Oriental Heroes

Oriental Heroes is a popular Hong Kong-based manhua created by Tony Wong Yuk-long, a writer/artist responsible for also creating a number of other popular manhua titles. It was created in 1970, and it continues to be published today. The book was the first Hong Kong manhua title based on action and fighting, often borrowing from the wuxia literary world. It established a new action genre of Hong Kong manhua and spawned many imitators. The theme of its stories often revolves around brotherhood and the fight for justice.

Not to be confused with Oriental Hero.
Oriental Heroes
Cover of Oriental Heroes vol. 288,
art by Tony Wong
龍虎門
lung4 fu2 mun4 (Cantonese)
Lóng Hǔ Mén (Mandarin)
GenreKung Fu
AuthorTony Wong Yuk-long
PublisherJade Dynasty
English publisher
Original run1970 – Present
Oriental Heroes
Traditional Chinese龍虎門
Simplified Chinese龙虎门
Literal meaningDragon Tiger Gate
Little Rascals
Chinese小流氓

Connie Lam, the director of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, stated that the manhua was "the icon for jungle survival" and a "fantasy" in which people of lower socioeconomic backgrounds improve their standing through physical combat.[1] Wong Yat-hei of the South China Morning Post wrote that this work was "the first manhua to feature action and fighting".[2] Lee Wing-sze, also of the SCMP, described the series as "Wong's most crucial work."[3]

Jademan Comics published the comics in English, and these were distributed in the United States.[4] The U.S. National Coalition of Television Violence (NCTV) rated this series "XUnfit" due to the violence it has.[5]

The 2006 movie Dragon Tiger Gate was based on this manhua.[6]

Name

Oriental Heroes is the book's official English name. Its Chinese name is pronounced in Cantonese, Lùhng Fú Mùhn (simplified Chinese: 龙虎门; traditional Chinese: 龍虎門; pinyin: Lóng Hǔ Mén). This name translates as "Dragon Tiger Gate" in English, and is in reference to the name of the fictional kungfu school and organization that is a major subject matter in the book.

Its original name is also translated as "Little Rogues".[7]

History

Oriental Heroes was first published in 1970 under the title Little Rascals (Chinese: 小流氓; Cantonese Yale: Síu Làuh Màhn). It featured stories about young people living in public housing estates in Hong Kong fighting gangsters and criminals. The heroes of the stories exhibited antisocial behaviours, but routinely fought for justice. In the early years of the book's run, the fighting was very graphically illustrated. Various weapons were used, where spilled blood, internal organs, guts, and bones were shown in the injuries that the characters sustained. People criticised the graphic violence depicted in Oriental Heroes and other similar action genre manhua, eventually leading to the enactment of the Indecent Publication Law in 1975, banning explicit violence in manhua.[8]

As the Indecent Publication Law only applied to manhua, Wong Yuk-long established a daily newspaper, called Sàng Bou (simplified Chinese: 生报; traditional Chinese: 生報; pinyin: Shēng Bào), with which to publish Oriental Heroes. In the first month of Sàng Bou's run, the newspaper published actual news together with various manhua titles, including Oriental Heroes on the back cover. After a month, Sàng Bou switched to a manhua-only daily newspaper. Oriental Heroes was published daily in the newspaper, and a full week's stories were collected and published in book form every week. Wong Yuk-long changed the name of the book to its current name of Lùhng Fú Mùhn, with the English name of Oriental Heroes. He also explored less graphic means of depicting violence and altered his drawing technique.[8]

Lee Wing-sze of the South China Morning Post wrote that the work at the time "reflected the grass-roots culture of the 70s."[9]

Responding to the success of writer Ma Wing Shing's manhua, Chinese Hero,[10] Wong Yuk-long modified Oriental Heroes again in the mid-1980s. The drawing style began to use a style described by Tim Pilcher and Brad Brooks in their 2005 book The Essential Guide to World Comics as "more realistic,"[8] and the stories became more serious and less comical. After 1991, Oriental Heroes started being drawn by other artists instead of by Wong Yuk-long himself.[10]

Main characters

The stories in Oriental Heroes mostly center around three main characters who are leaders of the kung-fu organization and school, Dragon Tiger Gate.

