The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre
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Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (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 PaoISBN 1-58899-183-0[1]. The literal translation is Tales of the Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre or The Power of Heaven and the Dragon Slaying 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. 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 Saber (more precisely dragon slayer's saber), which all of wulin's martial artists covet. Either or both of them are thought to allow their wielder to rule the wulin 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 (张无忌/張無忌), who through a series of 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 traitor Zhu Yuanzhang.
[edit] The two weapons
Midway through the book, it is revealed that the two weapons, Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, are actually made from a single sword, Xuan-Tie-Jian, which Yang Guo wielded in the prequel (set nearly 100 years ago), The Return of the Condor Heroes. The great sword belonged to Dugu Qiu Bai, a great martial arts hero whose skills were unmatched under the heavens. Yang Guo came upon the sword while he was recovering from the loveless poison and the loss of his arm.
Later, when Yang Guo and his master/wife, Xiaolongnü 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 Sabre. Hidden within the Dragon Sabre was the military textbook (Wu Mu Yi Shu) written by the late great Sung Dynasty general Yue Fei; similarly, hidden within the Heaven Sword was a scroll detailing the powerful martial art Jiu-Yin-Zhen-Jing and (legends told that Guo Jing wrote the Dragon Subduing Palms or Xiang Long Shi Ba Zhang manual along with Jiu-Yin-Zhen-Jing). The former was given to Guo Jing and Huang Rong's son while the latter was bestowed upon their youngest daughter, Guo Xiang who was Yang Guo's favorite and founder of the Emei Sect.
The content of the hidden book and scroll, plus the fact that the two weapons can only be broken (thereby revealing said book and scroll) when used against each other, was the source of the claim that whoever possessed the sword will be "untouchable" and whoever possessed the sabre will rule "all under heaven".
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 considered a king, which probably why many of the TV adaptions gave the sabre a golden-copper color. The Dragon Slaying Sabre means to kill the king (which in this case is the Mongolian ruler). However, dragons can get out of control and become tyrants. The Heavenly Sword is Heaven. Only Heaven is the true and only authority in choosing a ruler and dethroning him. At the end, the Dragon Slaying Sabre is destroyed by the Power of Heaven.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Protagonists
- Zhang Wuji (張無忌)
Zhang Wuji is the main male character in the novel. He was born on Ice and Fire Island in 1337, his father was Zhang Cuishan, and mother was Yin Susu. Living together with them on the island was his godfather, Xie Xun. Zhang Wuji was named after Xie Wuji, who was Xie Xun's baby son that was killed by Cheng Kun and was called Xie Wuji before he was 10 years old. When he was 10, Zhang Wuji returned to mainland China with his parents. His parents died at Mt. Wudang, and Zhang Wuji lived there for two years.
Zhang Wuji was inflicted with the "Cold Venomous Palm" from Xuan Ming Elders at Mt. Wudang. Zhang Sanfeng, the founder/leader of Wudang Sect and also Zhang Cuishan's teacher, allowed him to seek treatment from the "Divine Physician" Hu Qingniu in the Butterfly Valley upon the recommendation of Chang Yuchun. Zhang Wuji therefore lived at Hu Qingniu's for another two years, all the while receiving treatment for the poison. Hu Qingniu and his wife died at the hands of (金花) Jinhua (Golden Flower) Popo who blamed Hu Qingniu for the death of her husband, Yinye (Silver Leaf). Zhang Wuji then brought Yang Buhui to look for her father, Yang Xiao, at the request of her late mother, Ji Xiaofu. After leaving Yang Buhui at Yang Xiao's, he encountered Zhu Changling.
He spent five years studying the martial arts from the manual, Jiu Yang Zhen Jing, healing his poisoned body in the process. When he was twenty, he went to Guangming Peak where he became Ming Cult's 34th leader by helping the Cult resolve its animosities with the six other major Sects. He met Zhao Min, who became his wife later, at Lüliu Shanzhuang. He then went to Shaolin and Wudang. At Wudang, he met Zhang Sanfeng and Zhao Min again.
- Zhao Min (趙敏)
Zhao Min was a Mongolian princess and the main female character of the novel. 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.
Although Zhao Min has a cunning nature and is prone to mischief, her love is sincere towards Wuji.
- Zhou Zhiruo (周芷若)
Zhou was a girl whom Zhang Wuji first met when she was a 10-year-old. She became the fourth leader of Emei. Zhou Zhiruo loved Zhang Wuji passionately and almost married him despite her master Mie Jue's vehement admonishment.
