Asian SF/F (not Japan)

[oyceter]

Hi! I am lazy and depending on the goodwill of the internet to help with research!

So: tell me about Asian SF/F!

It must be:

• Created in Asia by Asians


• NOT from Japan


• Any medium


• Bonus points if I can get my hands on it (I am in the US and read/understand Mandarin Chinese)


• Extra bonus points for SF/F from and/or about Southeast Asia or South Asia

I have a slightly better sense of SF/F created in Asia and popular in the US, though if you have notes for your specific country, that would also be good! Please note: NOT from Japan.

For self: rachelmanija's notes on Indian SF/F

ETA:
Korea:
- Pahanjip (Korean folklore + Tang China ghost hunters, manhwa)
- Bride of the Water God (Korean folklore (?) + alternate world + beast bridegroom, manhwa)

China:
- Swordsman II

Comments

[troubleinchina.livejournal.com]

Would the six book series that included "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" count as fantasy?

[oracne.livejournal.com]

[totally spying on the replies]

[oyceter]

I... don't know. I don't count all wuxia as fantasy personally, but I do count things like Swordsman II (Asia Undefeated/Dong Fang Bu Bai) as fantasy, given the magical transgenderism and etc. What fantasy elements are in it? I don't remember much from the movie, but that's all I know.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

yours is the first comment I got from tracking this post. Damnit, I'm not the only one...

[troubleinchina.livejournal.com]

Hmm... What would you call fantasy? I find sci-fi easier to define than fantasy. The movie struck me a fantasy because of the mystical nature of things, the god-like skills with the sword (*takes moment to swoon over swordplay*) and the dream-like quality a lot of it took. Fantastical martial arts were a part of it as well.

But that may be magical realism instead of fantasy. *ponders*

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

If we go way far into the end of outright magical stuff, rather than ghost stories or flat-out kung fu, I think that Bride With White Hair could fall in there. Given the evil brother-sister pair's curse and the demonic transformation...?

[vonnie-k.livejournal.com]

If I remember correctly, there is a fairly robust horror-movie tradition in Korea. Some of that might fall into SF/F stream, like the mega blockbuster Host (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Host_%28film%29), which is sort of like a Korean version of Godzilla. It's a fun flick, even for those who don't like monster movies. It's meatier (heh) than how it looks in the first glance and works well as both a satire and an excellent family drama. It should be readily available on DVD.

The paranormal romance Lake House, starring Sandra Bullock/Keanu Reeves, was based on the Korean movie It Mare (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_Mare). It might be netflixable, although I fear the movie may be a bit too fluffy for Wiscon.

[yeloson.livejournal.com]

Icon love!

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Well, if you're willing to count the Swordsman series as fantasy, I'd also suggest The Bride With White Hair (http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/bride_with_white_hair.htm) -- you've got a girl raised by wolves, evil hill tribe cultists led by a megalomaniac pair of fraternal conjoined twins, and a magical transformation sparked by a broken promise. It's based on a 1950s wu xia novel, which I yearn hopelessly to see in English someday...

A lot of the classic Tsui Hark is fantasy, too -- Green Snake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Snake), another one based on a novel, has sister snake-spirits with great magical powers who shapeshift into human form. Zu (http://www.greencine.com/webCatalog?id=2980) has a common soldier getting sucked into a huge apocalyptic battle to save the world, with demons and sorceresses and huge magical battles. And the whole Chinese Ghost Story (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Chinese_Ghost_Story) series is full of supernatural elements.

For that matter, with the fuzzy overlap between fantasy and horror, perhaps horror titles like Mr. Vampire (http://www.dighkmovies.com/v3/142/142a.html) could work here as well? They're typically full of revenants and ghosts and Taoist magic and all that fun stuff...

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Oh, and there's the magical flower, too -- and in the sequel, you get to see that it really does work according to legend...

(obsessive fangirl, moi?)

[shewhohashope.livejournal.com]

Krrish and Koi... Mil Gaya?

I am drawing a blank mostly. 'Return of the Condor Heroes' goes from wuxia to full on fantastic when a giant talking eagle mentors the hero?

