Xianxia - Tumblr Posts
wuxia, xianxia, and cultivation differences meta
translations: wuxia 武俠, xianxia 仙俠, and cultivation 修真/修仙 (xīuzhēn/xīuxiān)
think i've seen posts on this eons ago, and i'm pretty sure there are tons of these online, but since this has been written up already let's just have another one.
wuxia 武俠
wuxia and xianxia sound similar, but basically for wuxia it is about the pugilistic world (江湖 jiānghú). It is relatively more down-to-earth, and people practice martial arts ("kungfu") in their current life -- they do not do it to become xians (仙) and gods (神) however.
Like Thousand Autumns and Faraway Wanderers/Word of Honor, it has more historical background and ties to the current court and kingdoms, because people are living in the moment and concern themselves with worldly issues.
Martial arts may seem unrealistic, but in view of chinese fantasy it would be considered "real". It consists of fighting moves and internal energy, which they call qi or nèigōng (內功), and at times you see people flying around, climbing hills and jumping across rooftops which is qīnggōng (輕功).
xianxia 仙俠
A level up would be xianxia, where characters in the story cultivate to become xians (and gods, like in the heaven official's blessing). They don't really care about earthly issues here now, because their ambitions lie beyond the current world, and cultivation, getting stronger, and an immortal life are majorly all their goals.
You may not always see them working towards that purpose, such as in mdzs they are considered a lower-xianxia society (低魔), meaning people don't go through all the steps of cultivation and only stay at the stage before the "golden core" stage.
In xianxia, characters still learn basic fighting moves aka. martial arts, but to direct the internal energy they use línglì (灵力), zhēnqì (真气), and fǎlì (法力), all xianxia terms you commonly see. "neigong" is practically nonexistent in this genre. That's why people building up their "neigong" instead of "lingli" are likely never going to be able to cultivate.
cultivation 修真/修仙
A subgenre in the xianxia category would be cultivation. Characters actively go through the stages of cultivation, and likely for the MC, because they are the main character, they successfully become a xian and exit the world at the end of the novel.
There are many stages of cultivation, usually defined at the beginning of the novel in the synopsis, and a typical example of the different levels would be this:
练气，筑基，金丹，元婴，化神，炼虚，合体，大乘，渡劫
And with a cursory search, an English translation would be something like this, albeit not with all the cultivation ranks identified.
Qi condensation (练气), Foundation establishment (筑基), Core Formation (金丹), Nascent Soul (元婴), and the names after that vary too greatly with translation and fandom so I'll jump straight to Immortal Ascension
extra info: getting into the philosophy of it all
It'd be interesting to note that the word "xiá" (俠) permeates all these genres. This is something akin to the concept of "hero", but not at all also, and I'd love to speak more on this but this post has already gone way longer than I hoped it would be, so perhaps another day.
Regardless, it is interesting to note that wuxia has a greater emphasis on "xia" than xianxia. (some joke that cultivation doesn't have the word "xia" in it, and much of that is because characters have foregone heroism and focused on gaining powers and working towards ascension instead). As a result, wuxia is more confucianism-oriented, though not without its taoism and buddhism influences.
xianxia, on the other hand, is mainly derived from "dào" (道), from taoism, which is another lengthy concept if I ever get to it.
And some may have heard of the "farming" genre, 种田 (zhòngtián). This has to do with golden fingers (mary sues) in imperialistic china, earning a wealth of money, and all that. It has nothing to do with cultivation, alike they sound in english.
that's it for now, hmu if you wish to ask/discuss!
(and apologies for the pinyin translations, hope it's understandable still! formally writing pinyin they are supposed to be two separate words not one.)
Possibly a story prompt...
I've had this idea in my head all day and I needed somewhere to put it, then I remembered that Tumblr exists....
So story is based off of SVSSS and MLC and BOY but lesbian.
also bad at naming especially in Mandarin(I am not a native speaker) but I really like C-dramas and Danmeis and also wuxia/xianxia sort of things.
