Jin Yong facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Louis Cha GBM OBE
Jin Yong in July 2007
Native name	查良鏞
Born	(1924-02-06)6 February 1924 Haining, Zhejiang, Republic of China
Died	30 October 2018(2018-10-30) (aged 94) Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
Resting place	Hoi Wui Tower, Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Pen name	Jin Yong
Occupation	Novelist essayist newspaper founder and editor policymaker
Language	Chinese
Alma mater	Soochow University University of Cambridge Peking University
Period	1955–1972
Genre	Wuxia
Spouse	Du Zhifen ​ ​ (m. 1948; div. 1953)​ Zhu Mei ​ ​ (m. 1953; div. 1976)​ Lin Leyi ​ (m. 1976)​
Children	4
Chinese name
Chinese	金庸
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jīn Yōng Bopomofo ㄐㄧㄣ ㄩㄥ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Jin Iong Wade–Giles Chin1 Yung1 IPA [tɕín i̯ʊ́ŋ] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Gām Yùhng IPA [kɐ́m jȍŋ] Jyutping Gam1 Jung4
Birth name
Traditional Chinese	查良鏞
Simplified Chinese	查良镛
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhā Liángyōng Bopomofo ㄓㄚ ㄌㄧㄤˊㄩㄥ Gwoyeu Romatzyh Ja Liangiong Wade–Giles Cha1 Liang2-yung1 Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Chàh Lèuhng Yùhng Jyutping Caa4 Loeng4 Jung4 Sidney Lau Cha4 Leung4 Yung4

Louis Cha Leung-yung (born 6 February 1924 – died 30 October 2018), known by his pen name Jin Yong, was a famous Chinese writer. He was best known for his wuxia novels. Wuxia means "martial arts and chivalry".

Jin Yong also helped start the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao in 1959. He was its first editor. Many people consider him one of the greatest wuxia writers ever. His books are very popular in Chinese communities around the world.

He wrote 15 main novels between 1955 and 1972. Over 100 million copies of his books have been sold worldwide. His stories are loved by many different kinds of readers. They have even helped connect Chinese communities across the globe.

His books have been translated into many languages. These include English, French, Japanese, and Thai. His stories have also been made into films, TV shows, comics, and video games. This has given him many fans outside of Chinese-speaking areas. An asteroid, 10930 Jinyong, is even named after him!

Early Life and School Years

Louis Cha was born as Zha Liangyong in Haining, Zhejiang, China. He was the second of seven children. His family was known for its scholars.

From a young age, Cha loved to read. He especially enjoyed wuxia stories and classic books. He was once expelled from high school. This happened because he openly criticized the government at the time. He finished high school in 1943.

Learning and Higher Education

Cha first studied foreign languages at the Central University of Political Affairs. He later left that school. He then went to Soochow University to study international law. He hoped to work in foreign service.

Later in his life, Cha continued his studies. In 2005, he started working on a doctorate degree at Cambridge University. He earned this degree in Asian Studies in 2010. He also earned another doctorate in Chinese literature from Peking University in 2013.

A Career in Writing and Newspapers

Cha started his career as a journalist. He met Chen Wentong, another writer, who also wrote wuxia novels. They became good friends. This friendship inspired Cha to write his first wuxia novel. It was called The Book and the Sword and came out in 1955.

In 1959, Cha helped create the newspaper Ming Pao in Hong Kong. He was the editor for many years. He wrote both parts of his novels and newspaper articles every day. His novels became very popular.

Cha finished his last wuxia novel in 1972. After that, he focused on editing and improving his earlier works. The first full collection of his novels was published in 1979.

His wuxia novels became incredibly famous in Chinese-speaking regions. Many of his stories have been made into films, TV shows, and radio plays. The characters from his books are so well-known that people often talk about them easily.

In the late 1970s, Cha became involved in Hong Kong politics. He met with Deng Xiaoping, a leader in China. Cha was part of a committee that helped write the Hong Kong Basic Law. He later left this committee because of political events in 1989. In 1993, he retired from his newspaper work.

Personal Life

Louis Cha was one of seven children. He had four brothers and two sisters.

He was married three times. He had two sons and two daughters with his second wife, Zhu Mei. Later, he married his third wife, Lin Leyi.

Passing Away

On October 30, 2018, Louis Cha passed away at the age of 94. He had been ill for some time. His funeral was a private event for family and friends. Many famous people attended, including writers, actors, and business leaders. His ashes were placed at the Hoi Wui Tower’s columbarium on Lantau Island.

Awards and Recognition

Besides his novels, Cha also wrote many non-fiction books about Chinese history. He received many awards for his achievements.

The British government made him an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1981. The French government also honored him with the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1992.

