The Legend of the Condor Heroes () is a wuxia novel by Chinese writer Jin Yong (Louis Cha). It is the first part of the Condor Trilogy and is followed by The Return of the Condor Heroes and The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. It was first serialized between 1 January 1957 and 19 May 1959 in the newspaper Hong Kong Commercial Daily.The date conforms to the data published in Chen Zhenhui (), Wuxia Xiaoshuo Xiaoyao Tan (), 2000, Huizhi Publishing Company (), p. 56. Jin Yong revised the novel twice, first in the 1970s and later in the 2000s.
The English title is somewhat misleading. Diāo means a large bird of prey, and while it can refer to either of the condor species, the Andean condor, or Californian condor, neither is native to China. "Eagle" or "vulture" are sometimes used in more direct translations.
Plot Set in 12th-century China during the wars between the Jin and Song empires and the rise of the Mongol Empire, the story follows the intertwined fates of two families.
Qiu Chuji, a Taoist priest of the Quanzhen Sect, befriends two warriors – Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin – and helps them name their unborn sons in remembrance of the Jingkang Incident. Soon after, the Jin prince Wanyan Honglie orchestrates an attack on the Guo and Yang families. Guo Xiaotian is killed while Yang Tiexin disappears. Guo Xiaotian's widow, Li Ping, flees to Mongolia, where she gives birth to Guo Jing and raises him under the protection of Genghis Khan. Meanwhile, Yang Tiexin's wife, Bao Xiruo, is taken in by Wanyan Honglie and gives birth to Yang Kang, who is raised as a Jin nobleman.
Years later, Guo Jing grows up in Mongolia. Though slow-witted, he becomes a competent martial artist after undergoing training by the "Seven Freaks of Jiangnan" and other masters. He also earns the favour of Genghis Khan, who betroths him to his daughter Huazheng. Guo Jing eventually travels south and meets Huang Rong, the intelligent daughter of Huang Yaoshi, one of the top five martial artists in the wulin. The two fall in love and go on a series of adventures together.
During his journey, Guo Jing encounters Yang Kang, who has grown up cunning and ambitious. Yang Kang refuses to acknowledge his Han Chinese heritage and aligns himself with his stepfather Wanyan Honglie. Their conflict intensifies after Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo are reunited but ultimately die while attempting to escape, leaving Yang Kang further entrenched in his loyalty to the Jin Empire.
While roaming the wulin, Guo Jing and Huang Rong encounter the other top martial artists, including Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng. They become the former's apprentices, learning his most formidable skills "Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms" and "Dog Beating Staff Skill". At one point, Huang Rong even succeeds Hong Qigong as the chief of the Beggar Clan. Meanwhile, a longstanding rivalry over a highly-coveted martial arts manual, the Jiuyin Zhenjing, continues to drive conflicts in the wulin.
Yang Kang's villainy culminates in betrayal and murder. All this time, he has been lying to his romantic partner, Mu Nianci, about his loyalty to the Jin Empire even though he genuinely loves her. His treachery is ultimately exposed and he dies after a failed attempt at hurting Huang Rong, leaving behind Mu Nianci and their unborn son.
Meanwhile, Guo Jing participates in the Mongol invasion of the Khwarazmian Empire and avenges his father by killing Wanyan Honglie. However, when Genghis Khan sets his sights on conquering the Song Empire, Guo Jing refuses to fight for the Khan against his ancestral homeland. After Li Ping sacrifices her life to remind Guo Jing of his heritage, he parts ways with the Mongols and returns to the Song Empire.
The story concludes with Guo Jing and Huang Rong reconciling after various misunderstandings and getting engaged. The couple dedicate themselves to protecting the Song Empire from an impending Mongol invasion, and their story continues in the sequel.
