Backup Jin Yong Third Edition Change by Athena on Spcnet
English:
This page is a backup of a topic created by user 'Athena' on Spcnet, once the largest Wuxia forum (now defunct), regarding several changes and revisions made to Jin Yong's novels from the 2nd to the 3rd edition in the early 2000s.
Bahasa Indonesia:
Halaman ini merupakan backup salah satu topik yang dibuat oleh user Athena di forum wuxia terbesar Spcnet (sekarang sudah ditutup), tentang beberapa perubahan dan revisi novel Jin Yong dari edisi 2 ke edisi 3 yang terjadi pada tahun 2000an awal.
Written by Athena @spcnet
1. Sword Stained with Royal Blood
I just finished reading the third edition of The Sword Stained With Royal Blood.
There are some major changes here and there.
1) He Tieshou doesn't fall in love anymore with Qingqing. She immediately saw through she was a girl. But Jin Yong turned He Tieshou into martial arts fanatic. When she saw the skills of Yuan Chengzhi, she immediately wanted to become his student and learn his skills.
She couldn't care less about her 5 Poison/Immortal Sect anymore.
2) The martial arts school of the Wen family has changed from Shiliang to Qixian. But they are stil despicable.
3) Yuan Chengzhi is smitten by princess Changping immediately after meeting her. He often would think about her.
4) The Golden Snake Swordsman developed a new martial arts style in memory of his love for Wen Yi. Very romantic of him.
5) The prince who wanted to usurp the throne of emperor Chongzhen is not a fictional character anymore. But Jin Yong used a historic figure, a brother of Chongzhen. Zhu youmo, prince of Wei. Here this usurper didn't die and escaped Beijing was later captured by Qing soldiers and killed I believe.
6) More information on other rebel leaders of that time and on Li Zicheng.
7) Jiao Wan'Er is in love with Yuan Chengzhi, in the second edition it was not clear. But here there are few times when the readers could read her emotions for Yuan Chengzhi.
8) Jin Yong wrote more about the chaotic situation when Li Zicheng was driven away from Beijing. The Ming kings fighting amongst each other etc.
9) In the end Yuan Chengzhi used the new style form of The Golden Snake Swordsman and gained the upperhand on Yuzhen Zhi.
Lots more but these were in my opinion the most important ones.
And well princess Changping and Yuan Chengzhi exchange kisses in the Imperial Palace.
2. Legend of the Condor Heroes
After finishing the third revised version of LOCH by Jin Yong this week, I have discovered a series of small changes brought on by Jin Yong.
1) Mei Chaofeng used to be a maid (after her parents died her uncle was unable to raise her, because her uncle was poor. So the uncle sold her to the rich Jiang family). Anyway at the age of 12 she was quite a beauty and the squire of the Jiang residence was quite impressed by her. Anyway one day while Mei Chaofeng was washing clothes the old Jiang man came up to her and wanted to touch her breast. She pushed him away because there was soap on her hands Jiang's beard were soapy and she giggled when she saw that. Mrs. Jiang (a shrew) thought she was seducing her husband and hit, scold her etc. Even wanting to poke out her eyes. At that point Huang Yaoshi came by and taught that woman a lesson and bought Mei Chaofeng free.
Thus she became his third disciple.
2) Huang Yaoshi's head disciple was Qu Lingfeng who was about 30 years old and a widower. Sha Gu was already born. Being the head disciple he would often left in charge to teach his younger martial arts brothers and sisters literary and martial arts.
3) As Mei Chaofeng grew up and became a fair young lady, Huang Yaoshi, Qu Lingfeng and Chen Xuanfeng became quite taken by her beauty. Qu Lingfeng surpressed his feelings because his wife died and he did not want to think about love anymore. Besides he knew that Huang Yaoshi was secretly in love with Mei Chaofeng, Huang was frustrated and sad for having such feelings. (There is certain poem written by Song statesman Ouyang Xiu that referred to his affection to Mei).
4) When Chen Xuanfeng had an affair with Mei Chaofeng and was discovered by Qu Lingfeng, both fought and Chen was defeated. Qu Lingfeng was angry because he felt that Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng betrayed their teacher. (Mei once vowed that she will always stay at the side of her teacher no matter what). When Huang Yaoshi found out the reason for the fight between Qu and Chen, he was furious with Qu and broke his legs and disowned him. Reason because now his feelings for Mei were more or less exposed and he felt humiliated and blamed Qu Lingfeng. He and little Sha Gu were sent away.
From then onwards Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng were ignored by Huang Yaoshi, he did not teach them anything anymore.
At a certain point Huang Yaoshi left the Peach Blossom Isle and came back months later with his new wife. (Huang Rong's mother) His new wife was even a few months younger than Mei.
Once at a certain Chinese festival, Huang Yaoshi drank a few more cups of wine and muttered:"Who dares to say that old East Heretic is in love with his female pupil! Lingfeng was spouting nonsense! Where is he now, I forgive him. Tell him to come back!"
When Chen Xuanfeng heard this, he and Mei Chaofeng decided to leave Peach Blossom Isle and decided to steal the second manual of Jiuyin Zhenjing.
Chen was very much afraid that Qu Lingfeng would come back.
5) Zhou Botong decided to find a safe place to hide second volume of Jiuyin Zhenjing, met Huang Yaoshi and Mrs. Huang. Same trick as second version, however Zhou Botong noticed that Huang Yaoshi looked shifty and did not tear up the volume.
6) This happened while the "Seven Freaks" was searching for Guo Jing and Li Ping, Ke Zhen'e was born blind.
7) Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng stole second manual and decided to study it, (the family Jiang were their first victims of their cruel methods of training-----> rich family that bought Mei). In order to strengthen themselves they also learnt skills like Iron Cloth, Golden Bell. (This is now directly said by them, second edition only hinted to this).
8) When Chen and Mei left, Huang Yaoshi was feeling depressed and frustrated. When Lu Chengfeng and Wu Gangfeng advised their teacher not to be so depressed anymore they were not cautious in their choice of words, in his anger he broke their legs and disowned. Fong Maifeng felt it was unfair and spoke out and Huang was furious and broke one of his leg too and disowned him as well.
9) Lu Chengfeng wanted to capture Chen and Mei and invited more than ten famous martial artists to attack Chen and Mei, amongst these people was the brother of Ke Zhen'E, Ke Pixie. Ke Pixie wrote a letter to his brother asking if he was interested in joining this expedition. However at that time the "Seven Freaks" just found a bit of lead on Guo Jing and Li Ping, and Ke Zhen'E was quite assured that his brother would be fine with so many experts. It was only 2 years before the first encounter with Chen and Mei that Ke Zhen'E learnt of his brother's demise.
10) Chen and Mei were able to escape Lu Chengfeng's attack and killed several people (amongst Ke Pixie), but were seriously wounded too. And soon found out that the Seven Masters of Quanzhen were following them.
11) Luoying Shenjian Zhang has become Taohua Luoying Zhang.
12) Mentionings of Xiao Feng/Qiao Feng twice.....regarding that part of 18 Dragon Subdueing Palms.....Xiao Feng and Xuzhu improved this skill cutting out the redundant stances, making it fiercer, simpler and more powerful.
Second time Huang Rong were talking to the three elders of the beggars association and she mentioned that Qiao Feng fought hundreds of heroes in Virtue Assembling Manor, defeating heretic experts in front of the Shaolin Monastery.
13) Jiuyin Baigu claws, heart snapping palms and hundred serpent whip (former poisonous silver dragon whip) were not invented by Huang Shang, these were one of the skills that his enemies used to kill I think his younger brother and sister. He examined their martial arts and noted them down in his manual. He of course came up with the orthodox more powerful variations to counter these cruel techniques. Chen and Mei sort of only learnt the skills of Huang Shang's enemies.
Because those did not require powerful (Taoist) internal strength.
14) Guo Jing learnt both orginal Jiuyin volumes (the copies were back in Huang's possession after meeting up with Mei and Lu at Cloud Assembly Manor.
15) Guo Jing and Huang Rong were protecting Qing Zhou here. (AS JIN YONG WROTE IN THE COMMENTS, GUO JING WILL CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE CITY XIANGYANG IN ROCH) The commander of this place surrendered immediately when Guo Jing and Huang Rong went to see Djenghis Khan.
16) It was Huang Rong who gave Yang Guo a name, at a very early age he already became the pupil of Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Guo Jing and Huang Rong invited Mu Nianci to live on the Peach Blossom Isle. However Mu Nianci was saddened to see them so happy and herself was quite sad, and she told Guo Jing and Huang Rong that she would take Yang Guo to see them when he was older to study martial arts. So she declined their kind invitation.
