''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'' is a
wuxia
( ), which literally means "martial heroes", is a genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists in ancient China. Although is traditionally a form of historical fiction, its popularity has caused it to be adapted f ...
novel by
Jin Yong
Louis Cha Leung-yung (; 10 March 1924 – 30 October 2018), better known by his pen name Jin Yong (), pronounced "Gum Yoong" in Cantonese, was a Chinese wuxia (" martial arts and chivalry") novelist and essayist who co-founded the Hong Kong d ...
(Louis Cha). It was first serialised concurrently from 3 September 1963 to 27 May 1966 in the newspapers ''
Ming Pao
''Ming Pao'' () is a Chinese-language newspaper published by Media Chinese International in Hong Kong. In the 1990s, ''Ming Pao'' established four overseas branches in North America; each provides independent reporting on local news and colle ...
'' in Hong Kong and ''
Nanyang Siang Pau
''Nanyang Siang Pau'' or ''Nanyang Business Daily'' () was founded by philanthropist-entrepreneur Tan Kah Kee on 6 September 1923 in Straits Settlements, currently published in Malaysia. ''Nanyang Siang Pau'' is one of the oldest Chinese-langua ...
'' in Singapore. It has been adapted into films and television series in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China numerous times since the 1970s. Set in 11th-century China, the plot is made up of separate yet intertwining storylines revolving around three protagonists – Qiao Feng, Duan Yu and Xuzhu – and other characters from various empires (
Song
A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetitio ...
,
Liao,
Dali
Dali or Dalí may refer to:
Chinese history
* Kingdom of Dali (937–1253 AD), centered in modern Yunnan
* Kingdom of Nanzhao or Dali, Kingdom of Dali's predecessor state
* Dali, Emperor Daizong of Tang's third and last regnal period (766–779)
...
,
Western Xia
The Western Xia or the Xi Xia (), officially the Great Xia (), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as ''Mi-nyak''Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts and Tibetans, was a Tangut-led Buddhist imperial dynasty of China tha ...
and
Tibet
Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa people, ...
) and
martial arts sects. The novel examines the
cause and effect
Causality (also referred to as causation, or cause and effect) is influence by which one event, process, state, or object (''a'' ''cause'') contributes to the production of another event, process, state, or object (an ''effect'') where the cau ...
that form and break the inherent bonds underlying each major character's struggles on five uniquely corresponding levels: self, family, society, ethnic group, and country (dominion).
The novel's Chinese title is a reference to the
eight races of demi-gods and semi-devils described in
Buddhist cosmology
Buddhist cosmology describes the planes and realms in which beings can be reborn. The spatial cosmology consists of a vertical cosmology, the various planes of beings, into which beings are reborn due to their merits and development; and a hori ...
as the major characters are based on the eight races. In Buddhism, these demi-gods and semi-devils are markedly different from the human race but are still bound to
Saṃsāra
''Saṃsāra'' (Devanagari: संसार) is a Pali/Sanskrit word that means "world". It is also the concept of rebirth and "cyclicality of all life, matter, existence", a fundamental belief of most Indian religions. Popularly, it is the c ...
by their own desires. Jin Yong originally modelled each major character after one of the races but, as he continued writing, the complexity of the story made it impossible for such a simplistic mapping. The novel's title has been a challenge for translators for years before it was decided to be ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils''. An alternative English title is ''Eight Books of the Heavenly Dragon''.
Plot
The plot is made up of separate yet intertwining storylines revolving around three protagonists – Qiao Feng, Duan Yu and Xuzhu – who become
sworn brother
Blood brother can refer to two or more men not related by birth who have sworn loyalty to each other. This is in modern times usually done in a ceremony, known as a blood oath, where each person makes a small cut, usually on a finger, hand or ...
s in chapter 41. The complex narrative switches from the initial perspective of Duan Yu to those of the other protagonists and back.
Duan Yu's story
Duan Yu is a young and naïve prince of the
Dali Kingdom
The Dali Kingdom, also known as the Dali State (; Bai: Dablit Guaif), was a state situated in modern Yunnan province, China from 937 until 1253. In 1253, it was conquered by the Mongols but members of its former ruling dynasty continued to a ...
. His reverence for Buddhist teachings and disdain for bloodshed prompt him to defy his family's tradition of practising martial arts. When his father, Duan Zhengchun, tries to force him to learn martial arts, he runs away from home. Ironically, for the sake of survival, he ends up mastering three powerful skills and becomes a formidable martial artist. In addition, he acquires immunity to poison after accidentally consuming the Zhuha, a venomous toad.
During his adventures, he encounters five young maidens – Zhong Ling, Mu Wanqing, Wang Yuyan, Azhu and Azi – and becomes romantically involved with the first three. However, at different points in the novel, each of them is revealed to be actually his half-sister due to Duan Zhengchun's secret affairs with other women in the past. Of these maidens, he is extremely obsessed with Wang Yuyan, who resembles a statue of a fairy-like lady he chanced upon before. He relentlessly tries to win her heart but she does not reciprocate because she has a crush on her cousin, Murong Fu.
