The Book & the Sword: A Tale of Favour and Feud

The Book & the Sword: A Tale of Favour and Feud

Contents

The Book and the Sword (simplified: 书剑恩仇录, traditional: 書劍恩仇錄, pinyin: Shū Jiàn Ēn Chóu Lù, jyutping: Syu1 Gim3 Jan1 Sau4 Luk6) is Jin Yong’s debut novel, first serialised in Hong Kong’s New Evening Post1 from 8 February 1955 to 5 September 1956.

In the aftermath of the Shek Kip Mei fire,2 in Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1953, a highly publicised martial arts challenge match was organised as a fundraiser for the victims. The match between Chan Hak-fu3 of the White Crane School and Wu Kung-i4 of the Taiji School ended inconclusively but generated significant public interest.

Sensing an opportunity, Luo Fu,5 the editor-in-chief of New Evening Post, asked Liang Yusheng to write a serialized wuxia story based on the event. The paper serialised Dragon and Tiger Duel in the Capital6 two days later. Inspired by Liang, Jin Yong began writing The Book and the Sword in the paper as well.

The novel was initially published in Taiwan’s United Daily News7 under the title Book and Sword, Kingdom.8

Jin Yong revised the story when it was first published as a novel in 1975 as the Second Edition. In a second revision published in 2002 as the Third Edition, he added an appendix “Where Does the Soul Return” of about 5,000 words, sharing his thoughts on life, love, and ethnicity through Chen Jialuo’s perspective.

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Title translation

The novel’s title literally means Tale of the Book, Sword, Favour, and Feud. The most common translation The Book and the Sword fails to capture the nuances of the title, Unlike other translations such as Book and Sword: Gratitude and Revenge and The Romance of the Book and the Sword.

A more accurate translation would be The Book and the Sword: A Tale of Favour and Feud. This captures the essence of the kindness and vengeance in the story in an alliteration, while using single-syllable options compared to the more wieldy “gratitude” and “revenge”.

Plot

Background

Set in 18th-century China during the Qing dynasty,9 the story follows the Red Flower Society, a secret organisation aiming to overthrow the Manchu-led Qing government10 to restore Han Chinese rule The story interweaves historical events and figures with wuxia fiction, featuring appearances by the Qianlong Emperor, Zhaohui, Hešen, Zheng Banqiao and Fuk’anggan. The character of Princess Fragrance is loosely based on the historical Fragrant Concubine.11

The story is set during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor in the mid-18th century Qing dynasty. The Red Flower Society, a powerful anti-Qing organisation, seeks to overthrow the Manchu rulers and restore Han Chinese rule.

Summary

After the death of Yu Wanting,12 leader of the Red Flower Society, his adopted son Chen Jialuo13 is chosen as his successor. The society’s thirteen chiefs travel to Xinjiang to escort Chen back to assume leadership.

During this time, Wen Tailai,14 the society’s fourth chief, is pursued and captured by Qing forces because he possesses a secret about the emperor’s true identity. The society members, along with Chen, mount a rescue mission. Along the way, they encounter Uyghur tribesmen seeking to recover their stolen holy Quran, leading to an alliance between the two groups.

After successfully rescuing Wen, they learn that the Qianlong Emperor is actually Chen Jialuo’s elder brother—a Han Chinese baby switched at birth with a Manchu princess. The society captures the emperor and convinces him to acknowledge his Han heritage and help drive out the Manchus while remaining as emperor.

Meanwhile, Chen travels to southern Xinjiang to aid his Uyghur allies against Qing forces. There he meets and falls in love with Princess Fragrance,15 but their romance is complicated when the emperor also becomes attracted to her. Despite Chen’s attempts to mediate, Princess Fragrance commits suicide upon discovering the emperor’s plot to betray the Red Flower Society.

Despite Chen’s attempts to mediate, Princess Fragrance commits suicide upon discovering the emperor’s plot to betray the Red Flower Society. Devastated by these events, Chen leads the society in a final confrontation with imperial forces in Beijing. Though they survive, the loss of Princess Fragrance and the failure of their broader aims leads Chen and his companions to retreat to Xinjiang.

