Xiagu Danxin

Xiagu Danxin is a wuxia novel by Liang Yusheng. It was first serialised between 5 October 1967 and 20 June 1969 in the Hong Kong newspaper Sin Wan Pao (新晚報). It is a sequel to Yunhai Yugong Yuan and is closely related to two of Liang Yusheng's other novels, Binghe Xijian Lu and Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou.

Xiagu Danxin

Author	Liang Yusheng
Original title	俠骨丹心
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Chinese
Genre	Wuxia
Publisher	Sin Wan Pao
Publication date	5 October 1967 – 20 June 1969
Media type	Print
ISBN	7-80521-649-5
Preceded by	Yunhai Yugong Yuan, Binghe Xijian Lu, Fenglei Zhen Jiuzhou

Xiagu Danxin
Traditional Chinese	俠骨丹心
Simplified Chinese	侠骨丹心
Literal meaning	Chivalrous Bones and Loyal Heart
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xiá Gǔ Dān Xīn Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Hap6 Gwat1 Daan1 Sam1

Plot

The novel is set in China during the reign of the Daoguang Emperor (r.  1820–1850) in the Manchu-led Qing dynasty. Jin Shiyi, the protagonist in Yunhai Yugong Yuan, had left the mainland with his wife, Gu Zhihua, and settled on a remote island 20 years ago. Their son, Jin Zhuliu, who has inherited his father's skills and abilities, disguises himself as a beggar and travels to the mainland in search of adventure. He rescues and befriends Qin Yuanhao of the Wudang Sect, defeats the evil martial artist Wen Daozhuang, foils an assassination attempt on Jiang Haitian (Jin Shiyi's apprentice), and becomes famous in the wulin (martial artists' community) for his deeds.

Shi Baidu, the founder and chief of the Six Harmonies Sect, pledges allegiance to Safuding, a high-ranking Manchu aristocrat – much to the chagrin of his fellows in the wulin. He intends to present lavish gifts to Safuding at the latter's 60th birthday party, but a string of pearls he prepared is stolen by his subordinate. The xuantie, a precious piece of metal regarded as a sacred artefact of the Six Harmonies Sect, is stolen by Jin Zhuliu and Shi Baidu's younger sister, Shi Hongying. Jin Zhuliu and Shi Hongying were initially hostile towards each other when they first met, but they gradually develop a romantic relationship after their various encounters. Jin Zhuliu also meets Li Nanxing, a grandnephew of Li Shengnan, the leader of the former Heavenly Demonic Cult, and becomes sworn brothers with him. They join forces with Yuchi Jiong and his wife to disrupt Safuding's birthday party and rob him of several precious items.

Shi Baidu arranges for a marriage between his sister and Shuai Mengxiong, a Qing general leading imperial forces to suppress a rebellion in Xichang. He is actually plotting to lure Li Nanxing into a trap and harm him. Jin Zhuliu mistakenly believes that Shi Hongying loves Li Nanxing and feels heartbroken. However, after learning the truth, he rushes to save his sworn brother and engages enemies in battle. Li Nanxing is injured but is saved by Gongsun Yan, the daughter of Gongsun Hong, the leader of the Red Tassel Society. He gradually falls in love with Gongsun Yan. Even though his plot has failed, Shi Baidu still insists on making Shi Hongying marry Shuai Mengxiong. On the wedding day, Jin Zhuliu, Li Nanxing, Gongsun Yan and their allies show up in Xichang, disrupt the wedding and defeat Shuai Mengxiong and his forces. Shi Baidu meets his downfall and commits suicide in shame. Shi Hongying becomes the new chief of the Six Harmonies Sect and pledges to support the rebels in resisting the Qing government.

During the battle at Xichang, Li Nanxing and Gongsun Yan accidentally fall off a cliff together and are presumed dead. In the meantime, some lowlifes led by Yang Hao reestablish the Heavenly Demonic Cult in Li Nanxing's name and commit atrocities in the wulin. Jin Zhuliu is surprised to hear that his sworn brother, who he thought was dead, is alive and has become a villain. He refuses to believe the rumours and infiltrates the Heavenly Demonic Cult to investigate. He encounters Li Nanxing, who has survived the fall, while investigating the cult at night. They discover that Yang Hao has found someone to impersonate Li Nanxing and pledged allegiance to the Qing government. Jin Zhuliu, Li Nanxing and their allies clash with Yang Hao and his supporters at the Heavenly Demonic Cult's headquarters on Mount Zulai and defeat the enemy, thereby preventing a major crisis in the wulin from taking place. The cult is disbanded again and the majority of its members join the rebels. Around the time, Jin Zhuliu's parents also return to the mainland and defeat seven highly skilled martial artists from Fusang.