17) Huang Yaoshi's grandfather was a government official during the Song Gaozong reign, this grandfather of his petitioned several times that Yue Fei was innocent. In the end he was demoted, but continued to fight for Yue Fei's innocence calling up the people to stand together and defend Yue Fei. Finally was captured and beheaded for stirring up the public, his family was banned to Yunnan. It was there that Huang Yaoshi grew up.
He learnt both literary and martial arts, not sure who taught him martial arts but he studied literature under his father. As he grew up he felt that his family was wronged and often could argue with his father about so-called loving and protecting one's emperor etc. Against his father's wishes he did not participate in the provincial examinations, and in the end (how very ironic) his father disowned Huang Yaoshi. Starting from then he roamed the realm and wrote rebellious poems, texts on the walls of all government institutions. The government sent out people to track him down, but in vain.
He was called the Heretic Hero by the common people, later on it became East Heretic.
18) Quanzhen palm technique 3 Flowers Assembling Palms become Treading Frost And Breaking Ice Palms.
19) More general information on the teacher of Qiu Qianren, Shangguan Jiannan.
In conclusion, I like the changes brought on by Jin Yong in the third version. The parts about Huang Yaoshi and Mei Chaofeng were not so strange after all, it is quite natural even. You have to read yourself to experience it. Furthermore that change of Louying Shenjiang Zhang changing into Taohua Luoying Zhang has to do with the antithetical couplet of Peach Blossom Isle.
3. The Return of the Condor Heroes
After reading the third revised version and having had several, lengthy e-mail discussions with my good friend.
I decided to jot down some of my thoughts and changes I have noticed in the third edition.
1) Yang Guo doesn't go to the Peach Blossom Isle, when his mother died. His mother had instructed him to do so, but he was a proud little boy and did not want to be dependent on someone so he decided he could survive on his own.
2) The Quanzhen disciple raping Xiao Longnu is called Zhen Zhibing, Taoist name Chonghe. He is the third disciple of Qiu Chuji. Yin Zhiping only has a minor role in the novel now, it is said that Yin Zhiping had placed emphasis on Taoist cultivation over martial arts hence Zhen Zhibing has caught up with him in martial arts.
3) Zhao Zhijing had a chance in becoming the head disciple of the third generation. But he failed miserably when the 6 masters gave him 2 tasks to perform. One leading the Big Dipper Formation to keep Huo Du and his minions away; instead he lead it against Guo Jing. Leaving the Chongyang Shrine open for the real enemy. And Qiu Chuji and Wang Chuji were furious when they heard how Zhao Zhijing treated Yang Guo. They then decided that Zhen Zhibing should become the possible head disciple of the third generation. Zhao Zhijing being the fool he is blames Yang Guo for this. (Instead of his own incompetence).
4) Some more insights on Wang Chongyang and Lin Chaoying and Jade Maiden martial arts. The Jade Maiden martial arts are not really designed for killing or wounding, Lin Chaoying created her style for the purpose of overcoming Wang Chongyang. (i.e. a simple pat on his body showing off her superiority in martial arts over her, however she could overcome his martial arts style but actually patting Wang on his body was impossible.) Secondly Lin Chaoying used her martial arts to express her feeling for Wang Chongyang, instead of just saying it. The reason why they did not end up with each other was because they simply did not understand each other's ambitions, wishes.....(sigh*).
5) Wang Chongyang carved only the small portions of Jiuyin in the tomb, minus Sanskrit part (which is now confirmed). But he did managed to GRASP the essence and ABSORB the essense of Jiuyin after reading it a few times.
6) Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu's relationship in the tomb is much warmer and more loving.....
7) Zhen Zhibing would often of to the woods outside the tomb and softly call out:"Xiao Longnu.....Xiao Longnu....."
Zhao zhijing found this out because he sent his pupils to spy near the woods. If they saw Yang Guo they would have to report to him immediately, however they did not see Yang Guo but did hear Zhen Zhibing. Also when Xiao Longnu turned 20, Zhen Zhibing left a small box of delicasies near the woods and a note saying he wishes her a happy birthday. But this box was intercepted by the pupil of Zhao Zhijing.
8) Li Mochou's palm technique is not called 5 Poison Divine Palms but it is called Chilian (*as in her nickname) Divine palms.
9) Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng's deaths are also a bit changed, the once scene filled with lofty sentiments is gone now. Instead we get some more insight on the Jiuyin martial arts theories.
10) Jinlun Fawang is now called Jinlun Guoshi (Imperial High Priest). The term "fawang" is gone. The reason is that a small group of people were making a lot fuss, saying that it was typical that Tibetan monks were portrayed as bad. Jin Yong always had left left ideas, etc....Well just to appease those people he changed it, Jinlun is a Mongolian monk who studied Lamaism in Tibet. Lamaism became the main religion in Mongolia.
11) Huo Du is not the descendant of Genghis Khan but of the sworn brother of Genghis Khan who died in LOCH (Jamuqa). Anyway, his family always were insured of a wealthy life, but with no power for obvious reasons. Huo Du also wanted power and became the student of Jinlun, hoping that he would acquire power via his teacher. Not many people knew of his heritage, not even Kublai Kai was aware till he revealed it himself.
12) Yang Guo and Guo Jing in the Mongolian camp: Yang Guo faked an internal injury. Guo Jing carried him on his back, Yang Guo asked Guo Jing whether his father was an evil man. Guo Jing replied as the same in previous edition.
At that moment, he was confused. Yang Guo was child who longed for love----> love from a father. And in his heart Guo Jing was that father, who could risk his life for him, protect him no matter what. And only had high hopes of him? At that moment he was confronted with that thought and his love for Guo Jing. Yang Guo was not even sure if his real father would love him half as much as Guo Jing did, if he was alive. Just because one is supposed to avenge one's father, could he really kill the man who is as closed to him as any father could be?
Laviathan: Guo Jing was not transferring energy in the middle of the battle. He was carrying Yang Guo on his back, and Yang Guo felt Guo Jing's body heat and was reminded of how Guo Jing transferred energy to him last night. Athena misread this part of the novel.
13) Guo Jing was still injured because of Yang Guo, nonetheless. Because Yang Guo was faking an injury, Guo Jing carried him on his back. Therefore Xiaoxiang Zi attacked Yang Guo, but Yang could not defend himself. Guo Jing had to take care of Yang Guo as result injured.
14) Guo Xiang did become the pupil of Jinlun, she agreed because she sort of lead him on. Hoping she would have a chance to escape from him. Jinlun loved Guo Xiang as a daughter and in the end died saving her from the buring platform.
There are some other changes too, but I will leave it for you to read. Or when I have time to add another post. Overall I simply love the changes Jin Yong made.
15) The final confrontation still takes place between Yang Guo and Jinlun Guoshi. However when Yang Guo injured Jinlun and the platform was starting to collapse. Jinlun refound his benevolence and saved his pupil. He was never too keen on the idea of using Guo Xiang as bait to lure Guo Jing over.
He even argued with Kublai Kai about this and Kublai Khai apologized to him. But when the Khan issued the imperial edict to use Guo Xiang Jinlun had to obey, because if he defied those orders the consequences could affect all followers of Lamaism in the Mongolian empire.
16) Guo Xiang learnt a few things from Jinlun martial arts + tibetan buddhist philosophies. Jinlun was most pleased to see her being even more intelligent than his late head student.
17) Guo Xiang had a naive thought about; if she was born 20 years earlier. She would become Da Longnu and live nearby Mount Zhongnan too and take care of the bullied Yang Guo. It was a very sweet and naive thought.....
18) The next leader of Quanzhen was Song Dao'an. An actual Quanzhen Taoist priest, because Li Zhichang was only his second in command of Song Dao'an.
19) Li Mochou revealing a bit about her last conversation with Lu Zhanyuan. According to her (honestly I don't find her a very reliable source), Lu Zhanyuan said many sweet things to her. But when they parted for 4 months, and saw each other again. He was an entire different person, he was cold and civil against her. When she asked why, Lu Zhanyuan answered:"Miss Li, we're just normal friends in the realm of martial arts. And I really appreciate and am thankful for the affection and care you've shown in the past. I will repay you for that for some day. Next month I am getting married in Dali with Miss He, if you have the time I would welcome to join the wedding banquet."
Li Mochou became furious and coughed up blood and fainted. Lu Zhanyuan revived her and helped her to an inn and left. When she told this story to Xiao Longnu, Li Mochou managed to portray Lu Zhanyuan as an heartless, ingrate. Which showed that she must have played this particular scene over and over again in her head for the past 10 odd years.