Title: The Plum Chronicles
Synopsis: Emma Walker, a lively teenager from southeast England, unexpectedly finds herself transported to a xianxia wuxia world. Here, she encounters Chen Wei, a skilled martial artist initially misunderstood as the antagonist of the realm. As they face pursuit, Chen Wei becomes Emma's martial arts master, and a genuine friendship forms.
However, a true villain, Li Kun, emerges, framing Chen Wei and forcing Emma to rid herself of all emotions to confront the threat. Upon returning to her world, she discovers she has been in a coma for years, retaining her fighting skills but losing her powers. Misunderstood by her parents, Emma moves in with a diverse group of roommates – a streamer, an office worker, and a pet store employee.
Working at a nearby cafe, Emma strives to save money to complete her college qualifications. She becomes a translator for wuxia xianxia works online, showcasing her exceptional Mandarin skills. Accidentally sent back to the xianxia world with her roommates, Emma discovers a way to regain her emotions but loses her overpowering abilities in the process.
Now, with extreme emotions and reduced strength, Emma relies on her roommates' protection. Returning to their world, Emma exhibits newfound bravery. With enough money for college, a bus crash thrusts her into a cave, prompting a revelation on how to balance emotions and power.
On her journey, Emma encounters a potential lover, Li Xiu, faces former enemies, and reunites with her master, Chen Xun. A chance encounter at the tea house, where Li Kun is killed by an unknown assailant who seems like Chen Wei, leaves them puzzled. Chen Wei denies involvement, and the mystery deepens.
As they grapple with this enigma, a college friend, revealed as a formidable power-player, emerges as the true orchestrator behind Li Kun's demise. The group must navigate the complexities of this revelation while facing a looming threat that transcends dimensions.
Characters:
Emma Walker:
Energetic, broken-humour enthusiast from southeast England.
Empathetic, dirty-minded, and a fan of K-pop, J-pop, and 80s music.
Sings and dances to modern world songs, a former fanfiction reader.
Chen Wei(actual name is Chen Xun):
Annoyed and tired master with a mysterious past.
Quick-witted, intelligent, and mischievous when comfortable.
Initially misunderstood as the antagonist, becomes Emma's master.
Li Xiu:
Determined martial artist princess with advanced sword skills.
Calm, collected, and exhibits innate leadership.
Develops a romantic relationship with Emma.
Li Xiu's Family:
Emperor Li Chen: Li Xiu's father, ruling with a strong yet conflicted hand.
Li Kun: Li Xiu's uncle, the true villain manipulating events.
Empress (Cuì Fēi): Li Xiu's mother, a strong and elegant figure.
Li Xiu's Siblings: Two older brothers, a younger sister, and a younger brother.
College Friend:
Daniel Wright:
A seemingly ordinary friend from Emma's college days.
Revealed as a power-player in both worlds, harbouring sinister motives.
Other Characters:
Master Bai Hua: Wise martial arts master.
Ling Feng: Mysterious martial artist with ambiguous loyalties.
Zhao Ming: Brash martial artist seeking recognition.
Setting:
Southeast England (pre-isekai)
Xianxia wuxia world
Multiverse with interconnected dimensions
Plot Elements:
Li Xiu, the Emperor's daughter, runs away from the palace to explore the world.
Emma, Chen Wei, and Li Xiu travel together, facing challenges and gaining experience.
Multiverse conspiracy involving inter-dimensional travelers.
Revelation of a college friend's involvement in the overarching conspiracy.
Relationships:
Emma's unique bond with Chen Wei, marked by mentorship and friendship.
Li Xiu's complex relationship with her family and the challenges they face.
