wuxia
Chinese heroic fiction
Wuxia is a Chinese literary and film genre featuring martial arts heroes in ancient or mythological settings.
The word combines "martial" and "chivalry"—stories center on skilled fighters who live by codes of honor, often as wanderers or rebels against corrupt authority.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon brought wuxia to Western audiences.
The genre emphasizes spectacular combat, usually with fantastical leaps and sword techniques.
Chinese martial art
- swordplayArt of fighting with blades
- daoThe way, lowercase
- staffOrganization's workers collectively
- fistTightly closed hand
palm · kick · stance · duel · spar · training · forms · technique
Professional fist fighter
- swordsmanSkilled blade fighter
- heroOne admired for courage
- heroineBrave female protagonist
- wandererRootless, roving person
outlaw · vigilante · brotherhood · sect · clan · grandmaster · disciple · sworn
Fostering growth through care
- immortalCannot die
- deityWorshipped supernatural being
- demonMalevolent supernatural being
- spiritSoul, mood, or liquor
qi · meridian · elixir · alchemy · talisman · flying · tribulation · ascension
Very old indeed
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- imperialRelating to supreme rule
- scrollWound document of parchment
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
teahouse · inn · tavern · temple · mountain · waterfall · bamboo · silk
Impressively grand in scope
- taleSpoken or written narrative
- sagaExtended heroic narrative
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- serializedReleased in sequential parts
novel · manhua · drama · film · adaptation · protagonist · antagonist · arc
kungfu
Chinese martial art
fist · palm · kick · stance · duel · spar · training · forms · technique · master
pugilist
Professional fist fighter
wanderer · outlaw · vigilante · brotherhood · sect · clan · grandmaster · disciple · sworn · vendetta
cultivation
Fostering growth through care
spirit · qi · meridian · elixir · alchemy · talisman · flying · tribulation · ascension · realm
ancient
Very old indeed
calligraphy · teahouse · inn · tavern · temple · mountain · waterfall · bamboo · silk · jade
epic
Impressively grand in scope
serialized · novel · manhua · drama · film · adaptation · protagonist · antagonist · arc · flashback
wuxiaslice of life
Realistic everyday depiction
domestic drama · social realism · science fiction · cyberpunk · literary realism