20) The Five Masters of Quanzhen went into retreat to create a skill to put Quanzhen back on its' feet. It was not only for the purpose of defeating the Ancient Tomb School anymore.
If anyone has anymore queries about the third edition do not hesitate to send me a private message. I am hardly active on the forum nowadays and I am too tired to participate in the wuxia discussions in spite of some interesting threads that are going on.
I will continue with the The Legendary Siblings translation albeit which is going awfully slow at the moment.
Sigh* I really wanted to stay out of these discussions, but anyhow. I can tell you that in the recent edition that particular sentence about Guo Jing's 18 Dragon Subdueing Palms being better than Hong Qigong is gone now. HOWEVER, that does not necessarily mean that Hong Qigong could perform the same feat as Guo Jing did in the Mongolian camp.
Guo Jing had the used the Big Dipper Formation theory/formula in his 18 Dragon Subdueing Palms, that is something which Hong Qigong does not have. That factor, the Big Dipper Formation, also plays a significant aspect in that battle.
Furthermore as in the second edition, Guo Jing's level in the first stance of the 18 Dragon Subdueing Palms, The Repenting Dragon is considerably higher than Hong Qigong. (This stayed the same).
What conclusions can be drawn from the examples I've jotted down, is up to you to draw. I say nothing.
A mistake I made:
Zhen Zhibing is not the third disciple of Qiu Chuji, but the fourth. Li Zhichang was the first, followed by Yang Kang, number three was Yin Zhiping and number four this Zhen Zhibing.
And yes Zhen Zhibing commits suicide in the end, Yin Zhiping only shows up once. And that is at the beginning of the story, chapter 3 I believe. Just one insignificant role, later on his name is mentioned a few times. Saying he has placed a heavy emphasis on Taoist cultivation and has expressed not to be interested in the leadership of Quanzhen.
21) By the way Yang Guo tells Huang Rong that Hong Qigong had died at Mount Hua. This happens when she, Guo Fu, the brothers Wu and Yang Guo used the stone formation to keep Jinlun Guoshi at bay. She was utterly upset and sad, as expected.
22) No extra information on Dugu Jiubai, as expected. That remains the same.
23) Gongsun Zhi is even more despicable now.
24) At the end of novel Jin Yong included some extra footnotes on the book of changes, Taoism, confucianism etc.
There are some extra parts which are included to emphasize the love Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu. For instance at the first Heroes Assembly, Xiao Longnu asks Yang Guo how many times he thought of her etc.
And Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu were just joking and talking, quite sweet by the way.
Rabadi: Athena, you previously answered my question in another thread that the Wudang School in Sword Stained was changed to another school in the third edition, but I forget what school it was. Could you please answer again? Thanks.
To Rabadi: The martial arts school you are talking about is Xiandu School. Xiandu is a branch of Wudang, in the first edition it was indeed Wudang that Jin Yong used. However in his second edition he turned it into Xiandu School and that stayed the same in the third edition.
-Some names of Yang Guo's techniques have been altered by Jin Yong.
- The personality of the Imperial Priest is also different, in the old version he really did not care for Guo Xiang's life when she was tied to the pole. But here he only launched a FAKE attack, in the old version that was no fake attack.
- The military governor of Xiangyang is Lu Wenhuan. This Lu Wenhuan is the actual brother of the old governor Lu Wende. Lu Wende had rendered some merits, therefore he was given the position as the military chancellor and was now in the capital. His worthless brother Lu Wenhuan assumed command of Xiangyang, Guo Jing and Huang Rong were helping Lu Wenhuan all the time and never met Lu Wende.
4. Ode to the Gallantry
There are hardly any changes at all, like Jin Yong wrote in his epilogue. He just merely changed some dialogues to make it more fluent. Nothing else has changed; the ending is the same, as far as I can see there are NO changes too in the Sword of the Yue Maiden.
The most noticable changes I saw were:
- The maid of Shi Potian, Shijian, does not get killed. She only gets her acupoints sealed this time. Shi Potian managed to stop Ding Dang from killing her.
- When Shi Qing tells Shi Potian about what Zhang San and Li Si did, he mentioned a certain Taoist priest melting copper plaques with his internal energy. In the previous edition this Taoist priest was the leader of the Qingcheng School, but now he is/was the leader of the Kongtong School.
- Shi Potian is very much certain that he only loves A Xiu and not Ding Dang. In the previous editions the readers already know that Shi Potian loves A Xiu, but now in the new edition it was just re-enforced in this edion.
5. A Deadly Secret
- The biggest change is that now we are certain that this novel takes place in the Qing dynasty. Wu Liuqi of the Duke of Mount Deer is mentioned.
The treasure which was mentioned in the story originates from the Liang dynast (502-557 A.D.). The whereabouts of this treasure was lost when emperor Yuan (552-555 A.D.) killed every official and craftsman who participated on the construction of this hidingplace. And after emperor Yuan himself was killed the secret was entirely lost.
It was only during emperor Kangxi's reign that a monk residing in the Tianning Monastery accidentally found out about this treasure.
As a Buddhist monk he had no desires of keeping the treasure for himself, but he wanted to assist his martial arts nephew Wu Liuqi. He knew that Wu Liuqi was a member of the Heaven and Earth Association, so he knew that the money would serve a good cause. He wrote a letter to inform Wu Liuqi about his findings, but he could not just write down:"I found a treasure, come and get it."
So he wrote a series of cryptic clues in that letter, because both the monk and Wu Liuqi had studied the Tang Poem swordsmanship, Wu Liuqi would naturally understand the clue. However, when the messenger arrived Wu Liuqi was unfortunately killed by the family Zhong. Gradually parts and bits of the secret leaked out in the realm of martial arts.
The teacher and martial arts uncles of Di Yun belonged to the same martial arts school as Wu Liuqi and the Buddhist monk. So they too studied the Tang Poem swordsmanship and knew this sword style was linked to a treasure.
- Again some dialogues are changed to make the story more fluent.
6. The Young Flying Fox
* Personal note: I think that the third edition of the Young Flying Fox is just marvellous. There are no plot changes or anything, but somehow the little changes Jin Yong brought on made the novel.... perfect.
- Feng Tiannan is killed by Hu Fei during the world's martial arts gathering. Feng Tiannan was trying to sneak away during the confusion, Yuan Ziyi quickly told Hu Fei to kill him before he could escape.
- There is a short battle between Tang Pei and Hu Fei during the world martial arts gathering.
- Yuan Ziyi is not so detestable anymore.
- Tian Guinong gets extra humiliated during the martial arts gathering.
And again some dialogues are altered to make the book more fluent.
7. Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain
No big changes, just some changes in the dialogues etc.
- One change is that Hu Fei thinks about Yuan Ziyi and Cheng Lingsu at a certain passage.
Also there are no big changes in the other short stories, as far as I can see them. There are some minor, very minor changes.
8. Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre
1) Reverend Wuse speaks on behalf of Zhang Junbao at Shaolin, saying that he was reponsible for giving away those iron Arhats to Guo Xiang. He added that if anyone should be blamed it should be him and not Zhang Junbao. However, the old monk of the Spiritual Zen Hall was adamant in saying that Zhang Junbao learnt Shaolin martial arts without permission and should still be punished. Abbot Tianming suggested that Wuse, Jueyuan and Zhang Junbao should go to the Dharma Hall and all of them would discuss how to punish all 3 of them. Jueyuan feared for the worst and took Guo Xiang and Zhang Junbao and ran away.
2) Yin Susu and other higher ranked people in Tianying Sect knew who Xie Xun was. They knew he was a guardian lord of the Ming cult.
3) Xie Xun's son was 3 years old when he was killed by Yuanzhen (Cheng Kun), in the earlier editions Xie Wuji was 1 years old and lead to some time discontinuity. (To be honest, I am not sure what that discontinuity was in the earlier editions, I did not notice that error in the past).
