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{{Short description|Chinese writer}}
{{Infobox Writer
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
| name = Chen Wentong
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
| image = Liang_Yusheng.jpg
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| pseudonym = Liang Yusheng <br>({{zh-c|c=梁羽生}})
| name = Chen Wentong
| birth_date = [[5 April]], [[1926]]
| image =
| birth_place = [[Guangxi]], [[China]]
| death_date =
| caption =
| pseudonym = Liang Yusheng
| death_place =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1924|4|5}}
| occupation = novelist
| birth_place = [[Mengshan County]], [[Guangxi|Guangxi Province]], [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]]
| genre = [[wuxia]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2009|1|22|1924|4|5}}
| movement =
| death_place = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]
| magnum_opus = ''Bride with White Hair'' (白发魔女传)
| influences =
| occupation = Novelist
| influenced =
| nationality = Chinese
| citizenship = Australia
| footnotes =
| genre = [[Wuxia]]
| notableworks = ''[[#Works|see below]]''
| influences =
| influenced =
| module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes
|c=梁羽生|p=Liáng Yǔshēng|j=Loeng4 Jyu5-sang1|altname=Chen Wentong|s2=陈文统|t2=陳文統|p2=Chén Wéntǒng|j2=Can4 Man4-tung2}}
}}
}}
{{family name hatnote|[[Chen (surname)|Chen]]|lang=Chinese}}
'''Chen Wentong''' (5 April 1924 – 22 January 2009), better known by his [[pen name]] '''Liang Yusheng''', was a Chinese-born Australian novelist best known for being a pioneer of the "new school" of the [[wuxia]] genre in the 20th century. Along with [[Jin Yong]] and [[Gu Long]], he was one of the best known wuxia writers in the later half of the 20th century. Throughout his career, he published a total of 35 wuxia novels – the more notable ones include ''[[Baifa Monü Zhuan]]'', ''[[Yunhai Yugong Yuan]]'', ''[[Qijian Xia Tianshan]]'' and ''[[Pingzong Xiaying Lu]]'' – and some have been adapted into films and television series, including ''[[The Bride with White Hair]]'' (1993) and ''[[Seven Swords]]'' (2005).


== Pen name ==
'''Liang Yusheng''' ({{zh-cp|c=梁羽生|p=Liáng YǔShēng}}) (born [[5 April]] [[1926]]) is the penname of '''Chen Wentong''' ({{zh-stp|s=陈文统|t=陳文統|p=Chén Wéntǒng}}), a famous [[wuxia]] novelist born in [[Guangxi]], [[China]].
Chen's given name "Wentong" means "literary tradition". He chose [[Liang (surname)|Liang]] as the surname of his [[pen name]] to remind himself that he was inheriting the literary tradition of his ancestors in the same way the [[Chen dynasty]] (557–589) succeeded the [[Liang dynasty]] (502–557) during the [[Northern and Southern dynasties]] period (420–589).<ref name="He's Still Alive">{{cite book |title=He's Still Alive: A Glimpse of the Australian Chinese Literary Circles |date=2010 |publisher=Showwe Information |author=He, Yuhuai |location=Taiwan | pages=160 |language=Chinese |ISBN=9789862215845 }} </ref> He chose "Yusheng" as the given name of his pen name to pay homage to [[Gong Baiyu]], one of his favourite wuxia writers and sources of influence, because "Yusheng" means "born from (Gong Bai)yu".<ref name="Liang Yusheng's debut" />


== Early life ==
Over his writing career, he has created a total of 36 martial arts novels, of which ''[[The Bride with White Hair]]'' ({{zh-stp|s=白发魔女传|t=白髮魔女傳|p=báifà mó nǚ chuán}}) and ''Lofty Waters Verdant Bow'' ({{zh-stp|s=云海玉弓缘|t=雲海玉弓緣|p=yúnhǎi yù gōng yuán}}) are the most famous. He was also been described as the founder of modern wuxia fiction. Many of his novels have been made into TV shows and movies. As a multitalented writer interested in history and literature, he wrote columns, critiques and essays under different names including '''Liang Hueru''' and '''Fong Yuning'''.
Chen was born in 1924 in a scholarly family in Tunzhi Village, Wenyu Town, [[Mengshan County]], [[Guangxi|Guangxi Province]], [[Republic of China (1912–49)|China]]. He was well-versed in ancient Chinese classics and ''[[Couplet (Chinese poetry)|duilian]]'' and could recite the ''[[Three Hundred Tang Poems]]'' by the age of eight. While he was attending Guilin High School in [[Guilin]], he enjoyed writing poems.


