Mount Hua Sect

Mount Hua Sect
Traditional Chinese	華山派
Simplified Chinese	华山派
Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Huà Shān Pài Cantonese (Yue) - Jyutping Waa4 Saan1 Paai3

The Mount Hua Sect, also known as the Huashan Sect, is featured in three of Jin Yong's wuxia novels as one of the leading orthodox Chinese martial arts sects in the jianghu. As its name implies, the sect is based on Mount Hua. In reality, a Mount Hua Sect exists but it has nothing to do with martial arts as depicted in wuxia fiction. The actual Mount Hua Sect is a Taoist sect and one of the branches of Quanzhen School.^{[citation needed]} It is founded in the Song Dynasty by Hao Datong, one of the "Seven Immortals of Quanzhen", who appear in wuxia fiction as well.^[1] However, in fiction, these two sects do not appear to have any connection at all.

History

The origin of the sect is unknown.^{[citation needed]} In The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, assumed to be set during the Ming Dynasty, the sect's leader Yue Buqun is the 13th leader.^[2] The Mount Hua Sect is part of the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance and becomes the leader of the alliance after Yue Buqun defeats Zuo Lengchan of the Mount Song Sect.^[2] Yue and his wife, Ning Zhongze, are among the top ten experts from the orthodox sects.^{[original research?]} The novel's protagonist, Linghu Chong, is also the eldest disciple of Yue Buqun. In the novel, the Mount Hua Sect is only inferior to three sects, namely Shaolin, Wudang and Sun Moon Holy Cult.^[2]

In Sword Stained with Royal Blood, set during the end of the Ming Dynasty, the protagonist Yuan Chengzhi is also from the Mount Hua Sect as well. His teacher, Mu Renqing, is the leader of the sect, and is said to be the best swordsman alive in the jianghu during that time. The Mount Hua Sect is one of the "Four Great Sword Sects" (四大劍派) alongside Emei, Kunlun and Diancang.^[3]

In The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, set during the Yuan Dynasty, the Mount Hua Sect is briefly mentioned to be one of the six leading orthodox sects in the wulin.^[4] Its leader is the morally bankrupt Xianyu Tong.^[4]

Martial arts

In The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, the martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect consist mostly of swordplay techniques and inner energy skills. The sect is split into the Sword and Qi factions, which focus on swordplay techniques and inner energy cultivation respectively.^[2] The division is caused by a internal conflict arising from a dispute over the Sunflower Manual by the founders of the factions.^[2] The Qi faction seized control of the sect and forced the Sword faction into exile. Since then, the Qi faction, headed by Yue Buqun, has been teaching Mount Hua disciples inner energy skills and other forms of martial arts while placing little focus on swordplay, for which Mount Hua Sect is better known in the wulin for.^[2]

Linghu Chong becomes famous after he learns the Nine Swords of Dugu from the Sword faction elder Feng Qingyang.^[2] Linghu's generation sees the revival of the Sword faction. In Sword Stained with Royal Blood, Mu Renqing is highly recognised in the jianghu for his outstanding swordplay techniques, as his nickname "Divine Sword Immortal Ape" (神劍仙猿) suggests.^[3] Yuan Chengzhi inherits Mu Renqing's swordplay skills, while Mu's other two disciples, Huang Zhen and Gui Xinshu, specialise in unarmed combat martial arts.^[3]

List of fictional Mount Hua martial arts

Unarmed combat styles Tiger-subduing Palm (伏虎掌) Hunyuan Palm (混元掌) Rock-splitting Fist (劈石拳) Jade-smashing Fist (破玉拳) Iron Finger (鐵指訣) Leopard's Tail Legs (豹尾腿)

Armed combat styles Mount Hua Swordplay (華山劍法) Nineteen Styles of Jade Maiden Sword (玉女劍十九式) Wild Wind Swift Sword (狂風快劍) Reverse Dual Saber Style (反兩儀刀法) Gentleman Swordplay (君子劍法) Virgin Maiden Swordplay (淑女劍法) Yangwu Sword (養吾劍) Xiyi Sword (希夷劍) Life-taking Linked Three Immortals Sword (奪命連環三仙劍) Eagle and Serpent's Battle for Survival (鷹蛇生死搏) Mount Hua Three Deities Peak (華嶽三神峰) Nine Swords of Dugu (獨孤九劍)

Qinggong styles Shiduanjin (十段錦) Inner energy skills Violet Mist Divine Skill (紫霞神功) Hunyuan Skill (混元功) Baoyuan Jin (抱元勁)

See also

• Mount Hua

Notes

1. ^ Cha, Louis. The Legend of the Condor Heroes (射鵰英雄傳). Ming Pao, 1957.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Cha, Louis. The Smiling, Proud Wanderer (笑傲江湖). Ming Pao, 1967.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Cha, Louis. Sword Stained with Royal Blood (碧血劍). Ming Pao, 1956.
4. ^ ^{a b} Cha, Louis. The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (倚天屠龍記). Ming Pao, 1961.

External links

• (Chinese) Mount Hua Sect on Baidu Baike