Introduction to Jin Yong’s long martial arts novel Tian Long Ba Bu

1. "The Eight Parts of the Dragon" is a long martial arts novel created by the modern Chinese writer Jin Yong. This novel began in 1963 and took 4 years to complete. There are three editions before and after the novel. In the third edition in 2005, it went through 6 revisions, and the ending was greatly changed.

2. This novel is set in the Zhezong era of the Song Dynasty. It examines life and society from a philosophical perspective through the martial arts grievances and national conflicts among the Song, Liao, Dali, Xixia, Tubo and other kingdoms. and description, showing a magnificent picture of life. The bizarre twists and turns of the story, the numerous characters involved, the broad historical background, the vastness of the martial arts battles, and the richness of imagination are undoubtedly the best among the "Golden Books". The style of the work is majestic and tragic, and it is an epic masterpiece that is full of human nature and rich in tragedy.

3. This novel has been adapted into movies, TV series, comics and games many times. The 41st chapter of the novel, "Eighteen Flying Riders of Yanyun, Galloping Like a Tiger, Wind and Smoke" was selected as a Chinese textbook for full-time ordinary senior high schools (compulsory) published by the People's Education Press in 2004.

4. Plot summary

The fifty chapters of the book "The Eight Parts of the Dragon" are summarized as follows:

The Wulin Family Town in Dali, Yunnan Duan Yu, the son of King Nan, came to the Wuliang Mountains to avoid practicing martial arts. Due to various opportunities, he learned weird and wonderful martial arts. He also met young girls Zhong Ling and Mu Wanqing, and they admired each other. Unexpectedly, these two were the father of Duan. Zheng Chun's illegitimate daughter showed mercy to everyone.

When Duan Yu returned to Dali, it happened that Jiumozhi, the Dharma King of the Tubo Kingdom, was competing with the eminent monks of the Tianlong Temple in order to seize the six-meridian sword atlas of the Tianlong Temple in Dali. In order to save his uncle, Emperor Baoding, Duan Yu relied on his deep internal strength to use the Six Meridians Divine Sword to defeat Jiumozhi. Later, he was captured by Jiumozhi and brought to a martial arts family in Gusu to "take advantage of him". The family of the Murong family, who was well-known in the martial arts world of the Central Plains, escaped with the help of A'Zhu and A Bi. In Suzhou, he met Wang Yuyan, who was in love with his cousin Murong Fu. He fell in love with her at first sight and followed her diligently. Later, he became a brother of a different surname with Qiao Feng, the leader of the Beggar Clan at Songhe Tower in Wuxi.

Qiao Feng came to Suzhou to find Murong Fu to investigate the fact that Ma Dayuan, the deputy leader of the Beggar Clan, was killed by his famous stunt. Unexpectedly, there was a sudden change in the gang and he was accused of being a Khitan. In order to unravel the mystery of his life experience, he went north to Shaoshi Mountain to find his adoptive father Qiao Sanhuai and his mentor Xuan Ku, but they were both killed. Everyone who witnessed it believed that it was Qiao Feng. He was so filled with grief and anger that he couldn't explain anything. In order to save the life of the young girl A'Zhu, he fought in Juxian Village and became the enemy of the heroes of the world. Later, when he saw that there were too many killings, he wanted to kill himself for relief, but he was rescued by a mysterious martial arts master. Later, when I arrived at Yanmen Pass, I was distressed and inferior about my life experience. When I saw Song soldiers massacring the Khitan people, I felt like I was enlightened. I immediately realized that I no longer felt ashamed of myself as a Khitan person. In order to find his enemy, he and A'Zhu traveled thousands of miles and searched hard. On the way, they had feelings for each other and fell in love with each other. Later, he was deceived by Ma Dayuan's wife and accidentally killed A'Zhu, who was pretending to be his father Duan Zhengchun. He regretted it for the rest of his life and promised A'Zhu to take care of her sister A'Zi. Azi is the disciple of Ding Chunqiu, the old monster in Xingxiu. He is full of evil spirits and does not regard other people's right and wrong as right and wrong. Qiao Feng took her to the northeast and rescued Emperor Yelu Hongji of the Liao Kingdom from the Jin people. They became brothers, helped eliminate the rebellion, and were named the King of the South Campus.

Wu Yazi, the head of the Xiaoyao Sect, set up the "Zhenlong" chess game in order to find a disciple who was both good at sex and art, and smart, and accidentally solved it for Xu Zhu, a disciple of the Xu generation in the Shaolin Temple. After the ugly-looking and foolish little monk became the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect, he was taken to the Xixia Palace by Tianshan Tonglao, the owner of the Lingjiu Palace, where he learned the true story of the Xiaoyao Sect. After Tianshan Child Elder and Xixia Princess Li Qiushui died together, Xu Zhu became the master of Lingjiu Palace and became a brother with Duan Yu, who followed Wang Yuyan. In order to confess his crimes to the abbot, Xu Zhu returned to the Shaolin Temple. Heroes from all over the world gathered at the Shaolin Temple, including the Beggar Clan, the Xingxiu Sect, Gusu Murong, Jiumozhi, the Duan Clan of Dali, the Four Great Evils, etc. Xiao Feng Here too. At this point, the truth of what happened many years ago is revealed, and Xu Zhu's life experience is also revealed.

The Xixia Kingdom posted a notice to recruit a son-in-law, and everyone came one after another. Murong Fu refused Wang Yuyan's love in response to the call; everyone rescued Wang Yuyan who committed suicide sadly, and Duan Yu finally won her heart; Jiumozhi practiced Shaolin martial arts greedily and became obsessed, but luckily Duan Yu sucked away all his martial arts and saved his life , achieved great enlightenment and became a generation of eminent monks. Princess Xixia asked a question, and only Xu Zhu, who accompanied Duan Yu, gave an answer that satisfied Princess Xixia.

It turns out that the princess is Meng Gu (Li Qinglu) who was stolen by the Tianshan Child Lao to break the precept for Xu Zhu, and the two finally get married.

On his way back to Dali, Duan Yu strayed into the manor where Wang Yuyan's mother and Duan Zhengchun's other lover Li Qingluo planned to capture Duan Zhengchun; Duan Yanqing captured Duan Zhengchun, his wife and lovers, He also came here to kill Duan Yu and threaten Duan Zhengchun to give up the throne. After a fight, Duan Zhengchun and Dao Baifeng committed suicide; Duan Yanqing passed away; Duan Yu returned to Dali to inherit the throne.

In this year, the Liao Kingdom sent troops to attack the Song Dynasty. Xiao Feng (ie Qiao Feng) did not want to lose his life, so he coerced the Liao Kingdom emperor to promise not to send troops to the Song Dynasty during his lifetime. Later, he felt ashamed of his tribe and committed suicide; Looking at the body of his beloved, he dug out the eyes and returned them to You Tanzhi, and jumped off the cliff. You Tanzhi also shouted the name of "Azi" and jumped off immediately.

After Xiao Feng's death, Duan Yu bid farewell to Xu Zhu and his wife, and returned to Dali with Wang Yuyan and others. However, he met Murong Fu, who wanted to be emperor and eventually went crazy. The story of the novel ends here.

In the ending of the newly revised version, Duan Yu finally overcomes his inner demons in the Wuliang Jade Cave and finally gets married to Mu Wanqing, Zhong Ling, and Xiaolei. Wang Yuyan left Duan Yu and returned to Murong Fu, and together with Abi took care of the crazy Murong Fu.