Alice Poon's Blog
April 16, 2024
My Talk on the China History Podcast
On April 9, 2024, the release date of my latest wuxia-myth novel The Earthly Blaze, I had the privilege of chatting on the China History Podcast with the host, Laszlo Montgomery, on my favorite subject of Jin Yong (the wuxia fiction icon) and the Wuxia Genre. The talk covers Jin Yong's life, his works, their impact on popular culture, the history and evolvement of the wuxia genre, and other interesting tidbits.
The China History Podcast is a hugely popular podcast that has a large and devoted audience, consisting of 50 percent US residents and the other 50 percent living all over the world. The Podcast is accessible via Youtube, Audible, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Here's the link to the Jin Yong/Wuxia episode on Youtube:-
CHP Jin Yong Wuxia Episode
Enjoy!
The China History Podcast is a hugely popular podcast that has a large and devoted audience, consisting of 50 percent US residents and the other 50 percent living all over the world. The Podcast is accessible via Youtube, Audible, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Here's the link to the Jin Yong/Wuxia episode on Youtube:-
CHP Jin Yong Wuxia Episode
Enjoy!
August 21, 2023
Historical Tidbits Re: Wuxia Fantasy Genre
Today I would like to share a few historical tidbits regarding the "Wuxia Fantasy" genre.
(1) Wuxia genre researchers generally agree that 水滸傳 Water Margin—one of the Four Great Classical Chinese Novels—is the precursor of the Qing- and Modern-era wuxia fiction. Jin Yong the wuxia fiction grandfather himself admitted that his early works were indeed influenced by Water Margin.
(2) In the Tang dynasty (618 – 907), the most popular genre fiction written in classical Chinese was called "legends" 傳奇小說. Such legends were structured as short novels and grouped into four main categories—wuxia, romance, historical and supernatural.
(3) All these numerous Tang legends were later compiled into the mammoth anthology (consisting of 500 volumes) called 太平廣記 Extensive Records of the Taiping Reign and edited by the Song scholar 李昉 Li Fang and others.
(4) The most well-known “wuxia legend” collected in the Anthology as 卷一百九十三豪俠一 (Volume 193, Wuxia I) is called 虬髯客傳 Legend of the Dragon Beard. This is widely considered the first wuxia novel. The story tells how Dragon Beard helps Li Shimen seize the throne as the second Tang emperor, Tang Taizong.
(5) Another popular “wuxia legend” from the Tang dynasty is 聶隱娘 The Assassin collected in the same Anthology as 卷一百九十四豪俠二 (Volume 194, Wuxia II). There is a 2014 award-winning film adaptation of this story directed by Taiwanese director 候孝賢 Hou Hsiao Hsien and starring 舒琪 Shu Qi.
(6) The fantastical martial arts feats as depicted in the Tang “wuxia legend” 聶隱娘 The Assassin are very likely to have inspired all the qinggong (flying kungfu feats) in wuxia/xianxia fiction of later eras.
The excerpt below shows how the protagonist is trained in kungfu by a nun and her two female disciples. The two disciples can fly around the mountain crags like monkeys leaping from tree to tree. The nun gives her a pill and an ultra sharp dagger. She learns to fly like the two disciples and in time, she feels light as the wind and can use her dagger to stab monkeys, tigers and leopards. After three years, she’s able to stab eagles in flight.
Excerpt:-
及時，至大石穴之嵌空數十步，寂無居人，猿狖極多，鬆蘿益邃。已有二女，亦各十歲，皆聰明婉麗不食。能於峭壁上飛走，若捷猱登木，無有蹶失。尼與我藥一粒，兼令長執寶劍一口，長二尺許，鋒利，吹毛令剸，逐二女攀緣，漸覺身輕如風。一年後，刺猿狖。百無一失。後刺虎豹，皆決其首而歸。三年後能飛，使刺鷹隼，無不中。劍之刃漸減五寸。飛禽遇之，不知其來也。
(1) Wuxia genre researchers generally agree that 水滸傳 Water Margin—one of the Four Great Classical Chinese Novels—is the precursor of the Qing- and Modern-era wuxia fiction. Jin Yong the wuxia fiction grandfather himself admitted that his early works were indeed influenced by Water Margin.