Towards the end of the novel, in a tragic twist of events, Duan Yu finds out that he is actually not Duan Zhengchun's biological son, hence he can marry all the three maidens. In the original ending, his love life ends on a happy note when Wang Yuyan finally realises that he truly loves her and decides to marry him. However, after the book was published, many readers disliked this ending as it relegated Mu Wanqing to a minor role in the story. In the latest revision of the novel, Duan Yu and Wang Yuyan's romance is marred by a series of incidents which eventually cause them to be separated and Duan Yu ends up with Mu Wanqing and Zhong Ling.
Qiao Feng's story
Qiao Feng is the charismatic chief of the
Beggars' Sect
The Beggars' Sect is a fictional martial arts sect featured prominently in works of ''wuxia'' fiction by writers such as Jin Yong, Gu Long and Wolong Sheng. The sect has also found its way into martial arts films such as ''King of Beggars''. The s ...
who possesses strong leadership qualities and exceptional prowess in martial arts. He falls from grace after he is revealed to be a
Khitan, and after he is wrongly accused of murdering his adoptive parents and some fellow martial artists. He becomes an outcast of the ''
wulin'' (martial artists' community) of the
Han Chinese
The Han Chinese () or Han people (), are an East Asian ethnic group native to China. They constitute the world's largest ethnic group, making up about 18% of the global population and consisting of various subgroups speaking distinctive va ...
-dominated
Song Empire
The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...
, which is at war with the Khitan-led
Liao Empire
The Liao dynasty (; Khitan: ''Mos Jælud''; ), also known as the Khitan Empire (Khitan: ''Mos diau-d kitai huldʒi gur''), officially the Great Liao (), was an imperial dynasty of China that existed between 916 and 1125, ruled by the Yelü ...
. Qiao Feng's relations with the Han Chinese martial artists worsen due to the Song–Liao conflict, and also because he is now seen as a murderer and a threat to the ''wulin''. He is forced to sever ties with them and engage them in a one-against-several battle, during which he single-handedly kills many opponents, including some of his old friends and acquaintances.
Qiao Feng leaves to verify the claims that he is a Khitan and investigate the murders. He is accompanied by Azhu, who loves him and stands by him when the ''wulin'' turns against him. After a long journey in disguise, he concludes that he is indeed a Khitan and changes his name to Xiao Feng to reflect his ancestry. In tracking down a mysterious "Leading Big Brother", whom he believes is responsible for the murders and his parents' deaths, he mistakenly thinks that Duan Zhengchun is the "Leading Big Brother", and challenges him to a one-to-one fight. However, the event turns into a tragedy when Azhu finds out she is Duan Zhengchun's daughter and she disguises herself as her father and allows Xiao Feng to kill her. It is too late when Xiao Feng realises his mistake. Before dying, Azhu tells Xiao Feng that Duan Zhengchun is actually her father, and she hopes that her sacrifice will satisfy his thirst for vengeance.
Feeling regret and sorrow, Xiao Feng leaves Song territory with Azi, Azhu's younger sister, whom he has promised to take care of. Azi has a crush on him but he does not reciprocate her feelings as he loved only her sister. They wander far into
northeast China
Northeast China or Northeastern China () is a geographical region of China, which is often referred to as "Manchuria" or "Inner Manchuria" by surrounding countries and the West. It usually corresponds specifically to the three provinces east of t ...
and settle down among the
Jurchen tribes. By chance, Xiao Feng encounters the Liao emperor,
Yelü Hongji
Emperor Daozong of Liao (14 September 1032 – 12 February 1101), personal name Chala, sinicised name Yelü Hongji, was the eighth emperor of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China.
Life
Emperor Daozong succeeded his father, Emperor Xingzong, ...
, becomes sworn brothers with him, and helps him suppress a rebellion by a Liao prince. In return, Xiao Feng receives the prince's title and estate. Xiao Feng returns to the Song Empire later to find Azi and attend a ''wulin'' gathering at
Shaolin Monastery
Shaolin Monastery (少林寺 ''Shàolínsì''), also known as Shaolin Temple, is a renowned monastic institution recognized as the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu. It is located at the foot of Wuru Peak of the So ...
, where he combines forces with Duan Yu and Xuzhu to overcome their foes. At Shaolin, the truths behind all the murders are revealed and the guilty parties receive their just deserts; Xiao Feng also successfully proves his innocence and makes peace with the ''wulin''.
Towards the end of the novel, Yelü Hongji plans to invade the Song Empire and wants Xiao Feng to support him, but the latter refuses and attempts to dissuade him to prevent bloodshed. The Liao emperor imprisons Xiao Feng and leads his army to attack Song. In the meantime, Azi escapes from Liao and seeks help from Duan Yu, Xuzhu and their allies. Impressed by Xiao Feng's righteousness, they manage to rally martial artists from throughout the ''wulin'' to join them in rescuing Xiao Feng. Even though the mission is successful, they are ultimately outnumbered and trapped by Liao forces at
Yanmen Pass
Yanmen Pass, also known by its Chinese name Yanmenguan and as Xixingguan, is a mountain pass which includes three fortified gatehouses along the Great Wall of China. The area was a strategic choke point in ancient and medieval China, contro ...
