Period |
Date |
Wuxia Fiction & Related Items |
Xia |
c.1994-1523 B.C. |
-- |
Shang-Yin |
c.1523-1028 B.C. |
-- |
Western Zhou |
1027-722 B.C. |
-- |
Spring and Autumn Period |
722-481 B.C. |
-- |
Warring States Period |
481-221 B.C. |
Shuo Jian Pian (On the Sword) from the Zhuang Zi |
Qin |
221-207 B.C. |
-- |
Former Han |
202 B.C.-A.D. 9 |
The Biographies of the Youxia and the Biographies of the Assassins from the Shi Ji |
Xin |
9-23 |
-- |
Later Han |
25-220 |
-- |
Three Kingdoms Period |
220-265 |
-- |
The Division into North and South |
265-589 |
-- |
Sui |
590-618 |
-- |
Tang |
618-907 |
Chuanqi tales:, Nie Yien Liang (The Hermit Lady Nie), Hongxian Nu (Red Thread), Qiu Yan Ke Zhuan (The Curly Bearded Stranger), Kunlun Nu (The Kunlun Slave); Trend: emphasis on the fantastic and supernatural |
Five Dynasties Ten Kingdoms Period |
907-960 |
-- |
Song |
960-1279 |
Huaben tales: The First Song Emperor Escorts Lady Jing for One Thousand Miles, Shi Hongzhao and the Meeting of the Kings and Ministers, Yang Wen, the Road-Blocking Tiger, Cheng Yuanyu and the Eleventh Lady; Trend: tales of military exploits |
Yuan |
1279-1368 |
Chinese opera |
Ming |
1368-1644 |
The Water Margin, Strange Tales of Liaozhai |
Qing |
1644-1911 |
Wan Nien Qing (Evergreen), Gongan tales: Shi Gongan (The Cases of Lord Shi), Peng Gongan (The Cases of Lord Peng), Bao Gongan (The Cases of Lord Bao), Qi Xia Wu Yi (The Seven Xia and Five Altruists); Trend: emphasis on the scandalous and titillating (resulting in various bans of wuxia literature) |
Ming Guo |
1912-1949 |
The Burning of Red Lotus Monastery; Directors: Zhang Shichuan; Authors: Huanzhu Louzhu, Chu Zhenmu, Wang Dulu, Xiang Kairan, Zheng Zhengyin, Pai Yu, Yao Minai, Lu Shiye, Gu Mingdao; Trend: defiance to traditional thinking (leading to a ban on wuxia films and literature in the 1930s, and later by the Communists) |
The 50s |
1950-1959 |
Strange Hero, Legend of the Brave Archer, Huang Fei Hong Zhuan; Directors: Wang Tianlin, Hu Peng, Wang Feng; Authors: Jin Yong, Liang Yushen, Wo Lungsheng, Zhuge Qingyun; Trend: promotion of a rigid orthodox moral code |
The 60s |
1960-1969 |
Dragon Gate Inn, Come Drink with Me, A Touch of Zen, Golden Swallow; Directors: King Hu, Chang Cheh; Authors: Gu Long, Xiao Yi, Sima Ling, Sima Zhiyan, Ni Kuang, Ti Feng, Lin Meng, Fongyu Louzhu, Jiang Yiming; Trend: secularization of the xia |
| The 70s | 1970-1979 |
A Chinese Ghost Story, The Butterfly Murders, Intimate Confessions of A Chinese Courtesan, Cold Blade, Drunken Master; Directors: Tsui Hark, Chu Yuan, Yuen Woo-Ping; Trend: shifting emphasis from fantasy to realism |
The 80s |
1980-1989 |
The Shaolin Monastery |
The 90s |
1990-1999 |
The Stormriders |
The 21st Century |
2000- |
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon |