Shiao Yi

Shiao Yi (simplified Chinese: 萧逸; traditional Chinese: 蕭逸; pinyin: Xiāo Yì; 4 June 1935 – 19 November 2018) was a Chinese American wuxia ("martial arts and chivalry") novelist.[1] Shiao was often mentioned with Jin Yong as the "Nan Jin Bei Shiao" (Chinese: 南金北蕭; lit.: 'Jin of the south and Shiao of the north'). In all, he wrote 55 novels in his life, including several novellas. Many of his works have been adapted for films and TV series, with their influences spreading across the East Asian cultural sphere and throughout the Chinese diaspora.[2]

Shiao Yi
Native name	蕭逸
Born	Shiao Ching Jen (1935-06-04)June 4, 1935 Beijing, China
Died	November 19, 2018(2018-11-19) (aged 83) Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation	Novelist
Language	Chinese
Citizenship	United States
Alma mater	Republic of China Naval Academy Chung Yuan Christian University
Period	1960–2017
Genre	Novel
Subject	Wuxia
Notable works	Ma Ming Feng Xiao Xiao Princess Wuyou Sister Gan Nineteen
Spouse	Liu Meiqing
Children	3

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Shiao.

Biography

Shiao was born Shiao Ching Jen (萧敬人; 蕭敬人) in Beijing, on June 4, 1935, to Xiao Zhichu (1897–1958), a Nationalist general. His ancestral home in Heze, Shandong. He spent his childhood in Chongqing during the Second Sino-Japanese War. After the defeat of the Nationalists by the Communists in the Chinese Civil War in 1949, his family moved to Taiwan. Shiao attended Jianguo School in Taipei. Then he was accepted to the Republic of China Naval Academy. Two years later, he left school at home.

Shiao started to write Tieyan Shuangling (铁雁霜翎; 鐵雁霜翎; 'Iron Goose Frost Feathers') in 1960.[3] In 1961 he entered the Chung Yuan Christian University. In 1977 he emigrated to Los Angeles, California, United States. His novel, Sister Gan Nineteen, was adapted into a TV series by Shandong Television in 1995, earning him nationwide popularity. It remains a part of the collective memory of the 80's generation.[2]

On November 19, 2018, Shiao died of lung cancer at hospital in Los Angeles.[4][5] His death is only 20 days after the Chinese literary world lost another wuxia novelist, Jin Yong.[2]

Personal life

Shiao married Liu Meiqing (Chinese: 劉美清) in 1964, he had three sons: Xiao Peiyu (Chinese: 蕭培宇), Xiao Peihuan (Chinese: 蕭培寰) and Xiao Peilun (Chinese: 蕭培倫).[6]

Shiao was a close friend of wuxia novelist Gu Long, and they started to write at about the same time.[2]

Works

Novels

• Ma Ming Feng Xiao Xiao (simplified Chinese: 马鸣风萧萧; traditional Chinese: 馬鳴風蕭蕭)
• Princess Wuyou (simplified Chinese: 无忧公主; traditional Chinese: 無憂公主)
• Sister Gan Nineteen (Chinese: 甘十九妹)
• Qi Qin Zhang (Chinese: 七禽掌)
• Bai Ru Yun (simplified Chinese: 白如云; traditional Chinese: 白如雲)
• Chunjiang Wanli Qing (simplified Chinese: 春江万里情; traditional Chinese: 春江萬里情)
• Feng Qi Kunlun (simplified Chinese: 凤栖昆仑; traditional Chinese: 鳳棲昆侖)
• Jingong Nǚjie (Chinese: 金弓女杰)
• Seven Sons of Kunlun (simplified Chinese: 昆仑七子; traditional Chinese: 昆侖七子)
• Changjian Xiangsi (simplified Chinese: 长剑相思; traditional Chinese: 長劍相思)
• Hanqing Kanjian (simplified Chinese: 含情看剑; traditional Chinese: 含情看劍)
• Yinma Liuhuahe (simplified Chinese: 饮马流花河; traditional Chinese: 飲馬流花河)
• Panlang Qiaocui (Chinese: 潘郎憔悴)

References

1. 与金庸相比,萧逸更在意中国传统的伦理道德. 163.com (in Chinese). 21 November 2018.
2. CGTN (21 November 2018). "Chinese martial arts novelist Shiao Ching-jen dies at 83". China Daily. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
3. 萧逸武侠精品进入内地. 163.com (in Chinese). 1 June 2009.
4. 著名武侠小说家萧逸先生辞世. usnewsexpress.com (in Chinese). 19 November 2018.
5. 铁凝发唁电：称萧逸逝世是华语文学与中国文学的巨大损失. ynet.com (in Chinese). 21 November 2018.
6. 武侠小说家萧逸生前口述（上）：写小说是一条不归路. thepaper.cn (in Chinese). 2018-12-04.