Liang Yusheng
Chen Wentong (5 April 1924 – 22 January 2009), better known by his pen name Liang Yusheng, was a Chinese writer. Credited as the pioneer of the "New School" (新派) of the wuxia genre in the 20th century, Chen was one of the best known wuxia writers in the later half of the century, alongside Jin Yong and Gu Long.
Chen Wentong | |||||||||||
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| Born | 5 April 1924 Mengshan County, Guangxi, Republic of China | ||||||||||
| Died | 22 January 2009 (aged 84) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||
| Pen name | Liang Yusheng | ||||||||||
| Occupation | Writer | ||||||||||
| Genre | Wuxia | ||||||||||
| Notable works | see below | ||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Chinese | 梁羽生 | ||||||||||
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| Chen Wentong | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 陳文統 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 陈文统 | ||||||||||
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Life
Chen was born in a family of scholars in Mengshan County, Guangxi Province, China. He was well-versed in ancient Chinese classics and duilian and could recite the Three Hundred Tang Poems by the age of seven. He started writing poems when he was attending Guilin High School in Guangxi. He was tutored by Jian Youwen, who specialised in the history of the Taiping Rebellion, and Rao Zongyi, who was well read in poetry, humanities, art and the history of Dunhuang. Chen learnt history and literature from both of them. Later, he was accepted into Guangzhou's Lingnan University, and he graduated in 1948 with a degree in economics. In 1949, he settled in Hong Kong and became an editor for the newspaper Ta Kung Pao and a member of its executive committee through a recommendation. The following year, he worked as a copyeditor for another newspaper, Sin Wun Pao.
In 1954, Chen made a breakthrough in his career when he wrote his first wuxia novel Longhu Dou Jinghua to entertain readers in the light of an ongoing contest between two martial arts schools, which was the talk of the town that year. This marked the start of a "new school" of the wuxia genre, with Chen as a pioneer alongside other writers such as Jin Yong and Gu Long. He included "yu" in his pen name "Liang Yusheng" to honour Gong Baiyu, another wuxia writer before him. Over his career, Chen wrote a total of 35 wuxia novels, of which Baifa Monü Zhuan and Yunhai Yugong Yuan are some of the better known ones. Many of his novels have been adapted into television series and films. As Chen was interested in history and literature, he also wrote columns, critiques and essays under different names, including "Liang Hueru" and "Fong Yuning".
Chen retired to Sydney, Australia, with his family in the 1980s.[1] In August 2004, he was granted an honorary Doctor of Arts by his alma mater, Lingnan University (which has moved to Hong Kong), for his contributions to the development of literature.[2]
In 2005, Tsui Hark adapted Chen's novel Qijian Xia Tianshan 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 22 January 2009 of natural causes.[3]
Style of writing
The opening of Chen's novels are always marked with a poem, which indicated his interest in poetry. The protagonists of his novels are also talented in several aspects, versatile, and interested in literature. Chen also infuses historical elements into his stories, a style which was later followed by other wuxia writers such as Jin Yong. Unlike many other writers, Chen does not regard Shaolin and Wudang as the major orthodox sects in the jianghu (martial artists' community). Instead, he features the Mount Heaven Sect as the leading school, particularly in the novels set in the Ming and Qing dynasties.[4]
Works
| Title | Published | Historical setting | Related works / Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nüdi Qiying Zhuan 女帝奇英傳 | 1961–1962 | c. 7th century (Tang dynasty) | |
| Datang Youxia Zhuan 大唐游俠傳 | 1963–1964 | c. 8th century (Tang dynasty) | Datang Youxia Zhuan, Longfeng Baochai Yuan, Huijian Xinmo |
