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Part of the series on Chinese martial arts
List of Chinese martial arts
Terms
Kung fu (功夫) Wushu (武術) Qigong (氣功)
Historical places
Shaolin Monastery (少林寺) Wudang Mountains (武當山) Mount Hua (華山) Mount Emei (峨嵋山) Kunlun Mountains (崑崙山)
Historical people
Yue Fei (岳飛) Yim Wing-chun (嚴詠春) Hung Hei-gun (洪熙官) Fong Sai-yuk (方世玉) Dong Haichuan (董海川) Yang Lu-ch'an (楊露禪) Wu Quanyou (吳全佑) Ten Tigers of Canton (廣東十虎) Chen Fake (陳發科) Chan Heung (陳享) Wong Fei-hung (黃飛鴻) Sun Lu-t'ang (孫祿堂) Huo Yuanjia (霍元甲) Yip Man (葉問) Wang Zi-Ping (王子平)
Famous modern actors
Bruce Lee (李小龍) Jackie Chan (成龍) Sammo Hung (洪金寶) Yuen Biao (元彪) Jet Li (李連杰)
Legendary figures
Bodhidharma (菩提達摩) Zhang Sanfeng (張三丰) Eight immortals (八仙) Five Elders (五祖)
Related
Hong Kong action cinema Wushu (sport) Wuxia (武俠)
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Wuxia (simplified Chinese: 武侠; traditional Chinese: 武俠; pinyin: wǔxiá [ùɕjǎ], literally "martial hero") is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua (Chinese comics), films, television series, and video games. Wuxia is a component of popular culture for many Chinese-speaking communities worldwide.

The word "wuxia" is a compound word composed of the words wu (武), which means "martial", "military", or "armed" and xia (俠), meaning "honorable", "chivalrous", or "hero". A martial artist who follows the code of Xia is often referred to as a xiake (俠客, lit: "follower of xia", "hiệp khách") or youxia (游俠, "wandering xia", "du hiệp"). In some translated works of wuxia, the martial artist is sometimes termed as a "swordsman" although he may not necessarily wield a sword.

Typically, the heroes in Chinese wuxia fiction do not serve a lord, wield military power or belong to the aristocratic class. They are often from the lower social classes of ancient Chinese society. Wuxia heroes are usually bound by a code of chivalry that requires them to right wrongs, especially when the helpless or the poor are oppressed. The wuxia hero fights for righteousness and seeks to remove an oppressor, redress wrongs, or to bring retribution for past misdeeds. The Chinese xia traditions can be contrasted with martial codes from other countries, such as the Japanese samurai's bushido tradition, the chivalry of medieval European knights and the gunslingers of America's Westerns.

History[link]

Earlier precedents[link]

While wuxia as the name of a genre is a recent coinage, stories about the xia date back more than two thousand years. Wuxia stories have their roots in some early youxia stories from 300–200 BC. The Legalist philosopher Han Fei spoke disparaging of the youxias in his chapter On Five 'Maggot' Classes (韩非子·五蠹) on five social classes in the Spring and Autumn Period.^[1] Some well known stories include Jing Ke's attempted assassination of the King of Qin and Zhuan Zhu's assassination of King Liao of Wu. In the "Assassins" volume (刺客列傳) of Records of the Grand Historian, Sima Qian outlined a number of notable assassins from the Warring States Period, who undertook tasks of conducting political assassinations of aristocrats and nobles.

These assassins were known as cike (刺客, literally: "stabbing guests"). They usually rendered their loyalties and services to feudal lords and nobles in return for rewards such as riches and women. In another volume of Records of the Grand Historian, Youxia (游俠列傳), Sima Qian detailed several embryonic features of xia culture from his period. These popular phenomena were also documented in other historical records such as the Book of Han and Book of the Later Han.

Xiake stories made a turning point in the Tang Dynasty and returned in the form of chuanqi (傳奇, literally: "legendary tales"). Stories from that era, such as Madame Nie Yin (聶隱娘),^[2] The Kunlun Slave, Thirteenth Madame Jing (荆十三娘),^[3] The Maid Red String (紅線)^[4] and The Bearded Warrior (虬髯客),^[5] served as prototypes for the modern wuxia stories.^[6] They featured fantasies and isolated protagonists, usually loners who performed daring heroic deeds. During the Song Dynasty similar stories circulated as the contents of hauben, or prompt-books for storytellers.

The genre of the martial or military romance also developed during the Tang, and by the Ming Dynasty had produced Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms (possibly actually dating from the late Yuan Dynasty) and Shi Nai'an's novel Water Margin. The former is a romanticised historical retelling of the events of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period, whilst the latter criticises the deplorable socio-economic status of the late Northern Song Dynasty. Water Margin is often seen as being the first full-length wuxia novel: the portrayal of the characters of the 108 outlaws, and their code of honour and willingness to turn outlaw rather than serve a corrupt government, played an influential role in the development of jianghu culture in later centuries. Romance of the Three Kingdoms is also seen as a possible early antecedent, and contains classic close-combat descriptions that were later borrowed by wuxia writers in their works.

In the Qing Dynasty further developments were the gongan ("public case") and related detective novels, where xia and other heroes, perhaps working with a judge, solved crimes and battled injustice. The famous Justice Bao stories from Sanxia Wuyi (三俠五義, later extended and renamed Qixia Wuyi 七俠五義) and Xiaowuyi (小五義), incorporated much of social justice themes of later wuxia stories. Also appearing during the Qing were the xiayi stories of chivalrous romance, which frequently featured female heroes and supernatural fighting abilities. Novels such as Shigong An Qiwen (施公案奇聞) and Ernü Yingxiong Zhuan (兒女英雄傳) have been cited as the clearest nascent wuxia novels.

