The banned book that shaped modern martial arts

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1

Think about these questions before watching. Share your ideas with a partner.

  1. Many cultures have epic stories or sagas that are passed down through generations. What elements do you think make an epic tale, whether in books or films, truly captivating and memorable? Can such stories influence how people view history or heroism?
  2. The video mentions 'martial heroes' bound by an 'honorable code of chivalry.' What qualities do you associate with a true hero, and do you think these qualities are timeless? Have you ever encountered a story where a character faced a difficult choice between conflicting loyalties?
  3. Some books become incredibly popular and even culturally significant, sometimes even facing controversy or being banned. Why do you think certain stories resonate so deeply with people, and what role do you think literature plays in shaping a society's understanding of its own history or identity?
2

Watch the video carefully. Pay attention to the main ideas and key details.

Video script77 segments · click a timestamp to jump

In the late 1950s, Hong Kong citizens flocked to newsstands

to pick up the latest edition of the Commercial Daily.

But not all readers were looking for timely news.

Many were following a story set hundreds of years in the past—

a tale of adventure and war, romance and intrigue,

brotherhood and betrayal.

Serialized from 1957 to 1959, Jin Yong’s “Legend of the Condor Heroes”

is the first book in Jin’s beloved Condor Trilogy.

This multigenerational epic

is considered one of the most important works of Chinese fiction—

and one of the finest wuxia stories ever written.

Wuxia, roughly translated as “martial hero,”

is a popular genre of Chinese fiction with roots in folktales over 1,500 years old.

Wuxia stories generally focus on nomadic martial artists

bound to an honorable code of chivalry.

These heroes travel through a mythologized version of ancient China called jianghu,

full of powerful leaders, roaming bandits, and mystical artifacts.

To face these challenges,

wuxia heroes must learn superhuman feats of martial arts

from ancient scrolls and reclusive immortal masters.

“Legend of the Condor Heroes” blends this martial arts action

with pivotal Chinese history.

The book is set in the 13th century,

amidst a century-long war between the Jurchen Jin dynasty

and the Han Chinese Song Dynasty.

Roughly 70 years into the conflict,

a new enemy has joined the fray: Genghis Khan.

The Mongols threaten to topple both empires,

and raids by all parties wreak havoc across the continent.

The novel begins in a Han village,

where two expecting fathers are binding their unborn children as blood brothers.

The children’s names— Guo Jing and Yang Kang—

were engraved on a pair of daggers.

But a sudden Jurchen raid scatters the families.

Guo Jing grows up amongst the Mongols, yet remains loyal to his Han heritage.

Meanwhile, Jurchen royalty raise Yang Kang as a scheming prince—

setting the stage for the brothers’ tragic conflict.

Jin’s novel follows the naive but kind-hearted Guo Jing

and his clever lover Huang Rong.

Their journey takes them to the bustling Song capital of Hangzhou,

the harsh Mongol steppes, and the fabled market city of Samarkand.

Our heroes traverse through jianghu,

encountering colorful characters, and witnessing key historical events.

As they battle enemies, discover treasure, and help solve local crimes,

their martial arts skills grow more legendary—

preparing Guo Jing for his fated confrontation.

The novel showcases over 80 unique styles of martial arts,

ranging from realistic techniques to almost mystical maneuvers.

But even seemingly simple moves have surprising depth.

To master a technique that will allow him to perform two attacks at once,

Guo Jing must first learn to simultaneously draw a circle with one hand

and a square with the other.

This kind of deceptively difficult tutelage

torments wuxia students and readers alike.

Jin Yong was the pen name of Louis Cha,

a journalist and founder of Ming Pao Daily News.

In the 1960s and 70s, wuxia was banned for its feudal associations.

But in Hong Kong, a British colony at the time,

Cha could write fiction and cover news about the Cultural Revolution freely.

He even worked to add depth and complexity

to a genre often considered formulaic and lowbrow.

“Legend of the Condor Heroes” celebrates Chinese identity

by exploring China’s culture and history with intimate humanity.

Even though Jin’s books were banned in China,

his work still found Chinese readers around the globe,

and bootleg versions even made their way to the mainland.

When the Chinese government relaxed its policies in the 1980s,

his novels found an eager audience.

Today, Jin Yong’s works have been adapted into film, television, and video games.

His novels are so beloved it has been said,

“where there are Chinese people, there must be Jin Yong’s fiction.”

However, this literary titan remains relatively unknown in the West,

due to the difficulties of translation

and the high level of Chinese cultural knowledge his works demand.

Fortunately, recent English translations of the “Legend of the Condor Heroes”

are helping a new generation of readers

experience the sweeping saga of the rivers and lakes.

3

Vocabulary

Vocabulary
These expressions will help you communicate more naturally about this topic.
Examples
Epic saga — a very long and grand story, often about a hero or a group of people, that spans many years or generations and involves significant events.
This term is frequently used to describe extensive narratives in literature, film, or television, especially those with a sweeping scope and historical or fantastical elements. Common collocations include "historical epic," "fantasy epic," or "sweeping saga."
Bound by an honorable code — strongly committed to a set of moral rules or principles that dictate one's behavior.
This phrase emphasizes a deep sense of duty, loyalty, or integrity. It's often used when discussing characters in fiction, historical figures, or groups with strong ethical guidelines, like knights or martial artists.
To join the fray — to become involved in a conflict, argument, or competition that is already in progress.
This is a semi-formal idiom that suggests entering a situation that is already chaotic, intense, or challenging. It implies adding one's presence or efforts to an ongoing struggle. You can also say "enter the fray."
To wreak havoc — to cause a great deal of damage, destruction, or confusion over a wide area.
This is a strong, descriptive collocation often used to talk about the widespread negative impact of natural disasters, wars, or disruptive events. It emphasizes severe and extensive consequences.
To set the stage for something — to create the conditions or circumstances that make a particular event, development, or situation possible or likely to happen.
This phrase is commonly used when discussing how previous actions, decisions, or historical events lead to future outcomes, especially in narratives, analyses, or explanations of cause and effect.
4

Understanding wuxia narratives

Match each item on the left with the correct item on the right.

A
B
5

Complete the sentences with words from the box. One word is extra.

Word bank
01The 'Legend of the Condor Heroes' is considered an that vividly portrays the struggles and triumphs of its characters across several generations.
02True wuxia heroes are always of chivalry, prioritizing justice and loyalty above personal gain.
03As the conflict escalated, more and more factions decided , making the war even more complex and devastating.
04The sudden invasion by the Jurchen forces threatened on the peaceful Han villages, leaving destruction in their wake.
05The initial misunderstanding between the two protagonists would a series of dramatic confrontations throughout the entire story.
6

Grammar: Concession and contrast clauses

Grammar
Concession and contrast clauses help us express ideas that are surprising or unexpected, or to show differences between two things. They allow us to present two contrasting pieces of information in a single, more complex sentence, adding nuance to our descriptions and arguments, especially when discussing characters or plot points from the video.
Examples
Although Guo Jing grew up among the Mongols, he remained loyal to his Han heritage.
'Although' introduces a subordinate clause that expresses a contrasting idea to the main clause.
Despite his naive nature, Guo Jing possessed remarkable courage and a strong sense of justice.
'Despite' (and 'in spite of') is followed by a noun phrase or a gerund (-ing form), not a full clause.
Yang Kang was raised as a Jurchen prince; however, his true lineage was Han Chinese.
'However' is a conjunctive adverb used to connect two contrasting independent clauses, often requiring a semicolon or a period before it.
Guo Jing was kind-hearted and honest, whereas Yang Kang was scheming and ambitious.
'Whereas' is used to highlight a direct contrast between two different subjects or ideas, often within the same sentence.
Key points
  • 'Although' and 'even though' are followed by a full clause (subject + verb).
  • 'Despite' and 'in spite of' are followed by a noun phrase or a gerund (-ing form).
  • 'However' and 'nevertheless' connect two independent clauses, showing a contrast. They often appear at the beginning of the second clause.
  • 'Whereas' and 'while' are used to show a direct comparison and contrast between two facts or ideas.
  • Avoid using 'although' and 'despite/in spite of' together in the same clause (e.g., NOT 'Although despite...').
7

Rewrite each sentence using the structure indicated.

