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Can you imagine? A master of martial arts novels who is well-known in the Chinese world, when creating his classics, unexpectedly changed the protagonist setting temporarily because of the reader's reaction!
This master is Jin Yong, and this novel is the well-known "The Condor Heroes".
Mr. Jin Yong wrote fourteen martial arts novels in his lifetime, each of which is a classic and is deeply loved by readers. Not only did these works have a place in the literary world, but they have also often been adapted into various film and television productions, which have had a profound impact on popular culture. However, what is less known is that Mr. Jin Yong also encountered major setbacks in the creative process, and even had to change the original creative plan.
Let's turn back the time to the time when "The Condor Heroes" was created. As a sequel to "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" has naturally attracted the attention of countless readers. The chivalrous couple Guo Jing and Huang Rong still play an important role in the sequel, while their eldest daughter Guo Fu is given more expectations by Mr. Jin Yong.
In the initial setting, Guo Fu can be said to be the best choice for the heroine. She is outstanding in beauty and has attracted the attention of multiple characters; She is filial and kind, and has stood up many times to protect her parents and sister; She is sensible and understands righteousness, and actively participates in the defense against foreign enemies. Such a character setting is completely in line with the characteristics of the heroine in Jin Yong's novel.
You must know that there is a common routine in Jin Yong's novels: the male and female protagonists usually have opposite personalities, and finally come together after experiencing various conflicts. Such a bridge is not uncommon in works such as "Smiling Proud Jianghu", "The Story of Deer and Ding", "Mandarin Duck Knife", "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" and other works. According to this routine, Guo Fu and Yang Guo, who have very different personalities, should have become the protagonist duo of this novel.
And what about the little dragon girl? In Mr. Jin Yong's original conception, she was just a supporting role, and her main role was to provide maternal love for Yang Guo. What's even more surprising is that Mr. Jin Yong originally planned to let the little dragon girl die in the Valley of Despair!
However, the development of events was beyond Mr. Jin Yong's expectations. As the serialization progressed, the readers' reactions gradually became apparent. Surprisingly, readers' love for Xiaolongnu far exceeds that of Guo Fu. Xiaolongnu's cold, arrogant, simple and kind character, and her mysterious and distressing experience have deeply touched the hearts of countless readers.
At the same time, Guo Fu's character setting has caused dissatisfaction among readers. The heroine, who was originally pinned on high hopes, turned out to be a willful and ignorant character in the hearts of readers. To make matters worse, when readers learn that Little Dragon Girl might die in the story, the outcry of opposition almost breaks the threshold of the newspaper!
Faced with such huge reader pressure, Mr. Jin Yong was in a dilemma. Do you stick to the original idea, or do you follow the reader's expectations? After careful consideration, Mr. Jin Yong made a surprising and reasonable decision: he chose to compromise.
In this way, Mr. Jin Yong began a major revision of the story line of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes". Xiaolongnu has jumped from a supporting role to a heroine, and her scenes and inner descriptions have been greatly increased. The originally destined tragic ending was rewritten, and the love story of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu became the main line of the entire novel. And Guo Fu was reduced from the original heroine to a supporting role.
This change not only saved the little dragon girl, but also made a classic. The love story of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu has become the most beautiful martial arts love in the hearts of countless readers. Their experiences, their vows, and their reunion after sixteen years have all become the most moving chapters in the history of martial arts literature.
The authenticity of this story was later confirmed by the well-known director Wang Jing. Wang Jing revealed that Mr. Jin Yong did originally plan to let Xiaolongnu fall off a cliff and die in Love Flower Valley, but because of the strong opposition of readers, he changed the ending. This detail reveals to us the difficult choices made by Mr. Jin Yong in the creative process.
Interestingly, in the later "Heaven and Dragon Slayer", we seem to see Mr. Jin Yong's echo of this experience. The relationship between Yang Xiao and Ji Xiaofu corresponds to Yang Guo and Guo Fu to a certain extent. This may imply that Mr. Jin Yong still has some regrets about the original setting.
In addition, a mysterious woman in a yellow shirt also appeared in "Heaven and Dragon Slayer". The character's identity has been disputed, with some believing that she is related to Peach Blossom Island, while others have speculated that she has some kind of connection to the Beggar Gang. The setting of this mysterious character adds a bit of mystery to the whole story, and also leaves readers with infinite room for reverie.
Looking back on this period of history, we can't help but sigh: a great writer must not only have excellent creative ability, but also have the courage to face reality and accept feedback. Mr. Jin Yong's open-mindedness and wisdom in the creative process can humbly listen to readers' opinions and adjust the direction of creation in a timely manner, which is also one of the important reasons why he can become a master of martial arts novels.
Mr. Jin Yong's "forced" change not only did not affect the quality of the work, but instead achieved a classic among the classics. This tells us that sometimes, unexpected changes can lead to unexpectedly good results. As a creator, you must not only have your own persistence, but also know how to listen to the voice of readers. It is this balance that keeps Jin Yong's works always vigorous and vigorous.
Today, although Mr. Jin Yong is no longer with us, his works are still popular. His influence on the new school of martial arts has gone far beyond the scope of literature and permeated the entire Chinese culture. The creative process of "The Condor Heroes" has become a creative legend worthy of repeated taste by future generations.
This story teaches us that even the greatest writers encounter setbacks and doubts along the way. But it's these challenges that have pushed them to adapt and refine to create classics that will stand the test of time. Mr. Jin Yong's experience has undoubtedly taught a vivid lesson to all creators.
In this era of information explosion, each of us seems to have become a creator of content. The lesson of Mr. Jin Yong's experience is that we should not be afraid of change and do not rest on our laurels. When our creation encounters a bottleneck, we might as well learn from Mr. Jin Yong, listen to feedback with an open mind, and boldly adjust the direction. Maybe your next work will become a new classic?
Finally, let us pay tribute to Mr. Jin Yong again. It was his courage and wisdom that gave us the privilege to read about the beautiful love between Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu. It is precisely because of writers like Mr. Jin Yong who dare to accept challenges and continue to innovate that our literary world can be so colorful. His story, his creation, his persistence and change will forever be engraved in the annals of Chinese literature.
Resources:
CNKI [1]Chen Shuzhen. Jin Yong's martial arts novel character research[D].Soochow University,2003.
CNKI [1]Li Ran. Jin Yong's Emotional Shaping in The Condor Heroes[J].Masterpiece Appreciation,2011,(31):129-130.