Jianghu (江湖; jiānghú; gong1wu4; 'rivers and lakes') is a Chinese term that generally refers to the social environment in which many Chinese wuxia, xianxia, and gong'an stories are set.

Jianghu is the name of the brotherhood of outsiders that existed in old China. It is the counterculture society of workers who made their living with the skill of their own two hands: craftsmen, beggars, …

However, jianghu, as it is most universally understood today, is an imaginary realm derived from a special literary genre: wuxia (武侠), or martial arts, fiction.

We’ll discuss the origins of Jianghu in ancient Chinese texts and how it has become a central theme in Chinese literature, films, and arts.

4 days ago · Ever wondered about jianghu in Chinese dramas or Chinese wuxia novels? At first glance, it simply means “rivers and lakes,” but its cultural depth runs much deeper. Jianghu is a world of …

Nov 30, 2025 · The Jianghu is a shared world and an alternate universe. It consists of several martial artists and pugilists gathered in the Wulin (武林), who are usually congregated in sects, clans, …

Jan 1, 2026 · Jianghu has multiple extended meanings in Chinese culture. Its original meaning refers to vast rivers and lakes, but over time, it gradually evolved into a more multifaceted or specific term.

Oct 7, 2023 · Jianghu (江湖 jiānghú) is made up of the characters jiang (river) and hu (lake), and thus it literally means “rivers and lakes”. However, it conceals a deeper cultural and literary context that …

Jianghu (江湖; jiānghú; gong1wu4; 'rivers and lakes') is a Chinese term that generally refers to the social environment in which many Chinese wuxia, xianxia, and gong'an stories are set.

In this video, we will interpret "Jianghu Cong Tan" from multiple perspectives, revealing the survival rules, social ecology, and cultural codes of the "Jianghu" figures, taking you to...