01Jin Yong's "Legend of the Condor Heroes" was written decades ago, but it continues to captivate millions of readers today as a true epic saga.
Rewrite using 'although'.
Hint: Start the sentence with 'although' and remember to use a comma to separate the clauses.
02Wuxia heroes are often outnumbered and face formidable challenges; they are always bound by an honorable code of chivalry.
Rewrite using 'despite'.
Hint: After 'despite', you need a noun phrase or an -ing form of the verb.
03The Mongols had joined the fray, threatening both empires, yet the Jurchen Jin and Han Chinese Song dynasties continued their own conflict.
Rewrite using 'even though'.
Hint: 'Even though' introduces the less expected or surprising situation.
04Guo Jing grew up among the Mongols. He remained fiercely loyal to his Han heritage.
Combine these sentences using 'while' to show contrast.
Hint: 'While' can introduce a contrasting idea or a simultaneous action.
05The Jurchen raid wreaked havoc across the land, but it ultimately set the stage for the blood brothers' tragic conflict.
Rewrite using 'in spite of'.
Hint: Similar to 'despite', 'in spite of' needs a noun phrase or an -ing form after it.
06Yang Kang was raised with all the privileges of Jurchen royalty. He chose a path of scheming and betrayal.
Combine these sentences using 'whereas' to highlight the contrast.
Hint: 'Whereas' is often used to compare two contrasting facts or situations, usually in a formal context.
8

The banned book that shaped modern martial arts

This exercise explores common errors related to the video's topic.

Each sentence contains one error. Find and correct it.

01Guo Jing grows up amongst the Mongols, despite remains loyal to his Han heritage.
Corrected version
Guo Jing grows up amongst the Mongols, despite yet remains loyal to his Han heritage.
02Wuxia stories generally focus on nomadic martial artists bound for an honorable code of chivalry.
Corrected version
Wuxia stories generally focus on nomadic martial artists bound for by an honorable code of chivalry.
03As they battle enemies, discover treasure, and help solve local crimes, their martial arts skills grow more legendary—preparing Guo Jing for his fate confrontation.
Corrected version
As they battle enemies, discover treasure, and help solve local crimes, their martial arts skills grow more legendary—preparing Guo Jing for his fate fated confrontation.
04Roughly 70 years into the conflict, a new enemy had joined the fray: Genghis Khan.
Corrected version
Roughly 70 years into the conflict, a new enemy had has joined the fray: Genghis Khan.
05Cha could write fiction and cover news about the Cultural Revolution free.
Corrected version
Cha could write fiction and cover news about the Cultural Revolution free. freely.
06His novels are so beloved it has been said, 'where there are Chinese people, there must be Jin Yong’s fiction.'
Corrected version
His novels are so beloved that it has been said, 'where there are Chinese people, there must be Jin Yong’s fiction.'
07Fortunately, recent English translations of the “Legend of the Condor Heroes” is helping a new generation of readers experience the sweeping saga of the rivers and lakes.
Corrected version
Fortunately, recent English translations of the “Legend of the Condor Heroes” is are helping a new generation of readers experience the sweeping saga of the rivers and lakes.
08Our heroes traverse through jianghu, encountering colorful characters, and witnessed key historical events.
Corrected version
Our heroes traverse through jianghu, encountering colorful characters, and witnessed witnessing key historical events.
9

