Wuxia

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=Wuxia Films!=



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Wuxia films were adapted from from Chinese martial arts epics; tales of martial chivalry following the adventures of supernaturally skilled fighters against oppressive tyrants, raiders or regimes. With the magic of film and editing, film brought the skills and stories to life, and expanded to create new visions and adventures. Wuxia by its definition means martial chivalry. It refers to stories that blend marital arts with the classical Confucian values. These are altruism, justice, loyalty, courage, truthfulness, and a disregard for wealth and desire for glory. The protagonists typify these traits while the villains almost always form the antithesis of them. The stories will always incorporate one or more of these values to their storylines, with justice (and revenge) being the most popular. To create the illusion of speed or portray the dextrous feats of the characters, directors had to get creative with their editing and camera movements. Especially in the early days before computerised special effects technology, it was left to the director to make the unreal seemed real. Through tricks like rapid cutting, low-angle jump shots and quick close-ups, directors can make it seem the actors are moving and jumping about rapidly, while hidden wires and trampolines can make them glide through the air and up onto rooftops. Training sequences also feature prominently in //wuxia//; whether it shows off barely moving initiates training to become martial maestros, or established masters picking up a few new tricks. They initially start building endurance, gaining complexity that more closely matches the intended outcome. The excercises performed always tend to be arcane, yet somewhat functional and make a good showcase of the character's strength or talents.


 * Wuxias Heroes**

The typical heroes of //wuxia// tend to be dutiful and honourable, putting the needs of others before themselves. These warriors are often ascetics, following a singular path of virtue and righteousness. Highly trained and disciplined, the hero can often take on armies of trained soldiers effortlessly with anything that comes to hand. Although they are rarely actively looking for violence, they can effectively (sometimes brutally) dispatch most opponents. Honourable to a fault though, their exceedingly strict moral code can often be used against them by unscrupulous villains. Other main kind of hero tends to be roguish and daring, disdainful of organised law but recognising when justice needs to be meted out. They are more likely to go out looking for a fight, humiliating the bad guys and possibly claiming some loot in the process. Although not as naive as the virtuous hero, their propensity for trouble means that they can get themselves into just as many sticky situations. The resolution to the film frequently has these characters learning nothing or mending their mischievous ways. Heroines in the films are not always helpless damsels in distress (although there are still many instances of such). Many of these women possess martial skills that can rival or even best a hero's, their skill with the blade being both graceful and deadly. A common ploy for these women is to dress up as men to hide their identities, often with a face mask and body concealing clothing. Although the audience is rarely fooled by such a disguise, it serves to make them an enigma and wild card for the characters in the film.

Wuxia's Villains
The villains of //wuxia// epics are more varied than the heroes, with your typical oppressive overlords intermingling freely with misguided rivals and eccentric goons, as well as vast hordes of incapable combatants. The most interesting villain added to these films though is the warrior who, while still in league with the forces of evil, uphold many of the same standards and virtues that the hero does. In //The New One-Armed Swordsman,// the rival master offers to spare Lei Li the removal of his arm after throughly besting him in a fight, acknowledging that it was a wager made in haste. Although Lei Li ultimately decides to do so, his opponent lets him depart safely.

Weapons
Although there are many strange and unusual weapons in //wuxia// tales, the four most prominent ones are based on the four major Chinese weapons. These are the jian, the dao, the gun, and the qiang: //Jian//: The most prominent weapon amongst heroes and experts, the jian, or Chinese straight sword, is a long, straight sword with a double-edge capable of swift slashes and thrusts. Considered one of the most difficult weapons to master, the jian is typically a more defensive weapon. Although many of its manoeuvres and parries may seem flashy, they serve to deflect blows and open up an opponent for a quick counter attack. It is particularly important in //wuxia// as it often serves as a symbol of its owner's status or a particularly well-made article serves as an important weapon in the storyline. A good example of this is the //Green Destiny// in //Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon//. //Dao//: Possibly the most common weapon in //wuxia//, the dao resembles a sabre, with a single curved blade designed for chopping. Often found in the hands of common warriors or guardsmen, the dao lacks the grace and subtlety of the jian, but it is a reliable weapon and many of its techniques transfer readily to other weapons, bladed or not. This weapon is popular with both heroes, villains, and incidental characters alike. //Gun//: The Chinese name for the quarterstaff, the gun is a popular weapon amongst trainees and wisened old men alike. A slender yet sturdy length of wood the height of the average man, the typical staff is unadorned and can be used for long sweeps or to deliver 'punches' at length. Although most variants feature no blade or shodding, the speed at which it can be used and its long effective range make it exceedingly dangerous in the hands of an expert. Common in film is the sequence where one man with a pole can fend off a seemingly unending horde of villains. //Qiang//: A flexible spear, often featuring a red tassel at the base of the tip, the qiang is not as rigid as most other world spear types. Able to be manipulated with a greater level of skill and dexterity, the qiang tends to pop up in arenas where a typical pole weapon would only be a hindrance. It is a deceptive weapon, the tassel and the flexibility of the wood making the tip very hard to track. Although not as common as the other three weapons, the qiang does show up in the hands of some important characters, such as Sky in //Hero//. Besides these key weapons, heroes and villains might use some more unusual weaponry. Heroes have a tendency to improvise with mundane items; Master Wang in //Dirty Ho// being a prime example, carefully disguising his mastery as a series of seeming blunders and pitfalls. Villains on the other hand tend to use elaborate weapons that rarely seem practical, but are especially deadly in their hands. A good example comes from //The Flying Guillotine//, the film's namesake is the weapon of choice for the corrupt Emperor's death squad; capable of removing a person's head from an extreme distance. Although the main drawcard of most wuxia films is the detialed and masterfully choreographed fight scenes, many of these are also morality tales at heart and offer insight into traditional Chinese values. As well as blending historical events with supernatural feats and talents, the films also show off many years of martial arts history and literary epic.

For more info check out an introduction to [|introduction to wuxia]

for more details on genre [|wuxiapedia]