The term wuxia as a genre label itself first appeared at the end of the Qing period, a calque of the Japanese bukyō, a genre of oft-militaristic and bushido-influenced adventure fiction. The term was brought to China by writers and students who hoped that China would modernize its military and emphasize martial virtues, and it quickly became entrenched as the term used to refer to xiayi and other predecessors of wuxia proper, while fading into obscurity in Japan itself.^[7][8]

Many wuxia works produced during the Ming and Qing dynasties were lost due to the government's strong crackdown and banning of such works. Wuxia works were deemed responsible for brewing anti-governmental sentiments that accounted for rebellions during those eras. The ethos of personal freedom and conflict-readiness of these novels were seen as seditious even in times of peace and stability. The departure from mainstream literature also meant that patronage of this genre was limited to the masses and not to the literati, which led to the stifling of the development of the wuxia genre. Nonetheless, the wuxia genre remained enormously popular with the common people.

20th century[link]

The modern wuxia genre rose to prominence in the early 20th century. The early 20th century and the period from the 1960s–1980s were often regarded as the golden ages of the wuxia genre. Xiang Kairan (Pingjiang Buxiangsheng) became the first notable writer of the wuxia genre, his maiden work being The Peculiar Knights-Errand of the Jianghu (江湖奇侠传).^[9][10] It was serialized from 1921 to 1928 and adapted into the first wuxia film, The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple (1928).^[11] Zhao Huanting (趙煥亭) of Chronicles of the Loyal Knights-Errand (奇俠精忠傳, serialized 1923–27) was another well-known wuxia writer, situated in Shanghai.^[12] Starting from the 1930s, wuxia works proliferated and its center shifted to Beijing and Tianjin in the north. The most representative writers there were known in unison as The Five Great Masters of the Northern School (北派五大家), who were Huanzhu Louzhu (还珠楼主, 《蜀山剑侠传》, The Swordspeople from Shu Mountains), Bai Yu (Twelve Coin Darts 《十二钱镖》), Wang Dulu (鹤铁五部作, The Crane-Iron Pentalogy), Zheng Zhengyin (郑证因, 《鹰爪王》, The King of Eagle Claws) and Zhu Zhenmu (朱贞木, 《七杀碑》, The Seven-Killing Stele).^[13][14]

Wuxia fiction was banned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) after its rise to power in the People's Republic of China. The ban was lifted in the late 1970s with China's liberalisation. During the ban, wuxia writing continued to prevail in the 1960s in other Chinese-speaking regions, such as the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Hong Kong. Writers such as Liang Yusheng and Louis Cha (Jin Yong) spearheaded the founding of the "new school" (新派) wuxia genre that differed largely from its predecessors. These writers wrote serials for newspapers and magazines. They also incorporated several fictional themes such as mystery and romance from other cultures. In Taiwan, Wolong Sheng, Sima Ling, Zhuge Qingyun (诸葛青云) and later Xiao Yi (萧逸) and Gu Long became her most famous practitioners. Since then, Wen Rui'an and Huang Yi (Hong Kong) were the more prominent writers of a later crop. Chen Yuhui (Zheng Feng) is a married contemporary female wuxia novelist who debuted with the novel The Tian-Guan Duo Heroes (天觀雙俠; mainland Chinese title: 多情浪子痴情侠). She writes very much in the spirit of Louis Cha.^[15]

There have also been post-80s works written that attempt to create a post-wuxia genre. China's Yu Hua is one of the more notable writers, writing a weird counter-genre short story titled Blood and Plum Blossoms, in which the protagonist goes on a quest to avenge his murdered father. However, he only does this because he is forced to, and not because of any deep seated sense of honor, dignity, or filial piety.

Themes, plots and settings[link]

The modern wuxia stories are basically adventure stories set in ancient China. The plots of wuxia stories vary from writer to writer, but there are distinct similarities between wuxia protagonists and characters from the modern Western fantasy genre. The fantasy element is not a prerequisite of a wuxia story and it is possible for a wuxia story to be realistic. Louis Cha's Swordswoman Riding West on White Horse or The Book and the Sword are examples of possibly realistic wuxia stories. However, the martial arts element is a definite part of a wuxia story, as most of the characters must know some martial arts.

Themes of romance are also strongly featured in several wuxia stories. The protagonists of most wuxia stories usually have beautiful maidens to accompany them on their adventures and the story usually concludes like a fairy tale, where the protagonist and his love interest are married and live happily ever after. The romance element is key in several of Liang Yusheng's stories, such as Baifa Monü Zhuan, and in most of Louis Cha's novels as well.

A typical wuxia story's plot features a young male protagonist who experiences a tragedy such as losing his loved ones. He undertakes several trials and tribulations throughout his adventures and learns several forms of martial arts from various fighters. At the end of the story, the protagonist emerges as a powerful fighter whom few can equal. He uses his abilities to follow the code of xia and offers them chivalrously to mend the ills of the jianghu. For instance, the opening chapters of Louis Cha's works follow a certain pattern; a tragic event occurs, usually one that costs the lives of the newly introduced characters, and then it sets events into motion that will culminate in the primary action of the story.^[16]

Other stories may use different structures. For instance, the protagonist is denied being accepted as a student of a martial arts sect. He experiences hardships and trains secretly and waits until there is an opportunity for him to show off his skills and surprise those who had initially looked down on him. Some stories feature a mature hero with powerful martial arts abilities confronting an equally powerful antagonist as his nemesis. The plot will gradually meander to a final dramatic showdown between the protagonist and his nemesis. These types of stories were prevalent during the era of anti-Qing revolutionaries.