4) The supposed battle between Shaolin and Wudang has changed somewhat. The original plan was that 6 Shaolin monks v.s. 6 Wudang disciples. Wudang would use their famous sphere formation. However, Yu Lianzhou was still weakend by that exchange of palms with He Biweng and Zhang Cuishan was too distraught at that time. Reason, Yuanye was scolding Zhang Cuishan for killing Dou Dajin's family and for blinding one of his eyes and the left eyes of Yuanyin and Yuanxin. Yuanye kept his anger in control while his teacher (Kongzhi) and his martial arts uncles (abbot Kongwen and reverend Kongxing) were speaking. But when the battle was to start he could not help himself from venting his anger and scolding Zhang Cuishan for being an utter disgrace to Zhang Sanfeng and Wudang. He said that a real man would at least admit the crimes he did, Zhang Cuishan felt that he really did disgrace his school. He could not tell them the actually culprit was his wife but by keeping quiet he endangered Wudang's reputation. So, Yu Lianzhou feared that they would loose this fight, because it would be probable that the other 4 heroes would have to look after him and Zhang Cuishan and weakening the formation. Yin Susu saw the pain of her husband and approached Kongwen, Kongzhi and Kongxing and confessed to what she did and chided the 3 reverends for being muddle-headed. Then, she told Zhang Cuishan to follow her inside, she went to Yu Daiyan and confessed to what she did 10 years ago and asked him to punish her.....(the rest is pretty much the same as the old editions). What I liked about this part was that Yin Susu showed how much she loved her husband and what a responsible woman she had become.
5) Origins of Jiuyang (Laviathan has already posted this and I too have expressed my feelings about this). The origins are mentioned when Zhang Wuji is training Jiuyang in that cave and that Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist monk wrote how and why he wrote Jiuyang. (Again, I thought it was redundant and farfetched).
By Laviathan:
In the new edition, Zhang Wuji learns about Nine Yang's origins on the last page of the Lankavatara Sutra. It states that Wang Chongyang, after having obtained the Book of Nine Yin, travelled to Songshan one day and had a drinking contest with a certain guy. Wang Chongyang lost, and had to let the man read the entire Book of Nine Yin as a favour. This man used to be a Confucianist scholar in his youth and was exceptionally bright and educated. He later became a Taoist priest and acquired a vast amount of knowledge about Taoist principles and theories. But when he reached old age, he became a Buddhist monk for some unknown reason. When reading the Book of Nine Yin, the monk, with his superior intellect and knowledge, noticed that the Nine Yin martial arts were based on extreme Yin principles instead of a harmony between Yin and Yang. Realising that there must be "another way", he created the Art of Nine Yang and wrote the Book of Nine Yang inside the Sutra. This sutra somehow got into the Shaolin temple, so maybe the monk was a Shaolin member.
6) When Zhang Wuji saw Yin Tianzheng and Song Yuanqiao fighting he was crying, because he recognized the stances both of them used and it reminded him of the times when his mother and father would train (using the same stances).
7) The Ming cult has 3 capital orders and 5 minor orders. There are 12 holy sceptres in total, on the first 6 there is a martial arts engraved on it (learnt by Zhang Wuji and those Persians) on the other 6 the most important 8 rules of the Ming cult are engraved on it.
Three capital orders:
- Ming cultists are prohibited from becoming emperors, officials, kings, generals, etc. They rebel because they want to save the people not for their own gain. However, it is allowed to use those names when rebelling to attract support.
- Ming cultists are not allowed to oppress the people and should do whatever is possible to ease the suffering of men.
- Ming cultists are not to fight each other.
Five minor orders:
- Ming cultists are men and women of their words.
- Ming cultists are to treat each other like brothers and sisters.
- Respect your elders, brothers, sisters, parents and friends.
- Treat women with respect
- Protect the cult with your life and obey the commands of your seniors in the cult.
8) The Dragon Sabre is made from Yang Guo's heavy iron sword. (like in the previous editions, he gave this sword to Guo Xiang; I don't know when he gave that sword to her). The Heavenly Sword is made from the Lady and Gentleman swords. There are two small chips on the sabre and sword just a few centimetres from the hilt. Use both weapons to saw through the chips, only those two weapons are powerful enough to break each other. Inside the weapons is a metal map to Peach Blossom Isle and the location of the manuals.
9) Manuals: Yue Fei's art of war and Jiuyin Zhenjing, plus various Peach Blossom Isle and Hong Qigong's martial arts. There isn't a manual on 18 Dragon Subduing Palms anymore. The Jiuyin Bone claws and other skills used by Mei Chaofeng have been slightly altered by Huang Yaoshi, those are still evil skills but not as vile as used by Mei Chaofeng. Huang Yaoshi was saddened by the deaths of Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng, therefore he made some changes to this martial arts.
When Xiangyang fell, Guo Xiang was in Sichuan province and when she rushed back it was too late. Guo Jing and Huang Rong did not give the sword and/or sabre to Guo Fu, because they knew she was too reckless and dumb. (Miejue Shi-tai told this to Zhou Zhiruo).
10) The Yang family must be aware of the secret of the sword and sabre, therefore Miss Yang was able to deduce what Zhou Zhiruo did and exposed her crimes.
11) The dialogue in which Miejue Shi-tai forces Zhou Zhiruo is moved, we do not see this scene when they are at the pagoda. Instead when Zhou is exposed she thinks back and then we are able to read about the dialogue.
12) Zhou Zhiruo was thinking of killing all 4 of them on that island, but she could not do it because she realized that she was madly in love with Zhang Wuji.
13) Yelu Qi mastered all 18 stances of the Dragon-Subduing palms, in the previous editions this was never really clear. But now it is! Furthermore it seems that Xiao Feng made the alterations from 28 to 18 and Xuzhu was responsible for returning this martial arts back to the Beggar's Union after Xiao Feng's death.
14) Zhu Yuanzhang tried to force Zhang Wuji to give up leadership of the Ming cult by bringing his army and questioning Zhang Wuji about Zhao Min. The truth is that the Ming Cult lost control of the army leaders, those army leaders were still Ming cultists but they more or less gathered their own support and with their army they have become quite autonomous. This was something that Yang Xiao, Fan Yao and others realised and they knew they could not kill Zhu Yuanzhang and endanger further alienation from the other army leaders. The fact is in order to topple the Yuan dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang had to stay alive.
Zhao Min vowed to leave the central plains when everything was over, she smiled it was up to Zhang Wuji whether he wants to follow her or not.
15) The 3 Du-generation monks did not kill Kunlun He Taichong, Madame He and those 2 other Kunlun experts. The Du monks easily defeated and wounded them and Yuanzhen quickly stepped forward to kill the 4 of them. The Du monks were angry at that, and said there was no need to kill them.
16) Song Qingshu is not killed by Zhang Sanfeng, but succumbed to his injuries at Mount Wudang. HOWEVER, he was not forgiven by anyone!
17) Xiao Chao sent emissaries to return the other 6 sceptres to the Ming Cult, Zhang Wuji "stole" the first 6 from the Persians. In return he gave the a copy of the Qiankun martial arts back to Xiao Chao. But the real reason behind this was that Xiao Chao missed Zhang Wuji and really wanted to make contact with him once more. It was very sweet, because if you can remember from previous editions and tv adaptions. Xiao Chao was making some clothes for Wuji when she was in that in that inn when Wuji was rescueing those people in the pagoda. She finished making those clothes and sent them to Zhang Wuji along with the sceptres.
18) Zhang Wuji became disillusioned when he could not save the life of a general and address the death of Han Lin'er and with that he left the leadership of the Ming Cult in the hands of Yang Xiao, Fan Yao and left the Central Plains with Zhao Min. And he did not want to break the capital order of the Ming cult.
19) Zhou Zhiruo's wish was that Zhang Wuji could not marry Zhao Min, Zhang Wuji complied. However, he added that without being married it would not prevent him from loving her or having children with her. Zhou Zhiruo did not mind that. In the end Zhang Wuji was thinking who he loved most (all 4 girls), he really did not know the answer. This does NOT mean, he will leave Zhao Min. Because he knows very well the sacrifices Zhao Min made for him.
20) There are 5 elders of Kongtong in all the editions. The first elder is Guan Neng, second Zong Weixia, third elder Tang Wenliang, fourth elder Chang Jingzhi. But the fifth elder never had a name and he does not have one in the third edition either. I would have hoped that Jin Yong would at least try to give that 5th elder a name.
21) Granny Golden Flower says she and her husband were poisoned by an old Buddhist monk of the western regions working for the Mongolians. In the past it was a mute, 'Tou Tuo" from the western regions working for the Mongolians.
22) The comment Zhang Wuji made to Zhou Zhiruo about how Zhang Sanfeng thought he might not have reached Guo Jing's level of martial arts is gone. The reason is that in the older editions, Zhou Zhiruo started to train Jiuyin on the isle but now she does have the manuals yet. So the two of them cannot have that talk about martial arts and the comment is therefore gone.
23) When Zhang Wuji took Zhang Sanfeng's hand at Mt Wudang, Zhang Sanfeng thought that only experts like reverend Jueyuan, Guo Jing, Yang Guo and others had such powerful internal energy. Yang Guo's name is on that list too.
