Difference between Xianxia,Xuanhuan, and Wuxia

It always confused me what the diffrence between these are. I know that Wuxia stands for Chinese fantasy but is that in a specific genre or overall? Please help clear up my misunderstanding.

 

1 can punch through a wall. 1 can punch a hole through the air and make a sonic boom the other can punch a hole in the fabric of reality while getting verbally abused by 13 arrogant young masters.

 

wtf is xinxia?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xianxia_novel

 

Wuxia - is more like a hero... a mortal possessing power ( its like Xianxia but wuxia is not exaggerated, its not where the protagonist can destroy a planet and stuff like that )
Xianxia - is about the Dao pursuing Immortality ( Qi power stuffs)
Xuanhuan - is more like Xianxia its about power but not Dao its more like of a magic but not a magic....ikr complicated, its had different elements.(Author can assign any what system or power they can have with the influence of foreign elements)

I personally like Xianxia.

 

Wuxia- Low Fantasy - MC is not immortal. They are a bit realistic.
Xianxia - High Fantasy - Yep. Shit happens here.
Xuanhuan - High Fantasy with western and other elements...........MC becomes god

 

he means xianxia which roughly mean to pursue immortality usually with that being the end goal. it's the creating a sonic boom with a punch in my metaphor

 

The spelling.

 

from reddit novel translation credits to HuanXu
Wuxia ( 武俠 wǔ xiá ) - literally means "Martial Heroes". Fictional stories about regular humans who can achieve supernatural fighting ability through Chinese martial arts training and internal energy cultivation. Themes of chivalry, tragedy, revenge & romance are common.

Xianxia ( 仙侠 xiānxiá ) - literally means "Immortal Heroes". Fictional stories featuring magic, demons, ghosts, immortals, and a great deal of Chinese folklore/mythology. Protagonists (usually) attempt to cultivate to Immortality, seeking eternal life and the pinnacle of strength. Heavily inspired by Daoism.

• Comparison: If Wuxia is "low fantasy", then Xianxia is "high fantasy".

Xuanhuan ( 玄幻 xuán huàn ) - literally means "Mysterious Fantasy". A broad genre of fictional stories which remixes Chinese folklore/mythology with foreign elements & settings.

• Xuanhuan and Xianxia novels may sometimes seem similar on the surface. Look for the presence of Daoist elements (the Dao, Yin and Yang, Immortals, etc...) in the novel to easily distinguish the two – if they aren't present, then the novel is probably Xuanhuan.

 

http://m.wuxiaworld.com/general-glossary-of-terms/

 

Wuxia: Martial arts, but nothing else
Xianxia: Cultivation and slight fantasy with a lot of Daoism
Xuanhuan: Might have cultivation, but it's more fantasy than anything

 

Since most has been said already let me add this: If it seems like a Xianxia but is without Daoism it's Xuanhuan

 

Thanks! Sorry about the spelling.

 

They are all in Chinese

 

Classic wuxia is mostly historical drama on steroids.
It's hard for me to recognize novels with a 'modern' setting as wuxia , except for Romance of Dragons and Snakes , perhaps.

 

Wuxia: People practice martial arts. They are mortals and their goal is not to be immortal.
Xianxia: Wuxia + Chinese magic based mainmly on Daoism
Xuanhuan: eastern fantasy

 

Wuxia is more like your average kungfu with some slightly exaggerated elements?

Xianxia is like... super impossible magical Dao Qi kungfu fighting which may not be kungfu but something else too

Xuanhuan... Magical ... without goal of immortality?

 

Bro, ik what it means... Lmao. Earlier, he spelled it as 'Xinxia', and I was just teasing him.

 

For future reference, you can always go to the NU page of any novel and click on the "edit" button of novel genres, there will be a link to the Genre Explanation in it, that should solve your problem.

 

It's Xianxia