By APD writer Alice
Hanoi, Nov. 2 (APD) -- Not only readers in China, many Vietnamese who love martial arts fictions and films of Jin Yong, a renowned Chinese martial arts novelist, have shown their profound sympathies over the passing of the writer.
Jin Yong, whose real name is Cha Leung-yung, passed away on October 30 at a hospital in Hong Kong after a long illness at the age of 94.
He released his first martial arts, or wuxia, fiction “The Book and the Sword” under the penname Jin Yong in 1955 and immediately gained a resounding success. He was one of the best-selling Chinese authors.
Some of his outstanding works include “The Legend of the Condor Heroes”, “The Return of the Condor Heroes”, “The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber”, “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer”, and “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils”. The last novel “The Deer and the Cauldron” made debut in 1972.
Immediately after the news on his death, social networks in Vietnam were full of grief by readers. Young writer and editor Trong Khang shared on his Facebook page that he felt very regrettable when his idol died at the age of 94. Among Jin Yong’s novels, he likes “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer” the most.
Another reader, on her Facebook page, said “good-bye” to the famous Chinese novelist. She wrote “All righteous persons and vagabond heroes have already followed him to the heaven”.
Musician Ho Hoai Anh told “Chuyen dong 24h” programme by Vietnam Television that “I like reading Jin Yong’s fictions because I can understand all characters as well as his novels more deeply. His writing art was very skillful. He combined stories that seem to be unrelated in a reasonable way. Therefore, I read his works for many times”.
Meanwhile, dubbing artist Dat Phi said he learned much from Jin Yong’s characters although they are fictional. He loves those characters because they are knightly and behave toward everybody basing on morality, heart and love.
Poet Phan Huyen Thu said she admires Jin Yong and is thirsty to reach the level of thought of the Chinese writer because there are philosophies in his works, which have influenced not only one generation but also many generations for centuries.
According to Vu Thuy Hoa, owner of a book shop, with her 20-year experience of book selling, she found that Jin Yong’s works have been favoured and many people selected them. She said she feels very sad because a Jin Yong like that will never appear in the future.
Nguyen Tien Chung, a reader in Hanoi, said Jin Yong left a huge treasure of valuable novels. Although he passed away, his works and their humane values will live forever.
The information on the Chinese writer’s death made many Vietnamese readers mourning as his name as well as 15 famous martial arts novels he wrote have been familiar to many generations of readers. Through the translations before 1975 and later, when Jin Yong’s works were widely printed, his legendary characters such as Yang Guo, Zhang Wuji and Ling Huchong have become part of the memory of 7X and 8X readers in Vietnam.
After that, Jin Yong’s martial arts novels were translated into film series, which have been warmly welcomed by Vietnamese audiences.
The writer has passed away but his humane values he left in his works will live forever.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)