24) Zhou Zhiruo does not fake a suicide when Zhang Wuji met with Zhao Min anymore. Instead she leaves and disappears for a month or two (destination: Peach Blossom Isle). She finds the manuals and starts to train.
25) The comment that Yuanzhen/Cheng Kun is as good as Duwei, Dujie and Dunan is gone. It is only commented that Yuanzhen was superior to Xie Xun. But that is something most people know.
26) Zhang Wuji used his Jiuyang internal strength to eradicate 70% of the martial arts of the Xuanming elders. The 3 of them fought each other when the Xuanming elders were after the Jiuyin manual on Zhou Zhiruo. And Lu Zhangke wanted to have the manual and rape Zhou Zhiruo. Of course, they were foiled by Zhang Wuji. Their martial arts are even inferior to the 8 archers of Zhao Min.
There seems to be a subtle hint in the novel that the creator of Jiuyang might have written the manual but did not study it himself.
9. Demi Gods and Semi Devils
After reading the third edition of Demi Gods and Semi Devils, I will jot down some of the noticeable changes I discovered. I like the changes, it all flows very naturally. Personally, I think the worries a lot of people were unnecessary. The third edition of DGSD has my seal of approval (if that means anything).
- Ye Erniang, the second evil, does not kill the babies herself. After toying with the babies, she just leaves them at the houses of strangers. The parents of the missing children are in distraught not knowing if their children are alive or not.
- Qingcheng School and Qin Family Bandits will become banner men of the Murong family. Bao Butong gave them a choice, you can either enter our service and we will help you locate the killers of your father and/or martial arts brother and you will obey our commands. Wang Yuyan added a bonus she said that she will tell them the missing martial arts of their schools. Of course both Qingchen and Qin family Bandits accepted.
- It is revealed the Beggar’s elder who disguised himself as Wang Jiantong, to fool the Khitans was saved by Xiao Feng. It was also Xiao Feng who planned the assassination on the field marshal of the Khitans, elder Chen was the man who carried the job. This showed that Xiao Feng was both courageous, brave but also great planner. A fabulous leader of the Beggar’s Association.
- On his way to see reverend Zhiguang, Xiao Feng and A Zhu meet five old men. These five old men want to test Xiao Feng’s palm technique, especially the 28 Dragon Subduing Palms. These five old men are abbot Xuanci and four other Xuan generation monks. Abbot Xuanci examined the body of reverend Xuanku and felt that he was killed by a very raw, yang palm attack. But abbot Xuanci had his suspicions because he believed that Xiao Feng is not ruthless man. So, he and 4 other martial arts brothers went in incognito to investigate the murders of Grandfather Tan, Granny Tan, Zhaoqian Sunli, elder Xu, Chan Family. Finally, abbot Xuanci was about to test Xiao Feng. He used a palm attack of the Prana palms, but at the moment two energies were to collide. Xuanci retracted his energy, Xiao Feng was confused. He did not understand the intention of this old man, was it a trick to fool Xiao Feng in retracting too but at the last minute the old man would attack. But if Xiao Feng did not retract he could kill the old man. Xiao Feng gambled and thought the old man would not trick him, if these five old men had ill intentions they could have combined their forces and attacked simultaneously. Xiao Feng realised if the five of them attacked at once, he would be killed. So, Xiao retracted his palm attack too. And that moment, abbot Xuanci realised that Xiao Feng was innocent. However, at that moment he did not reveal his true identity yet. Because, he now knows someone else is on a killing spree and the Heroes Gathering at Shaolin in future will be an excellent time to clear Xiao Feng’s name. He and his other 4 martial arts brothers took their leave with that.
- Reverend Zhiguang revealed to Xiao Feng who is father was. Xiao Yuanshan was the drill inspector of the Khitan imperial guards. He was also a clansman of the Liao empress dowager. Because of his incredible martial arts both the emperor and the empress dowager had respect for him, although Xiao Yuanshan did not fill any important post in the empire but his words carried a lot of weight because of his good relationship with the empress dowager and emperor. He was proponent of the peace between the Song and Liao empires. That is why Murong Bo wanted him dead. By the way, Xiao Yuanshan did speak a little Chinese, but those Chinese martial artists did not understand him because Xiao had a very heavy Khitan accent.
Even, abbot Xuanci, Wang Jiantong and Zhiguang had heard of the name Xiao Yuanshan and respected him for being a fighter for peace. They were very worried and sad when they realised they had accidentally killed him and they feared retaliation of the Liao empire. Fortunately, that did not happen.
- Like the previous edition Madame Ma and Duan Zhengchun were flirting and talking nonsense. However, now Xiao Yuanshan does not appear. Instead Xiao Feng does what his father did in the previous editions, the lovers of Duan Zhengchun’s acupoints were sealed (like the previous editions), but now the elders of the Beggar’s Association and branch leaders were also there and Xiao Feng sealed their acupoints.
They heard Bai Shijing’s confession and Xiao Feng unsealed their acupoints, Madame Ma and Bai Shijing confessed their affair…….Plus Madame Ma revealed she had it off with elder Xu as well. And then everyone realised why elder Xu was so pro Madame Ma and anti Qiao Feng earlier.
Bai Shijing was executed by the Merits Awarding Elder, Xiao Feng stormed and quickly saved Madame Ma. Because he still needed to know who the [Big Brother] was.
Madame Ma, ultimately, has the same fate in the past. By the way it was Quan Quanqing who stole the fan of Xiao Feng, not elder Chen anymore.
- A Zhi fled from her teacher Ding Chunqiu because of two reasons. The most important one was that she was afraid of her teacher now. A Zhi was growing up and turned into a pretty lady, Ding Chunqiu looked at her with a funny look in his eyes. Furthermore, he would sometimes caress her face and touch her breasts. She knew that she had to leave this place very soon. And she stole the “shen mu wang ding.”
- Wuya Zi was first in love with Tianshan Tonglao, however when he found out that she could not become normal again (after Li Qiushui’s yell). He broke up with her and fell in love with Li Qiushui. Tonglao was distraught and hated Li Qiushui. Wuya Zi fell in love with the jade statue, Li Qiushui started an affair with Ding Chunqiu. But she never loved Ding, when Wuya Zi found out Li Qiushui and Ding Chunqiu ambushed Wuya Zi and he fell off the cliff. Li Qiushui , Ding Chunqiu and her daughter (fathered by Wuya Zi), the later Madame Wang left with the martial arts manuals. Later on, Li Qiushui grew tired of Ding and left him the Xiao Wu Xianggong manual and she left to Xixia. She also told her daughter to call Ding Chunqiu [father]. Later on, because the daughter of Li Qiushui married into the Wang family, and the Wang family were the in-laws of the Murong family. But the Murong family knew that Ding Chunqiu was somehow related to their in-laws and knew a bit of the affair between Ding and his own [Shi Mu]. As consequence, the Murong family looked a bit down upon Madame Wang and her mother and wanted nothing to do with Ding Chunqiu. However, Murong Bo remained politically polite therefore he could enter the Wang family martial arts library.
- Murong Bo after the the Yanmen Pass incident was also not at home, abbot Xuanci frequently send people to locate him but he was always “out.” He exchanged several Shaolin arts for the “Huo Yan Dao” of Jiumozhi , Jiumozhi thanked him and said he would do his best to get the Duan’s 6 Meridian Sword manual. Therefore he trained very diligently his Huo Yan Dao and the three Shaolin Finger skills.
- Jiumozhi accidentally entered the Wang Manion when he was trying to capture Duan Yu again, Duan Yu escaped with A Bi and A Zhu. He overheard Ding Chunqiu and Madame Wang talking, it seems that Ding Chunqiu left the 8 volumes of Xiao Wu Xiang Gong at the Wang mansion, because he did not trust his Xingshu disciples. But Ding Chunqiu could not successfully master Xiao Wu Xiang Gong, he took one manual and left for Xingshu again. Jiumozhi stole the other 7 volumes and within three years time he had mastered Xiao Wu Xiang Gong. Although not directly implied but one of the reasons why Jiumozhi could master Xiao Wu Xiang Gong was because of his high level in Buddhist martial and his knowledge in Buddhist philosophy. (Comparable what reverend Yideng said about Taoist and Buddhist martial arts at the highest level are the same). Furthermore, Jiumzhi’s martial arts were much higher than Ding Chunqiu and Jiumozhi is also ten times more intelligent than Ding. But because Jiumozhi missed one volume, his Xiao Wu Xiang Gong is rather useless when he was facing Xuzhu.