The protagonists and their allies learn that Safuding has contacted five tribal chiefs in Qinghai and obtained their support to attack the rebels in Xichang. Jin Zhuliu volunteers to travel to Xichang to warn the rebels and stop the Qinghai tribes from assisting Safuding. He eventually succeeds in his missions with the help of his friends and returns to Xichang in triumph. The novel ends on a happy note: Jin Zhuliu marries Shi Hongying while Li Nanxing marries Gongsun Yan, with blessings from the wulin.

Characters

Main characters

• Jin Zhuliu (金逐流), the first protagonist and the son of Jin Shiyi and Gu Zhihua.
• Li Nanxing (厲南星), the second protagonist and the son of Li Fusheng.
• Shi Hongying (史紅英), Shi Baidu's younger sister and Jin Zhuliu's romantic interest.
• Gongsun Yan (公孫燕), Gongsun Hong's daughter and Li Nanxing's romantic interest.

Other characters

• Qin Yuanhao (秦元浩), Leizhenzi's apprentice.
• Jiang Haitian (江海天), Jin Shiyi's apprentice and Jin Zhuliu's senior.
• Jiang Xiaofu (江曉芙), Jiang Haitian's daughter and Yuwen Xiong's wife.
• Feng Zichao (封子超), a former imperial guard.
• Feng Miaochang (封妙嫦), Feng Zichao's daughter and later Qin Yuanhao's wife.
• Ouyang Wan (歐陽婉), Ouyang Zhonghe's daughter and Ye Chongxiao's wife.
• Zhong Changtong (仲長統), the chief of the Beggars' Sect.
• Ye Muhua (葉慕華), Ye Chongxiao's son and Jiang Haitian's most senior apprentice.
• Li Guangxia (李光夏), Li Wencheng's son and Jiang Haitian's apprentice.
• Geng Xiufeng (耿秀鳳), Ye Muhua's wife.
• Yiyangzi (一陽子), from the Emei Sect.
• Tang Jiayuan (唐加源), Tang Jingtian's son.
• Bai Xiong (白雄), from the Mangshan Sect (邙山派).
• Jin Shiyi (金世遺), the most powerful martial artist in the wulin.
• Gu Zhonglian (谷中蓮), the fourth leader of the Mangshan Sect, Jiang Haitian's wife and Ye Chongxiao's sister.
• Xiao Zhiyuan (蕭志遠), from the Qingcheng Sect (青城派), and the chief of the Xiaojinchuan (小金川) rebels.
• Gu Zhihua (谷之華), the third leader of the Mangshan Sect, Jin Shiyi's wife, Meng Shentong's daughter, and Lü Siniang's apprentice.
• Ye Chongxiao (葉沖霄), the prince of Masa'er Kingdom (馬薩兒國).
• Lin Daoxuan (林道軒), Lin Qing's son, Jiang Haitian's apprentice, and later the leader of the Tianli Society (天理會).
• Zhu Shangfu (竺尚父), the second most powerful martial artist in the wulin and the chief of the Xichang rebels.
• Shangguan Tai (上官泰), the master of Tianzhu Peak (天柱峰).
• Zhu Qinghua (竺清華), Zhu Shangfu's daughter and Li Guangxia's wife.
• Shangguan Wan (上官紈), Shangguan Tai's daughter and Lin Daoxuan's wife.
• Li Dun (李敦), a former scribe under Shi Baidu who later became the deputy chief of the Six Harmonies Sect (六合幫).
• Chen Tianyu (陳天宇), the leader of the wulin in Jiangnan.
• You Ping (幽萍), Chen Tianyu's wife.
• Chen Guangzhao (陳光照), Chen Tianyu's son.
• Gong Bingfan (宮秉藩), a lodge master in the Red Tassel Society (紅纓會).
• Shi Xuan (石玄), a lodge master in the Red Tassel Society.
• Qin Chong (秦衝), a lodge master in the Red Tassel Society.
• Zhuang Yuan (莊遠), a lodge master in the Red Tassel Society.
• Gongsun Hong (公孫宏), the leader of the Red Tassel Society.
• He Jianxiong (何建雄)
• He Caifeng (何彩鳳), He Jianxiong's daughter and later Li Dun's wife.
• Dai Jun (戴均), the leader of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency (震遠鏢局).
• Yuchi Jiong (尉遲炯), a bandit and minor leader of the Xiaojinchuan rebels.
• Dai Mo (戴謨), Dai Jun's eldest son and Sikong Shangren's apprentice.
• Dai You (戴猷), Dai Jun's second son.
• Ding Peng (丁彭), a minor leader in the Six Harmonies Sect and close aide of Shi Baidu.
• Zhang Hong (張宏), a bandit.
• Li Zhuang (李壯), a bandit and Zhang Hong's sworn brother.
• Qi Shengyin (祈聖因), Yuchi Jiong's wife.
• Tang Jiefu (唐杰夫), the most famous swordsmith in the wulin.
• Sikong Shangren (四空上人), also known as Reverend Kongzhao (空照大師), the abbot of Wofo Temple.
• Wang Tai (王泰), the master of the Beggars' Sect's Jinan branch.
• Li Mao (李茂), the master of the Beggars' Sect's Yangzhou branch.
• Shi Xiagu (石霞姑), Chen Guangzhao's lover.
• Chunlan (春蘭), a maid in Cao Zhenyong's house.
• Wang Ji (王吉), Li Dun's friend and a minor leader in the Six Harmonies Sect.
• Yun Long (雲龍), the master of Water Cloud Manor (水雲莊).
• Yun Zhongyan (雲中燕), Yun Long's daughter and Qin Shaoyang's wife.
• Li Hu'er (厲虎兒), the master of a bandit stronghold at Yinma River (飲馬川).
• Zhang Pengfei (張鵬飛), the master of a bandit stronghold at Tiaohua Stream (跳虎澗).
• Lin Gang (林崗), Yun Long's second apprentice.
• Qin Shaoyang (秦少陽), Yun Long's first apprentice.
• Shaoyao (芍藥), Shi Hongying's trusted servant.
• Mudan (牡丹), Shi Hongying's trusted servant.
• Guan Dalun (關大倫), a spy planted in Xichang by the rebels.
• Sun Bailu (孫百祿), the chief of the Long Whale Sect (長鯨幫).
• Sun Baishou (孫百壽), Sun Bailu's younger brother and a lodge master in the Long Whale Sect.
• Han Zhengda (韓正達), a lodge master in the Heavenly Demonic Cult (天魔教).
• Mou Zongtao (牟宗濤), from the Fusang Sect (扶桑派), and a descendant of Mou Canglang.
• Gan Renlong (甘人龍), from the Mangshan Sect, and a descendant of Gan Fengchi.
• Shi Wei (石衛), from the Fusang Sect.
• Sang Qing (桑青), Shi Wei's wife, from the Fusang Sect.
• Lin Wushuang (林無雙), Mou Zongtao's cousin.
• Lian Caihong (練彩虹), from the Fusang Sect, and an apprentice of Zong Shenlong's wife.
• Zongda Wanzhen (宗達完真), a Tibetan lama from the Kagyu Sect.

