Tag: woman warrior

Women and Wuxia

CeeFu2 Comments

Ok, I’ve put it off long enough.  It’s about time I started my women and wuxia article.

This is what I have so far:

At the end of Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior, the novel posits a reimagining (?) of the woman warrior narrative, suggesting that the way of peace is ultimately better.  That may be true, but it seems to play down the huge legacy of woman warriors in the wuxia tradition. Beyond Mulan, wuxia is crowded with women who can (and often do) beat you down.  Yet in many of the wuxia films, these women are placed in oppositional roles related to men.  The implication of Kingston’s book seems to be that it’s too hard to be a woman warrior, or at best, being a woman and being a warrior are antithetical.

This notion is challenged, not so much by wuxia films, but by wuxia dramas.  I intend to examine three to show how this dichotomy is negotiated in ways that allow women to be women and warriors.  I’ll be looking at three figures:

The Kung Fu Couple:  The most recent incarnation of Eagle Shooting Heroes (2008) continues to represent the relationship between Huang Rong and Guo Jing as one that is more egalitarian than one might expect.  Not only is Huang Rong trained in kung fu by her father, for a good deal of the series, her ability surpasses Guo Jing’s. And yet, they remain a couple.  Hmmmmm.

Mothers and Sons: We’ve seen mothers teach their sons kung fu in movies such as Fong Sai Yuk, and this tradition extends to the wuxia series as well in Project A.

Kung Fu Matriarch: Probably one of the most intriguing examples of women and wuxia is in the series,The Young Warriors.  You’ve heard me wax poetic about Mama Yang, but what is really interesting is that she is a kung fu mama AND a regular mama.  She’ll correct your form, but also give you dating advice.  All while sporting those red robes, well-coiffed hairdo and perfectly manicured hands.

So this is where I am. Updates to follow!

Eagle Shooting Heroes (2008)

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It’s quite a statement to say, but I’m going to put it out there:  this is my favorite wuxia story EVER! This is the second version I’ve seen (the first was the 59 episode, 1983 version, Legend of the Condor Heroes).  Whether its crazy 80s special effects or the more sophisticated fare, what stays relatively the same is the story:  dimwitted boy and clever girl. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I revel in seeing Guo Jing act like a moron (but it is fun), but I’m always amazed at how strong Huang Rong is. She is not only smart, she’s clever (it’s not the same thing).  Yeah, she’s got problems playing well with others, but wouldn’t you if your father was Huang Yaoshi (more on him later).  This the fascinating thing for me and what tends to at least challenge what we think about warrior women in the west (thanks, Maxine Hong Kingston), namely that Rong is in a lot of ways a teenage girl with skills of her own who helps others (namely, Jing!).  She’s girly, and she’ll beat you down.  

So, yes, giddy to see Rong, but was ECSTATIC to see my boo, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, as Huang Yaoshi.  He does indifference like no on else!  He comes in and out of the story, but it’s always fun when he shows up.  Wong does the character justice, and I just find it fascinating that he has enough sense to teach his daughter kung fu before she goes out in the world (unlike other series–yes I’m talking about you, Men and Legends).  I mean, look at the expression on the faces of people when they find out that Rong is the daughter of “Evil East.”  On the more intellectual side, however, this father-daughter relationship is rare and brings up interesting questions that, dare I say, may challenge some feminist assumptions?  For example, she learns from her father, and yes, the mother is out of the picture, but isn’t his parentage what she eventually needs in the big, bad world?  

Still thinking (translation: I reserve the right to wax poetic on ESH in a later post!)