Shiao Yi 萧逸 (Shiao Ching Jen)

Shiao Yi 萧逸 (Shiao Ching Jen)

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Shiao Yi (simplified: 萧逸, traditional: 蕭逸; pinyin: Xiāo Yì; 4 June 1935–19 November 2018) was a wuxia novelist and screenwriter known for his elegant writing style and romantic themes. He is considered one of the most influential authors of the new school of wuxia fiction alongside Jin Yong and Gu Long.

Often mentioned in the phrase “Jin of the South, Shiao of the North”1 (南金北萧), Shiao Yi was also counted among the “Five Tigers of the Taiwanese Wuxia Scene”2 along with Wolong Sheng, Sima Ling, and Zhuge Qingyun.

Early life

Born Shiao Ching-jen3 (萧敬人) in Beijing on 4 June 1935, Shiao Yi was the son of Shiao Chichu4, a general in the National Revolutionary Army who fought against the Japanese invasion. His ancestral home was in Heze5, Shandong province.

Shiao had a difficult childhood. Born two months premature, he spent his first months in an incubator at Beijing Friendship Hospital6. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, his family moved to Chongqing7. At age five, while living in Chongqing, he fell from a three-story building when his elder sister dared him to run blindfolded on the rooftop, resulting in a six-month hospital stay.

The family moved to Nanjing8 when he was nine. In fourth grade, he contracted typhoid fever after spending a summer selling ice cream with his friend, forcing him to miss half a year of school. During convalescence, he immersed himself in reading, particularly the wuxia novels of Huanzhulouzhu, Zheng Zhengyin9, Zhu Zhenmu10, and Wang Dulu11.

After the Communist victory in 1949, the family fled to Taiwan, leaving behind substantial properties in Nanjing, Hankou12, and Fuzhou13. His father, who had been ill for nine years, spent all their savings on medical expenses before passing away during Shiao’s sophomore year at the Naval Academy.

In Taiwan, Shiao attended Jianguo Middle School14 and later enrolled in the Republic of China Naval Academy15. However, he left after two years to support his family. He briefly studied chemical engineering at Chung Yuan Christian College16 but left to pursue writing full-time.

Career

Shiao began his literary career at age 23 with his debut novel Iron Geese, Wings of Frost17 (铁雁霜翎) in 1960. The novel’s success led to immediate recognition and established him as a rising star in the wuxia genre. Unlike many contemporaries, Shiao worked exclusively as a writer throughout his career, never taking another profession.

During the 1970s, he wrote screenplays for Taiwan’s major television networks and serialised stories for numerous newspapers. His disciplined writing routine allowed him to maintain impressive output, sometimes writing for over 20 newspapers simultaneously.

Later years

In 1977, Shiao immigrated to Los Angeles due to fears of a Communist invasion of Taiwan. The first three years in America were challenging as he struggled to maintain relationships with editors across the Pacific. Pre-internet communication made it difficult to work with newspaper editors who disliked dealing with long-distance calls and faxes.

A former colleague at Sin Chew Daily18 helped him secure work writing articles about American society under the pen names Xueni19 and Hongzao20. He later obtained regular writing positions at United Daily News21 (replacing Gu Long who often missed deadlines) and China Times22 (replacing Jin Yong’s serialization of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber).

In 1993, he founded the North America Chinese Writers’ Association and served as its chairman. Through this organisation, he worked to foster literary exchange between mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and overseas Chinese writers.

In his final years, Shiao collaborated with his second son Peter Shiao23 on adapting his works into an interconnected modern wuxia storyverse for English-language comics. The father-son project was announced in 2013 and received widespread media coverage in both China and the United States.

Shiao Yi died from lung cancer at age 83 on 19 November 2018 in Los Angeles, just weeks after the passing of Jin Yong. His death marked the end of an era in wuxia literature, with several major Chinese media outlets commemorating the loss of “Jin of the South, Shiao of the North.”

Personal life

In 1964, Shiao married Liu Meiqing24 and they had three sons: William Shiao (Peiyu)25, Peter Shiao (Peihuan)26, and Anthony Shiao (Peilun)27.