Following the outbreak of the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] in 1937, Chen left Guilin and returned to Mengshan County. During this time, he met two scholars from the neighbouring [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]] who had taken shelter in Mengshan County, and studied history and literature under their tutelage: [[Jian Youwen]], who specialised in the history of the [[Taiping Rebellion]]; and [[Jao Tsung-I|Rao Zongyi]], who was well read in poetry, humanities, art and the history of [[Dunhuang]].
In [[August 2004]], he was granted an [[Honorary Doctorate]] by Hong Kong's [[Lingnan University (Hong Kong)|Lingnan University]], from where he originally graduated in [[1948]] in Economics.

<sup>[http://english.people.com.cn/200408/21/eng20040821_154140.html]</sup>. A 2005 Hong Kong film, ''[[Seven Swords]]'' ({{zh-stp|s=七剑|t=七劍|p=qī jiàn}}), was an adaptation based on one of his works.
After the war ended, Chen attended [[Lingnan University (Guangzhou)|Lingnan University]] in [[Guangzhou]] and graduated in 1948, majoring in international economics.

== Career in Hong Kong ==
In 1949, Chen moved to [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] and, through a recommendation from Lingnan University, became an assistant editor for the newspaper ''[[Ta Kung Pao]]''. He was subsequently promoted to editor and also became a member of the newspaper's editorial executive committee. Towards the end of 1950, he was reassigned to ''[[New Evening Post]]'', the evening edition of ''Ta Kung Pao''.<ref name="sohu news">{{cite web |last1=Liu |first1=Xiaojing |title=Wuxia novelist Liang Yusheng dies in Sydney on 22 January |url=http://news.sohu.com/20090126/n261953652.shtml |website=Sohu News |access-date=28 February 2023 |language=Chinese |date=26 January 2009}}</ref>

On 17 January 1954, two martial arts masters – [[Chan Hak-fu]] of the [[Tibetan White Crane|White Crane School]] and [[Wu Kung-i]] of the [[Wu-style t'ai chi ch'uan|Tai Chi School]] – challenged each other to a ''[[lei tai]]'' match in [[Portuguese Macau|Macau]] and attracted much attention in Hong Kong. [[Luo Fu (editor)|Luo Fu]], the chief editor of ''New Evening Post'', wanted to take advantage of the [[sensationalism]] surrounding the ''lei tai'' match, so he asked Chen to write a [[wuxia]] story based on the match and publish it as a [[Serial (literature)|serial]] in the newspaper. This became Chen's debut wuxia novel – ''[[Longhu Dou Jinghua]]'' – and marked the start of a "new school" in the [[wuxia]] genre.<ref name="Liang Yusheng's debut">{{cite web |last1=Huang |first1=Zhongming |title=Liang Yusheng's debut |url=http://paper.wenweipo.com/2015/05/19/OT1505190004.htm |website=wenpeipo.com |access-date=28 February 2023 |language=Chinese |date=19 May 2015}}</ref> During this time, he met [[Jin Yong]], who was also working at ''New Evening Post'' and writing wuxia novels.

From 1954 to 1983, Chen wrote a total of 35 wuxia novels, of which most were originally published as serials in newspapers. Among his works, ''[[Baifa Monü Zhuan]]'', ''[[Yunhai Yugong Yuan]]'', ''[[Qijian Xia Tianshan]]'' and ''[[Pingzong Xiaying Lu]]'' are some of the better known ones and have been adapted into films and television series, including ''[[The Bride with White Hair]]'' (1993) and ''[[Seven Swords]]'' (2005). Besides wuxia novels, Chen also wrote columns, critiques and essays under different pen names, including "Liang Hueru" and "Fong Yuning".

