Yue Maiden Swordplay (simplified: 越女剑法, traditional: 越女劍法, pinyin: Yuènǚ Jiànfǎ, jyutping: jyut6 neoi5 gim3 faat3) is the sword technique that lies at the heart of Jin Yong’s Sword of the Yue Maiden. In the story it originates from the “Yue Maiden” (越女 — Yuènǚ), the young woman Aqing (阿青 — Ā Qīng), whose skill is so great that it is said to form the basis of the later Yue army’s sword methods.
Origins
In the novel, the technique is not learned from a human master but from a white ape (白猿 — Bái Yuán) that Aqing encounters. Her natural talent and prolonged practice with the ape produce a swordplay that is fast, direct, and highly effective. When the Yue state seeks to train its soldiers, the essence of Aqing’s method is passed on and becomes the foundation of “Yue Maiden Swordplay” as a named tradition.
Characteristics
Yue Maiden Swordplay is portrayed as emphasising speed and simplicity. Its principles are said to anticipate the idea that “in the jianghu, only speed is unbreakable” (天下武功，唯快不破 — tiānxià wǔgōng, wéi kuài bù pò). The style is associated with the State of Yue and its military revival in the conflict with Wu.
In Sword of the Yue Maiden
The art is central to the plot: Fan Li and the Yue court seek to capture the essence of Aqing’s swordplay to train the Yue army. The tension between Aqing’s personal attachment to Fan Li and the state’s use of her technique drives much of the story.
See also
- Aqing — The Yue Maiden who embodies the swordplay
- Grandpa Bai — The white ape from whom she learned
- White Ape Swordplay — The ape’s sword method
- Sword of the Yue Maiden martial arts