2024 marks the centenary of the birth of Jin Yong (Louis Cha), a literary giant in martial arts novels. His works have had a profound influence, and are regarded as excellent teaching materials for learning Chinese. As a fan of martial arts novels, Dr Cathy Fung, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chinese, hopes to pass on these classics by incorporating videos into textual discussion in her teaching. She encourages her students to explore the spirit of chivalry and improve their Chinese language skills.

Dr Fung was also surprised to learn that over half the students who enrolled in her class “Chinese Martial Arts Novel and Xiayi Spirit” had never read Jin Yong’s original novels. “Jin Yong’s works are ‘clean’ in terms of language, with well-structured plots and well-designed characters. The novels are easy to understand, making them an excellent starting point for learning Chinese.”

The prevalence of images and internet slang have led to a decline in students’ interest in reading. Dr Fung uses images to initiate discussions about the novel texts in her classes, aiming to attract students to read the original works. “Words are relatively implicit, leaving room for imagination and interpretation that images cannot express,” she said. She hopes students can understand and reflect on traditional thoughts and values, and establish their own moral judgments, through these novels.