== Retirement and death ==
Chen migrated to Australia with his family in 1987.<ref name="straits times">{{cite news |title=''Seven Swords'' novelist dies |work=Straits Times |location=Singapore |page=C7 |date=28 January 2009 }}</ref> At the time, he was a member of the [[China Writers Association]] and had been offered the position of honorary president of the Yinglian Society of China (YSC) in [[Shenzhen]].<ref name="sohu news" /> He converted to Christianity in September 1994.<ref name="christian times">{{cite web |last1=Tong |first1=Xinyuan |title=Three male writers who became Christians: Bo Yang, Ni Huang and Liang Yusheng |url=https://www.christiantimes.cn/news/12192/细数三位成为基督徒的传奇男作家：柏杨、倪匡、梁羽生 |website=Christian Times |access-date=28 February 2023 |language=Chinese |date=12 September 2013}}</ref>

On 30 November 2004, Chen received an [[Honorary doctorate|honorary]] [[Doctor of Arts]] from his ''alma mater'', [[Lingnan University (Hong Kong)|Lingnan University]], which has moved to Hong Kong, for his contributions to the development of literature.<ref>{{cite web |title=Press release: Lingnan University awards honorary doctorates to four |url=https://www.ln.edu.hk/news/20040817/01 |website=Lingnan University Hong Kong |access-date=28 February 2023 |date=17 August 2004}}</ref>

In December 2006, while attending an event in Hong Kong to celebrate [[Cosmos Books (Hong Kong)|Cosmos Books Ltd.]]'s 30th anniversary, Chen suffered a stroke.<ref name="sohu news" /> After that, he returned to Australia and spent his time recuperating at the Bernard Chan Nursing Home in [[Burwood, New South Wales]]. On 22 January 2009, he died of natural causes at the age of 84 in [[Sydney]].<ref name="straits times" /><ref>[http://www.danwei.org/front_page_of_the_day/martial_arts_novelist_liang_yu.php Martial arts novelist Liang Yusheng dies]. Danwei. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2010.</ref> Among those who wrote tributes to Chen were his mentor [[Rao Zongyi]], his former boss [[Luo Fu (editor)|Luo Fu]], fellow [[wuxia]] writer [[Jin Yong]], and professor Chan Yiu-nam.<ref name="He's Still Alive" />

== Writing style ==
Chen's novels always open with a poem – indicating his interest in poetry. The protagonists of his novels also tend to be multi-talented, versatile, and well-read. Besides that, he incorporates elements of Chinese history in his novels – a style also adopted by fellow wuxia writer [[Jin Yong]]. However, unlike Jin Yong and other wuxia writers, he does not regard the [[Shaolin School|Shaolin]] and [[Wudang School|Wudang]] schools as the major orthodox schools in the ''[[jianghu]]'' (martial artists' community). Instead, he makes the [[Mount Heaven Sect|Mount Heaven School (Tianshan School)]] the leading school in the ''jianghu'', particularly in the ''Tianshan'' series of novels set in the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] and [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] dynasties.<ref>[http://edu.ocac.gov.tw/culture/chinese/cul_kungfu/e/2-3-1-1.htm 梁羽生 (Liang Yusheng)]. Chinese Wusia Knight Errant. Retrieved 6 January 2010.</ref>