(havent done alot about Emma's Roommates)
Art dump! These are some character designs for my wlw xianxia OCs :D
this is a closer look at the different layers (second one (Mei Yanfei's) is kinda different from the design i ended up using (see photos above), but oh well) female body base for these is made by @/Naoyin on devian art
aaaaand, a cute lil drawing of both of them :D
wuxia, xianxia, and cultivation differences meta
translations: wuxia 武俠, xianxia 仙俠, and cultivation 修真/修仙 (xīuzhēn/xīuxiān)
think i've seen posts on this eons ago, and i'm pretty sure there are tons of these online, but since this has been written up already let's just have another one.
wuxia 武俠
wuxia and xianxia sound similar, but basically for wuxia it is about the pugilistic world (江湖 jiānghú). It is relatively more down-to-earth, and people practice martial arts ("kungfu") in their current life -- they do not do it to become xians (仙) and gods (神) however.
Like Thousand Autumns and Faraway Wanderers/Word of Honor, it has more historical background and ties to the current court and kingdoms, because people are living in the moment and concern themselves with worldly issues.
Martial arts may seem unrealistic, but in view of chinese fantasy it would be considered "real". It consists of fighting moves and internal energy, which they call qi or nèigōng (內功), and at times you see people flying around, climbing hills and jumping across rooftops which is qīnggōng (輕功).
xianxia 仙俠
A level up would be xianxia, where characters in the story cultivate to become xians (and gods, like in the heaven official's blessing). They don't really care about earthly issues here now, because their ambitions lie beyond the current world, and cultivation, getting stronger, and an immortal life are majorly all their goals.
You may not always see them working towards that purpose, such as in mdzs they are considered a lower-xianxia society (低魔), meaning people don't go through all the steps of cultivation and only stay at the stage before the "golden core" stage.
In xianxia, characters still learn basic fighting moves aka. martial arts, but to direct the internal energy they use línglì (灵力), zhēnqì (真气), and fǎlì (法力), all xianxia terms you commonly see. "neigong" is practically nonexistent in this genre. That's why people building up their "neigong" instead of "lingli" are likely never going to be able to cultivate.
cultivation 修真/修仙
A subgenre in the xianxia category would be cultivation. Characters actively go through the stages of cultivation, and likely for the MC, because they are the main character, they successfully become a xian and exit the world at the end of the novel.
There are many stages of cultivation, usually defined at the beginning of the novel in the synopsis, and a typical example of the different levels would be this:
练气，筑基，金丹，元婴，化神，炼虚，合体，大乘，渡劫
And with a cursory search, an English translation would be something like this, albeit not with all the cultivation ranks identified.
Qi condensation (练气), Foundation establishment (筑基), Core Formation (金丹), Nascent Soul (元婴), and the names after that vary too greatly with translation and fandom so I'll jump straight to Immortal Ascension
extra info: getting into the philosophy of it all
It'd be interesting to note that the word "xiá" (俠) permeates all these genres. This is something akin to the concept of "hero", but not at all also, and I'd love to speak more on this but this post has already gone way longer than I hoped it would be, so perhaps another day.
Regardless, it is interesting to note that wuxia has a greater emphasis on "xia" than xianxia. (some joke that cultivation doesn't have the word "xia" in it, and much of that is because characters have foregone heroism and focused on gaining powers and working towards ascension instead). As a result, wuxia is more confucianism-oriented, though not without its taoism and buddhism influences.
xianxia, on the other hand, is mainly derived from "dào" (道), from taoism, which is another lengthy concept if I ever get to it.
And some may have heard of the "farming" genre, 种田 (zhòngtián). This has to do with golden fingers (mary sues) in imperialistic china, earning a wealth of money, and all that. It has nothing to do with cultivation, alike they sound in english.
that's it for now, hmu if you wish to ask/discuss!
(and apologies for the pinyin translations, hope it's understandable still! formally writing pinyin they are supposed to be two separate words not one.)
