Letters | Dub TVB’s wuxia classics into English for the world

Readers discuss the value of making English versions of television series based on novels by Jin Yong, the potential for collaboration between Western and Chinese medicine, and China’s tech advancement

Reading Time:3 minutes

A picture of Barbara Yung, Lau Dan and Felix Wong, in character as Huang Rong, Hong Qigong and Guo Jing in TVB’s The Legend of the Condor Heroes, is shown at the Jin Yong Gallery at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin in 2018. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 11:28am, 14 Apr 2024

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Many people consider TVB’s adaptations of The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes timeless classics (“Hong Kong exhibitions launch to honour renowned wuxia novelist Louis Cha ‘Jin Yong’ with sculptures of famous characters”, March 15).

These two series, starring Felix Wong Yat-wah and Barbara Yung Mei-ling as Guo Jing and Huang Rong, and Andy Lau Tak-wah and Idy Chan Yuk-lin as Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu respectively, have been much enjoyed by audiences. If these dramas were dubbed into English, it would be an important step for cultural heritage.

Swedish translator Anna Holmwood spent several years translating Jin Yong’s The Legend of the Condor Heroes into English and successfully found a British publisher, making it possible for people to read the novel in English. Gigi Chang was enlisted to help with the translation of that novel and translate the second novel in the trilogy, The Return of the Condor Heroes, paving the way for the English translation of the entire trilogy of novels.

Such efforts are more than a translation project. Presenting the two television series, with their iconic characters and touching stories, in English will help them reach a wider audience, and open up a broader market for Jin Yong’s work.

The English-dubbed series could also further popularise the classic story of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu, which is filled with romance, adventure and heroism. This would help more people around the world understand and appreciate not only Chinese martial arts culture but Chinese culture.

TVB’s adaptations of The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes are treasures of the Chinese entertainment industry. Their success stems from not only the excellent performances and well-crafted scripts but also the depth and richness of the original novels. English dubbing or subtitles would make them more accessible to a global audience, and in turn boost the prospects of other Chinese literature and television series reaching people around the world.