== Works ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Title !! Published !! Historical setting !! Connection to other works
|-
| ''Nüdi Qiying Zhuan''<br>女帝奇英傳 || 1961–1962 || {{circa|late 7th century}}<br>([[Zhou dynasty (690–705)|Wu Zhou dynasty]] / [[Tang dynasty]]) ||
|-
| ''[[Datang Youxia Zhuan]]''<br>大唐游俠傳 || 1963–1964 || {{circa|8th century}}<br>([[Tang dynasty]]) || The first part of the ''Datang'' trilogy.
|-
| ''[[Longfeng Baochai Yuan]]''<br>龍鳳寶釵緣 || 1964–1966 || {{circa|8th century}}<br>([[Tang dynasty]]) || The second part of the ''Datang'' trilogy.
|-
| ''[[Huijian Xinmo]]''<br>慧劍心魔 || 1966–1968 || {{circa|8th century}}<br>([[Tang dynasty]]) || The third part of the ''Datang'' trilogy.
|-
| ''Wulin Tianjiao''<br>武林天驕 || 1978–1982 || {{circa|13th century}}<br>([[Song dynasty]]) || The first part of the ''Tianjiao'' series.
|-
| ''Feifeng Qianlong''<br>飛鳳潛龍 || 1966 || {{circa|13th century}}<br>([[Song dynasty]]) || The second part of the ''Tianjiao'' series.
|-
| ''Kuangxia Tianjiao Monü''<br>狂俠·天驕·魔女 || 1964–1968 || {{circa|13th century}}<br>([[Song dynasty]]) || The third part of the ''Tianjiao'' series.
|-
| ''Hanhai Xiongfeng''<br>瀚海雄風 || 1968–1970 || {{circa|13th century}}<br>([[Song dynasty]]) || The fourth part of the ''Tianjiao'' series.
|-
| ''Mingdi Fengyun Lu''<br>鳴鏑風雲錄 || 1968–1972 || {{circa|13th century}}<br>([[Song dynasty]]) || The fifth part of the ''Tianjiao'' series.
|-
| ''Fengyun Leidian''<br>風雲雷電 || 1970–1972 || {{circa|13th century}}<br>([[Song dynasty]]) || The sixth part of the ''Tianjiao'' series.
|-
| ''Huanjian Qiqing Lu''<br>還劍奇情錄 || 1959–1960 || {{circa|14th century}}<br>([[Ming dynasty]]) || The first part of the ''Pingzong'' series.
|-
| ''Pingzong Xiaying Lu''<br>萍蹤俠影錄 || 1959–1960 || {{circa|15th century}}<br>([[Ming dynasty]]) || The second part of the ''Pingzong'' series.
|-
| ''Sanhua Nüxia''<br>散花女俠 || 1960–1961 || {{circa|15th century}}<br>([[Ming dynasty]]) || The third part of the ''Pingzong'' series.
|-
| ''Lianjian Fengyun Lu''<br>聯劍風雲錄 || 1961–1962 || {{circa|15th century}}<br>([[Ming dynasty]]) || The fourth part of the ''Pingzong'' series.
|-
| ''Guangling Jian''<br>廣陵劍 || 1972–1976 || {{circa|15th century}}<br>([[Ming dynasty]]) || The fifth part of the ''Pingzong'' series.
|-
| ''Wulin Sanjue''<br>武林三絕 || 1972–1976 || {{circa|15th century}}<br>([[Ming dynasty]]) ||
|-
| ''Wudang Yijian''<br>武當一劍 || 1980–1983 || {{circa|17th century}}<br>([[Ming dynasty]]) ||
|-
| ''[[Baifa Monü Zhuan]]''<br>白髮魔女傳 || 1957–1958 || {{circa|17th century}}<br>([[Ming dynasty]]) || The first part of the ''Tianshan'' series.
|-
| ''[[Saiwai Qixia Zhuan]]''<br>塞外奇俠傳 || 1956–1957 || {{circa|17th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The second part of the ''Tianshan'' series.
|-
| ''[[Qijian Xia Tianshan]]''<br>七劍下天山 || 1956–1957 || {{circa|17th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The third part of the ''Tianshan'' series.
|-
| ''Jianghu San Nüxia''<br>江湖三女俠 || 1957–1958 || {{circa|18th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The fourth part of the ''Tianshan'' series.
|-
| ''Bingpo Hanguang Jian''<br>冰魄寒光劍 || 1962 || {{circa|18th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The fifth part of the ''Tianshan'' series.
|-
| ''Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan''<br>冰川天女傳 || 1959–1960 || {{circa|18th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The sixth part of the ''Tianshan'' series.
|-
| ''Yunhai Yugong Yuan''<br>雲海玉弓緣 || 1961–1963 || {{circa|18th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The seventh part of the ''Tianshan'' series.
|-
| ''Binghe Xijian Lu''<br>冰河洗劍錄 || 1963–1965 || {{circa|18th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The eighth part of the ''Tianshan'' series.
|-
| ''Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou''<br>風雷震九州 || 1965–1967 || {{circa|18th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The ninth part of the ''Tianshan'' series.
|-
| ''[[Xiagu Danxin]]''<br>俠骨丹心 || 1967–1969 || {{circa|18th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The tenth part of the ''Tianshan'' series.
|-
| ''Jianwang Chensi''<br>劍網塵絲 || 1976–1980 || {{circa|18th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || A companion piece to ''Huanjian Lingqi''.
|-
| ''Huanjian Lingqi''<br>幻劍靈旗 || 1980–1981 || {{circa|18th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || A companion piece to ''Jianwang Chensi''.
|-
| ''Youjian Jianghu''<br>遊劍江湖 || 1969–1972 || {{circa|18th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The first part of the ''Muye Liuxing'' tetralogy.
|-
| ''Muye Liuxing''<br>牧野流星 || 1972–1975 || {{circa|19th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The second part of the ''Muye Liuxing'' tetralogy.
|-
| ''Tanzhi Jinglei''<br>彈指驚雷 || 1977–1981 || {{circa|19th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The third part of the ''Muye Liuxing'' tetralogy.
|-
| ''Juesai Chuanfeng Lu''<br>絕塞傳烽錄 || 1975–1978 || {{circa|19th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) || The fourth part of the ''Muye Liuxing'' tetralogy.
|-
| ''Caomang Longshe Zhuan''<br>草莽龍蛇傳 || 1954–1955 || {{circa|19th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) ||
|-
| ''Longhu Dou Jinghua''<br>龍虎鬥京華 || 1954 || {{circa|19th century}}<br>([[Qing dynasty]]) ||
|-
|}