(2) In the Tang dynasty (618 – 907), the most popular genre fiction written in classical Chinese was called "legends" 傳奇小說. Such legends were structured as short novels and grouped into four main categories—wuxia, romance, historical and supernatural.
(3) All these numerous Tang legends were later compiled into the mammoth anthology (consisting of 500 volumes) called 太平廣記 Extensive Records of the Taiping Reign and edited by the Song scholar 李昉 Li Fang and others.
(4) The most well-known “wuxia legend” collected in the Anthology as 卷一百九十三豪俠一 (Volume 193, Wuxia I) is called 虬髯客傳 Legend of the Dragon Beard. This is widely considered the first wuxia novel. The story tells how Dragon Beard helps Li Shimen seize the throne as the second Tang emperor, Tang Taizong.
(5) Another popular “wuxia legend” from the Tang dynasty is 聶隱娘 The Assassin collected in the same Anthology as 卷一百九十四豪俠二 (Volume 194, Wuxia II). There is a 2014 award-winning film adaptation of this story directed by Taiwanese director 候孝賢 Hou Hsiao Hsien and starring 舒琪 Shu Qi.
(6) The fantastical martial arts feats as depicted in the Tang “wuxia legend” 聶隱娘 The Assassin are very likely to have inspired all the qinggong (flying kungfu feats) in wuxia/xianxia fiction of later eras.
The excerpt below shows how the protagonist is trained in kungfu by a nun and her two female disciples. The two disciples can fly around the mountain crags like monkeys leaping from tree to tree. The nun gives her a pill and an ultra sharp dagger. She learns to fly like the two disciples and in time, she feels light as the wind and can use her dagger to stab monkeys, tigers and leopards. After three years, she’s able to stab eagles in flight.
Excerpt:-
及時，至大石穴之嵌空數十步，寂無居人，猿狖極多，鬆蘿益邃。已有二女，亦各十歲，皆聰明婉麗不食。能於峭壁上飛走，若捷猱登木，無有蹶失。尼與我藥一粒，兼令長執寶劍一口，長二尺許，鋒利，吹毛令剸，逐二女攀緣，漸覺身輕如風。一年後，刺猿狖。百無一失。後刺虎豹，皆決其首而歸。三年後能飛，使刺鷹隼，無不中。劍之刃漸減五寸。飛禽遇之，不知其來也。
May 27, 2023
Richmond News Interview re: The Heavenly Sword
A couple of weeks ago I was thrilled to discover that my new book The Heavenly Sword is on the Staff Picks List (SFF genre) at the Seattle Public Library! Seattle Public Library Staff Picks
Then, last week Richmond News (a local newspaper) interviewed me about this wuxia-myth fantasy novel, which I wrote to commemorate the wuxia fiction grandmaster Jin Yong (his wuxia novels have sold over 300 million copies world-wide). The journalist called me to request for an interview when she found out that the book is available at the Richmond Public Library.
Richmond News Article
I had read Jin Yong's books in my childhood and I'm proud to have contributed to this unique genre of Chinese folk literature.
Then, last week Richmond News (a local newspaper) interviewed me about this wuxia-myth fantasy novel, which I wrote to commemorate the wuxia fiction grandmaster Jin Yong (his wuxia novels have sold over 300 million copies world-wide). The journalist called me to request for an interview when she found out that the book is available at the Richmond Public Library.
Richmond News Article
I had read Jin Yong's books in my childhood and I'm proud to have contributed to this unique genre of Chinese folk literature.
April 15, 2023
China Underground Interview re: The Heavenly Sword
I had a nice chat with Matteo Damiani from China Underground (an Italian online culture magazine) on the inspirations and creative process in the writing of The Heavenly Sword.
