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Excellent translation of the interview with director of #WordOfHonor #ShanHeLing . https://twitter.com/naanthots/status/1380281112212037634
I'm going to translate the bits directly about wuxia as a genre (OP already translated the wuxia bits directly relevant to WOH), and meta a bit about the spirit of wuxia. SPOILERS.
My section starts roughly halfway through the interview...
My section starts roughly halfway through the interview...
INT: Domestic wuxia dramas have declined in popularity for a while. What do you think is the most important part of wuxia drama?
CZC: There was a period of time where wuxia dramas were declining. Probably because there was a period of time where we were constantly filming and
CZC: There was a period of time where wuxia dramas were declining. Probably because there was a period of time where we were constantly filming and
refilming wuxia; Jin Yong’s works were adapted several times. To the audience, no matter how good a story is, you would be fatigued seeing it so many times.
During that time, I didn’t dare film wuxia, because of audience fatigue. For one thing, when a good wuxia story is adapted
During that time, I didn’t dare film wuxia, because of audience fatigue. For one thing, when a good wuxia story is adapted
that many times, the audience can practically memorize the story/characters, so they would just compare the actors’ skills. At that point, you cannot be immersed in the drama.
The second thing, many dramas only have a wuxia veneer and don’t place enough importance on the themes
The second thing, many dramas only have a wuxia veneer and don’t place enough importance on the themes
of wu (martial skills) and xia (heroism). Even an action drama needs to have emotional arcs. If you fight for the sake of fighting, without sentiment and emotion, you cannot attract the audience. Xia is not about the fighting, but about a spirit that does not expect repayment.
(ME: more on the spirit of wuxia later)
Lots of people misunderstand wuxia dramas. Firstly, they are not without sentiment. Martial skills and the chivalrous compassion are the fundamentals. Second, people think having some grudges and affection makes for wuxia; it does not.
Lots of people misunderstand wuxia dramas. Firstly, they are not without sentiment. Martial skills and the chivalrous compassion are the fundamentals. Second, people think having some grudges and affection makes for wuxia; it does not.
Private grudges and justice/righteousness are not the same. Having a plot is not enough.
INT: What kind of wuxia drama were you filming?
CZC: At the time I was focused on action, because that was the selling point then. In Qi Jian Xia Tianshan, director Xu Ke designed a sword,
INT: What kind of wuxia drama were you filming?
CZC: At the time I was focused on action, because that was the selling point then. In Qi Jian Xia Tianshan, director Xu Ke designed a sword,
and I had to consider how to bring that sword to life. Even for an action drama, we wanted to be innovative.
INT: Do you think the audience have changed in their requirements for a wuxia drama?
CZC: I mentioned before, wuxia is about a sentiment and spirit. All youths have dreams
INT: Do you think the audience have changed in their requirements for a wuxia drama?
CZC: I mentioned before, wuxia is about a sentiment and spirit. All youths have dreams
of the jianghu (ie. dreams of being a hero). It’s a hope for the future. Everyone hopes to be a good person, to stand up for justice. That’s the dream of youths, and they want to see the world for themselves. From that perspective, the audience will always need wuxia. Justice
does not change. The need for defending/supporting the weak from the strong still remain. The change is how you express it. For example, sometimes expressing too much emotion (in a scene) makes it greasy (overdone/melodramatic), or if it’s too straightforward and didactic,
the audience won’t accept it. Whether it’s the wuxia material, or the creators behind it, they all need new ways of expressing the sentiment to meet the new needs. So before I start filming, I want the crew to understand the “new wuxia” concept.
--The rest has been excellently translated, so I won’t reinvent the wheel, but I will ramble a bit about why I think SHL really captured the heart of wuxia (and why, as a lifelong wuxia fan, I love it so much).
Wuxia is comprised of two characters: wu, 武 (martial) xia, 俠 (hero). And like director CZC says, it’s the interplay of both that makes the genre, not just the fight scenes. Wuxia, at is core, is about honour. What does honour mean to you and how do you carry it? Are you the
type of person who would value your honour and integrity over your life? Is your word your bond? Do you repay your debts? Do you fight for the people and for the country, for more than yourself? In wuxia, a life is worth less than how you live that life. It’s about how you view
yourself, and an oath you swear to yourself.
These ideals are not easy to live up to—in fact, most characters in a wuxia story fail to live up to the xia, because of their greed or ignorance or cowardice. Gao Chong hid many secrets to preserve the the Wuhu Alliance, even when
These ideals are not easy to live up to—in fact, most characters in a wuxia story fail to live up to the xia, because of their greed or ignorance or cowardice. Gao Chong hid many secrets to preserve the the Wuhu Alliance, even when
he had good intentions. Zhao Jing was deeply resentful and power hungry who would use anyone, until even those who love him betray him. Shen Sheng exhibited a blind loyalty even when he had qualms and regrets. WKX rightly criticizes the “good sects” for being as evil as
his ghosts, except with a pretty veneer of humanity atop their greed.
Even our protagonists contain the multitudes of good/evil. ZZS sold his soul for stability and security, and then sold his life for an attempt at freedom and redemption. ZZS also risked his last days for
Even our protagonists contain the multitudes of good/evil. ZZS sold his soul for stability and security, and then sold his life for an attempt at freedom and redemption. ZZS also risked his last days for
3 qian of silver on the word of a dying man he didn’t know to keep ZCL safe. WKX would set fire to the world for revenge, but became home for a little girl, and kept her safe when they had no one else.
Despite allegiances and sentiment, the path of a wuxia hero is often very, very lonely. There are allegiances made and bonds sworn of course: sworn brothers are a sentiment. Revenge is a debt of blood. Repaying kindness or acknowledgement is a debt
of grace or benevolence. But on the whole, in a world obsessed with being the best martial fighter, walking a path that remains true to the ideals of xia is a very difficult one. You are forever trying to reach the top; when you’re at the top, you are forever trying to keep
others from cutting you down. The path to that pinnacle is brickwork laid with bones. SHL is a love story (and having BL as the vehicle, with two extremely strong characters switching off on the strength and tenderness, does sidestep a lot of the gender stuff inherent in
traditional wuxia), but it is also a story about redemption and choices and consequences of your actions. It’s why ZZS and WKX knowing each other as zhiyin and zhiji mattered so much: because they knew and understood each other, evils and all, and chose each other anyway.
Can you walk through those stains and come out clean? Few can. ZZS and WKX certainly didn’t. But they came out cleaner than when they went in. They walked that narrow, winding path between evil and good, compassion
and justice, and all the weaknesses and strengths of human nature, and managed to choose something better. And that, to me, is wuxia.
/end
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