- Tonglao’s martial art’s name has changed. The reason for that is that the previous had a Buddhist background, but the martial arts itself had not Buddhist connection at all. Therefore, the name has been changed. Also this type of martial arts can preserve one’s looks and youth. Because Tonglao was in love with Wuya Zi, she told him some of the youth preserving methods and after he was married to Li Qiushui he revealed those secrets to her as well. Ding Chunqiu on the other hand knew just a little bit, but enough to make him very suave for his age, but he wanted to know the entire thing. The name is Tian Chang Di Jiu Chang Chun Bu Lao Gong, the name itself is lame but it does contain the characteristics of this art. Ding used poison, toxins to preserve his looks but in the recent years this was not working too well anymore.
- You Tanzhi studied yoga, true. A Zhu stole a Sanskrit copy of Yijin manual. The back story is, in the past an Indian Buddhist monk came to China. He took with him several scriptures and blank manuals to write scriptures down. Unknown to him was that a blank manual of his had a secret powerful hidden Yoga technique used by ancient Sanskrit meditators with invisible ink, he later on copied down the Sanskrit Yijin jing on that blank manual. However, Yijin jing was not lost, Shaolin monks always had the Chinese translation of it and did not think the lost of a Sanskrit copy was that important.
- The part of the two Indian Buddhist monks has been cut, abbot Shenshan of the Qingliang monastery is there to demand explanation why Shaolin has not done a thing about Qiao Feng. Eder Xu is a martial arts brother of abbot Shenshan.
- Abbot Xuanci asked Xiao Feng to enter the Shaolin Monastery and told him that he and 4 other monks were in fact those 5 mysterious old men. Abbot Xuanci confessed to Xiao Feng that he was the [big brother], and he told Xiao Feng that if he wanted to avenge his parents he will not fight back and the Xuan generation monks were not allowed to retaliate. Xiao Feng said that he needed time to find who the real killer was of the his adopted parents and teacher and also the name of the messenger that lead to the massacre of Yanmen Pass. Abbot Xuanci nodded and said that Xiao Feng was welcome to take his life any time, he also told Xiao Feng to leave at the rear entrance of the monastery. He and the other Shaolin monks will block and/or explain to the heroes. But Xiao Feng refused this.
- The Xixia princess is revealed to be the granddaughter of Li Qiushui.
- Duan Yu realised that he never really loved Wang Yuyan, but loved the statue. He projected his love for the statue on Wang Yuyan and let her go. In contrast to Wuya Zi who remained oblivious till the end, Duan Yu could break the vicious circle on time. And he let her go, Wang Yuyan also pushed the jade statue and therefore freeing Duan Yu of his “curse.” It was very Zen, but logical.
- After Xiao Feng was rescued, the Beggar’s Association wanted him back as leader. But he declined, Xiao Feng thought of way. He wanted Xuzhu to learn the Dog Beating stick and the 18 Dragon Subduing Palms, when the Beggars Association would find a suitable leader that person could learn these 2 skills from Xuzhu.
Xiao Feng added that the last 10 stances of the 28 Dragon Subduing Palms were redundant, they were in fact repetitions, variations of the 18 previous palms. If the practitioner understands the essence of the Dragon Subduing Palms there is no need for the last 10 palms at all. He and Xuzhu sort of filtered out the good parts of the last 10 redundant stances and integrated those good parts into the earlier 18 palms.
Many years later, a unnamed young beggar who rose in the ranks of the Beggar’s Association was appointed by the elders to seek out Xuzhu. Xuzhu tested that young beggar and deemed him worthy and taught him the Dog Beating Stick and the 18 Dragon Subduing Palms.
Han Solo:
I like some of the changes but more questions than answers with the revisions.
1) The explanation that DCQ knows the XWXG and that JMZ learned 7 volumes in just 3 years! make it seems like JMZ >> DCQ.
2) That the shaolin abbot confess the crime of being big brother himself, somehow does not have the statisfying feeling of revenge of being revealed in front of everyone. In addition, the dramatic announcements and twists in shaolin is one of the highlight in the book, which now may be really been downgraded.
3) Did YTZ learned both the yoga and the YJJ?
4) If JMZ did not learn YJJ, then how did he end up with trouble with his internal energy?
5) Who the heck did DY end up with? and what about WYY?
6) How in the world did a angelic and innocent WYY end up being so vain?
To Han Solo:
First of all, Ding Chunqiu was always inferior to Jiumozhi even in the previous edition. Murong Fu was only slightly inferior to Ding Chunqiu, but Jiumozhi was just toying with Murong Fu later on. Therefore, Jiumozhi could wipe the floor with Ding Chunqiu as well.
The Xiao Yuanshan revenge climax is still there. Your worry is not necessary, Han.
You Tanzhi only learnt the yoga, when the manual fell into the water the Sanskrit Yijin Jing was washed away.
Jiumozhi's internal energy problem arose when he missed one volume of Xiao Wu Xiang Gong.
Wang Yuyan goes back to her mad cousin, taking care of him together with A Bi.
Duan Yu ends up with Mu Wanqing, Zhong Ling and that Xixia palace maid.
Wang Yuyan (in my opinion) always was a vase. When she heard that Xiaoyao arts had a skill to preserve beauty and youth she became most interested in it.
--
A few corrections.....
I misread that part about Xiao Wu Xiang Gong, it is perfectly allright to use Xiao Wu Xiang Gong to perform different martial arts of different schools.
Jiumozhi's fire deviation was his own fault, he missed one volume of Xiao Wu Xiang Gong.
Murong Bo gave Jiumozhi all the 72 Shaolin arts as a way to repay him for teaching him "Huo Yan Dao." If Jiumozhi could bring Murong Bo the 6 Meridian Sword Manual, Jiumozhi could copy down another 50 other martial arts manuals (of different schools, I think) in the Murong library.
To Hanky Panky: Li Qiushui's comment about leaving those manuals to kill all Xiaoyao disciples were aimed at Ding Chunqiu. As to why she didn't do it herself is left open. That is something we as readers should fill in ourselves.
Murong Bo underestimated reverend Xuanbei and the power of the Weituo Staff, that is what the novel said. And when they came to blows because he underestimated Xuanbei he was immediately a bit overwhelmed and quickly used his Shifting North Star Technique to reflect that blow, killing reverend Xuanbei.
Madame Ma wanted Bai Shijing to revolt against Xiao Feng, Bai Shijing refused. (Like edition 2). She then went to look for help at Quan Guanqing, she slept with him for three nights and he immediately did everything she wanted.
But she realised that Quan Guanqing alone might not be enough, so she went to elder Xu. According to her, it was elder Xu who made a pass at her. She didn't decline and started an affair with him. In the end, Bai Shijing and Xu Chongxiao [徐沖霄] found that they shared the same lover, both wanted to kill each other. Bai Shijing struck first and killed Xu Chongxiao with a stone mace. The Beggar's Association assumed that it was Qiao Feng.
But when Madame Ma confessed the whole thing, affair with Bai Shijing and Xu Chongxiao. The elders decided that the best thing was to keep this under their hats and let Xiao Feng remain the scapegoat for all the crimes.
If word would get out that this s-lut was not only responsible for the death of the vice-leader of the Beggar's Association, but she started an affair with the respected elder Xu and was partly responsible for his death, on top of that she started an snowball effect that resulted in the Beggar's Association to disown on of their greatest leader in history and now the elders are executing their own Rule Execution elder. All because of this b-itch. Well, if the realm would find out about this the reputation of the Beggar's Association would be tarnished for good. So, better blame Xiao Feng a decision which Wu Changfeng hated.
Xiao Yuanshan was still reponsible for killing the Chan Family, Zhaoqian Sunli and Granny Tan.
I understand your question, Hank. And I don't feel overwhelmed at all. And yes, I am familiar with the term [xin mo], I just could not think of a suitable translation yesterday that is why I put the word curse between brackets. Duan Yu still saw Wang Yuyan as a sister.
To Dugu Seeking a Win: You could be right, but again the novel stated that more than three years have passed since the start of the novel till the Shaolin Heroes Gathering. So Jiumozhi should have used three years time to learn Xiao Wu Xiang Gong.
As for the love life of Duan Yu, nothing too interesting. The Xixia princess saw that Duan Yu was looking quite sad and offered a caring companion for him in the form of the palace maid. The 4 sword girls were a gift too, but those girls married the sons of the 3 Ministers. It was only said in the end that Mu Wanqing later on became the Imperial Consort [皇妃], Zhong Ling became Consort Xian [賢妃] and the palace maid Consort Shu [淑妃]. One of them was the mother of Duan Zhengxing (the father of Duan Zhixing/reverend Yideng), but it was unclear which one.
