Mount Heaven Sect

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Mount Heaven Sect
Traditional Chinese 天山派
Simplified Chinese 天山派

The Mount Heaven Sect, also known as the Tianshan Sect, is a fictional martial arts sect mentioned in works of wuxia fiction, most notably Liang Yusheng's Qijian Xia Tianshan . It also appears in Jin Yong's Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils as a minor sect that plays an important role in the story line of one of the three protagonists, Xuzhu. The sect is named after the place where it is based, the Tian Shan (literally means "Mount Heaven") mountain range in western China.

<i>Wuxia</i> genre of Chinese fiction (novels, films, etc.)

Wuxia, which literally means "martial heroes", is a genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists in ancient China. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of fantasy literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms such as Chinese opera, mànhuà, films, television series and video games. It forms part of popular culture in many Chinese-speaking communities around the world.

Chen Wentong, better known by his pen name Liang Yusheng, was a Chinese writer. Credited as the pioneer of the "New School" (新派) of the wuxia genre in the 20th century, Chen was one of the best known wuxia writers in the later half of the century, alongside Jin Yong and Gu Long.

Qijian Xia Tianshan is a wuxia novel by Liang Yusheng. It was first serialised between 15 February 1956 and 31 March 1957 in the Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao. It is also closely linked to two of Liang Yusheng's other novels, Saiwai Qixia Zhuan and Baifa Monü Zhuan.

Contents

History

In Liang Yusheng's Baifa Monü Zhuan , the Mount Heaven Sect is founded in the late Ming dynasty by Yue Mingke, a military attaché who later becomes a monk known as "Reverend Huiming" (晦明禪師). [1] Huiming resides on Mount Heaven for several years and spends his time practising and studying martial arts. Huiming has three apprentices (Yang Yuncong, Chu Zhaonan and Ling Weifeng) who later play important roles in the novels Saiwai Qixia Zhuan and Qijian Xia Tianshan . [2] By the time of the early Qing dynasty (the setting of Saiwai Qixia Zhuan and Qijian Xia Tianshan), Huiming is hailed as one of the most powerful living martial artists in the jianghu , while his three students are also renowned swordsmen. [2]

Baifa Monü Zhuan is a wuxia novel by Liang Yusheng. It was serialised between 5 August 1957 and 10 December 1958 in the Hong Kong newspaper Sin Wun Pao. It is closely related to Qijian Xia Tianshan and Saiwai Qixia Zhuan. The novel has been adapted into films and television series, such as The Bride with White Hair (1993) and The Romance of the White Hair Maiden (1995), and The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom (2014).

Ming dynasty Former empire in Eastern Asia, last Han Chinese-led imperial regime

The Ming dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China – then known as the Great Ming Empire – for 276 years (1368–1644) following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last imperial dynasty in China ruled by ethnic Han Chinese. Although the primary capital of Beijing fell in 1644 to a rebellion led by Li Zicheng, regimes loyal to the Ming throne – collectively called the Southern Ming – survived until 1683.

Military attaché military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission

A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission. This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy. Opportunities sometimes arise for service in the field with military forces of another state.

In Jin Yong's Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils , the Mount Heaven Sect has a different history and plays an important role in the story of Xuzhu, one of the novel's three protagonists. [3] The Mount Heaven Sect is founded by Tianshan Tonglao from the Carefree Sect and its headquarters is in Lingjiu Palace on the Piaomiao Peak of Mount Heaven. [3] The sect is a mysterious and hardly known in the jianghu in this novel. Its members were all women until Xuzhu becomes its leader. Tianshan Tonglao forces several other sects into submission through the use of the 'Life and Death Talisman' (生死符) and they are bound to serve her for eternity. [3] Xuzhu frees those sects after he becomes the leader and earns their allegiance. [3]

Jin Yong Chinese writer

Louis Cha Jing-yong, better known by his pen name Jin Yong (金庸), was a Chinese wuxia novelist and essayist who co-founded the Hong Kong daily newspaper Ming Pao in 1959 and served as its first editor-in-chief. He was Hong Kong's most famous writer.

<i>Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils</i> book

Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong. It was first serialised concurrently from 3 September 1963 to 27 May 1966 in the newspapers Ming Pao in Hong Kong and Nanyang Siang Pau in Singapore. It has since spawned adaptations in film and television in Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan.

List of skills and martial arts

Note: The skills and martial arts listed here are entirely fictional.

See also

Notes

  1. Liang, Yusheng. Baifa Monü Zhuan (白髮魔女傳). 1957.
  2. 1 2 Liang, Yusheng. Qijian Xia Tianshan (七劍下天山) 1956.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Cha, Louis. Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (天龍八部). Ming Pao, 1963.

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