Characters
English translation The novel has been translated into English in four volumes:
A Hero Born by Anna Holmwood (2018) A Bond Undone by Gigi Chang (2019) A Snake Lies Waiting by Anna Holmwood and Gigi Chang (2020) A Heart Divided by Gigi Chang and Shelly Bryant (2021)
Adaptations Films Year Production Director(s) Main cast Additional information 1958 Emei Film Company(Hong Kong) Wu Pang Cho Tat-wah, Yung Siu-yee, Lam Kau, Lai Kwan-lin Story of the Vulture Conqueror 1977 Shaw Brothers Studio(Hong Kong) Chang Cheh Alexander Fu, Tien Niu, Lee I-min, Kara Hui The Brave Archer 1978 Alexander Fu, Niu-niu, Lee I-min, Kara Hui The Brave Archer 2 1981 Alexander Fu, Niu-niu, Yu Tai-ping The Brave Archer 3 1993 Scholars Limited(Hong Kong) Jeffrey Lau Leslie Cheung, Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Jacky Cheung The Eagle Shooting Heroes 1994 Wong Kar-wai Leslie Cheung, Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Jacky Cheung Ashes of Time 2021 Lajin, Media Asia Film, CFM, M&H Pictures(Mainland China) Zhu Lingfeng Eddy Geng, Lin Yurou, Alex To, Eddie Kwan, Lam Chi-chung, Yue Dongfeng The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Dragon Tamer 2021 Daniel Fu Kevin Yan, Ruan Ju, Tracy Wang, He Changxi, Tim Huang, Charles Lin The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Cadaverous Claw 2025 China Film Group Corporation(Mainland China) Tsui Hark Xiao Zhan, Sabrina Zhuang, Tony Leung Ka-fai Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants
Television series Year Production Main cast Additional information 1976 CTV(Hong Kong) Jason Pai, Michelle Yim, Bruce Leung, Mang Chau The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1976 TV series) 1983 TVB(Hong Kong) Felix Wong, Barbara Yung, Michael Miu, Sharon Yeung The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983 TV series) 1988 China Television(Taiwan) Howie Huang, Idy Chan, Poon Wang-ban, Chiu Shu-yi The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1988 TV series) 1992 TVB(Hong Kong) Ekin Cheng, Fiona Leung, Gallen Lo, Eddie Kwan, Vivian Chow Rage and Passion 1993 Julian Cheung, Emily Kwan, David Chiang, Fiona Leung The Mystery of the Condor Hero 1994 Julian Cheung, Athena Chu, Gallen Lo, Emily Kwan The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1994 TV series) Ekin Cheng, Marco Ngai, Wong Siu-yin, Charine Chan, Chan Wai-yee, Wayne Lai The Condor Heroes Return 1998 Taiwan Television(Taiwan) Richie Ren, Jacklyn Wu, Sun Xing, Patricia Ha, Ji Qin, June Tsai, Chen Hong, Ben Lee The Return of the Condor Heroes (1998 Taiwanese TV series) 2003 Ciwen Film & TV Production(Mainland China) Li Yapeng, Zhou Xun, Zhou Jie, Jiang Qinqin The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2003 TV series) 2008 Chinese Entertainment Shanghai(Mainland China) Hu Ge, Ariel Lin, Justin Yuan, Cecilia Liu The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2008 TV series) 2017 Dragon TV(Mainland China) Yang Xuwen, Li Yitong, Chen Xingxu, Meng Ziyi, Michael Miu The Legend of the Condor Heroes (2017 TV series) 2024 Tencent Video(Mainland China) Ci Sha, Bao Shang'en, Gao Weiguang, Meng Ziyi, Chen Duling, Hankiz Omar The Legend of Heroes: Hot Blooded (2024 TV series)
Comics In 1998, Hong Kong's Ming Ho Press () published a 38 volume manhua series illustrated by Lee Chi Ching. This was published in Indonesia by MNC Comics in 2000.
Video games Shachou Eiyuuden: The Eagle Shooting Heroes, a 2000–2001 PlayStation RPG, is a video game developed by Sony Computer Entertainment and published in Japan. Street Fighter Online: Mouse Generation, a 2008 PC fighting game, includes Mei Chaofeng and Zhou Botong as playable characters.
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