As for Wang Yuyan, she could not learn the method to preserve her youth. Because the only persons who knew the skill were all dead (Tonglao, Wuya Zi and Li Qiushui). She just went back to her mad cousin.
1. In the previous edition Xiao Feng used three times [亢龍有悔] against Ding. Now he uses three times [見龍在田], the reason for this was in the previous edition it seemed that Xiao Feng only used [亢龍有悔] when performing the 18 Dragon Subduing Palms; making it seem that Xiao Feng only knew that palm. Hence, a little variety.
2. 游坦之待要招架，拳力已及面門，總算他勤練“易筋經”后，体內自然而然地生出反應，腦袋向后急 仰，兩個空心 斗向后翻出，這才在間不容發之際避開了這千斤一擊。
YYJ is replaced with the yoga thing
3. this 千斤一擊 is turned into 千鈞一擊.
Although [鈞] is an archaic measurement unit. 1 鈞 = 30 斤. BUT used in the context [千鈞] it is ONLY a phrase meaning/describing a very dangerous/lethal situation/thing. On top of that the meaning 1 [鈞] = 30 [斤] is also annulled when one uses 鈞 in the proverb 千鈞一擊.
If Jin Yong wanted to make Xiao Feng more powerful in this edition, he failed in my opinion. Because the fights are similiar, nothing has changed there. Jin Yong only wrote that Xiao Feng learnt the Demon-Subduing Palm (one of the 72 arts). But like you said before, that is just there to explain why Xiao Feng at the age of 31+ is that powerful. Furthermore, the comment that Xiao Feng could defeat people more powerful than himself is gone.
他天生异稟，實是學武的奇才，受業師父玄苦大師和汪幫主武功已然甚高，蕭峰卻青出于藍，更遠遠 胜過了兩位師 父，任何一招平平無奇的招數到了他手中，自然而然發出巨大無比的威力。熟識他的人都說這等武學 天賦實是与生 俱來，非靠傳授与苦學所能獲致。蕭峰自己也說不出所以然來，只覺什么招數一學即會，一會即精， 臨敵之際，自 然而然有諸般巧妙變化。但除了武功之外，讀書、手藝等等都只平平而已，也与常人無异。他生平罕 逢敵手，許多 強敵內力比他深厚，招數比他巧妙，但一到交手，總是在最要緊的關頭，以一招半式之差而敗了下來 ，而且輸得心 服口服，自知終究無可匹敵，從來沒人再去找他尋仇雪恥。 (edition 2, chapter 24).
This entire comment is gone now in edition 3. It is only logical, because his father doesn't show up in this chapter anymore and Xiao Feng doesn't need to chase anyone.
So, if people say that adding Demon-Subduing Palm is +1 for Xiao. But by removing that comment it is another -1. So, in the end Xiao Feng is still as powerful as in the edition 2.
The added scene was when Xiao Feng and A Zhu were looking for Buddhist monk Zhiguang he met 5 Xuan generation monks in disguise. Each monk took turns to exchange only 1 palm stance with Xiao Feng.
And thanks everyone!
A sloppy error was: Is the wife of Murong Bo (mother of Murong Fu) alive or not? When Wang Yuyan was pleading to her mother to help Murong Fu in the earlier chapters, it was said that Madame Murong had passed away.
But in chapters covering the Shaolin melee, it was implied that Madame Murong was still alive.
10. The Book and The Sword
I decided to post the changes of the third edition of the Book and Sword, Gratitude and Revenge.
I remember that Leviathan posted the changes of the third edition of this novel on the other wuxia forum several years ago.
I hoped that he was going to post it here too, but since that hasn't happened I will post them now.
The changes in this novel are not that big.
1. Zhang Zhaozhong, the evil Wudang expert, redeems himself a bit in this edition. In the past he was thrown into the pit filled with wolves, his martial arts brother Lu Feiqing jumped down to save him and he bear hugged Lu Feiqing hoping to go down with him. At that point he was a bit crazed and didn't know exactly who jumped down. Now, he does the same thing but he suddenly sees the face of Lu Feiqing and shouted:"It's you. You were always very good to me and treated me like your brother..." And when a wolf wanted to attack Lu Feiqing, Zhang Zhaozhong blocked the wolf. However, in the end Zhang was still eaten by the wolves and Lu Feiqing was saved by the others.
2. An error was corrected in this edition. In the past, it seemed that the imperial guards commander, Bai Zhen was in two places at the same time. He was in Beijing and also in "Jiangnan" on a special mission. (He was ordered to inform the governor of Fujian to burn down Southern Shaolin).
In order to correct this mistake, Jin Yong created another imperial guard commander, named Wang Qing. Wang Qing was in Beijing and met with the heroes of the Red Flower Society while Bai Zhen was still in Fujian. Bai Zhen was back in Beijing again when Southern Shaolin was burnt to a crisp. So the error in the past was corrected.
3. In the previous editions, Bai Zhen committed suicide when he was forced to confront Chen Jialuo again, this happened when the heroes of the Red Flower Society had cornered Emperor Qianlong. (*Chen saved the life of Bai Zhen once).
The heroes respected Bai Zhen for being a rather good man and allowed him to leave, but he didn't and committed suicide. But now, he does leave and sighs that he won't show his face in the realm again. In the past he was more or less forced to commit suicide by Qianlong. Qianlong in the past saw that Bai Zhen was reluctant to fight Chen Jialuo and remarked sarcastically that Chen saves Bai Zhen's life. Bai Zhen knew that Qianlong was wary of himself now and killed himself.
Fortunately, Bai Zhen survives now in edition 3.
4. Jin Yong added another chapter to the novel, this chapter happens when the heroes have retreated to the Muslim regions. And Chen Jialuo was just saved because he tried to commit suicide. Lu Feiqing and others reprimanded him for this foolish act. Huo Qingtong and Chen Jialuo discussed the islam and in a semi-conscious he hallucinated or perhaps it wasn't a hallucination in which he saw Princess Fragrance telling him to be strong.
I thought it was quite touching.
11. The Smiling Proud Wanderer
After having read the third edition of the Smiling Proud Wanderer I have noticed a few changes here and there. As usual I will jot those changes down. However, there were only very minor changes in this edition. Adding some background info here and there, expanding on some dialogues and correcting a few mistakes.
So, 99% of the novel stays the same.
1. The first corrected mistake I noticed was when Linghu Chong was banished to repenting cliff, he noticed that there was a name carved into the rocks, Feng Qingyang.
In the second edition Linghu Chong said, this elder belonged to the [Feng] character generation. But now Jin Yong has corrected it and changed it to this elder belonged to the [Qing] generation.
2. Some background information about 廣陵散. The work of Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang 笑傲江湖 was derived from 廣陵散. 廣陵散 was about the famous assassin of the Warring States Period, Nie Zheng who assassinated the king of the Han State. Although Nie Zheng was successful but he was also killed immediately by the guards of the king of Han. The second part is about the sister of Nie Zheng, who retrieved her brother's body and grieved for him.
Qu Yang was impressed by Linghu Chong's chivalry and righteous character, saying that Linghu's conduct is not inferior to Warring States warriors like Nie Zheng and Jing Ke, so he hoped that Linghu Chong would find a way to preserve the lifework of Liu Zhengfeng and himself.
3. Qin Weibang, an elder of the Sun and Moon Sect is now killed. In the past, he was the one who refused to submit himself fo Ren Woxing. Sang Sanniang was ordered to feed him one of those "cocoon" pills, but first by removing the outer layer of the pill. In edition 2 Qin Weibang made another appearance at the end of the novel as an elder working for Ren Woxing. But now, Qin Weibang was convulsing and cursing, he was feeling the effects of the cocoon pill. Since, his acupoints were sealed he could only squirm and curse, Xiang Wentian kicked him to death.
4. [Xixing Dafa] was derived from the Xiaoyao School's [Beiming Shengong]. Ren Woxing told Linghu Chong that the practitioner of Beiming was a member of the Duan family during the Northern Song dynasty. This emperor Duan originally did not like the idea of stealing other people's internal strength. But after reading the will of that Xiaoyao elder, emperor Duan understood that there are no really evil martial arts. A good person using Beiming to kill evil men is doing good.
Xixing Dafa has no connections with Huagong Dafa.
5. In edition 2 when Dingjing Shi Tai was about to die, she asked the disguised Linghu Chong (Wu Tiande) who he really was. Because she would not ask the help of Ren Woxing or Ren Woxing's disciple. Linghu Chong then told her his real name, Dingjing Shi Tai would say:"You....You..." and die.