Here's the Preamble to the article:
"From Hong Kong to Canada, Alice Poon’s experiences and love for Chinese history and mythology have culminated in her captivating fantasy novel, “The Heavenly Sword.” Drawing from her background, Poon expertly weaves a rich tapestry that combines fantastical martial arts, sorcery, celestial magic, and the complexity of human emotions. With her vivid imagination and skilled storytelling, Alice transports readers to a world where immortals, demons, and mortals coexist, and where love, loyalty, and sacrifice take center stage. In this interview, we explore Alice’s inspirations, creative process, and the unique elements that make her novel an enthralling journey into the realm of Chinese fantasy."
Interview Q & A
Here's the Preamble to the article:
"From Hong Kong to Canada, Alice Poon’s experiences and love for Chinese history and mythology have culminated in her captivating fantasy novel, “The Heavenly Sword.” Drawing from her background, Poon expertly weaves a rich tapestry that combines fantastical martial arts, sorcery, celestial magic, and the complexity of human emotions. With her vivid imagination and skilled storytelling, Alice transports readers to a world where immortals, demons, and mortals coexist, and where love, loyalty, and sacrifice take center stage. In this interview, we explore Alice’s inspirations, creative process, and the unique elements that make her novel an enthralling journey into the realm of Chinese fantasy."
Interview Q & A
January 27, 2023
2023 TBRCon Author Panel (Wuxia & Xianxia & Asian-Inspired Fantasy)
Yesterday (January 26, 2023) I had the honor and pleasure of participating in an enjoyable and thought-provoking panel discussion with several other brilliant authors in the Wuxia & Xianxia genre at the 2023 Virtual TBRCon (hosted by the SFF Addicts Podcast).
I have posted the Youtube video of the entire panel discussion on my profile page. Please check it out if you're into diverse reading!
Moderator: Xueting C. Ni
Panelists: Wesley Chu, Nghi Vo, Amélie Wen Zhao, Tao Wong and Alice Poon.
It looks like the highly cultural-specific Wuxia & Xianxia fiction genre is gaining traction in mainstream English publishing. I, for one, am super excited about the recent developments in this unique genre.
Enjoy the viewing!
I have posted the Youtube video of the entire panel discussion on my profile page. Please check it out if you're into diverse reading!
Moderator: Xueting C. Ni
Panelists: Wesley Chu, Nghi Vo, Amélie Wen Zhao, Tao Wong and Alice Poon.
It looks like the highly cultural-specific Wuxia & Xianxia fiction genre is gaining traction in mainstream English publishing. I, for one, am super excited about the recent developments in this unique genre.
Enjoy the viewing!
September 18, 2022
What Inspired Me to Write "The Heavenly Sword"
It's been a long time since I wrote the last blog post.
I'm pleased to announce that my upcoming wuxia-myth fantasy novel The Heavenly Sword will be released on January 10, 2023!
The Chinese wuxia genre of fiction has a long history that dates back to the Tang dynasty. One of the earliest wuxia novels was Legend of the Dragon-Beard Wanderer written by a late-Tang writer named Du Guangting (850 - 933). In the modern era, Jin Yong (1924 - 2018) has been hailed as the grandmaster of modern wuxia fiction.
One of the hallmarks of the genre is the blending of historical events with tales of chivalrous adventures of righteous martial artists with superhuman skills, embedding themes of brotherhood loyalty and gallant altruism.
Jin Yong is a celebrated name for my generation and several subsequent generations of Chinese people. He has been compared to J. R. R. Tolkien of Lord of the Rings fame and I do think the comparison is apt in that both authors were endowed with prodigious power of imagination.
As one of Jin Yong’s more well-known wuxia series—the Condor Heroes trilogy—goes through the process of being translated into English and published, his novels have at last begun to gain wider recognition in the English language book world.
My own writing career began with historical Chinese fiction as I have always been a devoted dabbler in Chinese History. As Jin Yong’s’ readers would know, all his wuxia novels have the marks of well-researched historical settings and casts that include historical characters. The enduring popularity of his novels as well as wuxia C-dramas seems to speak to the proven viability of mixing history with wuxia fantasy.
One day I went down memory lane to revisit my childhood days when my cousins and I, goaded by Jin Yong’s novels, used to amuse ourselves by playacting martial arts heroes and heroines. We would spar with wooden ruler swords, don capes of torn towels and hop from chair to chair in imitation of qinggong stunts. Beset with nostalgia, I started toying with the idea of writing wuxia fantasy novels.
