Wushu and Literatures，Films and TV
3 min readWushu is a quintessence of China，which is closely connected with Wushu and Chinese people’s knight-errant complex.Over two thousand years，from the Pre-Qin period to the Republic of China era，there have been numerous legends about knight-errant，and history abounds in many examples of this kind.Therefore，Xia Culture，developed from Xia people（a person adept in Wushu and given to chivalrous conduct），was specially developed.The core of the culture is the sagas of the knight-errants，while the knight-errant complex is the psychosocial basis of this culture.
Woodcut of Shui Hu Ye Zi:Song Jiang and Shi Jin by Chen Hongshou in the late Ming Dynasty Most people like reading swordsmen novels.However，they tend not to focus on the inconceivable Kungfu，but the charm of personalities，such as braveness and magnanimousness，courage and determination，promises that cannot be counted on and self-sacrifice.Under the pens of the authors，the knight-errants with swords travel around on an unrestricted base.They break the bondage of mundane regulations and laws-and never bend to nobility.They dare to reveal corrupt officials.Often，they live in the mountains and ancient temples，or appear in restaurants，where theyhold big feasts and drink and spend money recklessly.There are beautiful ladies and nice wines.The cold swords contrast with the light the moon.They fight hard against adversity and destiny.They never show their love，or enmity.They live a magnanimous life and choose to die solemnly.The authors show the real degage lives to the readers.
Chivalrous complex of the Chinese people
Chivalrous complex falls basically into the scope of folk culture.It is ordinary people’s imaginary resistance against the prevailing order，and also longing for perfect heroic character.The so-called”where there is injustice，there will be an outcry.”Social injustice is the root cause of the violations by force，and the historical root of the chivalrous complex of the Chinese people.As is described in the Water Margin，”The Buddhist monk’s staff cleared the dangerous road，and Buddhist monk’s knife removed all the injustice.”The chivalrous complex of the Chinese people also contains a persistent psychological prayer that is the longing for that tremendous personality power.Cultural history research shows that in the historical development process of a nation，a kind of mass character that the nation lacks most usually becomes the lasting spiritual pursuit of quite a few individuals of the nation.In China，the most desired is a healthy and complete personality free from servility and obsequiousness.
The knight-errant complex can be reflected in poems and operas.For example，excellent Kungfu and errantry have been mentioned in the White Horse（Baima Pian）by Cao Zhi（192-232），Knight-errant on Travel（Xiake Xing）by Li Bai（701-762），Farewell to Liang Huang（Bie Liang Huang）by Li Qi（690-751（indeterminate））and A tale of a Girl from Lanling（Lanling Nier Xing）by Jin He（1818-1885）later in the Qing Dynasty.These works have been widely read.Tracing back to the 2oth Century，when films and TV programs were being developed，many characters of these swordsmen novels began to appear on-screen.
It should be noted that swordsmen novels do not reflect the reality of the life，but rather the fantasy world.They present a world that common people dream about and what ordinary people want in their hearts.In China，these novels may become the permanent fairy tales of the nation whilethe knight-errant complex has been integrated into the historical psychological accumulation of the nation as a special element of Wushu. Therefore, it is seen as a permanent retrospection in the history of the development of the internal spirit of the Chinese nation.
