Jianghu (simplified: 江湖, traditional: 江湖, pinyin: jiānghú) literally means “rivers and lakes”, but refers to the underground society of martial artists, outlaws, and wanderers that exists parallel to conventional imperial society in wuxia fiction.
Overview
The jianghu represents a world governed by its own codes of honour, unwritten rules, and social hierarchies that operate outside imperial law. Those who enter the jianghu leave behind the constraints of conventional society and embrace a life of adventure, danger, and martial arts mastery. The jianghu encompasses a broader social environment than the wulin—the martial arts community—as it includes individuals without martial arts connections who nonetheless operate outside conventional society.
Etymology and meaning
The term jianghu originally referred to the natural waterways—rivers and lakes—that connected different regions of China. Over time, it evolved to represent the wandering lifestyle of those who travelled these routes: merchants, performers, vagabonds, and outlaws. In wuxia literature, jianghu encompasses the underground society where martial arts play a central role, though it includes non-martial practitioners as well.
Hierarchy
The jianghu operates on a complex system of seniority, reputation, and martial prowess. Respected masters command authority through their martial achievements and moral character, whilst newcomers must prove themselves through both skill and adherence to the unwritten codes.
Factions
Martial arts schools, philosophical and religious orders, and families form the institutional backbone of the jianghu. These organisations provide identity, training, and protection whilst often competing for prestige and resources.
Codes of conduct
Although outside imperial law, the jianghu maintains its own moral codes emphasising loyalty, righteousness, and honour. The concept of xia—chivalrous conduct—serves as the ideal that practitioners aspire to embody.
Relationship to conventional society
The jianghu exists in tension with imperial authority. Whilst nominally subject to imperial law, jianghu figures often operate in grey areas or openly defy corrupt officials. Some maintain connections to conventional society through family ties or official positions, whilst others fully embrace their outlaw status.
In Jin Yong’s works
Jin Yong’s novels portray the jianghu as a complex ecosystem where personal honour, factional politics, and broader historical forces intersect. His characters navigate between jianghu values and imperial obligations, often forced to choose between personal loyalty and larger moral principles.
Notable jianghu gatherings
Major events in Jin Yong’s works demonstrate the jianghu’s collective nature:
- The Huashan Sword Summit in The Legend of the Condor Heroes
- The Heroes’ Gathering at the Beggars’ Guild in various novels
- Factional conferences that determine jianghu leadership and policy
See also
- What is jianghu? – Detailed historical and cultural exploration of the jianghu concept
- Wulin – The martial arts community within the jianghu
- Xia – The chivalrous ideal
- Beggars’ Guild – A major jianghu organisation
- Five Greats – Legendary jianghu figures