Shiao maintained close friendships with several prominent writers. He and Gu Long attended the same middle school and became close friends, with Gu Long later serving as his best man. Despite their friendship, they had contrasting personalities. Shiao was gentlemanly and abstemious, while Gu Long was a womaniser and heavy drinker.

He was also friends with novelist and screenwriter Ni Kuang whom he met while writing screenplays for Shaw Brothers Studio. Another significant relationship was with writer Liang Shih-chiu28, who served as both mentor and loyal reader.

Honours and recognition

  • “Jin of the South, Shiao of the North” – paired with Jin Yong as leading wuxia masters
  • “Five Tigers of the Taiwanese Wuxia Scene” – with Wolong Sheng, Sima Ling, Zhuge Qingyun, Liu Canyang
  • Manuscripts and photographs donated to National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature29 (2009)
  • UCLA Research Library housing entire literary collection – first writer of Asian ancestry in their collection

Themes

Chivalry over martial prowess

Shiao emphasised the concept of xia30 (chivalry) over wu (martial prowess) in his works. He believed that without compassion, martial skill alone would produce villains rather than heroes. His interpretation of xia traced its origins to Mohism31 in the Spring and Autumn period, through Confucianism in the Warring States period, reaching its pinnacle in Taoism.

Taoist self-cultivation

Unlike Jin Yong’s focus on Confucian values and social order, Shiao’s works emphasised Taoist self-cultivation and pursuit of perfection through harmony with universal rhythms. Many of his heroes transcended human limitations to achieve sublime or immortal states.

Female agency

His works feature strong female protagonists, treating them as equals to male characters. Unlike contemporaries who often relegated women to supporting roles, Shiao created complex female characters with agency and depth.

Literary style

Shiao’s writing evolved through three distinct phases:

Early period (1960s). Strong influence from 1920s wuxia novelist Wang Dulu, featuring sentimental and melancholic themes.

Middle period (1970s). Incorporated fantasy elements and Taoist immortal themes, similar to Huanzhulouzhu32.

Mature period (late 1970s onward). Developed unique style emphasising atmosphere and human relationships while incorporating modern scientific principles into martial arts descriptions.

His early literary education was deeply influenced by Peking Opera33 performances and artists like Ma Lianliang34 and Shang Xiaoyun35. A former soldier, Liang Yanquan36, who had been a Shandong clapper ballad37 performer, told him stories that first introduced him to wuxia concepts.

Legacy

Shiao Yi’s works continue to influence the genre, particularly in their treatment of romance and female characters. His novel Sister Gan Nineteen38 (甘十九妹) remains particularly influential and has been adapted multiple times for television.

Tie Ning39, chairwoman of the Chinese Writers’ Association, noted that “the death of Mr Shiao Yi is a huge loss to both Chinese literature and world literature. His achievements and contributions will be remembered in our hearts.”

Works

Major novels

Iron Geese, Wings of Frost (铁雁霜翎, 1960). Debut novel that launched Shiao’s career. Immediate recognition established him as rising star. See Shiao Yi novels for details.

Sister Gan Nineteen (甘十九妹). Most popular work featuring strong female protagonist. Multiple television adaptations. See Shiao Yi novels for details.

Horse Whistle, Golden Sword (马鸣金剑). Noted for atmospheric prose and romantic themes.

Key titles

TitleChinesePeriodSignificance
Iron Geese, Wings of Frost铁雁霜翎1960Debut
Gan Nineteenth Sister甘十九妹–Most popular
Horse Whistle, Golden Sword马鸣金剑–Atmospheric
Red Dust, Green Sword红尘绿剑–Middle period
Everlasting Regret长剑相思–Mature period

See also

Where to go next

Footnotes

  1. 南金北萧 – Nán Jīn Běi Xiāo. A phrase describing the two most famous wuxia authors of the period. ↩

  2. 台湾武侠界五虎上将 – Táiwān Wǔxiá Jiè Wǔ Hǔ Shàngjiāng. The five most prominent wuxia authors in Taiwan. ↩