Cha was also an honorary professor at many universities. These included Peking University, Zhejiang University, and the University of Cambridge. He received honorary doctorates from several universities as well.

In 2004, when he received an honorary doctorate from Cambridge, he expressed a wish to study there full-time. In 2010, he earned a regular doctorate degree from Cambridge in Chinese history.

His Amazing Works

Cha wrote 16 fictional works. Most of them are wuxia stories. Only one is a short story about his own life. His wuxia works include two novellas, one standalone novel, and 11 interconnected novels. He also wrote a short novelette.

Most of his novels were first published in parts in newspapers. Later, they were released as books in three different official editions. Each edition had some changes to the stories and characters.

Here are his main works:

How the Stories Connect

Most of Jin Yong's novels are connected in some way. For example, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils is a prequel to The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The "Condor Trilogy" includes The Legend of the Condor Heroes, The Return of the Condor Heroes, and The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. These three should be read in order.

Characters and skills often appear or are mentioned across different books. This creates a rich, interconnected world for readers to explore.

The Secret Couplet

After Jin Yong finished his novels, fans noticed something cool. The first characters of his first 14 book titles form a special poem called a couplet (duilian).

Traditional Chinese

飛雪連天射白鹿
笑書神俠倚碧鴛

Simplified Chinese

飞雪连天射白鹿
笑书神侠倚碧鸳

A rough translation is

Shooting a white deer, snow flutters around the skies; Smiling, [one] writes about the divine chivalrous one, leaning against bluish lovebirds (or lover).

Jin Yong said he didn't plan this on purpose. It's a fun way for fans to remember all his books! The short story "Sword of the Yue Maiden" is not part of this couplet because it would make the number of titles uneven.

Different Book Editions

Jin Yong's books were first published in parts in newspapers. Later, he revised them several times.

Between 1970 and 1980, he made changes to all his works. This new version was called the "New Edition." Some characters and magical elements were removed or changed.

In China, his books were first officially published in 1980. Later, a full collection in simplified Chinese came out in 1994.

From 1999 to 2006, Jin Yong revised his novels one last time. This "New Century Edition" included notes where he answered questions about the history in his books. Some characters and martial arts names were changed again. While some fans prefer the older versions, this latest edition is the most complete.

Themes in His Stories

A statue of Jin Yong on Taohua Island, China.

A strong theme in Jin Yong's books is Chinese nationalism or love for one's country. Many of his stories are set when China faced threats from other groups. However, he also showed respect for the good qualities of non-Chinese people. For example, in The Legend of the Condor Heroes, he shows Genghis Khan as a strong leader.

His books include many details about Chinese culture. You can find references to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, martial arts, music, calligraphy, and tea. He also blends real historical figures with fictional ones.

Jin Yong's works also value traditional Chinese ideas. These include respect for teachers, family, and honor. His heroes often show these values. They are usually brave, honorable, and patriotic.

However, in his last novel, The Deer and the Cauldron, he changed his style. The main character, Wei Xiaobao, is an antihero. He is greedy and lazy and doesn't know martial arts. But he still shows some of the good qualities found in Jin Yong's earlier heroes. Some people see this book as a playful look at his earlier works.

Discussions About His Works

Studying Jin Yong's works has become a special field called Jinology. Readers and critics often discuss and analyze his fictional world. His close friend, the science fiction writer Ni Kuang, wrote a famous series of analyses about Jin Yong's books.

Even though he was popular, some of his novels were banned outside of Hong Kong for a while. This was due to political reasons. For example, some were thought to be critical of certain political leaders in China. Others were banned in Taiwan for different political reasons. Luckily, these bans are no longer in place. Many politicians, like Deng Xiaoping, were known to be fans of his books.

Timeline of Novels by Historical Period

English Translations Available

Some of Jin Yong's novels have been officially translated into English:

• The Legend of the Condor Heroes (four volumes, published 2018–2021)
• The Deer and the Cauldron (abridged in three volumes, published 1997–2002)
• The Book and the Sword (published 2005)
• Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain

Films, TV Shows, and Games

There are over 90 films and TV shows based on Jin Yong's wuxia novels. Some famous examples include The Swordsman (1990) and Ashes of Time (1994). Many video games, like Heroes of Jin Yong, are also based on his stories.

His works have also been adapted into comics:

• The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber – a comic book series.
• The Legendary Couple – another comic book series.
• Laughing in the Wind – a TV series available on DVD with English subtitles.

As a Film Director

Jin Yong also co-directed two films for Hong Kong's Great Wall Movie Enterprises. He was credited as Cha Jing-yong for these films.

See also

In Spanish: Jin Yong para niños

• Gu Long
• Liang Yusheng
• Woon Swee Oan