Page "Jianghu" Paragraph 4

It is a tacit assumption in many wuxia novels that the law and order in the actual historical setting were dysfunctional or poor, like the change of dynastic China from Song Dynasty to Yuan Dynasty, to Ming Dynasty and to Qing Dynasty, periods in time correlating to tremendous upheavals and turmoil in the society.

In Louis Cha's novels the dysfunctionality can come in two levels: firstly, law and order broken down locally within China and secondly, the sovereignty of China came to be challenged by invaders.

Localised disorder is the predicate where the chivalry and the code of xia will be much needed to mend the ills of the world.

The second layer of dysfunctionality in Cha's works would then become setting to showcase the patriotism and loyalty of the protagonists to their epoch or their emperors.