Ep 36 - Gujian with Emily Jin

'I think there is no brother in this world as strange as you'

In the thirty sixth episode of The Translated Chinese Fiction Podcast, we are looking at a video game(!) series called Gujian (古剑/ Gǔ Jiàn). Helping me level up and face my shadow self is Emily Jin, a highly active Chinese science fiction translator, and better yet: a hardcore Gujian fan!

Gujian isn't a Western Tolkeinesque RPG, nor is it a JRPG Final Fantasy-style affair. It's made in China, set in China, and played (mostly) by Chinese gamers. You may not be shocked to learn that it's a Wuxia RPG, with a little Xianxia magic thrown in for good measure.

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// NEWS ITEMS //

• a new interview with Murong Xuecun

• Land Wars and Xi Jinping's father

• 2021 Newman prize nominees announced

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// WORD OF THE DAY //

(剑 / Jiàn / a straight, double-edged Chinese sword)

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// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE //

• Paladin - Gujian's predecessor

• Fable - Angus' beloved teenage RPG

• ancient Yanling 鄢陵 - a 'flower city'

• 'the Shadow' in Jungian thought

• Philip K Dick, other realities, and the hero's journey

• Bi Xie 辟邪 - the mythic animal Emily described

• C语言修仙 - the Chinese hacker/xianxia webnovel Emily recommended

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