== Adaptations ==
* ''Seven Swordsman Leave Tianshan'' 七劍下天山 (1959)
* ''The Jade Bow'' 雲海玉弓緣 (1966)
* ''The Patriotic Knights'' 侠骨丹心 (1971)
* ''Chronicles of the Shadow Swordsman'' 萍蹤俠影錄 (1977)
* ''To Kill the Big Villain in Mt. Tai'' 泰山屠龍 (1980)
* ''[[White Hair Devil Lady]]'' 白发魔女传 (1980)
* ''The Spy in the Palace'' 飛鳳潛龍 (1981)
* ''Jade Bow Connections'' 雲海玉弓緣 (1984)
* ''Chronicles of the Shadow Swordsman'' 萍蹤俠影錄 (1985)
* ''[[The Romance of the White Hair Maiden (1986 TV series)]]''
* ''[[Revenge of Swordsmanship]]'' 還劍奇情 (1986)
* ''[[The Bride with White Hair]]'' 白发魔女传(1993)
* ''[[The Bride with White Hair 2]]'' 白发魔女传2(1993)
* ''[[The Romance of the White Hair Maiden (1995 TV series)]]''
* ''[[Legend of the White Hair Brides]]'' 塞外奇侠 (1996 TV series)
* ''[[Romance of the White Haired Maiden (TV series)]]'' 白发魔女 (1999)
* ''Lofty Waters Verdant Bow'' 雲海玉弓緣 (2002)
* ''[[Heroic Legend]]'' 萍踪侠影 (2003)
* ''[[Seven Swords]]'' 七剑 (2005)
* ''[[Seven Swordsmen]]'' 七剑下天山 (2006)
* ''Vagabond Vigilante'' (2006)
* ''[[Paladins in Troubled Times]]'' 大唐游侠传 (2008)
* ''[[The Patriotic Knights]]'' 侠骨丹心 (2010)
* ''Tracking Knights Phantom'' (2011)
* ''[[The Bride with White Hair (TV series)]]'' 新白发魔女传 (2012)
* ''[[The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom]]'' 白发魔女传之明月天国 (2014)
* ''The Seven Swords (movie trilogies) (2018-2020)
* ''The White Haired Witch'' 白发魔女外传 (2020)
* ''The First Sword of Wudang'' 武当一剑 (2021)

==See also==
* [[Jin Yong]]
* [[Gu Long]]

==References==
<references/>


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://wuxiasociety.freeforums.net/thread/429/summary-wanderer-chronicles The Wanderer Chronicles (萍踪侠影录)] – Read a chapter-by-chapter English summary of Liang Yusheng's ''Pingzong Xiaying Lu'' (via WuxiaSociety2 – formerly known as Wuxiamania)
* [http://edu.ocac.gov.tw/culture/chinese/cul_kungfu/e/2-3-1-1.htm Liang Yusheng]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929184651/http://wuxiasociety.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2289 Seven Swords Novel Translation] English summary translation of ''Qijian Xia Tianshan'' (updated 27 August 2007) done by Yenchin of Wuxiasociety.org
* [http://edu.ocac.gov.tw/culture/chinese/cul_kungfu/e/3-1.htm Liang Yusheng - The Pioneer]
* {{Imdb name|1295635|Yusheng Liang}}
*[http://www.wuxiaworld.org WuxiaWorld] - WuxiaWorld Site devoted to Wuxia literature, films, TV Series, and translations.
* [http://hkmdb.com/db/people/view.mhtml?id=3762&display_set=eng Liang Yusheng (HKMDB database)]
* [http://www.wuxiasociety.org WuxiaSociety] - (formerly known as Wuxia Mania forum) - The only english wuxia portal, discuss & read translation of Liang Yusheng's works in English
* [http://www.wuxiasociety.org The Wanderer Chronicles (萍踪侠影录)] - Read a chapter-by-chapter English summary of Liang Yusheng's Ping Zong Xia Ying Lu (via WuxiaSociety.org - formerly known as wuxiamania.phorumz.com)
*[http://www.wuxiasociety.org Seven Swords (the original novel)- Detailed Chapter by Chapter English Summary translation of 'Qi Jian Xia Tian Shan' done by Yenchin of Wuxiamania, via WuxiaSociety.org - formerly known as wuxiamania.phorumz.com)]


