Chapter 11 postscript
Two years ago, when I decided to take the route of martial arts novels again, the most important thing I conceived was to find a new way in the world of martial arts, which is already full of people and famous writers—if I can’t find it, I might as well not write it.To just repeat what other people have written is to waste one's own writing life.
At that time, there happened to be a book that inspired me a lot. It was the oral memoirs of Xingyiquan master Li Zhongxuan (written by Xu Haofeng).Mr. Li is the only surviving martial artist of the Republic of China era in the 21st century. The three masters he studied successively: Tang Weilu, Shang Yunxiang, and Xue Dian were all very famous martial arts figures at that time.Chinese martial arts and traditional martial arts culture have suffered a lot due to modern political relations, and even have faults. Mr. Li has heard, witnessed and even experienced the real old martial arts. It is definitely a "living antique" in the history of folk customs. It is extremely precious (Mr. Li passed away two years before the collection of this book was published).
This book was originally published in domestic martial arts magazines. Originally, only people in the martial arts circle were interested. Later, Liang Wendao vigorously promoted it in reading programs, and it was widely recognized by the public.
This book gave me the biggest inspiration for writing "The Poetry of Martial Arts Madness", not in the part of martial arts experience (although it is also very beautiful), but through Li Lao's memories, I can get a glimpse of the words and deeds of martial artists in the old era, and the interpersonal relationships in the martial arts world. relationships, as well as their positions and thoughts on martial arts.Since ancient times, Chinese society has regarded studying and imperial examinations as a "righteous job" for official careers, and the status of warriors is low. Let alone a brief biography of a famous martial artist, even the history and inscriptions of ancient Shaolin martial arts records are actually nothing more than scratches and half claws.It is even more unique to have such in-depth and non-deified martial arts materials like this book.
When I was young, I tended to despise traditions, thinking that they were tools used by conservatives to maintain power; but now I gradually develop a great interest in old people and old things.In the old tradition, it is still unavoidable to accumulate a lot of things that are not right and unreasonable; but I gradually see that there are certain "core values" in the tradition and the old things, which are really extraordinary in the new era. Significance and charm—especially in today's world where human feelings and giri are becoming thinner and thinner.
This reminds me of Hong Kong, where the trend of thought has been turbulent recently: folk culture, historical value, and collective memory... have become a major battlefield for the "generational war" in recent years.Paradoxically, in this confrontation between generations, it is precisely the younger group who stand on the side of defending history and memory.
I think what I saw with them was similar.
For a while, Hong Kong movies have revived a "masculine" trend, and martial arts movies have once again become popular themes. Of course, I am happy to write martial arts action novels. Many people don't realize one thing: martial arts films and kung fu films have always been the most original genre of Chinese films (especially Hong Kong films), and have always supported the core of the film industry.During the period of the Republic of China, "Burning the Red Lotus Temple" brought about a wave of martial arts films of ghosts and monsters, which directly caused the prosperity of Shanghai's film industry at that time, which has been included in the annals of history; from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan and Jet Li, from Zhang Che's "Five Poisons" to Ang Lee's " Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, martial arts films have been the vanguard of Chinese-language films entering the world for decades; Hong Kong films have created waves of many types of films: hero films, gambling films and gang films, if you look at their story modes in depth And the world view, in fact, the martial arts that the Chinese are most familiar with are still in their bones. It's a pity that I feel that our own family's research and respect for martial arts movies is often not as good as that of foreign fans. Watching European and American authors' in-depth research and fascination with Chinese martial arts movies often makes me feel ashamed.Tarantino, a big fan of Hong Kong movies, even filmed two episodes of "Market Killing Order" to pay tribute to the martial arts movies that once "raised" him.Kung Fu films were originally the most successful original products in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, I saw the first Chinese book that truly analyzed and studied the language of Kung Fu films. The author was not from Hong Kong but from the mainland. This is also the same as the difficulty faced by urban conservation in Hong Kong: do we not see what we are most proud of and cherish because we are too close?