Certain stories also have unique plots, such as those by Gu Long and Huang Yi. Gu Long's stories have an element of mystery and are written like detective stories. The protagonist, usually a formidable fighter and intelligent problem-solver, embarks on a quest to solve a mystery such as a murder case. Huang Yi's stories are blended with science fiction.

Despite these genre blending elements, wuxia is primarily an historical genre of fiction. Notwithstanding this, wuxia writers openly admit that they are unable to capture the entire history of a course of events. They choose to structure their stories along the pattern of the protagonist's progression from childhood to adulthood instead. The progression may be symbolic rather than literal, as observed in Louis Cha's The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, where the young Linghu Chong progresses from childish concerns and dalliances into much more adult ones as his unwavering loyalty repeatedly thrusts him into the rocks of betrayal at the hands of his inhuman master.^[16]

The Code of Xia[link]

The code of xia (俠) can be likened to the Anglo-Saxon myth of Robin Hood. The hero of a wuxia story keeps his honor by upholding justice and helping the poor, just as Robin Hood robs the rich to help the poor. A typical follower of xia has considerable martial arts abilities that are used not just for personal gain, but employed to achieve the greater good. However, just as Robin Hood is an outlaw, the swordsman may not necessarily submit to higher authority. When part of a larger group, the code of Xia requires the group to maintain social justice within the best of the group's abilities.

The code of xia is composed of two main virtues. Yi (義; righteousness) and xin (信; honor). The code also emphasizes the importance of repaying benefactors after having received deeds of grace (恩) or favor from others, as well as seeking vengeance (仇) to bring villains to justice. However, the importance of vengeance is controversial, as a number of wuxia works stress Buddhist ideals, which includes forgiveness, compassion and a prohibition on killing.

In the jianghu, most fighters are expected to be loyal to their martial arts teacher or shifu (師父, sifu in Cantonese pronunciation). This gave rise to the formation of several complex trees of teacher-student (master-apprentice) relations as well as the various sects such as Shaolin and Wudang. If there are any disputes between fighters, they will choose the honorable way of settling their issues through fighting in duels. This is similar to the one-on-one sword duels adopted by knights in medieval Europe. Only two fighters are involved in each duel and they are usually of the same level or status if they belong to any sect.

Skills and abilities[link]

The martial arts in wuxia stories are based on factual wushu techniques and other Chinese martial arts. However, the mastery of such skills are highly exaggerated in wuxia stories to fictitious and superhuman levels of achievement and prowess. For example, ordinary blows such as kicks or punches can have devastating effects on characters in wuxia fiction, and certain characters who are formidable martial artists can even project streams of energy at opponents to knock them down or stun them. The projection of these energy streams and their impacts can even lead to explosions.

The following is a list of skills and abilities a typical fighter or martial artist in a wuxia story might possess:

• Martial arts (kungfu) – fighting techniques in a codified sequence called zhaoshi (招式) which are based on actual martial arts.

• Weapons and objects – combatants use a wide range of weapons in combat. The most commonly used ones are the dao (broadsword or saber), jian (sword), gun (staff), and qiang (spear). Everyday objects such as abaci, benches, fans, ink brushes, smoking pipes, sewing needles, or various musical instruments are also used by characters as weapons as well.

• Qinggong – literally means "the ability of lightness". Characters can move swiftly and lightly at superhuman speeds. They can glide on water surfaces, scale high walls and mount trees. Qinggong is based on real Chinese martial arts. Some real-life martial artists such as those who practice baguazhang, train in qinggong for years by attaching heavy weights onto their legs.^{[citation needed]} However, its use is highly exaggerated in wuxia stories and films in which characters can circumvent gravity and literally fly.

• Neijin, Neigong or Neili (内力) – the ability to build up and cultivate mystical "inner energy" (qi) and utilise it for several purposes. Characters use their inner energy for attack and defense purposes when combined with their martial arts. They may also use this form of energy to heal internal wounds or even purge venom from their bodies after being poisoned, or use it to attain superhuman stamina. In the context of wuxia stories, this kind of energy is a prerequisite for practice of qinggong, dianxue (dim mak) and other superhuman feats of speed and strength. The more neili one has, the better one can perform those mentioned feats. Neili is gained by many years of special breathing and physical exercises, consuming (sometimes accidentally or unknowingly) rare herbs, fruits or other substances of legend that are beneficial, or in some cases by deliberate transference from one to another, such as master to student. Neili can be used as a source of power for mystical skills such as projection of energy (i.e., energy blasts), toughening the body to take strikes, increasing physical strength to superhuman level, and other paranomal effects. Fighters who possess these powers draw them from the use of qi originating from the body rather than black magic and wizardry however.

• Dianxue (simplified Chinese: 点穴; traditional Chinese: 點穴) these stories are most likely the source for the Dim Mak (點脈) and are based, in part, on the real-world techniques of Chin Na (擒拿). Characters use these techniques to kill, paralyze, immobilize or control opponents by attacking their acupressure points (xue 穴) with the bare hand or weapons. A victim may be immobilized for hours after being hit on the acupressure points. Such techniques may be used for healing purposes, when excessive bleeding may be halted when certain acupressure points are pressed. Real-life martial artists do use such techniques in martial arts to paralyze or stun their opponents. Their effectiveness is highly exaggerated in wuxia stories.

In wuxia stories, characters attain the above skills and abilities by devoting themselves to diligent study and practice. The instructions to mastering these skills are often found in "hidden (secret) manuals" known as miji (秘笈). In some stories, specific skills can be learned by spending several years in seclusion with a master or gathering together with a group of fighters to assist each other.

Jianghu[link]

The Jianghu (江湖) (Cantonese: Gong Woo), which means "rivers and lakes" literally, refers to the world of martial arts.