The South China Morning Post described the main protagonists as "young, streetwise delinquents".[11]

Lee Wing-sze wrote in 2006 that Tiger Wong and Little Dragon "became heroes to many young people."[9]

Tiger Wong

Eighteen years old and with a strong sense of justice, Tiger Wong,[12] known in Chinese versions as Wong Siu-fu[9][note 1], fights to protect the weak from those who would oppress them. He is both calm and courageous, fighting against powerful and evil forces without any fear. Being from a family of martial artists, he is a naturally talented fighter. His signature technique is the Wong Family's 18 Dragon Slayer Kicks, invented by his grandfather. Besides his family kung fu, he also invented a kicking technique named Leuih Dihn Sahn Teui (Chinese: 雷電神腿); the name of this technique translates to "Thunder and Lightning Kick". Tiger's Chinese name means "Little Tiger". In English translations, he is called "Tiger Wong".

At first, he only mastered Taming The Tiger Fist (Gong Zi Fu Hu Quan) and Tiger Crane Paired Form Fist (Hu He Shuang Xing Quan), both of which are his family kung fu. Later on, after meeting his eldest uncle, Wong Jiang Long, he was able to learn the legendary Wong Family's 18 Dragonslayer Kicks. As the story progresses, his kung fu skills are also developing, either by improving his current technique or learning an entirely new skill. Subsequently, he learns "Nine Suns" Chi kung. This dramatically raises the power of his moves.

Andrea Chen of the South China Morning Post described Tiger as "the most popular cartoon character of the 1980s."[13]

Little Dragon

Little Dragon,[14] known in Chinese versions as Wong Siu-lung[9][note 2] is twenty years old and is the elder half-brother of Tiger by the same father. Sentimental and a loner, he values righteousness but is an indecisive person. When he was little, his mother left his father after finding out that he secretly had married another woman, Tiger's mother. The heartache she suffered had caused her to die miserably, which caused him to be raised in the orphanage. Lacking proper care, he turned into a rascal, eventually becoming a gang member. As a gang member, he even fought Tiger once, before they realized they were brothers. Although he was finally reformed and had a good relationship with his brother, Little Dragon is still unable to forgive Tiger's parents, whom he felt responsible for his mother's sufferings and miserable death. His Chinese name means "Little Dragon". In English translations, he is called "Little Dragon" or "Dragon Wong".

Even though he came from a family of martial artists, he didn't learn the family kung fu because he was taken away by his mother at a very young age. Instead, he learned Eight Trigrams Palm (Bagua Zhang) and staff style at the beginning of the story. After he's reunited with his brother and uncle, he also learned the Wong Family's 18 Dragonslayer Kicks. However, he modified the style and uses his hands - instead of his feet - to perform them. Later on, he had a fateful encounter with the current leader of the Beggar Clan and was able to learn the original 18 Dragonslayer Palms and the Dog-Beating Stick Technique, greatly increasing his fighting skills.

In later editions, Little Dragon is killed by Chan Ou-wan[15][note 3], the lieutenant of Fiery God.

Gold Dragon

Eighteen-year-old Gold Dragon,[16] Shek Hak Lung[note 4] in the original Chinese versions, is of mixed Chinese and Russian descent. Together with his parents and his younger sister, his family of four lived in Macau. His father, being a Judo master, attracted the attention of the evil organisation, Seui Gwat Muhn (Chinese: 碎骨門). Seui Gwat Muhn's leader invited Gold Dragon's father to join his organization, but Gold Dragon's father refused. The two fought, and Gold Dragon's father mysteriously disappeared after the fight. Gold Dragon's mother then led her family to find refuge in Cheung Chau, under the protection of master Gam Mouh Si Wong (Chinese: 金毛獅王). Gold Dragon usually fights using his nunchucks.