| Longfeng Baochai Yuan 龍鳳寶釵緣 | 1964–1966 | c. 8th century (Tang dynasty) | Datang Youxia Zhuan, Longfeng Baochai Yuan, Huijian Xinmo |
| Huijian Xinmo 慧劍心魔 | 1966–1968 | c. 8th century (Tang dynasty) | Datang Youxia Zhuan, Longfeng Baochai Yuan, Huijian Xinmo |
| Wulin Tianjiao 武林天驕 | 1978–1982 | c. 13th century (Song dynasty) | Wulin Tianjiao, Feifeng Qianlong, Kuangxia Tianjiao Monü, Hanhai Xiongfeng, Mingdi Fengyun Lu, Fengyun Leidian |
| Feifeng Qianlong 飛鳳潛龍 | 1966 | c. 13th century (Song dynasty) | Wulin Tianjiao, Feifeng Qianlong, Kuangxia Tianjiao Monü, Hanhai Xiongfeng, Mingdi Fengyun Lu, Fengyun Leidian |
| Kuangxia Tianjiao Monü 狂俠·天驕·魔女 | 1964–1968 | c. 13th century (Song dynasty) | Wulin Tianjiao, Feifeng Qianlong, Kuangxia Tianjiao Monü, Hanhai Xiongfeng, Mingdi Fengyun Lu, Fengyun Leidian |
| Hanhai Xiongfeng 瀚海雄風 | 1968–1970 | c. 13th century (Song dynasty) | Wulin Tianjiao, Feifeng Qianlong, Kuangxia Tianjiao Monü, Hanhai Xiongfeng, Mingdi Fengyun Lu, Fengyun Leidian |
| Mingdi Fengyun Lu 鳴鏑風雲錄 | 1968–1972 | c. 13th century (Song dynasty) | Wulin Tianjiao, Feifeng Qianlong, Kuangxia Tianjiao Monü, Hanhai Xiongfeng, Mingdi Fengyun Lu, Fengyun Leidian |
| Fengyun Leidian 風雲雷電 | 1970–1972 | c. 13th century (Song dynasty) | Wulin Tianjiao, Feifeng Qianlong, Kuangxia Tianjiao Monü, Hanhai Xiongfeng, Mingdi Fengyun Lu, Fengyun Leidian |
| Huanjian Qiqing Lu 還劍奇情錄 | 1959–1960 | c. 14th century (Ming dynasty) | Huanjian Qiqing Lu, Pingzong Xiaying Lu, Sanhua Nüxia, Lianjian Fengyun Lu, Guangling Jian |
| Pingzong Xiaying Lu 萍蹤俠影錄 | 1959–1960 | c. 15th century (Ming dynasty) | Huanjian Qiqing Lu, Pingzong Xiaying Lu, Sanhua Nüxia, Lianjian Fengyun Lu, Guangling Jian |
| Sanhua Nüxia 散花女俠 | 1960–1961 | c. 15th century (Ming dynasty) | Huanjian Qiqing Lu, Pingzong Xiaying Lu, Sanhua Nüxia, Lianjian Fengyun Lu, Guangling Jian |
| Lianjian Fengyun Lu 聯劍風雲錄 | 1961–1962 | c. 15th century (Ming dynasty) | Huanjian Qiqing Lu, Pingzong Xiaying Lu, Sanhua Nüxia, Lianjian Fengyun Lu, Guangling Jian |
| Guangling Jian 廣陵劍 | 1972–1976 | c. 15th century (Ming dynasty) | Huanjian Qiqing Lu, Pingzong Xiaying Lu, Sanhua Nüxia, Lianjian Fengyun Lu, Guangling Jian |
| Wulin Sanjue 武林三絕 | 1972–1976 | c. 15th century (Ming dynasty) | |
| Wudang Yijian 武當一劍 | 1980–1983 | c. 17th century (Ming dynasty) | |
| Baifa Monü Zhuan 白髮魔女傳 | 1957–1958 | c. 17th century (Ming dynasty) | Baifa Monü Zhuan, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan, Jianghu San Nüxia, Bingpo Hanguang Jian, Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Binghe Xijian Lu, Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou, Xiagu Danxin |
| Saiwai Qixia Zhuan 塞外奇俠傳 | 1956–1957 | c. 17th century (Qing dynasty) | Baifa Monü Zhuan, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan, Jianghu San Nüxia, Bingpo Hanguang Jian, Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Binghe Xijian Lu, Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou, Xiagu Danxin |
| Qijian Xia Tianshan 七劍下天山 | 1956–1957 | c. 17th century (Qing dynasty) | Baifa Monü Zhuan, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan, Jianghu San Nüxia, Bingpo Hanguang Jian, Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Binghe Xijian Lu, Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou, Xiagu Danxin |
| Jianghu San Nüxia 江湖三女俠 | 1957–1958 | c. 18th century (Qing dynasty) | Baifa Monü Zhuan, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan, Jianghu San Nüxia, Bingpo Hanguang Jian, Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Binghe Xijian Lu, Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou, Xiagu Danxin |
| Bingpo Hanguang Jian 冰魄寒光劍 | 1962 | c. 18th century (Qing dynasty) | Baifa Monü Zhuan, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan, Jianghu San Nüxia, Bingpo Hanguang Jian, Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Binghe Xijian Lu, Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou, Xiagu Danxin |
| Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan 冰川天女傳 | 1959–1960 | c. 18th century (Qing dynasty) | Baifa Monü Zhuan, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan, Jianghu San Nüxia, Bingpo Hanguang Jian, Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Binghe Xijian Lu, Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou, Xiagu Danxin |