The jianghu is an alternate universe. It consists of several martial artists gathered in the wulin (武林), usually congregated in sects, clans, disciplines and various schools of martial arts. It is also inhabited by others such as youxia (wandering heroes), nobles, thieves, beggars, priests, healers, merchants and craftsmen. The best wuxia writers draw a vivid picture of the intricate themes of honour, loyalty, love and hatred between the individuals and communities within this milieu.

A common aspect of the jianghu is the tacit suggestion that the courts of law are dysfunctional. All disputes and differences can only be resolved by use of force, as such, predicating the need for the code of xia and acts of chivalry. Law and order within the jianghu is maintained by the various orthodox and righteous sects and heroes. Sometimes, these sects may gather to form an alliance against all evils within the jianghu.

A leader, called the "wulin mengzhu" (武林盟主), is elected from amongst them to lead the sects to ensure law and order within the jianghu. The leader is usually someone with a great reputation for righteousness and a high level of mastery in martial arts, even though he is often involved in some conspiracy or killed. In some cases, the leader may not be among the greatest martial artists in the jianghu. The protagonist of the story may also become the leader by coincidence, while in some other cases such as in the television miniseries Paradise, the position of the leader is hereditary. The leader is an arbiter who presides and adjudicates over all inequities and disputes. The leader is a de jure chief justice of the affairs of the jianghu.

The term jianghu is linked to cultures other than those pertaining to martial arts in wuxia stories. It is also applied to societies where there is no law and order. For instance, the Chinese triads, secret societies and gangs use the term jianghu to describe their world of organized crime. Sometimes, the term jianghu may be replaced by the term "underworld", with reference to the "criminal underworld".

In modern day terminology, jianghu may mean any circle of interest such as show business, sports, etc. Colloquially, retirement is also referred to as "leaving the jianghu" (退出江湖). In wuxia stories, when a reputable fighter decides to retire from the Jianghu, he will do so in a ceremony known as "washing hands in the golden basin" (金盆洗手). He washes his hands in the golden basin filled with water, signifying that he will no longer be involved in the affairs of the jianghu. When a reclusive fighter who had apparently retired from the jianghu reappears, his reappearance is described as "re-entering the jianghu" (重出江湖).

Books and writers[link]

Wuxia stories have become a new genre of writing within Chinese society and have remained popular in several countries with significant Chinese-speaking communities such as Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia.

The most notable modern wuxia writers are as follows:

Comics[link]

Although new and original wuxia writings have dwindled significantly in the last 25 years, particularly so as patronage and readerships of the genre decimated due to the readily available alternatives in entertainment like DVDs, affordable gaming-consoles and so forth, the genre has proliferated in manhua (Chinese comics) in places like Hong Kong and Taiwan, with the core essentials of the wuxia living on in weekly editions equivalent to the Japanese manga.

Some notable comic artists are listed as follows:

Films[link]

The earliest wuxia films date back to the 1920s. Films produced by King Hu and the Shaw Brothers Studio featured sophisticated action choreography using wire and trampoline assisted acrobatics combined with sped-up camera techniques. The storylines in the early films were loosely adapted from existing literature.

Cheng Pei-pei and Jimmy Wang were two of the biggest stars in the days of Shaw Brothers Studio and King Hu. Cantonese screen idol Connie Chan grew up starring in wuxia films and was famous for her male roles. Jet Li is a more recent star of wuxia films, having appeared in Swordsman II and Hero. Yuen Woo-ping is a choreographer who achieved fame by crafting stunning action-sequences in films of the genre. Mainland Chinese director Zhang Yimou's foray into wuxia films was distinguished by the imaginative use of vivid colours and breathtaking background settings.

Wuxia was introduced to the Hollywood studios in 2000 by Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Following Ang Lee's footsteps, Zhang Yimou made Hero, targeted for the international market in 2003, and House of Flying Daggers in 2004. American audiences are also being introduced to wuxia through Asian television stations in larger cities, which feature well-produced miniseries such as Warriors of the Yang Clan and Paradise, often with English subtitles. With complex, almost soap-opera storylines, lavish sets and costumes, and veteran actors in pivotal roles, these tales can appeal to a variety of audiences.

Western attempts at the genre have been limited. However, a major exception is DreamWorks Animation's media franchise Kung Fu Panda. Created as an earnest, if humorous, emulation by producers who were knowledgeable admirers of the genre, the series has been particularly hailed in China as an excellent contribution to the form.^[17][18]

Video games[link]

• The Legend of Sword and Fairy (仙劍奇俠傳) – an RPG with elements of Chinese mythology and fantasy. It expanded into a franchise of eight video games, two of which were adapted into television series (Chinese Paladin and Chinese Paladin 3).
• Sword of Xuan Yuan (軒轅劍) – an RPG with elements of Chinese mythology and fantasy
• Jade Empire
• Bujingai (武刃街)
• Heavenly Sword (玄天神劍)
• Martial Kingdoms (天下霸圖) – a strategy game developed by T-Time. It is followed by Martial Kingdoms II.
• Heroes of Jin Yong (金庸群俠傳) – an RPG based on the works of Jin Yong
• Dragon Oath (天龍八部) – an MMORPG based on Jin Yong's Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
• Heroes of Kung Fu (武林群雄) – an MMORPG^[19]
• Age of Wulin - a free-to-play^[20] MMORPG set in medieval China based on the lore surrounding martial arts and the brave adventurers who practice it.

