Wuxia Series are available at - http://www.ancientchinese.net/

Wikipedia description of what Wuxia is -

What is Wuxia?

Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to different art forms like animations, manhua (Chinese comics), films, television series, and video games. Wuxia is a component of popular culture for many Chinese-speaking communities worldwide. One of the oldest genres in Chinese literature, wǔxiá (武侠 - literally "martial-arts chivalry" or "martial arts heroes", and pronounced roughly woo-seeah in Mandarin) stories are tall tales of honourable warriors (侠 xiá) fighting against evil, whether it be an individual villain, or a corrupt government.

Wuxia Series Preview #1 -
Strange Hero Yi Zhi Mei, Chinese Paladin 3, Legend of the Condor Heroes 2008

The word "wuxia" is a compound word composed from the words wu (武), which means "martial", "military", or "armed" and xia (俠), meaning "honorable", "chivalrous", or "hero". A martial artist (or pugilist) who follows the code of Xia is often referred to as a xiake (俠客, lit: "follower of xia", "hiệp khách") or youxia (游俠, "wandering xia", "du hiệp"). In some translated works of wuxia, the pugilist is sometimes termed as a "swordsman" although he may not necessarily wield a sword.

Typically, the heroes in Chinese wuxia fiction do not serve a lord, wield military power or belong to the aristocratic class. They are often from the lower social classes of ancient Chinese society. Wuxia heroes are usually bound by a code of chivalry that requires them to right wrongs, especially when the helpless or the poor are oppressed. The wuxia hero fights for righteousness and seeks to remove an oppressor, redress wrongs, or to bring retribution for past misdeeds. The Chinese xia traditions can be contrasted with martial codes from other countries, such as the Japanese samurai's bushido tradition, the chivalry of the medieval European knights and the gunslingers of America's Westerns.

The Code of Xia

Wuxia Series Preview #2 -
Strange Hero Yi Zhi Mei, Treasure Venture, Legend of the Condor Heroes 2008

The hero of a wuxia story keeps his honor by upholding justice and helping the poor, just as Robin Hood robs the rich to help the poor. A typical follower of xia has considerable martial arts abilities that are used not just for personal gain, but employed to achieve the greater good. However, just as Robin Hood is an outlaw, the swordsman may not necessarily submit to higher authority. When part of a larger group, the code of Xia requires the group to maintain social justice within the best of the group's abilities.

The code of xia is composed of two main virtues. Yi (義; righteousness) and xin (信; honor). The code also emphasizes the importance of repaying benefactors after having received deeds of grace (恩) or favor from others, as well as seeking vengeance (仇) to bring villains to justice. However, the importance of vengeance is controversial, as a number of wuxia works stress Buddhist ideals, which includes forgiveness, compassion and a prohibition on killing.

In the jianghu, most pugilists are expected to be loyal to their martial arts teacher or shifu (師父, sifu in Cantonese pronunciation). This gave rise to the formation of several complex trees of teacher-student (master-apprentice) relations as well as the various sects such as Shaolin and Wudang. If there are any disputes between pugilists, they will choose the honorable way of settling their issues through fighting in duels. This is similar to the one-on-one sword duels adopted by knights in medieval Europe. Only two pugilists are involved in each duel and they are usually of the same level or status if they belong to any sect.

Skills and abilities

The martial arts in wuxia stories are based on factual wushu techniques and other Chinese martial arts. However, the mastery of such skills are highly exaggerated in wuxia stories to fictitious and superhuman levels of achievement and prowess. For example, ordinary blows such as kicks or punches can have devastating effects on characters in wuxia fiction, and certain characters who are formidable martial artists can even shoot streams of energy at opponents to knock them down or stun them. The firing of these energy streams and their impacts can even lead to explosions.

The following is a list of skills and abilities a typical pugilist or martial artist in a wuxia story might possess:

- Martial arts (kungfu) - fighting techniques in a codified sequence called zhaoshi (招式) which are based on actual martial arts.

- Weapons and objects - combatants use a wide range of weapons in combat. The most commonly used ones are the saber, sword, staff, and spear. Everyday objects such as abaci, benches, fans, ink brushes, pipes, sewing needles, or various musical instruments are also used by characters as weapons as well.

- Qinggong - literally means "the ability of lightness". Characters can move swiftly and lightly at superhuman speeds. They can glide on water surfaces, scale high walls and mount trees, making them seem as though they can fly. Qinggong is based on real Chinese martial arts. Some real-life martial artists such as those who practice baguazhang, train in qinggong for years by attaching heavy weights onto their legs.[citation needed] However, its use is highly exaggerated in wuxia stories and wire fu films in which characters can circumvent gravity and literally fly.

- Neijin, Neigong or Neili (内力) - the ability to build up and cultivate mystical "inner energy" (qi) and utilise it for several purposes. Characters use their inner energy for attack and defense purposes when combined with their martial arts. They may also use this form of energy to heal internal wounds or even purge venom from their bodies after being poisoned, or use it to attain superhuman stamina. In the context of wuxia stories, this kind of energy is a prerequisite for practice of qinggong, dianxue (dim mak) and other superhuman feats of speed and strength. The more neili one has, the better one can perform those mentioned feats. Neili is gained by many years of special breathing and physical exercises, consuming (sometimes accidentally or unknowingly) rare herbs, fruits or other substances of legend that are beneficial, or in some cases by deliberate transference from one to another, such as master to student. Neili can be used as a source of power for mystical skills such as projection of energy (i.e., energy blasts), toughening the body to take strikes, increasing physical strength to superhuman level, and other paranomal effects. Pugilists who possess these powers draw them from the use of qi originating from the body rather than black magic and wizardry however.