Words to take with you

Vocabulary
These expressions are not in the video but will help you discuss this topic more fluently.
Examples
sweeping narrative — a story that covers a long period of time, many events, and often a wide range of characters and locations.
Use this to describe epic stories, historical accounts, or sagas that have a broad scope. Example: 'The author is known for his sweeping narratives that bring historical periods to life.'
martial prowess — great skill and ability in fighting or martial arts.
This formal term is used to describe a character's exceptional fighting skills. It often implies strength, technique, and strategic ability. Example: 'The hero's martial prowess was unmatched, allowing him to defeat multiple opponents.'
to grapple with a dilemma — to struggle to make a difficult decision between two or more undesirable options.
This phrase highlights an internal conflict or a challenging choice a character faces. It suggests a mental struggle. Example: 'Guo Jing often had to grapple with a dilemma between his personal feelings and his duty.'
a formidable adversary — a very powerful, challenging, or intimidating opponent or enemy.
Use this adjective and noun collocation to describe a strong rival that is difficult to defeat or overcome. Example: 'Genghis Khan proved to be a formidable adversary for the dynasties of ancient China.'
unwavering loyalty — complete and constant faithfulness to a person, group, or principle that does not change or weaken.
This describes a strong, steadfast commitment. It's often used to praise a character's dedication or to highlight a contrast with betrayal. Example: 'Despite the dangers, the hero showed unwavering loyalty to his friends and his heritage.'
10

Use the word in brackets to form a new word that fits each gap.

01
Jin Yong's 'Legend of the Condor Heroes' is a truly epic, spanning several decades and character arcs.
02
Wuxia heroes are often depicted as individuals who live by a strict and code of conduct.
03
The arrival of the Mongols added a new layer of to the existing war between the Jurchen Jin and Han Song dynasties.
04
The constant raids by warring factions caused immense across the ancient Chinese continent.
05
The novel's opening chapters skillfully set the stage for a tale full of adventure, romance, and political .
06
Many wuxia heroes seek wisdom and training from masters living in remote mountains.
11

Useful phrases: Recommending a book, movie, or TV series

Vocabulary
When you've discovered an amazing story, whether it's a book, a film, or a TV series, you often want to share it with others. These phrases will help you enthusiastically recommend your favorite stories and explain why they're worth experiencing.
Examples
"You absolutely have to check out [title]!" — This is a strong, enthusiastic recommendation for something you genuinely enjoyed.
Register: Informal/Neutral. Use this when you're very excited about a book, movie, or series and want to convince someone to experience it. You can follow it with a brief reason why.
"It's an incredible [genre, e.g., epic saga, historical drama] that really draws you in with its [e.g., complex characters / intricate plot]." — Describes the type of story and what makes it engaging.
Register: Neutral. Use this to give a quick overview of the story's style and main appeal. It helps the other person decide if it's something they'd like.
*"What I found fascinating was how it explores themes of [e.g., loyalty and betrayal] and how the characters are often bound by an honorable code."* — Focuses on deeper meanings and character motivations.
Register: Neutral. Use this to discuss the underlying messages or moral dilemmas within the story, showing a deeper appreciation for its content.
*"The story sets the stage for some intense conflicts, especially when [e.g., a new enemy joins the fray] and things really escalate."* — Explains how the plot develops and builds tension.
Register: Neutral. Use this to describe the progression of the plot, particularly how events lead to significant developments or conflicts.
"Honestly, I couldn't put it down / stop watching; it completely captivated me." — Conveys your personal engagement and the story's gripping nature.
Register: Informal/Neutral. Use this to express how much you enjoyed the story and how engrossed you became in it. Use 'couldn't put it down' for books and 'stop watching' for films/series.
"It's a bit of a commitment, but I promise you, it's worth every minute." — Acknowledges potential challenges (like length) but reaffirms the value.
Register: Neutral. Use this if the story is particularly long, complex, or requires significant time investment, to manage expectations while still strongly recommending it.
12

A legendary saga of martial heroes

The video introduces us to the fascinating world of wuxia fiction and Jin Yong's iconic 'Legend of the Condor Heroes'. This exercise will help you practice some key vocabulary related to grand narratives and conflict.

Fill in each blank with the correct word from the word bank.

Word bank
Jin Yong's 'Legend of the Condor Heroes' is a beloved wuxia novel, celebrated for being an saga that skillfully weaves together historical events with fictional heroism. Its characters are often by an honorable code, guiding their actions in a world where empires clash and new enemies constantly the fray. This complex narrative, set against a backdrop of war and political intrigue, often describes conflicts that havoc across ancient China, devastating communities. Jin Yong's genius lies in his ability to the stage for both intimate personal dramas and grand historical battles, making his work enduring despite facing bans and translation challenges.