But now she adds:"Thank you, young hero." and hold his hand, her eyes filled with gratitude before she passed away.
6. Another mistake that has been corrected is that in the past, the disciples of the Northern Hengshan School never seemed to know who their teacher was. Sometimes Yihe and others would refer Dingxian Shi Tai as teacher, but sometimes she would refer Dingxian Shi Tai back to martial arts uncle. The only disciple who was consistent was Yilin, but now Yihe and others do it right too.
7. Ding Mian (martial arts brother of Zuo Lengchan) is the one who leads a group of people to prevent Linghu Chong from assuming leadership of the Northern Hengshan School. In the previous editions this was Yue Hou (Great Yin and Yang Palms). Yue Hou was a rather decent chap, so I think this change was to retain the image of him being a rather decent bloke. Ding Mian is famous for being a butcher, so humiliating him was not such a big deal.
8. Another corrected mistake is in the past Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying seems to have forgotten why Ren Woxing did not learn the the Sunflower Manuscript. Even though Ren Woxing told them the reason (castration part) after the death of Dongfang Bubai. But now Ren Woxing never tells them why he did not study the manual, the readers will only read his thoughts. What he told Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying has been turned into his own thoughts.
Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying will only find out about the castration part when they hear Lin Pingzhi talking to Yue Lingshan. And then they figure out that both that "Evil Repelling Swordsmanship" and the Sunflower Manuscript need practitioners to castrate themselves.
9.
[當日在黑木崖上圍攻東方不敗，他手中只持一枚繡花針，可是四大高手竟然無法與之相抗，此刻細想 ，並非由於東方不敗內功奇高，也不是由於招數極巧，只是他行動如電，攻守進退，全然出於對手意料之外 。] chapter 35 edition 2
Now it has turned into: [當日在黑木崖上圍攻東方不敗，他手中只持一枚繡花針，可是四大高手竟然無法與之相抗，此刻細想 ，非因由於東方不敗內功奇高，也不是由於招數極巧，只是他行動如電，攻守進退，全然出於對手意料之外 。] edition 3, chapter 35
10. At the end, an extra paragraph is added with Linghu Chong's thoughts on being carefree. This is the paragraph 令狐沖一生但求逍遙自在， 笑傲江湖， 自與盈盈結褵， 雖償了平生之願， 喜樂無已， 單不免受嬌妻溫柔的管束， 真要逍遙自在， 無所拘束， 郤做不到了。 突然之間， 心中響起了 笑傲江湖之曲的曲調， 忽想﹕我奏這曲子， 要高便高， 要低要低， 只有自己一個人奏琴， 才可以自由自在， 然如和盈盈合奏， 便須依照譜子奏曲， 不能任意放縱， 她高我也高， 她低我也低， 這才說得上和諧合拍。 佛家講求涅槃， 首先得做到無欲無求， 這才能夠無拘無束。 但人生在世， 要吃飯， 要穿衣， 要顧到別人， 豈有當真無欲無求？ 涅槃是無為境界， 我們做人是有為境界。 在有為境界中， 只要沒有不當得欲求， 就不會受不當的束縛， 那便是逍遙自在了。
I found something interesting in chapter 27 of the third edition of the Smiling Proud Wanderer.
原來左冷禪適才這一招大是行險，他已修練了十餘年的「寒冰真氣」注於食指之上，拚著大耗內力，將計就計，便 讓任我行吸了過去，不但讓他吸去，反而加催內力，急速注入對方穴道。這內
力是至陰至寒之物，一瞬之間，任我行全身為之凍僵。 ------> Chapter 27, edition 2.
原來左冷禪適才這一招大是行險，他已修練了十餘年的「寒冰真氣」注於食指之上，拚著大耗內力，將計就計，便 讓任我行吸了過去，不但讓他吸去，反而加催內力，急速注入對方穴道。左冷禪所練「寒冰真氣」， 和梅莊的黑白子所練的「玄天指」乃是一路， 都是至陰至寒的工夫，不過左冷禪的內力更深厚得多，一瞬之間，任我行全身為之凍僵。-----> Chapter 27, edition 3.
Zuo Lengchan's earlier technique was most hazardous, he has accumulated polar ice energy for over a decade and transferred all that energy into his index finger at that moment. He defied the danger of losing a lot of his internal strength and allowed Ren Woxing absorb his internal power, he not only allowed he even forced it towards him by pouring it through the acupoint of his opponent. Zuo Lengchan's polar ice energy is similar to the Boreal Finger of Plum Manor's Heibai Zi, both were extreme yin and cold martial arts. However, Zuo Lengchan's internal energy was a lot deeper. In a few moments, Ren Woxing was frozen solid.
I thought that new sentence was interesting, because it sort gave an indication of how good the Four Friends of the Plum Manor were if compared to people of the Five Sacred Mountain Sword Schools.
12. The Deer and the Cauldron
After reading the third edition of the Duke of Mount Deer, I will again jot down the changes.
The changes were very little. Jin Yong did not change anything at all, he just added a few characters here and there to make the story read more fluently.
- An error that he corrected was the eunuch Hai Dafu called Wei Xiaobao by his real name at certain point in the story. But how could Hai Dafu know the name of Wei, since neither Wei Xiaobao nor Mao Shiba ever mentioned it to him.
So, Jin Yong has Hai Dafu call him Xiao Guizi till the end, even though Hai Dafu knew that Wei wasn't the real Xiao Guizi.
- Wei Xiaobao created a pseudonym for a dead fictional friend, this fictional friend was called Hai Guidong in edition two. Why Hai Guidong? Hai Guidong stood for eunuch Hai Dafu, Xiao Guizi and Rui Dong. All three of them were killed by Wei Xiaobao, but Wei Xiaobao did not kill eunuch Hai Dafu, it was the empress dowager who killed him. So, Jin Yong changed the pseudonym to Shi Guidong. Why Shi? Because Shi stands for Shi Jing, the Manchu captain who wanted to capture Mao Shiba in Yangzhou province, Wei Xiaobao blinded that Shi Jing and killed him.
- Princess Changping never saw Yuan Chengzhi again after they parted in the Sword Stained with Royal Blood. After waiting for years, she decided to become a Buddhist nun. Yuan Chengzhi promised her that he would come and look for her, but he broke that promise. Even though Yuan loved her, he decided he could not break his promise to Qingqing and stayed with Qingqing. Breaking Changping's heart.
- There is an extra hint now, that He Tieshou did have feelings for Yuan Chengzhi when she was young.
This is from the third edition of the Sword Stained with Royal Blood: He Tieshou and Yuan Chengzhi once had a conversation, at that point He was already a student of Yuan. At a certain point in that conversation, she said:"No, I don't want to become your wife. Never, never, never. But if things were different, for example if A Jiu (princess Changping) doesn't exist or you don't love her, I want to be your wife very much. That way, if you won't teach me good skills, I will pinch your ear. Haha. But with A Jiu around, you will never love me back as much as I want. And if I killed A Jiu, you will never be happy and might even commit suicide. I will have gained nothing by killing her. So, I can only and want to be your student. I will never be your wife, never...never... never."
Yuan Chengzhi smiled when he heard this and thought she was joking. But He Tieshou was quite serious and it seemed that she was trying to convince herself more than Yuan Chengzhi.
And now in the third edition of the Duke of Mount Deer, translated from the original text:
Wei Xiaobao suddenly joked:"Do you love her teacher?"
He Tieshou blushed and chided:"Nonsense, if my teacher's wife would hear this, she will cut your tongue."
Feelings she had bottled up in her youth resurfaced, her face felt like it was on fire.
I thought it was sweet. Even He Tieshou knew she should not stand in the way of true love, unlike Qingqing.
- Gui Zhong's age has been corrected. In the past this "young turtle" was said to be middle-aged, but wasn't possible. Because in the Sword Stained with Royal Blood he was just a small child, a toddler. How come more than twenty years later he is suddenly 40 something. In this edition, this has been corrected. He is now nearing 30, but due to his illness he is mentally 9 years old.
He dies with his parents like the previous edition.
* Wei Xiabao does NOT lose any of his wives! Jin Yong decided to keep things unchanged, which is good. I am mean Mr. Cha is getting old, when he tried to tackle DGSD he solved a few problems but also created new errors. That was not helping, so I'm rather happy that he just left the Duke of Mount Deer as it is. With only changing, correcting a few characters here and there to make the story flow better.
Finally, this is my last piece of official business. Thank God!
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