- Dianxue (simplified Chinese: 点穴; traditional Chinese: 點穴) these stories are most likely the source for the Dim Mak (點脈) and are based, in part, on the real-world techniques of Chin Na (擒拿). Characters use these techniques to kill, paralyze, immobilize or control opponents by attacking their acupressure points (xue 穴) with the bare hand or weapons. A victim may be immobilized for hours after being hit on the acupressure points. Such techniques may be used for healing purposes, when excessive bleeding may be halted when certain acupressure points are pressed. Real-life martial artists do use such techniques in martial arts to paralyze or stun their opponents. Their effectiveness is highly exaggerated in wuxia stories.

In wuxia stories, characters attain the above skills and abilities by devoting themselves to diligent study and practice. The instructions to mastering these skills are often found in "hidden (secret) manuals" known as miji (秘笈). In some stories, specific skills can be learned by spending several years in seclusion with a master or gathering together with a group of pugilists to assist each other.

Jianghu

The Jianghu (江湖) (Cantonese: Kong Woo), which means "rivers and lakes" literally, refers to the world of martial arts.

The jianghu is an alternate universe. It consists of several martial artists and pugilists gathered in the wulin (武林), usually congregated in sects, clans, disciplines and various schools of martial arts. It is also inhabited by others such as youxia (wandering heroes), nobles, thieves, beggars, priests, healers, merchants and craftsmen. The best wuxia writers draw a vivid picture of the intricate themes of honour, loyalty, love and hatred between the individuals and communities within this milieu.

A common aspect of the jianghu is the tacit suggestion that the courts of law are dysfunctional. All disputes and differences can only be resolved by use of force, as such, predicating the need for the code of xia and acts of chivalry. Law and order within the jianghu is maintained by the various orthodox and righteous sects and heroes. Sometimes, these sects may gather to form an alliance against all evils within the jianghu.

A leader, called the "wulin mengzhu" (武林盟主), is elected from amongst them to lead the sects to ensure law and order within the jianghu. The leader is usually someone with a great reputation for righteousness and a high level of mastery in martial arts, even though he is often involved in some conspiracy or killed. In some cases, the leader may not be among the greatest martial artists in the jianghu. The protagonist of the story may also become the leader by coincidence, while in some other cases such as in the TV miniseries Paradise, the position of the leader is hereditary. The leader is an arbiter who presides and adjudicates over all inequities and disputes. The leader is a de jure chief justice of the affairs of the jianghu.

The term jianghu is linked to cultures other than those pertaining to martial arts in wuxia stories. It is also applied to societies where there is no law and order. For instance, the Chinese triads, secret societies and gangs use the term jianghu to describe their world of organized crime. Sometimes, the term jianghu may be replaced by the term "underworld", with reference to the "criminal underworld".

In modern day terminology, jianghu may mean any circle of interest such as show business, sports, etc. Colloquially, retirement is also referred to as "leaving the jianghu" (退出江湖). In wuxia stories, when a reputable pugilist decides to retire from the Jianghu, he will do so in a ceremony known as "washing hands in the golden basin" (金盆洗手). He washes his hands in the golden basin filled with water, signifying that he will no longer be involved in the affairs of the jianghu. When a reclusive pugilist who had apparently retired from the jianghu reappears, his reappearance is described as "re-entering the jianghu" (重出江湖).

Anime/Manga/Manhua Based on Wuxia

- Chinese Hero, the epic manhua saga by the author of The Storm Riders, chronicling Warriors of the East defending Chinese Pride against Evil White Racists in America with Martial Arts.

- G Gundam was heavily inspired by wuxia. In fact the director, Yasuhiro Imagawa, rather likes ''wuxia'', which also shows up to a greater degree in Giant Robo and less so in Shin Mazinger.
Master Asia (well, his name, anyway) is a Shout-Out to the Villain Protagonist of Swordsman II.

- The first season of Gundam Seed can be read as a loose adaptation of Jing-Yong's Heaven Sword And Dragon Saber novel, especially concerning Kira as a rewrite of the kind-pacifist turned Warrior-God Jang Wu-Ji.
It seems more likely to be a loose adaption of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series though, with elements from more recent ones thrown in.

- Dragon Ball, which was loosely based on Journey To The West.

- The Manga Mahou Sensei Negima! has become this through a combination of Writer Revolt and gradual Genre Shift. Also magic.

- How I Killed Your Master.

- The Breaker, Veritas, Now, and Ping are all Korean manhwa that use wuxia tropes.

- Fist of the North Star has all the elements of wuxia... other than being set in a post-nuclear-apocalyptic Earth that has no law in the first place, rather than a corrupt one. Its Prequel Fist of the Blue Sky is actually closer in style and spirit to classical wuxia being set in Shanghai during the twilight years of classical China helps.

Other Wuxia related Websites -

Jiang Hu Fansubs - http://jiang-hu.org/

Promoting Ancient Chinese Series - http://www.facebook.com/ancientseries

Wuxiapedia - http://wuxiapedia.com/