His Chinese name means "Dark Dragon" or "Black Dragon". However, due to his blonde hair, in English translations he is called "Gold Dragon". In Malaysia translations he is called "Dragon Long". There are other names for Shi Hei Long, such as Turbo Shek, Shek Hak Luhng, Shi Hei Long, Dragon Shek, and Rock Black Dragon.

In addition to being a formidable judoka, Gold Dragon was also very good at playing nunchucks, two skills he mastered at the beginning of the story. Later on, he got the chance the learn the legendary Shaolin Golden Bell Armor skill which greatly improved his power and endurance. As with other characters of the story, his skills are also increasing throughout the story.

Legacy

After Oriental Heroes debuted, there were other comics with the same themes that appeared.[2]

Lai Tat Tat Wing published Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in 2005 to pay honour to Oriental Heroes.[17]

See also

Notes

Names in native languages
  1. Tiger Wong / Wong Siu-fu: Chinese: 王小虎; Jyutping: wong4 siu2 fu2; pinyin: Wáng Xiǎohǔ; lit. 'Little Tiger'
  2. Little Dragon / Wong Siu-lung: traditional Chinese: 王小龍; simplified Chinese: 王小龙; Jyutping: wong4 siu2 lung4; pinyin: Wáng Xiǎolóng; lit. 'Little Dragon'
  3. Chan Ou Wan: traditional Chinese: 陳傲雲; simplified Chinese: 陈傲云; Jyutping: can4 ngou6 wan4; pinyin: Chén Àoyún
  4. Gold Dragon / Shek Hak-lung: traditional Chinese: 石黑龍; simplified Chinese: 石黑龙; Jyutping: sek6 hak1 lung4; pinyin: Shí Hēilóng; lit. 'Dark/Black Dragon'

References
  1. Lam, Connie (2009-10-15). "Hong Kong Manhua after the Millennium". International Journal of Comic Art: 417 (PDF p. 8/12) – via Ebscohost.
  2. Wong, Yat-hei (2013-09-23). "'King' still packs a punch". Young Post. Hong Kong. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  3. Lee, Wing-sze (2006-03-07). "CALL IT A STRIP SEARCH". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  4. "Hong Kong Comics Debut in U.S.". Black Belt. Vol. 28, no. 5. Burbank, California: Active Interest Media, Inc. May 1990. p. 74-75 – via Google Books.
  5. Thomas, Keith L. (1989-05-30). "Gore, Bloodshed More Common in Comic Books". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta. pp. D1, D4. - Clipping of first page and of second page at Newspapers.com.
  6. Lee, Wing-sze (2006-06-24). "Re-enter the Dragon". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  7. "Golden age of comics". South China Morning Post. 2006-07-06. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  8. Pilcher, Tim and Brad Brooks. (Foreword: Dave Gibbons). The Essential Guide to World Comics. Collins and Brown. 2005. 129-130.
  9. Lee, Wing-sze (2006-03-08). "COMIC BELIEF". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  10. Wendy Siuyi Wong (2002). Hong Kong Comics: A History of Manhua. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 978-1-56898-269-4.
  11. "Local cinema's illustrated history". South China Morning Post. 2009-12-10. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  12. Wong, Tony (November 1988). "Oriental Heroes". No. 4. Hong Kong: Jademan Comics. p. 62. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  13. Chen, Andrea (2013-09-20). "Tiger Wong and creator Tony Wong Yuk-long aim to draw in new generation". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  14. Wong, Tony (1988). "Jademan Kung Fu Special". No. 1. Hong Kong: Jademan Publishing. p. 12. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  15. Wong, Tony (1988). "Oriental Heroes". No. 1. Hong Kong: Jademan Comics. p. 2. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  16. Wong, Tony (1988). "Jademan Kung Fu Special". No. 1. Hong Kong: Jademan Publishing. p. 11. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  17. "Golden age of comics". South China Morning Post. 2006-07-06. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
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