Do you know what Wuxia is? If you are familiar with Chinese Dramas, you must have watched at least one or a few Wuxia dramas. It is a genre originating in China surrounding the age-old Chinese myths of spiritual cultivation and the immortals of the Martial Arts World capable of superhuman feats. Known for its ancient settings, gorgeous costumes, elaborate sets, and fantastical plots, Wuxia has garnered much attention over the past decade as East Asian media has become more widespread. Following are Ten must-watch Wuxia classics that you cannot go wrong with.
1. The Legend Of Fu Yao
The Legend of Fu Yao stars Yang Mi and Ethan Juan. It is a 66-episode drama based on the novel 'Empress Fuyao' by Tianxia Guiyuan. The protagonist, Meng Fuyao, is a divinity born out of a lotus petal and the mistress of invincible superpowers that allow her to be the only one who can resolve the disturbances in the world of Five Kingdoms. On her way to enter the sacred land of Firmament, she comes across Crown Prince Zhangsun of Tianquan. This meeting leads to the two of them getting sucked into a battle against the darkness residing over them, and they fall in love while navigating against these forces.
2. My Sassy Princess
This is one of the most beloved Wuxia dramas, with just 22 episodes, starring Yuan Bingyan and Zheng Yecheng. It follows the story of the mischievous and rebellious Liu Ling or, Princess Chang Le. She comes across the cold-hearted martial artist Shen Yan and makes advances that are received with indifference. As an Imperial Guard, however, Shen Yan has investigative information about various cases surrounding the royal family, including that of Liu Ling. The drama is a little more light-hearted than the previous one as it is a Wuxia rom-com.
3. Word Of Honor
Starring Gong Jun and Zhang Zehan, Word of Honor was one of 2021's most successful Wuxia BLs. It is based on the novel "Faraway Wanderers". It follows the fate of two separated childhood friends, Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing, as they reunite to solve the malicious mystery that killed their parents. Zhou Zishu is terminally ill due to self-inflicted torture to redeem his actions as a heartless assassin, while Wen Kexnig, the Leader of the Ghost Valley, seeks revenge against the murderers. The story deals with wars, conspiracies, politics, and the bond between the two soulmates who complete each other.
4. The Legend Of Anle
Released in July 2023, The Legend of Anle is the newest Wuxia drama series that's gaining attention for its cast of Dilmurat and Gong Jun. The story is compelling, dealing with politics, revenge, and love. The Drama follows the journey of the royal consort Di Zi Yuan as she loses her family to the royal decree for accusations of treason and gets cast out from the palace for the same. Years later, under the name Ren An Le, she finds her way back there to avenge her family and reunite with her childhood love, Crown Prince Han Ye.
5. The Untamed
With its explosive international popularity, The Untamed is loved by fans of Wuxia, Bl, and dramas. It is based on the book 'Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation' by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, and the cast consists Wang Yibo as Lan Zhan and Xiao Zhan as Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian was previously known to be the scary Yiling Patriarch, housing traitors to their world and protecting them with his wrongfully obtained dark powers. The two main characters belong to the sectarian world common to Wuxia novels, and both are Martial Artists practising Xianxia. Together, they decide to embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind the tragic events of the past that continue to disturb the lives around them.
6. Eternal Love Of Dreams
Also known as 'Three Lives, Three Worlds, The Pillow Book,' this Wuxia drama is heavily fantastical and romantic, following the love story of a shapeshifting nine-tailed fox-girl, Bai Fengjiu and the Emperor of the Heaven Clan, Donghua Dijun. On a journey to developing her cultivation, Bai Fengjiu gets attacked by a monster. The Emperor saves her life and to repay him, Fengjiu decides to transition to the mortal realm and protect him through his trials of human reincarnation.
7. Love Better Than Immortality
This drama provides a modernistic twist to the classic Wuxia as the main lead travels from the year 2169, where human beings have attained immortality. However, feelings such as joy, enjoyment, pleasure, and love— all have diminished as life itself is now an eternal pain. Chun Hua, the female lead, played by Zhao Lu Shi, desires the experience of true love over immortality and thus, travels to an ancient and fantastical world that allows her to experience such. However, this world is not free of problems and conflicts as she gets tangled in a love triangle with the seemingly evil Shangguan Qiuyue (Li Hong Yi) and the good Xiao Bai (Jun Wu).
8. Who Rules The World
Based on the Wuxia romance novel 'Let's Try The World' by Qing Lengyue, this drama is famous for being the epitome of a Wuxia drama with adventure, love, politics and, power, starring Yang Yang and Zhao Lu Shi. The characters are known as 'Hei' and 'Bai' As in 'Black' and 'white'— symbolizing their differences. However, behind the scenes, they join hands to fight injustice and secure peace and settlement in their disturbed world. Their love could be the only solution for destroying the dark politics and greed for the throne that is driving the gimmicks of their world.
9. Ashes Of Love
This intriguing Wuxia romance is based on the protagonist Jin Mi (Yang Zi) and her incapability to love or express her love due to the 'Loveless Pill' fed to her as a child. Forever trapped within the Flower Realm, when an accident brings Xu Feng, the fire deity, to her world, she convinces him to take her to the Heavenly Realm she had never seen. A love triangle is born once she is outside the confines that her mother left for her in fear of her fated Love Trial as both Xu Feng and his half-brother Run-Yu fall in love with her.
10. Handsome Siblings
Following the theme of brotherhood in Wuxia, this drama is about two twins who are both great martial artists and have obtained cultivation powers. However, they were separated at birth and raised as each other's nemesis. The story is based on conspiracies and intrigues in love, which both separate the brothers and bring them closer. The lead cast consists of Chen Zhe Yuan as Jiang Xiao Yu and Hu Yi Tian as Hua Wu Que.