. Xiao Feng takes Yelü Hongji hostage and forces him to promise that there will be no war between Song and Liao for as long as he lives. He then commits suicide while Azi follows suit.
Xuzhu's story
Xuzhu is a monk from the
Shaolin Sect
The Shaolin Sect is a fictional martial arts sect mentioned in several works of ''wuxia'' fiction. It is one of the largest and best known orthodox sects in the '' wulin'' (martial artists' community). Its base is in Shaolin Monastery, Henan, Chi ...
who is described to have a kind-hearted and submissive personality. He strongly believes in following the Buddhist code of conduct and refuses to break it even when he faces life-threatening situations. He follows his elders to a meeting, which marks the start of his adventures. By coincidence and sheer luck, he breaks a
weiqi
Go is an abstract strategy board game for two players in which the aim is to surround more territory than the opponent. The game was invented in China more than 2,500 years ago and is believed to be the oldest board game continuously played to ...
formation and inherits the powers and position of Wuyazi, the leader of the Carefree Sect. Later, he encounters Tianshan Tonglao, learns martial arts from her, and eventually succeeds her as the ruler of Lingjiu Palace, which commands allegiance from a loose assembly of martial artists.
Feeling overwhelmed by the sudden influx of responsibilities and a major leap in martial prowess, Xuzhu desires to detach himself from these duties and return to his former monastic life. However, he is unable to wrench himself free from the various tribulations and dangers that lie ahead. He is no longer regarded as a Shaolin monk and has no choice but to accept his fate. He also has a pitiful parentage: he is actually the illegitimate son of Xuanci, the abbot of Shaolin, and Ye Erniang, one of the "Four Evils". His reunion with his parents is fated to be the first and also the last. Later, by chance again, he becomes the prince consort of
Western Xia
The Western Xia or the Xi Xia (), officially the Great Xia (), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as ''Mi-nyak''Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts and Tibetans, was a Tangut-led Buddhist imperial dynasty of China tha ...
due to his previous affair with Princess Yinchuan, to whom he is deeply in love and happily married.
Characters
Adaptations
Films
Television
Video games
* ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'' is a single player RPG released in 2002. The player takes on the role of an unrelated protagonist (default name Lei Zhen) and meets characters from the novel. His choices and actions will affect how the story progresses.
* ''
Dragon Oath
''Dragon Oath'', also known as ''Tian Long Ba Bu'' (abbreviation: ''TLBB'') in China, is a free-to-play MMORPG developed and published by Changyou.com and Sohu and launched in May 2007. The game's story is based on the novel ''Demi-Gods and Semi- ...
'', also known as ''TLBB'' in China, is a MMORPG developed by
Changyou Changyou may refer to:
*'' Sing and Play'', a 1998 Mandopop album by Faye Wong
* Changyou.com
Changyou.com Ltd. operates online games, primarily massively multiplayer online games, in China. Originally a division of Chinese Internet company Sohu, ...
and
Sohu
Sohu, Inc. () is a Chinese Internet company headquartered in the Sohu Internet Plaza in Haidian District, Beijing. Sohu and its subsidiaries offer advertising, a search engine (Sogou.com), on-line multiplayer gaming (ChangYou.com) and other ser ...
, and was launched in 2007.
* ''Tian Long Ba Bu: Shen Bing Hai Yu'' () is a MMORPG developed by Changyou and Sohu, and was launched in China on 25 October 2012. The game is endorsed by
Hu Ge
Hu Ge (, born 20 September 1982), also known as Hugh Hu, is a Chinese actor and singer. While studying at the Shanghai Theater Academy, he was invited to play the leading role Li Xiaoyao in the 2005 television series ''Chinese Paladin'', and ...
and
Cecilia Liu
Liu Shishi (; born 10 March 1987), also known as Cecilia Liu, is a Chinese actress best known for portraying Long Kui in the television series ''Chinese Paladin 3'' and Ruoxi in the Chinese time-travel drama ''Scarlet Heart'' and '' Imperial Doc ...
, who appeared as Duan Yu and Wang Yuyan respectively in a short video promoting the game and other promotional material.
[《天龙八部》10月25日 “神兵海域”深海公测!]
/ref>
References
External links
*
''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils''
at cnnovels.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Demi-Gods And Semi-Devils
1963 novels
Novels by Jin Yong
Novels first published in serial form
Works originally published in Ming Pao
Novels set in the Northern Song
Liao dynasty in fiction
Western Xia in fiction
Chinese novels adapted into television series
Novels about racism
Shaolin Temple
Shaolin Temple in fiction
Novels set in Yunnan
Novels set in Henan
Novels set in Shanxi
Novels set in Ningxia
Novels set in Zhejiang
Novels set in Jiangsu