Once Zhang Wuji fell in love with Zhao Min, Zhou Zhiruo became jealous. She learned only the martial arts from the Jiuying script, while neglecting inner energy cultivation. Although she resembled a powerful pugilist on the surface, she had no real substance.
- Yin Li (殷離)
Yin Li was Zhang Wuji's younger female cousin. Her father was Yin Yewang. Yin Li was also known as Zhu Er.
- Xiaozhao (小昭)
Xiaozhao was Purple Dragon and Han Qianye's daughter. After being rescued by Yang Buhui, Xiaozhao works as Buhui's servant. Wuji first meets Xiaozhao on top of Guang Ming Ding. Xiaozhao later takes care of Wuji. Among the women Wuji would encounter, she was the most beautiful.
The author, Louis Cha had said, on occasions, that Xiaozhao is his personal favorite female character out of all whom he had created for his novels.
- 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 at one stage on Ice and Fire Island, went into one of his berserk moods and was thus blinded by Yin Su Su as a last resort. He is hated by the Wuxia society in this story was because Cheng Kun, his mentor, had killed his family to exact revenge on the Ming Sect, he had killed others in the name of Cheng Kun to lure him out. It was actually a plot by Cheng Kun, as he knew the temper of his student well, so by killing his family, he had provoked Xie Xun to go around killing people in his name so as to lure him out. Thus, Xie Xun's name was hated by Wuxia world and also Ming Sect was also hated by the Wuxia world.
It is likely that his character design was based on Wolf Larsen of The Sea-Wolf.
[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
Cheung Kun is the primary villain of the novel. Because he lost his one true love to the leader of the Ming Sect, he has 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.
- Chen Youliang (陳友諒)
Chen Youliang is a disciple of Cheng Kun. He convinces Song Qingshu to betray Wudang Sect and join the Beggar's Sect. Eventually became a major warlord in his own right.
- Miejue (滅絕)
Mie Jue is the dogmatic leader of the Emei sect. She wishes to eradicate evil and to prevent her disciples from falling under evil influences by any means necessary. Since the Ming sect has been pre-judged as an evil sect, Mie Jue will not be swayed to allow them or anything associated with them to exist.
Mie Jue killed Ji Xiao Fu because she allowed herself to be deceived by the 'evil' Yang Xiao and would not repent by killing him. Mie Jue ordered Zhou Zhiruo to kill Wuji and never fall in love with him because she had already lost one disciple to the evil sway of the Ming sect and didn't want to lose another good disciple to them.
- Song Qingshu (宋青書)
Song Qingshu was madly in love with Zhou Zhi Rou. He would do anything to please her and to have her become his wife. He is the very epitome of forsaking all others for the one he loves.
- Zhu Yuanzhang (朱元璋)
A traitor of the Ming sect who rose through the ranks and eventually usurped the leadership of both the sect and the anti-Yuan forces in general. Persecuted erstwhile comrades after establishing the Ming Dynasty of China.
[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 | Taiwan TV (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 | (Taiwan) | Steve Ma Chingdao | |||
| 2000 | TVB (Hong Kong) | Lawrence Ng | Damien Lau played the character "Zhang Cuishan". | ||
| 2003 | Joint production (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. 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. Although the English title is different, the Chinese title remains 倚天屠龍記 (The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre).
[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 Soft-World; however, the movie ends after the confrontation at Bright Peak.
- In 2004, Soft-World 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
[edit] External links
- (English) Tales of the Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Slaying Sabre - 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 Sabre - information about the 1978 film adaptation at the French Wikipedia
| The Book and the Sword (1955) | 書劍恩仇錄 | ||
| Sword Stained with Royal Blood (1956) | 碧血劍 | ||
| The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1957) | 射鵰英雄傳 | ||
| Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain (1959) | 雪山飛狐 | ||
| The Return of the Condor Heroes (1959) | 神鵰俠侶 | ||
| Other Tales of the Flying Fox (1960) | 飛狐外傳 | ||
| Swordswoman Riding West on White Horse (1961) | 白馬嘯西風 | ||
| Blade-dance of the Two Lovers (1961) | 鴛鴦刀 | ||
| The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (1961) | 倚天屠龍記 | ||
| Requiem of Ling Sing (1963) | 連城訣 | ||
| Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (1963) | 天龍八部 | ||
| Ode to Gallantry (1963) | 俠客行 | ||
| The Smiling, Proud Wanderer (1967) | 笑傲江湖 | ||
| The Deer and the Cauldron (1969-1972) | 鹿鼎記 | ||
| Sword of the Yue Maiden (1970) | 越女劍 | ||