{{Liang Yusheng's Wuxia novels}}
[[Category:Chinese novelists]]
[[Category:Hong Kong writers]]
[[Category:Wuxia writers]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
{{China-writer-stub}}


{{Authority control}}
[[ja:梁羽生]]

[[vi:Lương Vũ Sinh]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liang, Yusheng}}
[[zh:梁羽生]]
[[Category:Liang Yusheng| ]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian novelists]]
[[Category:Alumni of Lingnan University (Hong Kong)]]
[[Category:Chinese emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Chinese male novelists]]
[[Category:People from Wuzhou]]
[[Category:Writers from Guangxi]]
[[Category:Writers from Sydney]]
[[Category:Wuxia writers]]

Latest revision as of 12:56, 15 November 2023

Chen Wentong
Born(1924-04-05)5 April 1924
Mengshan County, Guangxi Province, Republic of China
Died22 January 2009(2009-01-22) (aged 84)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Pen nameLiang Yusheng
OccupationNovelist
NationalityChinese
CitizenshipAustralia
GenreWuxia
Notable workssee below
Chinese name
Chinese梁羽生
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLiáng Yǔshēng
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingLoeng4 Jyu5-sang1
Chen Wentong
Traditional Chinese陳文統
Simplified Chinese陈文统
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChén Wéntǒng
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingCan4 Man4-tung2
In this Chinese name, the family name is Chen.

Chen Wentong (5 April 1924 – 22 January 2009), better known by his pen name Liang Yusheng, was a Chinese-born Australian novelist best known for being a pioneer of the "new school" of the wuxia genre in the 20th century. Along with Jin Yong and Gu Long, he was one of the best known wuxia writers in the later half of the 20th century. Throughout his career, he published a total of 35 wuxia novels – the more notable ones include Baifa Monü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan and Pingzong Xiaying Lu – and some have been adapted into films and television series, including The Bride with White Hair (1993) and Seven Swords (2005).

Pen name

[edit]

Chen's given name "Wentong" means "literary tradition". He chose Liang as the surname of his pen name to remind himself that he was inheriting the literary tradition of his ancestors in the same way the Chen dynasty (557–589) succeeded the Liang dynasty (502–557) during the Northern and Southern dynasties period (420–589).[1] He chose "Yusheng" as the given name of his pen name to pay homage to Gong Baiyu, one of his favourite wuxia writers and sources of influence, because "Yusheng" means "born from (Gong Bai)yu".[2]

Early life

[edit]

Chen was born in 1924 in a scholarly family in Tunzhi Village, Wenyu Town, Mengshan County, Guangxi Province, China. He was well-versed in ancient Chinese classics and duilian and could recite the Three Hundred Tang Poems by the age of eight. While he was attending Guilin High School in Guilin, he enjoyed writing poems.

Following the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Chen left Guilin and returned to Mengshan County. During this time, he met two scholars from the neighbouring Guangdong Province who had taken shelter in Mengshan County, and studied history and literature under their tutelage: Jian Youwen, who specialised in the history of the Taiping Rebellion; and Rao Zongyi, who was well read in poetry, humanities, art and the history of Dunhuang.

After the war ended, Chen attended Lingnan University in Guangzhou and graduated in 1948, majoring in international economics.