[chomiji]

I haven't thought of him for years, but are you familiar with Thai writer Somtow Sucharitkul (a/k/a S. P. Somtow) ? I enjoyed a couple of his things way back when (Light on the Sound comes to mind), although he tends to be a bit too horrific for me.

[yeloson.livejournal.com]

I picked up a K-drama called something like Wang: 4 Gods (from what I could pick out of the english on the box). Definitely fantasy.

Steven Chow's Chinese Odessey (yes, it's based on the Monkey King, but oh so, loosely, Pandora's box is used to travel through time in this)

A Chinese Tall Tale (has aliens vs. wuxia heroes)

Legend of Zu (wuxia, but fighting formless evil, plus evil fairy!)

Wesley's File ( terrible terrible sci fi w/Shu Qi)

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I read part of his memoirs, Jasmine Nights, about a decade ago - IIRC he was born into a very traditional upper-class (possibly noble; I don't remember) Thai household. I read his SF book Mallworld long and long ago, and loved it and reread it lots, but it's been over a decade since the last time I've read it.

He's also the artistic director of the Bangkok Opera and Siam Philharmonic Orchestra (http://www.somtow.com). A multitalented fellow.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

I had forgotten about the conjoined twins.

I second your other recs and add 2002 (human cop/ghost cop buddy movie; spirit money extrapolated into origami weapons burned on Earth become real weapons in the spirit realm, climaxing in a battle featuring an origami grenade launcher) and Wicked City (monsters among us, more buddy cop action, woman merges with pinball machine). (Hong Kong)

A lot of Hong Kong martial arts movies are borderline fantasy, ie, most of the action is not fantastical but then the villain shows up in a flying armored car like a giant trilobite (New Legend of Shaolin).

I usually avoid Asian horror movies because they are often terrifying (Mr. Vampire is more of a comedy and is fun and not scary) but this link might interest you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-Horror

I haven't seen any of these either, but from what I hear Thai horror movies are often about ghosts, demons, etc; a favorite demon is the Thai vampire, whose head detaches and flies about with its intestines trailing from its neck! http://www.thaiworldview.com/tv/tv4.php

Hong Kong science fiction movies

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Heroic Trio (three female superheroes battle a villain with a flying decapitator); Wesley's Mysterious File (incoherent but definitely sf; not saved by the presence of Andy Lau.) Lots more; those are just the two that immediately come to mind.

Essential HK movie site: http://www.lovehkfilm.com/

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I would totally never recommend the Bollywood fantasy Aabra Ka Daabra (http://telophase.livejournal.com/tag/wtf+bollywood%3F). Unless one had plenty of alcohol on hand. (Speaking of which, it could be an evening's entertainment pre-, during, or post-A-Kon.)

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

Would Wicked City fulfill the requirements though? It's based on the Japanese novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi, who's better known for his Vampire Hunter D novels.

a favorite demon is the Thai vampire, whose head detaches and flies about with its intestines trailing from its neck!

Man, she gets around. That's our vampire (well, one of them) in the Philippines too. And she's been sighted in Malaysia too, IIRC.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

You guys get the cool vampires!

I need a disembodied head icon

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Wicked City: Hmm. It was produced in Hong Kong, though. Oyce can decide.

Flying head vampires: awesome!

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

If you have time, I would love to hear more about your vampires.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

I thought the HK live-action Wicked City was based more on the earlier anime that was first based on the book? (Still just as potentially disqualifying, but that just adds another layer of influence...)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Hmm...you might try the kdrama I'm watching now, Legend. It gets called wuxia, but really isn't. More epic fantasy based on Korean history and mythology set in ancient Korea. It was huge, so will probably get a stateside release soon, but can be DLed/burned now. There's also the Dokebi Bride and Land of Silver Rain manhwa's, which are based on the same folklore, but very, very different. Both are licensed.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

A lot of Hong Kong martial arts movies are borderline fantasy, ie, most of the action is not fantastical but then the villain shows up in a flying armored car like a giant trilobite

That must have come from the same magical-vehicle rental agency as the wooden ninja submarine in Swordsman III/The East Is Red!

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

It's the jungles.

Our other vampire is the beautiful woman with the hollow tongue. No fangs for us, I guess.