Antagonists

• Wen Daozhuang (文道莊), an imperial guard commander and Wen Tingbi's nephew.
• Wen Shengzhong (文勝中), Wen Daozhuang's son.
• Zhu Huchen (朱虎臣), an imperial guard.
• Che Rui (車銳), an imperial guard.
• Shuai Mengxiong (帥孟雄), a general in Xichang and a formidable powerful martial artist.
• Ouyang Jian (歐陽堅), Ouyang Bohe's son.
• Yang Hao (陽浩), Yang Chifu's son.
• Gong Pingye (龔平野), Yang Hao's apprentice.
• Shi Baidu (史白都), the chief of the Six Harmonies Sect.
• Safuding (薩福鼎), a high-ranking aristocrat.
• Yuanhai (圓海), a lodge master of the Six Harmonies Sect.
• Qingfu (青符), a lodge master of the Six Harmonies Sect.
• Jiao Lei (焦磊), a lodge master of the Six Harmonies Sect.
• Dong Shisanniang (董十三娘), Shi Baidu's lover and a lodge master of the Six Harmonies Sect.
• Du Daye (杜大業), Gao Dacheng's junior and the chief of the White Tiger Sect (白虎幫).
• Zheng Xiongtu (鄭雄圖), a former bandit from northern China who became a martial arts instructor for Qing forces in Xichang.
• Gao Dacheng (高大成), the chief of the Blue Dragon Sect (青龍幫).
• Qian Da (錢大), Sha Qianfeng's close aide.
• Sha Qianfeng (沙千峰), the chief of the Haisha Sect (海砂幫) and Shi Baidu's sworn brother.
• Peng Jurong (彭巨嶸), a traitor of the Shaolin Sect who became a guard in Cao Zhenyong's house.
• Lian Chenghu (連城虎), a guard in Cao Zhenyong's house.
• Sha Chongshan (沙重山), Sha Qianfeng's son.
• Tian Jun (田峻), a bandit.
• Wei Qi (魏琦), a bandit.
• He Daniang (賀大娘), Li Shengnan's servant and Shi Xiagu's nanny.
• Cao Tong (曹通), Cao Zhenyong's son.
• An Junting (安俊庭), Shuai Mengxiong's housekeeper.
• Zong Shenlong (宗神龍), from the Fusang Sect.

