but is softhearted and indecisive at times. He fell in love first with his arranged fianceé Ji Xiaofu. With Ji's later death haunting him for decades, he managed to distract himself by training harder so he could kill Yang Xiao, whom he believed was responsible for her death. He was devastated to learn that Ji had a daughter with Yang and whose name is Buhui, meaning "no regret", and that Emei Sect's leader Miejue was the one who killed Ji. After leaving the battlefield during the attack on Ming Cult's Bright Peak headquarter, he was ambushed and his bones shattered by an enemy. Eventually he was brought back to full health by Zhang Wuji's medical skills and a miracle ointment provided by Zhao Min. While he was disabled and in a state of disillusionment, Yang Buhui took care of him and there, his love for Ji Xiao Fu was transferred to Bu Hui. Finally, after Yang Buhui told Zhang Wuji about her love for Yin Liting, Zhang became the matchmaker, resolving the past differences between Yin Liting and Yang Xiao.
- Yellow Dress Girl
She appears at the end of the story, helping Zhang Wu Ji with his problems, and is discovered as a descendant of the Condor Hero, Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu.
[edit] Adaptations
As is typical of Jinyong's novels, this story has been adapted to various media.
[edit] TV series
Due to the fact that the story features a young man choosing between several beautiful women, this story gets a treatment every so often so that emerging young talent can be showcased. Each of the TV series features a slightly different beginning and ending.
| Year | Production | Zhang Wuji | Title of Adaptation (if different) | More information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | TVB (Hong Kong) | Adam Cheng | |||
| 1984 | TTV (Taiwan) | Lau Tak Kai | Lau Tak Kai simultaneously played the character "Zhang Cuishan". | ||
| 1986 | TVB (Hong Kong) | Tony Leung Chiu Wai | Simon Yam played the character "Zhang Cuishan". Carol Cheng played Yin Susu. | ||
| 1994 | TTV (Taiwan) | Steve Ma Chingdao | Steve Ma Chingdao simultaneously played the character "Zhang Cuishan". | ||
| 2000 | TVB (Hong Kong) | Lawrence Ng | Damien Lau played the character "Zhang Cuishan", and Michelle Yim played Yin Susu. | ||
| 2003 | Joint production (Mainland China, Taiwan, and Singapore) | Alec Su | Although the show begins differently and the role of the Mongolian Government in the story's events is emphasized, the major plotline remains largely unaltered. This version is notable in that it's the first to depict the events of story in chronological order as opposed to the revelatory style of the novel (though many of the details of the novel were omitted or significantly altered). He simultaneously played the character "Zhang Cuishan". |
[edit] Movies
- In 1978, Shaw Brothers produced 2 films based on the novel in two parts.
- In 1993, Jet Li starred in Kung Fu Cult Master which is based on the book with major alterations in both plot and characters. The movie also ends on a cliffhanger, with no sequel to follow: it was going to be made as a two-part movie, but the second part was canceled. Although the English title is different, the Chinese title remains 倚天屠龍記 (The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber).
[edit] Comics/Manhua
- Ma Wing Shing, the renowned author and illustrator of The Storm Riders, adapted the story. Louis Cha is credited as the writer while Ma Shing Wing handled the illustration work. In 2002, Comics One published an English translation. While the plot details remain intact, some of the story's events were presented out of order from the novel.
[edit] Video games
- An old-school RPG adaptation encompasses the entire story.
- In 2000, a newer adaptation was released by Softworld; however, the movie ends after the confrontation at Bright Peak.
- In 2004, SoftWorld released another adaptation. Instead of the traditional turn-based RPG, this version has a real-time battle system (similar to Diablo), and encompasses the entire story.
[edit] See also
- Jinyong
- The Condor Trilogy
- The Legend of the Condor Heroes
- The Return of the Condor Heroes
- List of characters in Condor Trilogy
- Zhou Tong (archer)
[edit] External links
- (Chinese) Jin Yong Teahouse - fansite of Jin Yong's novels in Cinese
- (Chinese) Fei Hong Xue Ni - Jin Yong forums in Chinese
- (English) Tales of the Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Slaying Saber - translation of the novel at Wuxiapedia.com
- (English) Yi Tian Tu Long Ji - fansite of the novel
- (English) TV adaptations - fansite
- (French) Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber - information about the 1978 film adaptation at the French Wikipedia
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