射雕英雄传 (The Legend of the Condor Heroes)

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Name:   Lidong  Duan

Country:  China

 Language : Mandarin

Title: 射雕英雄传 (The Legend of the Condor Heroes)

Author:  JinYong (Louis Cha Leung-yung)

Published : 1957

Summary:

The story is set in the Song dynasty and at the beginning of the Jurchen-ruled Jin dynasty's invasion of northern China. The first part of the novel revolves around the friendship of two men, Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian, who became heroes in their own right as they fought the Jin invaders. They pledge to each other that their unborn children will become either be sworn siblings (if both are of the same sexes) or a married couple (if they are of opposite sexes).

The story focuses on the trials and tribulations of their sons after Guo Xiaotian's death and Yang Tiexin's disappearance. Guo Xiaotian's son, Guo Jing, grows up in Mongolia under the care of Genghis Khan. Yang Tiexin's son, Yang Kang, on the other hand, grows up in Jin as a powerful Jurchen prince's son. Guo Jing is mentored by the "Seven Freaks of Jiangnan" in martial arts but he is a slow learner and only manages to master part of the skills he was taught. However, he improves his skills after receiving advice from Ma Yu of the Quanzhen Taoist Sect. Yang Kang is tutored by Qiu Chuji, who is also from Quanzhen Taoist Sect.

The boys' personalities differ largely from each other due to differences in their upbringing. Guo Jing is honest, loyal and righteous, but slow-witted. Conversely, Yang Kang is clever, but scheming and treacherous. They eventually meet one another and their respective lovers, Huang Rong and Mu Nianci. The main story line follows Guo Jing and Huang Rong's adventures and their encounters with the Five Great Persons. Meanwhile, Yang Kang plots with the Jurchens to conquer his native land of Song. Yang Kang refuses to acknowledge his ethnicity and is strongly driven to acquire wealth, fame and glory. His treachery is slowly unveiled throughout the novel in the encounters he has with the protagonists, although Huang Rong ultimately outwits and accidentally kills him.

Assisted by Guo Jing, the Mongol army destroys the Jin dynasty, subsequently turning its attention towards Song. Guo Jing is unwilling to aid the Mongols in conquering his native land and he leaves Mongolia. Guo Jing returns to Song and helps his compatriots counter the Mongol invaders. On the other hand, Yang Kang meets his retributive end, leaving behind Mu Nianci and their unborn son. The Mongol invasion is halted by Genghis Khan's unexpected death, although Guo Jing and Huang Rong see countless civilian deaths due to this military conquest.

Recommendation:

The Writer Louis Cha Leung-yung, born 6 February 1924, better known by his pen name Jin Yong, is a Chinese novelist and essayist based in Hong Kong. Having co-founded the Hong Kong daily Ming Pao in 1959, he was the newspaper's first editor-in-chief.

Cha's fiction, which is of the WUXIA ("martial arts and chivalry") genre, has a widespread following in Chinese-speaking areas, including Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and the United States. This book is one of his 15 works written between 1955 and 1972 earned him a reputation as one of the finest WUXIA writers ever. He is currently the best-selling Chinese author alive; over 100 million copies of his works have been sold worldwide.

He has many fans abroad as well, owing to the numerous adaptations of his works into films, television series, manhua (comics) and video games