Characters mentioned by name

• Leizhenzi (雷震子), the leader of the Wudang Sect.
• Songshi (松石), from the Wudang Sect, and Leizhenzi's junior.
• Wen Tingbi (文廷璧), the master of Nameless Island (無名島).
• Ouyang Zhonghe (歐陽仲和), a great villain and Ouyang Bohe's younger brother.
• Tang Xiaolan (唐曉瀾), the former leader of the Mount Heaven Sect.
• Tongchan Shangren (痛禪上人), an elder of the Shaolin Sect.
• Reverend Jinguang (金光大師), from the Emei Sect.
• Sumeng (甦蒙), a highly skilled imperial guard.
• Ye Lingfeng (葉凌風), Ye Tuhu's son.
• Elder Wenyun (閒雲長老), the leader of the Emei Sect.
• Tang Jingtian (唐經天), the leader of the Mount Heaven Sect.
• Reverend Dabei (大悲禪師), the abbot of the Shaolin Sect.
• Xiao Qingfeng (蕭青峰), Xiao Zhiyuan's grandfather.
• Ji Xiaofeng (姬曉風), a highly skilled thief.
• Jiang Nan (江南), Jiang Haitian's father and the sworn brother of Chen Tianyu and Ji Xiaofeng.
• Dulong Zunzhe (毒龍尊者), Jin Shiyi's master.
• Lü Siniang (呂四娘), the second leader of the Mangshan Sect (邙山派) and Lü Liuliang's daughter.
• Qiao Beiming (喬北溟) (see Lianjian Fengyun Lu)
• Chishenzi (赤神子), a great villain.
• Ouyang Bohe (歐陽伯和), a great villain.
• Leng Tieqiao (冷鐵樵), the leader of the Xiaojinchuan rebels.
• Meng Shentong (孟神通), a great villain.
• Yang Chifu (陽赤符), Meng Shentong's junior.
• Li Shengnan (厲勝男), the founder of the Heavenly Demonic Cult (天魔教).
• Li Fusheng (厲復生), Li Shengnan's nephew.
• Lian Chengbi (連城璧), Lian Chenghu's cousin.
• Lian Chengyu (連城玉), Lian Chengbi's twin brother.
• Cao Zhenyong (曹振鏞), a statesman and scholar.
• Mujangga (穆彰阿), a statesman.
• Yuwen Lang (宇文朗), from the Zhenyuan Escort Agency.
• Ding Gu (丁固), from the Zhenyuan Escort Agency.
• Lü Liuliang
• Shi Gufeng (石谷風), Shi Xiagu's cousin.
• Li Wencheng (李文成), a lodge master in the Tianli Society.
• Luo Dakui (羅大魁), a bandit chief from the Qinling Mountains.
• Hua Tianfeng (華天風), a reclusive physician living on Mount Hua.
• Taoist Shushi (漱石道人), Hua Tianfeng's apprentice.
• Mou Canglang (牟滄浪), a famous Tang dynasty martial artist and heir to Qiuran Ke.
• Tie Mole (鐵摩勒) (see Datang Youxia Zhuan)
• Kongkong'er (空空兒) (see Datang Youxia Zhuan)
• One-Armed Divine Nun (獨臂神尼), a former Ming dynasty princess who founded the Mangshan Sect (邙山派).
• Ling Weifeng (凌未風) (see Qijian Xia Tianshan)
• Gan Fengchi (甘鳳池), a hero from Jiangnan.
• Lu Minzhan (路民瞻), a hero from Jiangnan.
• Bai Taiguan (白泰官), a hero from Jiangnan.
• Li Yuan (李源), a hero from Jiangnan.
• Bai Yingjie (白英傑), from the Mangshan Sect, and a descendant of Bai Taiguan.
• Lu Yinghao (路英豪), from the Mangshan Sect, and a descendant of Lu Minzhan.
• Qiuran Ke (虯髯客), the founder of the Fusang Sect.
• Timodaduo (提摩達多), an Arab martial artist.
• Lin Qing (林清), the former leader of the Tianli Society (天理會).
• Zhang Shilong (張士龍), Lin Qing's sworn brother and the leader of the Tianli Society.

Adaptations

In 1971, the novel was adapted into a Hong Kong film titled The Patriotic Knights, produced by Great Wall Movie Enterprises and directed by Chang Hsin-yen.

In 2006, the novel was adapted into a Chinese television series titled The Patriotic Knights, starring Chen Long as Jin Zhuliu, Stephanie Hsiao as Shi Hongying, Wallace Chung as Li Nanxing and He Meitian as Gongsun Yan (renamed to Zhong Yanyan in the series). The series is set in the late Ming dynasty instead of the Qing dynasty.