- Chu Liuxiang
-
Chu Liuxiang Created by Gu Long Novel appearances Chu Liuxiang Series Information Nickname(s) "Xiangshuai",
"Daoshuai"Gender Male Spouse(s) Zhang Jiejie Affliations Teachers Ye Di Skills and abilities Weapons Fan Chu Liuxiang Chinese name Traditional Chinese 楚留香 Simplified Chinese 楚留香 Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Chǔ Liúxiāng Cantonese (Yue) - Jyutping Co2 Lau4 Hoeng1 Vietnamese name Vietnamese Sở Lưu Hương Chu Liuxiang is the fictional protagonist of the wuxia novel series Chu Liuxiang Series (楚留香系列) by Gu Long.
Just like the Anglo-Saxon legend of Robin Hood, Chu Liuxiang is a thief who robs from the rich to help the poor and one who upholds justice in the jianghu. He is nicknamed "Daoshuai" (盜帥; Bandit Chief) or more popularly, "Xiangshuai" (香帥; Chief Xiang). He is intelligent and observant, kind and compassionate. His name "Liuxiang" literally means "lingering fragrance".
Contents
Personal information
Chu Liuxiang is a martial arts exponent whose prowess in qinggong is unmatched. He wields a fan as his weapon and uses it only for self-defence. He relies on his wit, experience and calm to solve several mysteries and overcome several enemies who are more powerful than him. The identity of Chu Liuxiang's martial arts teacher is unknown, and even the well-informed Shuimu Yinji (水母陰姬) could only deduce that he is a disciple of Ye Di (夜帝), a character from Daqi Yingxiong Zhuan (大旗英雄傳).[1]
Chu Liuxiang's age is not specified in the series as well and he is estimated to be around 30 years of age. In Bianfu Chuanqi (蝙蝠傳奇), Chu Liuxiang's childhood friend Hu Tiehua (胡鐵花) is said to be 33 years old. Chu Liuxiang's age is estimated to be close to Hu Tiehua's.
Chu Liuxiang resides on a boathouse called "Xiang Boathouse" (香榭), which also functions as his headquarters. Living together with him are three women, who are the closest people to him apart from his best friends, Hu Tiehua and Ji Bingyan (姬冰雁). They accompany him together in Tiexue Chuanqi (鐵血傳奇). They come from pitiful family backgrounds and have been following Chu Liuxiang on his adventures since they were 11 or 12. The first, Su Rongrong (蘇蓉蓉), is kind and understanding and specialises in the art of disguise. The second, Li Hongxiu (李紅袖), is very clear and alert and has a good memory. The third one, Song Tian'er (宋甜兒), is a good cook and is the most mischievous and adorable of the three. Chu Liuxiang also meets several other beautiful maidens on his adventures, such as Black Pearl (黑珍珠), Shi Xiuyun (石繡雲), Hua Zhenzhen (華真真), Dong Sanniang (東三娘) and Xinyue (新月). He marries Zhang Jiejie (张潔潔) eventually, whom he meets in Taohua Chuanqi (桃花傳奇).
Chu Liuxiang also has a wide network of friends. They include: Monk Wuhua (無花和尚), who becomes his foe later; Ji Bingyan, who appears cold and indifferent but is actually very warm-hearted; Zhongyuan Yidianhong (中原一點紅), a powerful swordsman; Zuo Qinghou (左輕侯), the hospitable master of Zhibei manor; "Swift Net" Zhang San (張三).
Novels
Chu Liuxiang Series Xuehai Piaoxiang
Da Shamo
Huameiniao
Bianfu Chuanqi
Guilian Xiaqing
Taohua Chuanqi
Xinyue Chuanqi
Wuye LanhuaAuthor Gu Long Country Taiwan Language Chinese Genre Wuxia, romance, adventure, mystery Media type Print Chu Liuxiang Chuanqi
- Chinese title: 楚留香傳奇; literally: The Legend of Chu Liuxiang
The three novels, Xuehai Piaoxiang, Da Shamo and Huameiniao, are collectively known as Chu Liuxiang Chuanqi novel series.
Xuehai Piaoxiang
- Chinese title: 血海飄香; literally: Fragrance in the Sea of Blood
Chu Liuxiang steals a rare flower from the capital city and brings it back to his boathouse to take care of it himself. Later, he sees the corpses of several top pugilists in the jianghu floating on the water surface drifting towards him. This arouses his interest and he decides to investigate their deaths. Meanwhile, the Heaven's One Holy Water (天一神水) of the Holy Water Palace (神水宮) is stolen and Chu Liuxiang becomes the suspect. Monk Wuhua is eventually revealed to be the mastermind behind all the mysterious events and murders. Chu Liuxiang confronts Wuhua and defeats him in a fight and Wuhua commits suicide.
Da Shamo
- Chinese title: 大沙漠; literally: The Vast Desert
Chu Liuxiang returns to his boathouse and realises that Su Rongrong, Li Hongxiu and Song Tian'er are missing. The three maidens are the closest to him besides his friends and he knows that they will not leave without notifying him. He sets forth on a long journey in search of them and reaches the desert. He meets his friends Hu Tiehua and Ji Bingyan there. Through a series of adventures, Chu Liuxiang defeats the extraordinary Shi Guanyin and her son Wuhua, who had apparently committed suicide previously. Shi Guanyin commits suicide after her defeat. However, Chu Liuxiang has not found the missing girls yet.