  3. 萧敬人 – Xiāo Jìngrén. Shiao Yi’s birth name. ↩

  4. 萧之楚 – Xiāo Zhīchǔ. A Nationalist general who fought in the Second Sino-Japanese War. ↩

  5. 菏泽 – Hézé. A prefecture-level city in southwestern Shandong province. ↩

  6. 北京友谊医院 – Běijīng Yǒuyì Yīyuàn. A hospital in Beijing with modern German medical facilities. ↩

  7. 重庆 – Chóngqìng. Wartime capital during the Second Sino-Japanese War. See Wikipedia. ↩

  8. 南京 – Nánjīng. Capital of Jiangsu province. See Wikipedia. ↩

  9. 郑证因 – Zhèng Zhèngyīn. An early wuxia novelist. ↩

  10. 朱贞木 – Zhū Zhēnmù. An early wuxia novelist. ↩

  11. 王度庐 – Wáng Dùlú. Prominent wuxia novelist of the 1920s and 1930s. ↩

  12. 汉口 – Hànkǒu. A district of Wuhan city. See Wikipedia. ↩

  13. 福州 – Fúzhōu. Capital of Fujian province. See Wikipedia. ↩

  14. 建国中学 – Jiànguó Zhōngxué. A prestigious boys’ school in Taipei, Taiwan. ↩

  15. 海军军官学校 – Hǎijūn Jūnguān Xuéxiào. Taiwan’s naval officer training institution. ↩

  16. 中原理工学院 – Zhōngyuán Lǐgōng Xuéyuàn. Now Chung Yuan Christian University. ↩

  17. 铁雁霜翎 – Tiě Yàn Shuāng Líng. Shiao Yi’s debut novel. ↩

  18. 星洲日报 – Xīngzhōu Rìbào. Major Chinese-language newspaper in Southeast Asia. See Wikipedia. ↩

  19. 薛尼 – Xuē Ní ↩

  20. 洪早 – Hóng Zǎo ↩

  21. 联合报 – Liánhé Bào. One of Taiwan’s major newspapers. See Wikipedia. ↩

  22. 中国时报 – Zhōngguó Shíbào. Major Taiwanese newspaper. See Wikipedia. ↩

  23. 萧培寰 – Xiāo Péihuán. Shiao Yi’s second son. See Wikipedia. ↩

  24. 刘美清 – Liú Měiqīng. Shiao Yi’s wife whom he met through his younger sister. ↩

  25. 萧培宇 – Xiāo Péiyǔ ↩

  26. 萧培寰 – Xiāo Péihuán ↩

  27. 萧培伦 – Xiāo Péilún ↩

  28. 梁实秋 – Liáng Shíqiū. Respected Chinese writer and translator. ↩

  29. 中国现代文学馆 – Zhōngguó Xiàndài Wénxué Guǎn. Museum dedicated to modern Chinese literature. ↩

  30. 侠 – xiá. A person adept in the martial arts who acts with chivalry and upholds the right. See Wuxia Wiki. ↩

  31. 墨家 – Mò Jiā. Ancient Chinese philosophical school emphasising universal love. See Wikipedia. ↩

  32. 还珠楼主 – Huánzhūlóuzhǔ. Influential early wuxia novelist known for fantasy elements. ↩

  33. 京剧 – Jīngjù. Traditional Chinese opera form from Beijing. ↩

  34. 马连良 – Mǎ Liánliáng. Famous Peking Opera performer. ↩

  35. 尚小云 – Shàng Xiǎoyún. Prominent Peking Opera artist. ↩

  36. 梁燕全 – Liáng Yànquán. Soldier who introduced young Shiao to martial arts stories. ↩

  37. 山东快书 – Shāndōng Kuàishū. Traditional storytelling from Shandong province. ↩

  38. 甘十九妹 – Gān Shíjiǔ Mèi. One of Shiao’s most popular works. ↩

  39. 铁凝 – Tiě Níng. Prominent Chinese writer and head of the Chinese Writers’ Association. ↩

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