Behind the scenes

Jin Yong began writing The Book and the Sword in 1955, marking his debut as a wuxia novelist. The novel was serialized in Hong Kong’s New Evening Post from 8 February 1955 to 5 September 1956, establishing many of the themes and narrative techniques that would characterize his later works.

The novel has undergone multiple revisions since its initial publication. Jin Yong revised it in 1975 with minor amendments and published by Ming Ho Publications as the Second Edition. He made a second round of revision to refine the text and published in early 2002 as the Third Edition.

Publication history

The novel was first serialized in Hong Kong’s New Evening Post from 8 February 1955 to 5 September 1956. The novel underwent multiple revisions, with the second edition published in 1975 and the third edition in 2002, incorporating significant changes to plot and character development.

Chinese editions

  • First Edition (1955-1956): Serialization in New Evening Post
  • Second Edition (1975): Ming Ho Publications
  • Third Edition (2002): Guangzhou Publishing House (新修版)

Themes

National identity

The novel explores themes of ethnic identity and national loyalty through its portrayal of Han-Manchu relations and the complex dynamics between different ethnic groups in Qing China.

Power and legitimacy

Questions of political legitimacy and the right to rule are central to the narrative, particularly through the revelation of the Qianlong Emperor’s true identity.

Love and duty

The story examines conflicts between personal relationships and political obligations, especially through Chen Jialuo’s various romantic entanglements and his relationship with his brother, the emperor.

Historical authenticity

Jin Yong incorporates numerous historical figures and events, using them as a framework to explore broader themes about power, identity, and governance in Chinese society.

Cast

Main article: The Book and the Sword characters

Protagonists

  • Chen Jialuo (陈家洛 – Chén Jiāluò) – The protagonist and leader of the Red Flower Society
  • Huoqingtong (霍青桐 – Huò Qīngtóng) – Eldest daughter of the Uyghur leader
  • Kasili (喀丝丽 – Kāsīlí) – Younger sister of Huoqingtong based on the historical Fragrance Concubine
  • The Qianlong Emperor (干隆皇帝 – Qiángān Dìzǔ) – Revealed to be Chen Jialuo’s brother

Important characters

  • Priest Wuchen (无尘道长 – Wúchén Dàozhǎng) – a monk who is the second leader of the Society
  • Zhao Banshan (赵半山 – Zhào Bànshān) – third leader of the Society
  • Wen Tailai (文泰来 – Wén Tàilái) – fourth leader of the Society
  • Chang Hezhi (常赫志 – Cháng Hèzhì) – fifth leader of the Society
  • Chen Bozhi (陈博智 – Chén Bózhì) – sixth leader of the Society
  • Xu Tianhong (徐天宏 – Xú Tiānhóng) – seventh leader of the Society
  • Yang Chengxie (杨成协 – Yáng Chéngxié) – eighth leader of the Society
  • Wei Chunhua (卫春华 – Wèi Chūnhuá) – ninth leader of the Society
  • Zhang Jin (章进 – Zhāng Jìn) – tenth leader of the Society
  • Zhang Zaozhong (张召重 – Zhāng Zhàozhòng) – former Wudang swordsman who became Qianlong Emperor’s trusted blade
  • Ma Zhen (马真 – Mǎ Zhēn) – leader of the Wudang Order
  • Lu Feiqing (陆菲青 – Lù Fēiqīng) – Wudang swordsman and sworn brother of Zhao Banshan

Martial arts abilities

Main article: The Book and the Sword martial arts

  • Nine Spider Silks (九蛛丝 – Jiǔ Zhū Sī) – Chen Jialuo’s signature weapon, made of woven silk threads
  • Autumn Wind Swordplay (秋风剑法 – Qiūfēng Jiànfǎ) – Wudang Order’s signature sword technique
  • Soft Hand (柔手 – Róushǒu) – A set of techniques used by Zhang Zhongjing
  • Three Linking Palms (三连手 – Sānliánshǒu) – A series of three connected palm strikes
  • Thunder Hand (雷鸣腿 – Léimíng Tuǐ) – Wen Tailai’s trademark kicking technique
  • Twin Flying Daggers (双莺刀 – Shuāngyīng Dāo) – Wei Chunhua’s throwing weapon technique

Adaptations

Film

Web film

Television series

Radio

In 1999, Hong Kong’s RTHK produced a 32-episode radio drama starring Tse Kwan-ho, Gigi Leung, Chow Kwok-fung, and Jacqueline Pang as voice actors.