Huameiniao
- Chinese title: 畫眉鳥; literally: The Thrush
Chu Liuxiang has a series of adventures with Li Yuhan (李玉函) and his wife Liu Wumei (柳無眉). Liu Wumei is formerly a disciple of Shi Guanyin. He engages Shuimu Yinji (水母陰姬) in a dramatic battle that shocks the entire jianghu and emerges victorious. Chu Liuxiang exposes an evil scheme in front of Li Yuhan's father, Li Guanyu (李觀魚), and rescues the three missing maidens.
Chu Liuxiang Xinzhuan
- Chinese title: 楚留香新傳; literally: New Legend of Chu Liuxiang
The five novels, Bianfu Chuanqi, Guilian Xiaqing, Taohua Chuanqi, Xinyue Chuanqi and Wuye Lanhua, are collectively known as the Chu Liuxiang Xinzhuan novel series.
Bianfu Chuanqi
- Chinese title: 蝙蝠傳奇; literally: Legend of the Bat
Guilian Xiaqing
- Chinese title: 鬼戀俠情; literally: Phantom Love and Heroic Romance
Chu Liuxiang encounters a pair of lovers who are forbidden to be together by their parents. The lovers have apparently changed their souls after falling ill in order to trick their parents so that they can be together. Chu Liuxiang unravels the mystery behind the case and helps the lovers be together.
Taohua Chuanqi
- Chinese title: 桃花傳奇; literally: Legend of the Peach Blossom
The end of this story resembles the famous paradox in the English short story The Lady, or the Tiger?.
Xinyue Chuanqi
- Chinese title: 新月傳奇; literally: Legend of the New Moon
The people living near the sea face constant raids from pirates. The imperial court dispatches the most famous sect in the jianghu, Jade Sword Manor (玉劍山莊), to eliminate the pirates. Unexpectedly, the elimination of the pirates leads to the emergence of a new pirate lord, Heavenly King Shi (史天王), who becomes the new threat to the Imperial Court on the sea. To make peace with King Shi, the imperial court asks the Jade Sword Manor's leader to offer her daughter Princess Jade Sword's (玉劍公主) hand in marriage to King Shi. This arouses the attention of several pugilists and sects in the jianghu. It is apparent that the jianghu is about to experience some turmoil soon. Chu Liuxiang seems to be the only one who can save them.
Wuye Lanhua
- Chinese title: 午夜蘭花; literally: The Midnight Orchid
Adaptations
Films
Year Production Chu Liuxiang Additional information 1977 Shaw Brothers Studio
(Hong Kong)Ti Lung See Clans of Intrigue 1978 See Legend of the Bat 1979 Taiwan See The Legend of Broken Sword 1980 Liu Dekai Chinese title 楚留香傳奇 See Chu Liu Hsiang and Hu Tieh Hua Meng Fei See Everlasting Chivalry See The Sun Moon Legend Chinese title 桃花傳奇 Tin Hok See Middle Kingdom's Mark of Blood 1982 Shaw Brothers Studio
(Hong Kong)Ti Lung See Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman Taiwan Meng Fei Chinese title 楚留香之彈指神功[2] 1983 Adam Cheng See Demon Fighter See The Denouncement of Chu Liu Hsiang 1993 Meng Fei Chinese title 楚留香後傳之西門無恨 Hong Kong Aaron Kwok See Legend of the Liquid Sword Television
Year Production Chu Liuxiang Additional information 1979 TVB (Hong Kong) Adam Cheng See Chor Lau-heung (1979 TV series) RTV (Hong Kong) Poon Chi-man Chinese title 俠盜風流 1984 TVB (Hong Kong) Michael Miu See The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung (1984 TV series) 1985 CTV (Taiwan) Adam Cheng See Chor Lau-heung (1985 TV series) 1995 TTV (Taiwan) See Chor Lau-heung (1995 TV series) 2000 Taiwan Chinese title 西門無恨 2001 Co-production Richie Ren See The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung (2001 TV series) 2007 Mainland China Ken Chu See The Legend of Chu Liuxiang Video games
- Chu Liuxiang Xinzhuan (楚留香新傳) - a RPG released in 2001 by Taiwan's UserJoy Technology. The game's story line is based on four novels in the series: Guilian Xiaqing, Taohua Chuanqi, Xinyue Chuanqi and Wuye Lanhua.
