Dub TVB’s wuxia classics into English for world to appreciate

Many people consider TVB’s adaptations of The Legend

of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes timeless classics (“Hong Kong exhibitions launch to honour renowned wuxia novelist Louis Cha ‘Jin Yong’ with sculptures of famous characters”, March 15). If these dramas were dubbed into English, it would be an important step for cultural heritage.

Swedish translator Anna Holmwood spent several years translating Jin Yong’s The Legend of the Condor

Heroes into English and successfully found a British publisher, making it possible for people to read the novel in English. At the same time, Gigi Chang was enlisted to help with the translation of that novel and translate the second novel in the trilogy, The Return

of the Condor Heroes, paving the way for the English translation of the entire trilogy of novels.

Such efforts are more than a translation project. Presenting the two TV series, with their iconic characters and touching stories, in English will help them reach a wider audience, and open up a broader market for Jin Yong’s works.

The English-dubbed series could also further popularise the classic story of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu, which is filled with romance, adventure and heroism. This would help more people around the world understand and appreciate not only Chinese martial arts culture but Chinese culture. TVB’s adaptations of The Legend of the Condor Heroes and

The Return of the Condor Heroes are treasures of the Chinese entertainment industry. Their success stems from not only the excellent performances and wellcrafted scripts but also the depth and richness of the original novels.

English dubbing or subtitles would make them more accessible to a global audience, and in turn boost the prospects of other Chinese literature and TV series reaching people around the world.

David Chan, Yau Ma Tei