See also[link]

• List of organisations in Wuxia fiction
• Martial arts film
• Zhou Tong (archer)
• Tales of the Moonlight Cutter

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Liu, James J.Y. The Chinese Knight Errant. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1967 (ISBN 0-226-48688-5)
• Hamm, John Christopher. Paper Swordsmen: Jin Yong and the modern Chinese martial arts novel. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2005 (ISBN 0-8248-2763-5)
• (Chinese) 汪涌豪 《中国游侠史》 上海：上海文化出版社，1994 [Wang, Yonghao: "History of Chinese Knight-errantry". Shanghai: Shanghai Wenhua Chubanshe, 1994]

External links[link]

• Introduction to the Wuxia genre
• Wuxiapedia – a comprehensive database for all things Wuxia, including translations of popular Wuxia novels, fully annotated references of Wuxia elements, and Wuxia-related research articles.
• WuxiaSociety.org An English based Wuxia portal, society of English-speaking Wuxia fans around the globe, formerly known as Wuxiamania discussion forum
• Wuxia pian
• Zhang Ziyi CSC: Wuxia Fiction
• Wu Xia / Martial Arts World @ Sensasian
• Wuxia Stories translated into English – Wuxia translations
• Among the Rivers and Lakes Wuxia Community – Wuxia forum

This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

Takeshi Kaneshiro 金城武
Pinyin	Jīnchéng Wǔ (Mandarin)
Jyutping	Gam1sing4 Mou5 (Cantonese)
Birth name	Kaneshiro Takeshi
Ancestry	Japanese, Taiwanese
Born	(1973-10-11) October 11, 1973 (age 38) Taipei, Taiwan
Other name(s)	Aniki
Occupation	Actor, singer
Genre(s)	Mandopop, Cantopop
Years active	1992–present
Official Website	Takeshi

Takeshi Kaneshiro (Japanese and Chinese: 金城 武, romaji: Kaneshiro Takeshi, Pinyin: Jīnchéng Wǔ, pronounced [ɕíntʂ͡ʰə̌ŋ ù]), born October 11, 1973, is a half Taiwanese and half Japanese singer and actor of mixed heritage – his father is Japanese and his mother is Taiwanese. He speaks Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese Hokkien and English.

Name[link]

Kaneshiro is a common Okinawan family name.^[1] In kanji, 金城 is Kaneshiro and 武 is Takeshi (given name), with Japanese readings. He appears as 金城 武 (Kaneshiro Takeshi) in Japanese media.

Although Kaneshiro is not a Chinese surname, the first kanji of Kaneshiro coincides with the Chinese surname Jin 金 and with the Korean surname "Kim" 김. Since personal names are commonly written in Chinese characters in both Chinese and Japanese naming conventions, with surnames before given names, this gives Kaneshiro the freedom whether to distinguish himself as a Japanese or not when working in Chinese-speaking countries by preserving or removing the space between his surname and given name.

Biography[link]

Kaneshiro's mother is Chinese of Taiwanese nationality and his father from Okinawa, Japan.^[2] He was born and raised in Taipei and holds Japanese citizenship.^[3][4]

He has two elder brothers, one is his senior by seven years, the other just by one.^[5] After graduating from Taipei Japanese Junior High School, he enrolled at English-based Taipei American School, which enabled him to converse in English. While he was studying there, he began doing TV commercials and decided to quit school to pursue a singing and acting career. He is multi-lingual, fluent in Mandarin, Taiwanese Hokkien and Japanese, and to lesser degrees in English and Cantonese.

Career[link]

In 1992, Kaneshiro made his singing debut, entering the business with the nickname Aniki, meaning 'older brother' in Japanese. His debut album was Heartbreaking Night (1992). Contracted to EMI, he wrote many of his own Mandarin and Cantonese songs. The following year, his popularity propelled him into acting and he no longer produces any commercial music.

His first movie was Executioners (1993) and this was followed by the critically acclaimed Wong Kar-wai film Chungking Express (1994) and a string of other Hong Kong movies. Later, Kaneshiro starred in the highly successful Japanese TV mini-series God, Please Give Me More Time (1998), allowing him to branch into Japanese movies such as Returner (2002).

Kaneshiro's work, however, is more heavily concentrated in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In 2008 and 2009 he starred in Red Cliff (Chinese: 赤壁; pinyin: Chìbì), a high budget film by Hong Kong director John Woo. He has also played the romantic lead in the Zhang Yimou film House of Flying Daggers, and starred alongside Jet Li and Andy Lau in the film The Warlords. Kaneshiro has also become well known in the video game industry portraying the samurai warrior Samanosuke in the Capcom hit Onimusha. In a June 2007 article on the movie site Ain't It Cool News, it was revealed that Kaneshiro was going to be in the Onimusha movie, reprising his role as Samanosuke and for a 2011 release, but that project was derailed.^[6][7][8] Director, Samuel Hadida had to delay the filming of Onimusha, which has resulted in the film's Japanese cast working on other film projects during the delay, and being unavailable to start filming Onimusha. These factors were enough that French director Christophe Gans will now direct an adaptation of Leo Perutz's novel The Swedish Cavalier first, taking over the reins from Gilles Mimouni. Satomi Ishihara and Tsuyoshi Ihara remain attached to the project.

In 2003, Kaneshiro was featured in Time Magazine and was coined as becoming the Asian film industry's Johnny Depp.^[9] Moreover, Kaneshiro was interviewed by CNN in the TalkAsia segment in 2006.^[10]

Outside of the entertainment business, Kaneshiro has acted as a spokesperson and model for Emporio Armani (2008) as well as, Prada (1998), Lifecard credit card company, VAIO personal computer, Honda, Lipice lips moisturizer, SonyEricsson, Pocari Sweat soft drink, Morinaga chocolate, Volvic, GEOS (eikaiwa) (language school), Petronas oil company, Japan Asia Airways, Hyundai Motor Company, Toyota MarkX ZiO, Mitsubishi Galant, NTT docomo the predominant mobile phone operator in Japan, NTT Yellow Pages, Shiseido, Lycos, UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Kadokawa Shoten a well-known Japanese publisher based in Tokyo, Rice Burger, Roasted barley tea, One2Free (HK), and Kiwi cold drink, and the most recent Biotherm Homme since 2005.^[11]

