There are certain stories that feel like they’ve always existed. In the Chinese-speaking world, Jin Yong’s The Legend of the Condor Heroes ( She Diao Ying Xiong Zhuan ) is one of them. It’s our Lord of the Rings , our Game of Thrones , and our Odyssey rolled into one epic, page-turning saga. First published in 1957, it has been adapted for screen more than a dozen times.
The story follows Guo Jing, a son of a loyal Song patriot. After his father is murdered, he grows up as a "little savage" in the Mongolian desert. He is honest, stubborn, slow to learn, and incredibly kind. His sworn brother, Yang Kang, grows up as a prince in the enemy Jin court, becoming slick, ambitious, and morally compromised. the legend of condor heroes 2017