The Things That Connect Us
Reincarnated in a Xianxia World
is an 18+ Interactive Fiction that is free to play from start to finish. It’s available on pc and mobile. Its entirely text-based and allows you to customize the main character’s looks, personality, and skills. There are 6 love interests to choose from. This game is a work in progress. Each chapter would be released as I finish it.
Plot
It’s been years since you remembered your past life and it took you even longer to realize that you had the tremendous misfortune to be reborn as a villain in the xianxia tv show you were watching before your sudden death.
You are reborn as a whelp of the Red Lantern District. Your mother died at your birth and you grew up assuming you’ll be just another courtesan, at first. When the courtesans start getting murdered, cultivators show up, suspecting the hand of spirits or demons. You catch the eye of a head cultivator. He is suspicious of you and fascinated by you. He unmasks the fact that you aren’t human, not anymore, and convinces you into becoming his disciple.
Now as a disciple cultivator to a cultivation sect, you must do everything you can to keep your heritage a secret. Unfortunately, now there is someone besides just you that knows that you are not human and they are eager to make use of you. Once you are trained enough, that is.
Whatever long term plans your master now has for you, you want no part in. But that is no longer in your hands.
Features:
Seguir leyendo
I love this idea because imagine a reincarnated protagonist that doesn't carry around a sword so people think they're weak asf and an easy target. When in reality, they have learned numerous martial arts (taekwondo, muay thai, judo, karate, jiu-jitsu, krav maga, etc.) and fucking goes to town with cultivators because they have yet to know the power of "these fists are rated e for everyone" batshit cultivator that is the protagonist. And it also happens that muscle memory is ingrained into their body so it's very apparent they have experience and now everyone is panicking about this 'rogue and savage' cultivator that does not believe in honour.
To add to this amazing idea, what if said protagonist does not hesistate to fight dirty. I'm talking beating the shit out of people with random objects, pulling hair, biting, scratching, strangles people, using unconvential weapons/uses weapons in an unconventional way. Like imagine if their sword breaks and their opponent thinks that victory is theirs. But then our lovely mc uses the broken piece and somehow manages to sharpen each side and fucking stabs their opponent.
Or if the protagonist really hates using swords but they're not opposed to using other weapons such as bows and polearms. Like can you imagine a showdown between the mc and a powerful undefeated cultivator, and the cultivator is waiting for mc to show up and they get shot with an arrow and they're like
Cultivator: "COME OUT AND FACE ME LIKE AN HONOURABLE CULTIVATOR SHOULD"
Main 'i do not give a shit about using swords or having honour' protagonist: fuck no, i'm killing you with my bow and arrow
And when mc gets closer, they pull out a polearm which gives them an advantage over a sword because of the longer reach
If mc runs out of arrows, they just beat the hell out them with the bow and smacks the life out of them. And finally, out of complete disrespect, bitchslaps them into the abyss; maybe uses their fists to spice up the fight.
And when all is done, people are speaking about this mad dog, insane, demonic cultivator who disregards honour and people think their some buff, rude, demon/demonic cultivator. Then it cuts to a nice, polite, and respectful looking person who just is realistic about fights and could not give less of a shit about fighting with honour because honour does not guarantee you your life. Also they hate when people yap during fights because that is the one thing you don't do because whoopsy daisy, I dislocated your jaw.
Anyways thank you @thealexanderfiles for the genius idea that we all needed to hear about
there is too much sword fighting in xianxia novels. i propose a main character who is completely average at swordplay but is skilled in hand to hand fighting. so they decide to use this as a trump card, and not really display their abilities.
bonus points if this scene is included:
opposition, pointing their sword at MC's throat : It's over. you have lost your sword, you are kneeling at my feet. i have won-
MC: wow your knees look really breakable down here
opposition: what
cutscene to MC pinning opposition in chokehold
Qin if it was a wuxia/xianxia.
Qin si fuera un wuxia/xianxia.
Just in theory.... Can cultivators use their swords as skewers in their trips?