Youxia (Chinese: 遊俠) was a type of ancient Chinese warrior folk hero celebrated in classical Chinese poetry and fictional literature. It literally means "wandering vigilante", but is commonly translated as "knight-errant" or less commonly as "cavalier", "adventurer", "soldier of fortune" or "underworld stalwart".[1]
Of the two characters of the term, yóu (遊) literally means to "wander", "travel" or "move around", and xiá (俠) means someone with power who helps others in need. The term refers to the way these men solely travelled the land using physical force or political influence to right the wrongs done to the common people by the powers that be, often judged by their personal codes of chivalry. Youxia did not come from any social class in particular. Various historical documents, wuxia novels and folktales describe them as being princes, government officials, poets, musicians, physicians, professional soldiers, merchants, monks and even humble farmers and butchers. Some were just as handy with a calligraphy brush as others were with swords and spears. The xia originated[2] in and were associated with the Mohist ideology, which stressed the importance of equality. At the end of the Warring States Period, former shi knights who did not transition into scholar-officials became xia as Mohist defenders of the weak.[3] The 16th and 17th century saw a great revival in the xia culture of using martial arts to right wrongs. Some of these were recruited to serve in the Ming resistance against the Qing.[4]
According to Dr. James J. Y. Liu (1926–1986), a professor of Chinese and comparative literature at Stanford University, it was a person's temperament and need for freedom, and not their social status, that caused them to roam the land and help those in need. Dr. Liu believes this is because a very large majority of these knights came from northern China, which borders the territory of "northern nomadic tribes, whose way of life stressed freedom of movement and military virtues". Many knights seem to have come from Hebei and Henan provinces. A large majority of the characters from the Water Margin, which is considered one of China's best examples of knight-errant literature, come from these provinces.[5]
In poetry
One good example of Youxia poetry is The Swordsman (劍客) by Jia Dao (Tang Dynasty):
For ten years I have been polishing this sword; Its frosty edge[a] has never been put to the test. Now I am holding it and showing it to you, sir: Is there anyone suffering from injustice?[6]
According to Dr. Liu, Jia's poem "seems...to sum up the spirit of knight-errantry in four lines. At the same time, one can also take it as a reflection of the desire of all those who have prepared themselves for years to put their abilities to the test for some justice."[6]
A metric translation of the original Chinese poem with one iamb per Chinese character[7] reads as follows:
A decade long I honed a single sword, Its steel-cold blade still yet to test its song. Today I hold it out to you, my lord, and ask: "Who seeks deliverance from a wrong?"
^Liu, James J. Y. The Chinese Knight Errant. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1967, p. xii.
^Dashi Zhang (2017). Corporate Social Responsibility in China: Cultural and Ownership Influences on Perceptions and Practices. Springer. p. 40. ISBN9811048258.
^Oliver Leaman (2006). Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy. Routledge. p. 152. ISBN1134691149.
^Frederic E. Wakeman (1985). The Great Enterprise: The Manchu Reconstruction of Imperial Order in Seventeenth-century China, Volume 1. University of California Press. p. 602. ISBN0520048040.
The Knight-errant in Chinese literature, a 12-page paper by James J.Y. Liu. (accessed 12-20-2008)
January 06, 2023
youxia, chinese, 遊俠, type, ancient, chinese, warrior, folk, hero, celebrated, classical, chinese, poetry, fictional, literature, literally, means, wandering, vigilante, commonly, translated, knight, errant, less, commonly, cavalier, adventurer, soldier, fortun. Youxia Chinese 遊俠 was a type of ancient Chinese warrior folk hero celebrated in classical Chinese poetry and fictional literature It literally means wandering vigilante but is commonly translated as knight errant or less commonly as cavalier adventurer soldier of fortune or underworld stalwart 1 YouxiaTraditional Chinese遊俠Simplified Chinese游侠Literal meaningwandering vigilanteTranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinyouxiaWade Gilesyu2 hsia2IPA jǒʊɕjǎ Yue CantoneseJyutpingjau4 hap6Southern MinHokkien POJiu kiap Contents 1 Background 2 In poetry 3 Analogous concepts 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditOf the two characters of the term you 遊 literally means to wander travel or move around and xia 俠 means someone with power who helps others in need The term refers to the way these men solely travelled the land using physical force or political influence to right the wrongs done to the common people by the powers that be often judged by their personal codes of chivalry Youxia did not come from any social class in particular Various historical documents wuxia novels and folktales describe them as being princes government officials poets musicians physicians professional soldiers merchants monks and even humble farmers and butchers Some were just as handy with a calligraphy brush as others were with swords and spears The xia originated 2 in and were associated with the Mohist ideology which stressed the importance of equality At the end of the Warring States Period former shi knights who did not transition into scholar officials became xia as Mohist defenders of the weak 3 The 16th and 17th century saw a great revival in the xia culture of using martial arts to right wrongs Some of these were recruited to serve in the Ming resistance against the Qing 4 According to Dr James J Y Liu 1926 1986 a professor of Chinese and comparative literature at Stanford University it was a person s temperament and need for freedom and not their social status that caused them to roam the land and help those in need Dr Liu believes this is because a very large majority of these knights came from northern China which borders the territory of northern nomadic tribes whose way of life stressed freedom of movement and military virtues Many knights seem to have come from Hebei and Henan provinces A large majority of the characters from the Water Margin which is considered one of China s best examples of knight errant literature come from these provinces 5 In poetry EditOne good example of Youxia poetry is The Swordsman 劍客 by Jia Dao Tang Dynasty For ten years I have been polishing this sword Its frosty edge a has never been put to the test Now I am holding it and showing it to you sir Is there anyone suffering from injustice 6 extremely sharp edge According to Dr Liu Jia s poem seems to sum up the spirit of knight errantry in four lines At the same time one can also take it as a reflection of the desire of all those who have prepared themselves for years to put their abilities to the test for some justice 6 A metric translation of the original Chinese poem with one iamb per Chinese character 7 reads as follows A decade long I honed a single sword Its steel cold blade still yet to test its song Today I hold it out to you my lord and ask Who seeks deliverance from a wrong Analogous concepts EditBogatyr in Russia Futuwwa in Middle East Fianna in Ireland Knight errant in Europe Ronin in Japan Sae Sok O Gye in KoreaSee also EditGan Ning Li Bai Song Jiang Tang Yin Wuxia Zhou Tong archer The Seven Heroes and Five GallantsReferences Edit Liu James J Y The Chinese Knight Errant London Routledge and Kegan Paul 1967 p xii Dashi Zhang 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility in China Cultural and Ownership Influences on Perceptions and Practices Springer p 40 ISBN 9811048258 Oliver Leaman 2006 Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy Routledge p 152 ISBN 1134691149 Frederic E Wakeman 1985 The Great Enterprise The Manchu Reconstruction of Imperial Order in Seventeenth century China Volume 1 University of California Press p 602 ISBN 0520048040 Shi Nai an and Luo Guanzhong Outlaws of the Marsh Trans Sidney Shapiro Beijing Foreign Language Press 1993 ISBN 7 119 01662 8 a b Liu p 68 Tian Min 2020 Medium article External links EditThe Knight errant in Chinese literature a 12 page paper by James J Y Liu accessed 12 20 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Youxia amp oldid 1109098259, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