Career in Hong Kong

[edit]

In 1949, Chen moved to Hong Kong and, through a recommendation from Lingnan University, became an assistant editor for the newspaper Ta Kung Pao. He was subsequently promoted to editor and also became a member of the newspaper's editorial executive committee. Towards the end of 1950, he was reassigned to New Evening Post, the evening edition of Ta Kung Pao.[3]

On 17 January 1954, two martial arts masters – Chan Hak-fu of the White Crane School and Wu Kung-i of the Tai Chi School – challenged each other to a lei tai match in Macau and attracted much attention in Hong Kong. Luo Fu, the chief editor of New Evening Post, wanted to take advantage of the sensationalism surrounding the lei tai match, so he asked Chen to write a wuxia story based on the match and publish it as a serial in the newspaper. This became Chen's debut wuxia novel – Longhu Dou Jinghua – and marked the start of a "new school" in the wuxia genre.[2] During this time, he met Jin Yong, who was also working at New Evening Post and writing wuxia novels.

From 1954 to 1983, Chen wrote a total of 35 wuxia novels, of which most were originally published as serials in newspapers. Among his works, Baifa Monü Zhuan, Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Qijian Xia Tianshan and Pingzong Xiaying Lu are some of the better known ones and have been adapted into films and television series, including The Bride with White Hair (1993) and Seven Swords (2005). Besides wuxia novels, Chen also wrote columns, critiques and essays under different pen names, including "Liang Hueru" and "Fong Yuning".

Retirement and death

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Chen migrated to Australia with his family in 1987.[4] At the time, he was a member of the China Writers Association and had been offered the position of honorary president of the Yinglian Society of China (YSC) in Shenzhen.[3] He converted to Christianity in September 1994.[5]

On 30 November 2004, Chen received an honorary Doctor of Arts from his alma mater, Lingnan University, which has moved to Hong Kong, for his contributions to the development of literature.[6]

In December 2006, while attending an event in Hong Kong to celebrate Cosmos Books Ltd.'s 30th anniversary, Chen suffered a stroke.[3] After that, he returned to Australia and spent his time recuperating at the Bernard Chan Nursing Home in Burwood, New South Wales. On 22 January 2009, he died of natural causes at the age of 84 in Sydney.[4][7] Among those who wrote tributes to Chen were his mentor Rao Zongyi, his former boss Luo Fu, fellow wuxia writer Jin Yong, and professor Chan Yiu-nam.[1]

Writing style

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Chen's novels always open with a poem – indicating his interest in poetry. The protagonists of his novels also tend to be multi-talented, versatile, and well-read. Besides that, he incorporates elements of Chinese history in his novels – a style also adopted by fellow wuxia writer Jin Yong. However, unlike Jin Yong and other wuxia writers, he does not regard the Shaolin and Wudang schools as the major orthodox schools in the jianghu (martial artists' community). Instead, he makes the Mount Heaven School (Tianshan School) the leading school in the jianghu, particularly in the Tianshan series of novels set in the Ming and Qing dynasties.[8]