Personal life[link]

Kaneshiro is a practicing Tibetan Buddhist, having converted in 1997, and has said his mother is also a devout Buddhist.^[12] Kaneshiro is known for trying to avoid the media spotlight. He has been quoted as saying “If one day I get married and have kids, I will probably be one of those men who really care for the family. I will eat at home every day, and help with the chores and take care of the children.”^[13]

Filmography[link]

Movies[link]

• Wu Xia (2011)
• The Battle of Red Cliff II (2009) as Zhuge Liang
• K-20: Legend of the Mask K-20 (2008)
• The Battle of Red Cliff (2008) as Zhuge Liang
• Accuracy of Death/ Suwito rein:Shinigami no seido (2008) as Chiba
• The Warlords (2007) as Jiang Wuyang
• Confession of Pain (2006) as Bong
• Perhaps Love (2005) (Titled Winter Song for the Japanese release)
• House of Flying Daggers (2004) (Titled Lovers for the Japanese release)
• Turn Left, Turn Right (2003)
• Returner (2002)
• Lavender (2000)
• Space Travelers (2000)
• Tarzan (1999) as Tarzan (Voice for Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese versions)
• Tempting Heart (1999)
• Sleepless Town (1998)
• Anna Magdalena (1998)
• Too Tired to Die (1998)
• First Love: The Litter on the Breeze (1997)
• The Odd One Dies (1997)
• Downtown Torpedoes (1997)
• Hero - The Legend (1997)
• The Jail In Burning Island (1997)
• Misty (1996)
• Dr. Wai in "The Scripture with No Words" (1996)
• Lost and Found (1996)
• Forever Friends (1996)
• The Feeling of Love (1996)
• Trouble Maker (1995)
• School Days (1995)
• China Dragon (1995)
• Forever Friends (1995)
• Fallen Angels (1995) - as He Zhiwu
• Young Policemen in Love (1995)
• No Sir (1994)
• The Wrath of Silence (1994)
• Don't Give a Damn (1994)
• Mermaid Got Married (1994)
• Chungking Express (1994) - as He Zhiwu, Cop 223
• Heroic Trio 2: Executioners (1993)

Drama[link]

Japan[link]

• Golden Bowl (2002) (Japanese: ゴールデンボウル)
• Love 2000 (2000) (Japanese: 二千年の恋)
• God, Please Give Me More Time (1998) Kamisama, Mou Sukoshi Dake (Japanese: 神様、もう少しだけ)
• The Miracle on a Christmas Night (1995) (Japanese: 聖夜の奇跡)

Hong Kong[link]

• Colour Of Amour (1995)

Taiwan[link]

• Grass Scholar (1992)

^{[14] [15]}

Videogames[link]

• Onimusha: Warlords (2001) (VG) (voice: Japanese version) Samanosuke Akechi
• Onimusha 3: Demon Siege (2004) - (VG) (voice: Japanese version) Samanosuke Akechi

Misc[link]

• Smap X Smap September (2002) TV Episode
• Smap X Smap October (2002) TV Episode

Awards[link]

Takeshi Kaneshiro is one of 10 recipients of the Green Planet Film Award (23 March 2010) in the category "10 Best International Actors of the Decade (Asia)". Source - the official site of the award http://www.movie-voters.com/3001.html.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Movie soundtracks[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Takeshi Kaneshiro

• Takeshi Kaneshiro at the Internet Movie Database

This article may contain wording that merely promotes the subject without imparting verifiable information. Please remove or replace such wording, unless you can cite independent sources that support the characterization. (August 2011)

Donnie Yen
Yen at the 2007 Shanghai International Film Festival
Chinese name	甄子丹 (Traditional)
Chinese name	甄子丹 (Simplified)
Pinyin	Zhēn Zǐdān (Mandarin)
Jyutping	Jan1 Zi2daan1 (Cantonese)
Ancestry	Taishan, Guangdong, China
Origin	Hong Kong
Born	(1963-07-27) 27 July 1963 (age 48) Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Occupation	Actor, martial artist, film director and producer, action choreographer
Years active	1983 – present
Spouse(s)	Zing-Ci Leung (1993–1995) Cecilia Cissy Wang (2003 – present)
Awards Hong Kong Film Awards Best Action Choreography 2003 The Twins Effect 2005 SPL: Sha Po Lang 2008 Flash Point Golden Bauhinia Awards Best Action Choreography 2006 Dragon Tiger Gate Golden Horse Awards Best Action Choreography 2003 The Twins Effect 2007 Flash Point 2011 Wu Xia Other awards Iron Elephant Awards Best Actor 2009 (Ip Man)

Donnie Yen Ji-Dan (born 27 July 1963) is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film director and producer, action choreographer, and world wushu tournament medalist.^[1] Apart from being a well-known film and television actor in Hong Kong, Yen has also gained international recognition for appearing in many films together with other prominent and internationally-known actors such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh.