| Yunhai Yugong Yuan 雲海玉弓緣) | 1961–1963 | c. 18th century (Qing dynasty) | Baifa Monü Zhuan, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan, Jianghu San Nüxia, Bingpo Hanguang Jian, Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Binghe Xijian Lu, Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou, Xiagu Danxin |
| Binghe Xijian Lu 冰河洗劍錄 | 1963–1965 | c. 18th century (Qing dynasty) | Baifa Monü Zhuan, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan, Jianghu San Nüxia, Bingpo Hanguang Jian, Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Binghe Xijian Lu, Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou, Xiagu Danxin |
| Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou 風雷震九州 | 1965–1967 | c. 18th century (Qing dynasty) | Baifa Monü Zhuan, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan, Jianghu San Nüxia, Bingpo Hanguang Jian, Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Binghe Xijian Lu, Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou, Xiagu Danxin |
| Xiagu Danxin 俠骨丹心 | 1967–1969 | c. 18th century (Qing dynasty) | Baifa Monü Zhuan, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan, Jianghu San Nüxia, Bingpo Hanguang Jian, Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Binghe Xijian Lu, Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou, Xiagu Danxin |
| Jianwang Chensi 劍網塵絲 | 1976–1980 | c. 18th century (Qing dynasty) | |
| Huanjian Lingqi 幻劍靈旗 | 1980–1981 | c. 18th century (Qing dynasty) | |
| Youjian Jianghu 遊劍江湖 | 1969–1972 | c. 18th century (Qing dynasty) | Youjian Jianghu, Muye Liuxing, Tanzhi Jinglei, Juesai Chuanfeng Lu |
| Muye Liuxing 牧野流星 | 1972–1975 | c. 19th century (Qing dynasty) | Youjian Jianghu, Muye Liuxing, Tanzhi Jinglei, Juesai Chuanfeng Lu |
| Tanzhi Jinglei 彈指驚雷 | 1977–1981 | c. 19th century (Qing dynasty) | Youjian Jianghu, Muye Liuxing, Tanzhi Jinglei, Juesai Chuanfeng Lu |
| Juesai Chuanfeng Lu 絕塞傳烽錄 | 1975–1978 | c. 19th century (Qing dynasty) | Youjian Jianghu, Muye Liuxing, Tanzhi Jinglei, Juesai Chuanfeng Lu |
| Caomang Longshe Zhuan 草莽龍蛇傳 | 1954–1955 | c. 19th century (Qing dynasty) | |
| Longhu Dou Jinghua 龍虎鬥京華 | 1954 | c. 19th century (Qing dynasty) | |
Adaptations
- The Jade Bow 雲海玉弓緣 (1966)
- Chronicles of the Shadow Swordsman 萍蹤俠影錄 (1977)
- To Kill the Big Villain in Mt. Tai 泰山屠龍 (1980)
- The Spy in the Palace 飛鳳潛龍 (1981)
- White Hair Devil Lady 白发魔女传 (1980)
- Jade Bow Connections 雲海玉弓緣 (1984)
- Chronicles of the Shadow Swordsman 萍蹤俠影錄 (1985)
- The Romance of the White Hair Maiden (1986 TV series)
- Revenge of Swordsmanship 還劍奇情 (1986)
- The Bride with White Hair 白发魔女传(1993)
- The Bride with White Hair 2 白发魔女传2(1993)
- The Romance of the White Hair Maiden (1995 TV series)
- Romance of the White Haired Maiden (TV series) 白发魔女 (1999)
- Heroic Legend 萍踪侠影 (2003)
- Seven Swords 七剑 (2005)
- Seven Swordsmen 七剑下天山 (2006)
- Vagabond Vigilante (2006)
- Paladins in Troubled Times 大唐游侠传 (2008)
- The Patriotic Knights 侠骨丹心 (2010)
- Tracking Knights Phantom (2011)
- The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom 白发魔女传之明月天国 (2014)
- The Bride with White Hair (TV series) 新白发魔女传 (2012)
- The First Sword of Wudang 武当一剑 , upcoming TV series
- The Seven Swords (movie trilogies) (2018-2020)
References
- "Seven Swords novelist dies". Straits Times. Singapore. 28 January 2009. p. C7.
- Liang Yusheng granted Honorary Doctorate (21 August 2004). People's Daily Online.
- Martial arts novelist Liang Yusheng dies. Danwei. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
- 梁羽生 (Liang Yusheng). Chinese Wusia Knight Errant. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
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 Pingzong Xiaying Lu (via WuxiaSociety2 – formerly known as Wuxiamania)
- Seven Swords Novel Translation English summary translation of Qijian Xia Tianshan (updated 27 August 2007) done by Yenchin of Wuxiasociety.org
- Yusheng Liang at IMDb
- Liang Yusheng (HKMDB database)
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