Notes
- ^ (Chinese) Ye Di on Baidu Baike
- ^ (Chinese) 楚留香之彈指神功 on Baidu Baike
External links
- (Chinese) Chu Liuxiang on Baidu Baike
- English translation of Xuehai Piaoxiang at Wuxiapedia
Characters Chu LiuxiangNovels Chu Liuxiang Chuanqi (楚留香傳奇)Xuehai Piaoxiang (血海飄香) • Da Shamo (大沙漠) • Huameiniao (畫眉鳥)Chu Liuxiang Xinzhuan (楚留香新傳)Bianfu Chuanqi (蝙蝠傳奇) • Guilian Xiaqing (鬼戀俠情) • Taohua Chuanqi (桃花傳奇) • Xinyue Chuanqi (新月傳奇) • Wuye Lanhua (午夜蘭花)Film adaptations Clans of Intrigue (1977) • Legend of the Bat (1978) • The Legend of Broken Sword (1979) • Chu Liu Hsiang and Hu Tieh Hua (1980) • Everlasting Chivalry (1980) • The Sun Moon Legend (1980) • Middle Kingdom's Mark of Blood (1980) • Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman (1982) • Demon Fighter (1983) • The Denouncement of Chu Liu Hsiang (1983) • Legend of the Liquid Sword (1993)Television adaptations Chor Lau-heung (1979) • The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung (1984) • Chor Lau-heung (1985) • Chor Lau-heung (1995) • The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung (2001) • The Legend of Chu Liuxiang (2007)Gu Long's wuxia novels Single novels Cangqiong Shenjian (蒼穹神劍) | Yueyi Xingxie (月異星邪) | Xiangfei Jian (湘妃劍) | Guxing Zhuan (孤星傳) | Shihun Yin (失魂引) | Youxia Lu (遊俠錄) | Huhua Ling (護花鈴) | Caihuan Qu (彩環曲) | Canjin Queyu (殘金缺玉) | Piaoxiang Jianyu (飄香劍雨) | Jianxuan Lu (劍玄錄) | Xiake Xing (劍客行) | Wanhua Xijian Lu (浣花洗劍錄) | Qingren Jian (情人箭) | Daqi Yingxiong Zhuan | (大旗英雄傳) Wulin Waishi (武林外史) | Mingjian Fengliu (名劍風流) | Juedai Shuangjiao (絕代雙驕) | Huanle Yingxiong (歡樂英雄) | Da Renwu (大人物) | Liuxing Hudie Jian (流星‧蝴蝶‧劍) | Qi Shashou (七殺手) | San Shaoye De Jian (三少爺的劍) | Baiyu Laohu (白玉老虎) | Baiyu Diaolong (白玉雕龍) | Dadi Feiying (大地飛鷹) | Yuanyue Wandao (圓月彎刀) | Yingxiong Wulei (英雄無淚) | Qixing Longwang (七星龍王) | Fengling Zhong De Daosheng (風鈴中的刀聲) | Nujian Kuanghua (怒劍狂花) | Na Yijian De Fengqing (那一劍的風情) | Bixue Xi Yinqiang (碧血洗銀槍) | Juhua De Ci (菊花的刺) | Tiejian Hongyan (鐵劍紅顏) | Fennu De Xiaoma (憤怒的小馬)Xiaoli Feidao Series
(小李飛刀系列)Duoqing Jianke Wuqing Jian (多情劍客無情劍) | Biancheng Langzi (邊城浪子) | Jiuyue Feiying (九月鷹飛) | Tianya Mingyue Dao (天涯‧明月‧刀) | Feidao Youjian Feidao (飛刀，又見飛刀)Xiao Shiyilang Series
(蕭十一郎系列)Xiao Shiyilang (蕭十一郎) | Huobing Xiao Shiyilang (火併蕭十一郎)Chu Liuxiang Series
(楚留香系列)Xuehai Piaoxiang (血海飄香) | Da Shamo (大沙漠) | Huameiniao (畫眉鳥) | Bianfu Chuanqi (蝙蝠傳奇) | Guilian Xiaqing (鬼戀俠情) | Taohua Chuanqi (桃花傳奇) | Xinyue Chuanqi (新月傳奇) | Wuye Lanhua (午夜蘭花)Lu Xiaofeng Series
(陸小鳳系列)Lu Xiaofeng Chuanqi (陸小鳳傳奇) | Xiuhua Dadao (繡花大盜) | Juezhan Qianhou (決戰前後) | Yingou Dufang (銀鈎賭坊) | Youling Shanzhuang (幽靈山莊) | Fengwu Jiutian (鳳舞九天) | Jianshen Yixiao (劍神一笑)Qizhong Wuqi Series
(七种武器系列)Changsheng Jian (長生劍) | Kongque Ling (孔雀翎) | Biyu Dao (碧玉刀) | Duoqing Huan (多情環) | Bawang Qiang (霸王槍) | Libie Gou (離別鉤)Da Wuxia Shidai Series
(大武俠時代)Duju Langya Zhuisha (賭局、狼牙、追殺) | Ziyan Qunhu (紫煙、群狐) | Yindiao Haishen (銀雕、海神)Jinghun Liuji Series
(驚魂六記系列)Xue Yingwu (血鸚鵡) | Tianmo Dao (天魔刀) | Hei Xiyi (黑蜥蜴) | Shuijing Ren (水晶人) | Fen Kulou (粉骷髏) | Luocha Nü (羅剎女) | Wuyi Bianfu (無翼蝙蝠)Categories:- Gu Long characters
- Wuxia novel characters
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