Yen is widely credited by many^[2][3][4] as the person responsible for popularizing the traditional martial arts style known as Wing Chun. He played the role of Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man in the 2008 film Ip Man, which was a box office success. This has led to an increase in the number of people taking up Wing Chun, leading to hundreds of new Wing Chun schools to be opened up in mainland China and other parts of Asia.^[5] Ip Chun, the eldest son of Ip Man, even mentioned that he is grateful to Yen for making his family art popular and allowing his father's legacy to be remembered.^[6]

Yen is considered to be Hong Kong's top action star; director Peter Chan mentioned that he "is the 'it' action person right now" and "has built himself into a bona fide leading man, who happens to be an action star."^[7] Yen is widely credited for bringing mixed martial arts (MMA) into the mainstream of Chinese culture, by choreographing MMA in many of his recent films. Yen has displayed notable skills in MMA, being well-versed in boxing, kickboxing, taekwondo, Muay Thai, wrestling, karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Wing Chun, and Wushu. Seen as one of the most popular film stars in Asia in recent years, Yen is currently one of the most highly paid actors in the whole of Asia.^[8]

Early life[link]

Yen's mother, Bow-sim Mark (麥寶嬋), is a Fu Style Wudangquan (internal martial arts) grandmaster, while his father, Klyster Yen (甄雲龍), is a newspaper editor.^[9] Yen was born in Taishan, Guangdong, China. When he was two years old, his family moved to Hong Kong, and then to Boston, Massachusetts, United States when he was 11.^[10] His younger sister, Chris Yen, is also a martial artist and actress, and appeared in the 2007 film Adventures of Johnny Tao: Rock Around the Dragon.

At a young age, under influence from his mother, Yen developed an interest in martial arts and began experimenting with various styles, including t'ai chi and other traditional Chinese martial arts. Yen focused on practicing wushu after dropping out of school. His parents were concerned that he was spending too much time in the Boston Combat Zone, so they sent him to Beijing on a two-year training program with the Beijing Wushu Team.^[10] When Yen decided to return to the United States, he made a side-trip to Hong Kong and met action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping there.

Yen also came from a family of musicians. His mother is a soprano, in addition to being a martial arts teacher in Boston, while his father is a violinist.^[11] From a young age, he was taught by his parents to play musical instruments, including the piano.^[12][13] He also knows hip-hop dancing and breakdancing.^[14][15][16]

Career[link]

Donnie Yen in Seoul in 2005

Yen was a stuntman in his earliest films, Shaolin Drunkard (1983) and Taoism Drunkard (1984). At the age of 20, he got his first acting role in the 1984 film Drunken Tai Chi'.'

After filming Drunken Tai Chi and Tiger Cage (1988), Yen made his breakthrough role as General Nap-lan in Once Upon a Time in China II (1992), which included a fight scene between his character and Wong Fei-hung (played by Jet Li). Yen had a starring role in the film Iron Monkey in 1993. Yen and Li appeared together again in the 2002 film Hero, where Yen played a spear (or qiang) fighter who fought with Li's character, an unnamed swordsman. The film was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the 2003 Academy Awards.

In 1995, Yen starred as Chen Zhen (Cantonese: Chan Zan) in the television series Fist of Fury produced by ATV, which is adapted from the 1972 film of the same title that starred Bruce Lee as Chen Zhen. Yen reprised his role as Chen Zhen in the 2010 film Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen.

In 1997, Yen started the production company Bullet Films, and made his directorial debut^[17] in Legend of the Wolf (1997) and Ballistic Kiss (1998), in which he played the lead character. Yen went on to choreograph fight scenes and appeared in minor roles in some Hollywood films, such as Highlander: Endgame (2000) and Blade II (2002).

In 2003, Yen played the antagonist against Jackie Chan in Shanghai Knights.

Yen choreographed most of the fight animation in the 2004 video game Onimusha 3, which featured actors Takeshi Kaneshiro and Jean Reno. Yen continued to be active in the Hong Kong cinema in the 2000s, starring as Chu Zhaonan in Tsui Hark's wuxia epic film Seven Swords, and as Ma Kwun in Wilson Yip's brutal crime drama film SPL: Sha Po Lang in 2005. Both films were featured at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival. Later that year, Yen co-starred with Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue in Wilson Yip's Dragon Tiger Gate, an adaptation of Wong Yuk-long's manhua series Oriental Heroes. Yen also worked as action choreographer in Stormbreaker, starring Alex Pettyfer. Yen's continued to work with Wilson Yip in Flash Point (2007) in which he starred as the lead character and served as producer and action choreographer for the film. He won the Best Action Choreography at the Golden Horse Film Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards for his performance in Flash Point.

In 2008, Yen starred in Ip Man, a semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the Wing Chun master of Bruce Lee. Ip Man marked Yen's fourth collaboration with director Wilson Yip, reuniting him with his co-stars in SPL: Sha Po Lang, Sammo Hung and Simon Yam. Ip Man became the biggest box office hit to date which featured Yen in the leading role, grossing HK$25 million in Hong Kong and 100 million yuan in China.^[18][19] In July 2011 it was announced that Yen and Cecilia Cheung would be cast in a Hong Kong remake of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, titled Assassin Couple.^[20]

In August 2011, while Yen was on a vacation with his family in the United States, he reportedly received an invitation by producer Avi Lerner to star in The Expendables 2. It was stated that Yen is considering the offer, and has many films at hand, and will not decide until he sees if the script appeals to him or not.^[21]

In September 2011, Yen revealed that he took two comedy roles in a row, All's Well, Ends Well 2012 and Thunder Cop, and will be working with Sandra Ng in the first film.^[22]

Action choreography[link]

Apart from being an acclaimed martial artist and actor, Yen is also a world class action choreographer, and his on-screen choreography has been recognized through the numerous awards he has attained.

In recent years, Yen was successful in including mixed martial arts (MMA) into his action choreography in various films, a feat most other action directors have been unsuccessful at accomplishing so far. Flash Point, a film fully choreographed by Yen using MMA was a huge success. Another notable MMA film involving Yen is SPL: Sha Po Lang.

In recent years, Yen's work as a choreographer won him "Best Action Choreography" awards at the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards and the 2008 and 2011 Golden Horse Film Awards.