That was how the notion of writing the Sword Maiden from the Moon duology was first spawned. Later, as more creative ideas developed, the realist in me pleaded for the story to be grounded in a civil war and rebellion that happened in the early Ming Dynasty, while the dreamer in me nudged me to create a female knight-errant as the lead and a magical world where mortals, immortals and demons are staged, with retelling of popular Chinese myths.
As much as the heroine of my story is imaginary, she is nonetheless inspired by a real but little known woman rebel leader who escaped capture under the Yongle Emperor’s reign. I have retained her real name “Tang Sai’er” in the novel and she was also truly a leader of the White Lotus Sect. I thought her story of chutzpah was worth telling. But information about her life is so lacking though that it afforded me much creative liberty to paint her character. Her “Chang’e” side was prompted by a Chinese novel titled The Unofficial History of the Female Immortal written by a Qing novelist named Lu Xiong (1642-1723).
I'm pleased to announce that my upcoming wuxia-myth fantasy novel The Heavenly Sword will be released on January 10, 2023!
The Chinese wuxia genre of fiction has a long history that dates back to the Tang dynasty. One of the earliest wuxia novels was Legend of the Dragon-Beard Wanderer written by a late-Tang writer named Du Guangting (850 - 933). In the modern era, Jin Yong (1924 - 2018) has been hailed as the grandmaster of modern wuxia fiction.
One of the hallmarks of the genre is the blending of historical events with tales of chivalrous adventures of righteous martial artists with superhuman skills, embedding themes of brotherhood loyalty and gallant altruism.
Jin Yong is a celebrated name for my generation and several subsequent generations of Chinese people. He has been compared to J. R. R. Tolkien of Lord of the Rings fame and I do think the comparison is apt in that both authors were endowed with prodigious power of imagination.
As one of Jin Yong’s more well-known wuxia series—the Condor Heroes trilogy—goes through the process of being translated into English and published, his novels have at last begun to gain wider recognition in the English language book world.
My own writing career began with historical Chinese fiction as I have always been a devoted dabbler in Chinese History. As Jin Yong’s’ readers would know, all his wuxia novels have the marks of well-researched historical settings and casts that include historical characters. The enduring popularity of his novels as well as wuxia C-dramas seems to speak to the proven viability of mixing history with wuxia fantasy.
One day I went down memory lane to revisit my childhood days when my cousins and I, goaded by Jin Yong’s novels, used to amuse ourselves by playacting martial arts heroes and heroines. We would spar with wooden ruler swords, don capes of torn towels and hop from chair to chair in imitation of qinggong stunts. Beset with nostalgia, I started toying with the idea of writing wuxia fantasy novels.
That was how the notion of writing the Sword Maiden from the Moon duology was first spawned. Later, as more creative ideas developed, the realist in me pleaded for the story to be grounded in a civil war and rebellion that happened in the early Ming Dynasty, while the dreamer in me nudged me to create a female knight-errant as the lead and a magical world where mortals, immortals and demons are staged, with retelling of popular Chinese myths.
As much as the heroine of my story is imaginary, she is nonetheless inspired by a real but little known woman rebel leader who escaped capture under the Yongle Emperor’s reign. I have retained her real name “Tang Sai’er” in the novel and she was also truly a leader of the White Lotus Sect. I thought her story of chutzpah was worth telling. But information about her life is so lacking though that it afforded me much creative liberty to paint her character. Her “Chang’e” side was prompted by a Chinese novel titled The Unofficial History of the Female Immortal written by a Qing novelist named Lu Xiong (1642-1723).
April 3, 2021
Instagram Video by a French Blogger
I'm so thankful that this French blogger, Une Occidentale en Chine, took the time and trouble to create an Instagram video to introduce my two historical Chinese novels: The Green Phoenix: A Novel of Empress Xiaozhuang, the Woman Who Re-Made Asia and Tales of Ming Courtesans.