Legacy

As Jin Yong’s debut novel, The Book and the Sword established many elements that would become hallmarks of his later works, including:

  • Integration of historical events with fictional narratives
  • Complex political intrigue
  • Themes of ethnic identity and nationalism
  • Romance intertwined with martial arts action

The novel also demonstrates Jin Yong’s early interest in exploring alternative historical scenarios and questioning traditional narratives about ethnicity and legitimacy in Chinese history.

Critical reception

The Book and the Sword has been praised for its innovative approach to wuxia fiction, particularly in its integration of historical events with fictional storytelling. Critics have noted that while it may not reach the sophistication of Jin Yong’s later works, it represents an important foundation for his subsequent novels.

The novel’s portrayal of ethnic identity and political legitimacy has been particularly well-received, with many critics noting how it explores the complex relationship between Han Chinese and Manchu rulers during the Qing dynasty. The character development and martial arts descriptions have also been praised for their originality and attention to detail.

Cultural impact

The Book and the Sword has had a significant impact on Chinese popular culture, helping to establish many conventions of modern wuxia fiction. The novel’s exploration of themes such as ethnic identity, political legitimacy, and the relationship between personal and political loyalties continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.

The novel’s success helped establish Jin Yong as one of the most important figures in modern Chinese literature, and its adaptations have introduced wuxia to international audiences. The story’s themes of resistance against foreign rule and the struggle for national identity have made it particularly relevant in discussions about Chinese history and culture.

The novel’s innovative use of historical figures and events has influenced subsequent wuxia writers, demonstrating how wuxia fiction could be used to explore serious political and social themes.

Translation

The novel has been translated into several languages. The official English translation is an abridge version by Graham Earnshaw, edited by John Minford and Rachel May, was published by Oxford University Press in 2005 as The Book and The Sword.

Tokuma Shoten published a Japanese translation in 4 volumes from October 1996 to January 1997, translated by Okazaki Yumi. A paperback edition was released in between April to May 2001.

See also

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Footnotes

  1. 新晚報 – Xīn Wǎnbào. A Hong Kong evening newspaper affiliated with Ta Kung Pao. See Wikipedia. ↩

  2. 石硤尾大火 – Shek Kip Mei fire. A devastating fire in Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1953 that left thousands homeless. See Wikipedia. ↩

  3. 陈克夫 – Chén Kèfū ↩

  4. 吴公仪 – Wú Gōngyí. See Wikipedia (Chinese). ↩

  5. 罗孚 – Luó Fú. The editor-in-chief of New Evening Post. See Baidu Baike. ↩

  6. 龙虎斗京华 – Lóng Hǔ Dòu Jīnghuá ↩

  7. 聯合報 – Liánhé Bào. One of Taiwan’s major newspapers. See Wikipedia. ↩

  8. 書劍江山 – Shū Jiàn Jiāngshān ↩

  9. 清 – Qīng. A dynasty ruled by the Manchu people from 1644 to 1912. See Wikipedia. ↩

  10. 满族 – Mǎnzú. A Tungusic ethnic group native to Manchuria. See Wikipedia. ↩

  11. 香妃 – Xiāngfēi. A figure in Chinese legend said to come from western China and taken as consort by the Qianlong Emperor. See Wikipedia. ↩

  12. 于万亭 – Yú Wàntíng. Former leader of the Red Flower Society. ↩

  13. 陳家洛 – Chén Jiāluò. Protagonist and newly appointed leader of the Red Flower Society. ↩

  14. 文泰來 – Wén Tàilái. Fourth chief of the Red Flower Society, known as “Thunder Hand”. ↩

  15. 香香公主 – Xiāngxiāng Gōngzhǔ. Princess Kasili, known as Princess Fragrance. ↩

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