Yen was the fight choreographer for the 2010 film Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen. For this film, Yen mentioned that he included Jeet Kune Do elements as a tribute to Bruce Lee, who played Chen Zhen in the 1972 film Fist of Fury.^[21] Furthermore he incorporated many MMA elements in the film, coupled with the utilization of Wing Chun. Yen also stated that the concept behind Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do is similar to that of MMA, hence the incorporation of many forms of martial arts is a necessity in this film.^[23]

Due to his success in action choreography, he is invited to choreograph his upcoming films such as The Lost Bladesman, Wu Xia and The Monkey King.

Martial arts history, style and philosophy[link]

Yen describes himself as a mixed martial artist, and this is evident from his style.^[1] He learned wushu from a young age, under his mother's tutelage. He then wanted to learn taekwondo in his teenage years, but never did.^[25] When he was a teenager, he obtained a medal in a wushu competition held in the United States, known as Boston Combat Zone. At the time, the Beijing wushu team had a scout in the United States, and invited Yen over to Beijing, China, where he began training at the Beijing Sports Institute, the same facility where champion-turned actor Jet Li trained; this is where the two of them crossed paths for the first time.^[26]

Yen later went on to discover and to seek knowledge on other martial arts style, he would later obtain belts from judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and went on to study the art of parkour, wrestling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and boxing under various trainers. His exposure of mixed martial arts (MMA) was heightened when he went back to the United States from 2000 to 2003, while making his Hollywood debut, he also took time off to learn the various martial arts form.^[27] The progress was evident when he returned back to Asia, where he implemented his new found knowledge of MMA showcased in films such as SPL: Sha Po Lang (2005) and Flash Point (2007).

Near the end of 2007, Yen added a new martial arts system to his arsenal. He was offered the role of Wing Chun grandmaster and Bruce Lee's mentor, Ip Man, in a 2008 film named after the grandmaster. He worked hard and studied Wing Chun under Ip Man's eldest son, Ip Chun for 9 months before tackling the role.^[28][29] Ip Chun has since praised Yen for his effort, and complimented that Yen is a great martial artist and a fast learner, and has managed to grasp the full concept of Wing Chun much faster than anyone he has taught.^[30]

Yen believes in practical combat, and in his opinion, MMA is the most authentic type of practical combat. He has particular interest in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has obtained a purple belt.^[31] He has mentioned that he would have entered the Octagon, joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship if he did not have a recurring shoulder injury.

Yen believes that combining many martial arts together will produce the most effective and harmonious style. Yen has said, "When you watch my films, you're feeling my heart."^[32]

Personal life[link]

Yen has stated that he is a big fan of the MMA organization Ultimate Fighting Championship, and has watched almost every UFC event available.^[33]

In 1993, Yen married Zing-Ci Leung. Their son, Man-Zeok Yen, was born in 1995. From 1995 to 2000, Yen was involved in a relationship with actress Yee Man "Joey" Meng. Yen married Cecilia Wang in Toronto in 2003.

About Cecilia Wang[link]

Cecilia Wang born April 21,1981 in Hong Kong was the winner of the 2000 Miss Chinese Toronto Pageant[34] , including the "Miss Vitality" and "Miss Perfect Figure" awards. She stands at 5'8" and was a model[35] . She is known in Asia as a socialite and appears in prestigious events throughout Asia. Wang supports Yen by accompanying in his red carpet events, film festivals, award shows, premieres around the world, including Cannes, Venice, Beijing, Shanghai, Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong etc. They have a daughter, Jasmine, born in 2004, and a son, James, born in 2007.[36]Cecilia Wang has a younger sister, named Yuen Yuen Wang.

See also[link]

• Donnie Yen filmography
• Cinema of Hong Kong
• Cinema of China

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Donnie Yen

• Official website
• Donnie Yen at the Internet Movie Database
• Donnie Yen's Sina blog site
• "An Action Star Moves to the Lead," New York Times article
• Donnie Yen profile page at Hong Kong Cinemagic
• Stokes, Lisa; Michael Hoover (2000). "An Interview with Donnie Yen". Asian Cult Cinema 29 (4th quarter): pp.48–62. 

Coordinates: 22°16′42″N 114°09′32″E / 22.27833°N 114.15889°E / 22.27833; 114.15889

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China[note 1] 中華人民共和國香港特別行政區
Flag Emblem
Anthem: March of the Volunteers 《義勇軍進行曲》
View at night from Victoria Peak
Official language(s)		Chinese, English[note 2]
Spoken languages		Cantonese, English
Writing systems		Traditional Chinese, English alphabet
Demonym		Hong Konger
Government		Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
-	Chief Executive	Donald Tsang
-	Chief Executive-elect	CY Leung
-	Chief Justice	Geoffrey Ma
-	President of the Legislative Council	Jasper Tsang
Legislature		Legislative Council
Establishment
-	Treaty of Nanking	29 August 1842
-	Japanese occupation	25 December 1941 – 15 August 1945
-	Conveyance from British sovereignty to Chinese sovereignty	1 July 1997
Area
-	Total	1,104 km2 (179th) 426 sq mi
-	Water (%)	4.58 (50 km²; 19 mi²)[3]
Population
-	2010 census	7,061,200[4]
-	Density	6,480[5]/km2 (4th) 16,576/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2011 estimate
-	Total	$351.119 billion[6]
-	Per capita	$49,137[6]
GDP (nominal)		2011 estimate
-	Total	$243.302 billion[6]
-	Per capita	$34,049[6]
Gini (2007)		43.4[7]
HDI (2011)		0.898[8] (very high) (13th)
Currency		Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Time zone		HKT (UTC+8)
Date formats		yyyy年m月d日 (Chinese) dd-mm-yyyy (English)
Drives on the		left
ISO 3166 code		HK
Internet TLD		.hk and .香港
Calling code		+852