Works

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Title Published Historical setting Connection to other works
Nüdi Qiying Zhuan
女帝奇英傳		 1961–1962 c. late 7th century
(Wu Zhou dynasty / Tang dynasty)
Datang Youxia Zhuan
大唐游俠傳		 1963–1964 c. 8th century
(Tang dynasty)		 The first part of the Datang trilogy.
Longfeng Baochai Yuan
龍鳳寶釵緣		 1964–1966 c. 8th century
(Tang dynasty)		 The second part of the Datang trilogy.
Huijian Xinmo
慧劍心魔		 1966–1968 c. 8th century
(Tang dynasty)		 The third part of the Datang trilogy.
Wulin Tianjiao
武林天驕		 1978–1982 c. 13th century
(Song dynasty)		 The first part of the Tianjiao series.
Feifeng Qianlong
飛鳳潛龍		 1966 c. 13th century
(Song dynasty)		 The second part of the Tianjiao series.
Kuangxia Tianjiao Monü
狂俠·天驕·魔女		 1964–1968 c. 13th century
(Song dynasty)		 The third part of the Tianjiao series.
Hanhai Xiongfeng
瀚海雄風		 1968–1970 c. 13th century
(Song dynasty)		 The fourth part of the Tianjiao series.
Mingdi Fengyun Lu
鳴鏑風雲錄		 1968–1972 c. 13th century
(Song dynasty)		 The fifth part of the Tianjiao series.
Fengyun Leidian
風雲雷電		 1970–1972 c. 13th century
(Song dynasty)		 The sixth part of the Tianjiao series.
Huanjian Qiqing Lu
還劍奇情錄		 1959–1960 c. 14th century
(Ming dynasty)		 The first part of the Pingzong series.
Pingzong Xiaying Lu
萍蹤俠影錄		 1959–1960 c. 15th century
(Ming dynasty)		 The second part of the Pingzong series.
Sanhua Nüxia
散花女俠		 1960–1961 c. 15th century
(Ming dynasty)		 The third part of the Pingzong series.
Lianjian Fengyun Lu
聯劍風雲錄		 1961–1962 c. 15th century
(Ming dynasty)		 The fourth part of the Pingzong series.
Guangling Jian
廣陵劍		 1972–1976 c. 15th century
(Ming dynasty)		 The fifth part of the Pingzong series.
Wulin Sanjue
武林三絕		 1972–1976 c. 15th century
(Ming dynasty)
Wudang Yijian
武當一劍		 1980–1983 c. 17th century
(Ming dynasty)
Baifa Monü Zhuan
白髮魔女傳		 1957–1958 c. 17th century
(Ming dynasty)		 The first part of the Tianshan series.
Saiwai Qixia Zhuan
塞外奇俠傳		 1956–1957 c. 17th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The second part of the Tianshan series.
Qijian Xia Tianshan
七劍下天山		 1956–1957 c. 17th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The third part of the Tianshan series.
Jianghu San Nüxia
江湖三女俠		 1957–1958 c. 18th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The fourth part of the Tianshan series.
Bingpo Hanguang Jian
冰魄寒光劍		 1962 c. 18th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The fifth part of the Tianshan series.
Bingchuan Tiannü Zhuan
冰川天女傳		 1959–1960 c. 18th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The sixth part of the Tianshan series.
Yunhai Yugong Yuan
雲海玉弓緣		 1961–1963 c. 18th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The seventh part of the Tianshan series.
Binghe Xijian Lu
冰河洗劍錄		 1963–1965 c. 18th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The eighth part of the Tianshan series.
Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou
風雷震九州		 1965–1967 c. 18th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The ninth part of the Tianshan series.
Xiagu Danxin
俠骨丹心		 1967–1969 c. 18th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The tenth part of the Tianshan series.
Jianwang Chensi
劍網塵絲		 1976–1980 c. 18th century
(Qing dynasty)		 A companion piece to Huanjian Lingqi.
Huanjian Lingqi
幻劍靈旗		 1980–1981 c. 18th century
(Qing dynasty)		 A companion piece to Jianwang Chensi.
Youjian Jianghu
遊劍江湖		 1969–1972 c. 18th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The first part of the Muye Liuxing tetralogy.
Muye Liuxing
牧野流星		 1972–1975 c. 19th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The second part of the Muye Liuxing tetralogy.
Tanzhi Jinglei
彈指驚雷		 1977–1981 c. 19th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The third part of the Muye Liuxing tetralogy.
Juesai Chuanfeng Lu
絕塞傳烽錄		 1975–1978 c. 19th century
(Qing dynasty)		 The fourth part of the Muye Liuxing tetralogy.
Caomang Longshe Zhuan
草莽龍蛇傳		 1954–1955 c. 19th century
(Qing dynasty)
Longhu Dou Jinghua
龍虎鬥京華		 1954 c. 19th century
(Qing dynasty)

Adaptations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b He, Yuhuai (2010). He's Still Alive: A Glimpse of the Australian Chinese Literary Circles (in Chinese). Taiwan: Showwe Information. p. 160. ISBN 9789862215845.
  2. ^ a b Huang, Zhongming (19 May 2015). "Liang Yusheng's debut". wenpeipo.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Liu, Xiaojing (26 January 2009). "Wuxia novelist Liang Yusheng dies in Sydney on 22 January". Sohu News (in Chinese). Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Seven Swords novelist dies". Straits Times. Singapore. 28 January 2009. p. C7.
  5. ^ Tong, Xinyuan (12 September 2013). "Three male writers who became Christians: Bo Yang, Ni Huang and Liang Yusheng". Christian Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Press release: Lingnan University awards honorary doctorates to four". Lingnan University Hong Kong. 17 August 2004. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  7. ^ Martial arts novelist Liang Yusheng dies. Danwei. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  8. ^ 梁羽生 (Liang Yusheng). Chinese Wusia Knight Errant. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
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