Ever since I wrote "The Poetry of Martial Arts Madness", one thing is very strange: every time I accept media interviews and publish it, I find that almost all of their introductions to me have become "martial arts novel writers", as if I have always been I have been writing martial arts for more than ten years.It’s been less than two years since I wrote this book, and I’ve written nearly twenty novels of other genres before… Thinking about it, I’m actually a little puzzled. Perhaps because there are so few people writing martial arts in Hong Kong now, this label has not been used for a long time. The fifth volume of "Poetry of Martial Arts" has completed the first part of the story "Wudang Ambition". The next volume will start a slightly different new route and continue to expand the world of "Martial Arts". Please stay tuned expect. At the same time, we also want to announce an exciting news: the "Poetry of Budokan" series has successfully authorized Hong Kong's local multimedia studio "Mengma International" this year, and will soon make full-line adaptations of animation, comics and computer games.Although it is not the first time for me that a work has been adapted, the scale of the plan and partners far exceeds that of the previous ones. I look forward to allowing readers and a wider audience to share in various ways in the near future. Appreciate and even experience the martial arts world of "Martial Arts Maniac".
Special thanks to Moses, a friend who practiced martial arts, who provided and demonstrated more principles and knowledge of Taijiquan to me, and gave me a lot of inspiration to conceive martial arts scenes. Qiao Jingfu March 9, 2010
For a while, Hong Kong movies have revived a "masculine" trend, and martial arts movies have once again become popular themes. Of course, I am happy to write martial arts action novels. Many people don't realize one thing: martial arts films and kung fu films have always been the most original genre of Chinese films (especially Hong Kong films), and have always supported the core of the film industry.During the period of the Republic of China, "Burning the Red Lotus Temple" brought about a wave of martial arts films of ghosts and monsters, which directly caused the prosperity of Shanghai's film industry at that time, which has been included in the annals of history; from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan and Jet Li, from Zhang Che's "Five Poisons" to Ang Lee's " Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, martial arts films have been the vanguard of Chinese-language films entering the world for decades; Hong Kong films have created waves of many types of films: hero films, gambling films and gang films, if you look at their story modes in depth And the world view, in fact, the martial arts that the Chinese are most familiar with are still in their bones. It's a pity that I feel that our own family's research and respect for martial arts movies is often not as good as that of foreign fans. Watching European and American authors' in-depth research and fascination with Chinese martial arts movies often makes me feel ashamed.Tarantino, a big fan of Hong Kong movies, even filmed two episodes of "Market Killing Order" to pay tribute to the martial arts movies that once "raised" him.Kung Fu films were originally the most successful original products in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, I saw the first Chinese book that truly analyzed and studied the language of Kung Fu films. The author was not from Hong Kong but from the mainland. This is also the same as the difficulty faced by urban conservation in Hong Kong: do we not see what we are most proud of and cherish because we are too close?
Ever since I wrote "The Poetry of Martial Arts Madness", one thing is very strange: every time I accept media interviews and publish it, I find that almost all of their introductions to me have become "martial arts novel writers", as if I have always been I have been writing martial arts for more than ten years.It’s been less than two years since I wrote this book, and I’ve written nearly twenty novels of other genres before… Thinking about it, I’m actually a little puzzled. Perhaps because there are so few people writing martial arts in Hong Kong now, this label has not been used for a long time. The fifth volume of "Poetry of Martial Arts" has completed the first part of the story "Wudang Ambition". The next volume will start a slightly different new route and continue to expand the world of "Martial Arts". Please stay tuned expect. At the same time, we also want to announce an exciting news: the "Poetry of Budokan" series has successfully authorized Hong Kong's local multimedia studio "Mengma International" this year, and will soon make full-line adaptations of animation, comics and computer games.Although it is not the first time for me that a work has been adapted, the scale of the plan and partners far exceeds that of the previous ones. I look forward to allowing readers and a wider audience to share in various ways in the near future. Appreciate and even experience the martial arts world of "Martial Arts Maniac".
Special thanks to Moses, a friend who practiced martial arts, who provided and demonstrated more principles and knowledge of Taijiquan to me, and gave me a lot of inspiration to conceive martial arts scenes. Qiao Jingfu March 9, 2010