It's really heartening to see this French reader, blogger and bookstagrammer show so much passion and enthusiasm for Chinese history!
Link to the Video
It's really heartening to see this French reader, blogger and bookstagrammer show so much passion and enthusiasm for Chinese history!
Link to the Video
March 15, 2021
Asian Review of Books - Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans
Asian Review of Books is the premier book review site in Asia, probably the Asia equivalent of Publishers Weekly in terms of authoritative book reviews.
David Chaffetz has just written an in-depth review of Tales of Ming Courtesans for Asian Review of Books.
Alice Poon offers us a modern retelling of their intertwined lives. Tales of Ming Courtesans has two objectives: to bring these three women to life in a way that seems credible and relevant to this generation, and to describe enough of the culture of mid-17th-century China to help us appreciate what has been lost. It is a tightrope act, which, aside from a few stumbles, Poon negotiates from end to end without falling off while providing an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
Link to the Full Review
David Chaffetz has just written an in-depth review of Tales of Ming Courtesans for Asian Review of Books.
Alice Poon offers us a modern retelling of their intertwined lives. Tales of Ming Courtesans has two objectives: to bring these three women to life in a way that seems credible and relevant to this generation, and to describe enough of the culture of mid-17th-century China to help us appreciate what has been lost. It is a tightrope act, which, aside from a few stumbles, Poon negotiates from end to end without falling off while providing an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
Link to the Full Review
February 16, 2021
SCMP's Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans
I was privileged to be interviewed by the lovely Annemarie Evans in November, and am most thankful for her write-up on Tales of Ming Courtesans for Hong Kong's leading English newspaper South China Morning Post!
Excerpts from the Write-Up:
Although it is fictional, Poon meticulously researched the era, and her work is rich in its descriptions of the food, architecture, clothing, music, poetry, cultural references and calligraphy of the period. For those new to Ming dynasty courtesan culture, the poetry and constrained Confucian lives of both men and women of the era, hers is a gentle and descriptive introduction.
Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan and Li Xiangjun were central to China's cultural and literary life, and Poon was keen to give these women a voice so they would not be forever remembered as minor characters in historical narratives written by men.
She writes about the perilous nature of the women’s existence: dependent on the whims of the households they were sold into, while trying to make sure their lovers did not come under too much pressure from their own families and wives.
Paintings exist of all three courtesans, and their stories have featured in televised and literary accounts. Now, Poon has offered an alternative, and perhaps more authentic, picture of their lives.
Link to the Full SCMP Article
Excerpts from the Write-Up:
Although it is fictional, Poon meticulously researched the era, and her work is rich in its descriptions of the food, architecture, clothing, music, poetry, cultural references and calligraphy of the period. For those new to Ming dynasty courtesan culture, the poetry and constrained Confucian lives of both men and women of the era, hers is a gentle and descriptive introduction.
Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan and Li Xiangjun were central to China's cultural and literary life, and Poon was keen to give these women a voice so they would not be forever remembered as minor characters in historical narratives written by men.
She writes about the perilous nature of the women’s existence: dependent on the whims of the households they were sold into, while trying to make sure their lovers did not come under too much pressure from their own families and wives.
Paintings exist of all three courtesans, and their stories have featured in televised and literary accounts. Now, Poon has offered an alternative, and perhaps more authentic, picture of their lives.
Link to the Full SCMP Article
January 30, 2021
A Historian's Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans
Jeremiah Jenne is a well-known American scholar of Chinese history based in Beijing. He has written a thoughtful review of Tales of Ming Courtesans for the popular cultural magazine "The World of Chinese".
Here's a quote from the review:
Though the super courtesan team-up probably never existed, it’s still fun to imagine the historical possibilities if it had—such is the liberating fun of reading a novelist who is also a historian. With characters as rich as these and a writer as expressive as Poon, who needs CGI, anyway?
Link to the Full Review
Here's a quote from the review:
Though the super courtesan team-up probably never existed, it’s still fun to imagine the historical possibilities if it had—such is the liberating fun of reading a novelist who is also a historian. With characters as rich as these and a writer as expressive as Poon, who needs CGI, anyway?
Link to the Full Review
