Swordsman (TV series)

Swordsman

Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	2013 (2013)
Founder	Yu Zheng
Headquarters	China
Products	Television drama

Swordsman is a 2013 Chinese TV drama adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. Created and produced by Yu Zheng, the series features performances by Wallace Huo, Joe Chen, Yuan Shanshan, Chen Xiao, and Yang Rong. Production commenced on 24 March 2012 at Xiandu in Jinyun County, Lishui, Zhejiang. It was broadcast on Hunan Television between 6 February and 4 March 2013. The storyline significantly departs from the original book, notably depicting Dongfang Bubai as a female character involved romantically with Linghu Chong.

Plot

Linghu Chong, the senior disciple of the Huashan Sect, is characterized by his free-spirited and open nature. Starting as an ordinary martial artist, he masters the "Nine Swords of Dugu" and assimilates the core techniques of the Five Mountains swordsmanship, which arouses mistrust from his master Yue Buqun. Under the pretense of disciplining him, Yue Buqun expels Linghu Chong but secretly plots to obtain the "Sunflower Treasure Book." This ignites strife among various martial arts factions and eventually leads to Yue Buqun's own ruin. Linghu Chong’s childhood sweetheart, Yue Lingshan, redirects her affections toward Lin Pingzhi. Subsequently, Linghu Chong encounters Ren Yingying, daughter of Blackwood Cliff’s leader; through shared hardships and initial misunderstandings, they develop a profound romantic connection. Even after Yingying is poisoned, their relationship endures amid the martial world’s power struggles, culminating in their marriage and mutual pride in their heritage.

Cast

• Wallace Huo as Linghu Chong / Yang Lianting
• Joe Chen as Dongfang Bubai
• Yuan Shanshan as Ren Yingying / Xuexin
  • Jiang Yiyi as young Ren Yingying
• Chen Xiao as Lin Pingzhi / Duyuan (Lin Yuantu)
• Yang Rong as Yue Lingshan
• Howie Huang as Yue Buqun
  • Wu Junyu as young Yue Buqun
• Yang Mingna as Ning Zhongze
• Heizi as Ren Woxing
• Deng Sha as Yilin
• Bryan Leung as Feng Qingyang
• Zhang Zhuowen as Lu Dayou
• Cheng Cheng as Lao Denuo
• Bao Wenjing as Yiyu
• Han Dong as Tian Boguang
• Sun Binhao as Xiang Wentian
• Lü Jiarong as Lan Fenghuang
• Xie Ning as Laotouzi
• Shen Baoping as Zu Qianqiu
• Zhang Tianyang as Ji Wushi
• Ye Qishan as Sima Da
• Marco Li as Yu Canghai
• Zhang Hengping as Fangzheng
• He Jiayi as Dingyi
• Hu Dong as Zuo Lengshan
• Li Ruichao as Yu Renhao
• Wang Renjun as Ping Yizhi
• Zhang Tianqi as Jia Renda
• Guo Dongdong as Gu Tong
• Wang Shuang as Bai Ying
• Zhang Jixuan as Heixiong
• Guan Xin as Baixiong
• Bai Hailong as Fangsheng
• Wei Ziqian as Shangguan Yun
• Wang Zheng as Lu Bai
• Shao Min as Dingjing
• Zhang Chunzhong as Mu Gaofeng
• He Xin as Luo Renjie
• Zhang Haoxiang as Mo Da
• Chang Sheng as Tianmen
• Zhou Shaodong as Wang Yuanba
• Zhao Junlong as Wang Bofen
• Guo Wei as Ding Mian
• Mo Meilin as Tong Baixiong
• Wang Kai as Feng Buping
• Liao Xi as Cheng Buyou
• Zhu Rongrong as Mi Weiyi
• Cao Nan as Fei Bin
• Gu Dechao as Adviser Yi
• Yin Jian as Ding Jian
• Zhang Keyan as Jia Bu
• Xiaoshuai as Liu Jin
• Tong Tong as Mute Granny
• Wang Zelin as Heibao
• Chai Ge as Zheng
• Zhang Lei as Shi
• Yang Yaotian as Yuqingzi
• Guo Qiang as Yujizi
• Wei Qianxiang as Sun Jiantong
• Miao Luoyi as Princess Consort
• Zhang Xueying as Lao Busi
• Liu Shuo as Qinghai Yixiao
• Pan Haichen as Hongye
• Gong Sile as Yue Su
• Shi Tianshuo as Cai Zifeng
• Zhuo Fan as Yilin's father

Special appearances

• Dicky Cheung portraying Lüzhuweng
• Zhang Qian in the role of Huahua
• Qian Yongchen playing Yu Renyan
• Hai Lu featured as Yuniang
• Huang Haibing casted for Dugu Qiubai

Additional appearances include Zhou Muyin, Ren Quan, Bao Bei'er, Wang Jianxin, Zhao Liang, Kou Zhenhai, Bai Shan, Huo Zhengyan, and Zong Fengyan.

Renaming of Shaolin Monastery to Lingjiu Monastery

In the series, the original Shaolin Monastery is renamed Lingjiu Monastery (), likely as a measure to prevent trademark disputes. The name "Shaolin" is commercially registered, and the monastery has actively taken legal steps against unauthorized commercial usage of its name.

Reception

Prior to airing, Swordsman garnered attention due to its youthful star-studded cast and substantial alterations to the source material. A particularly striking change was casting Joe Chen as Dongfang Bubai, a character originally a minor villain but reinterpreted here as a female lead alongside Yuan Shanshan’s Ren Yingying.

The show elicited divided opinions, receiving both commendation and critique for its departures from the novel. Producer Yu Zheng asserted that this adaptation remained one of the most faithful renditions of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. Despite debates surrounding the gender-swapped portrayal of Dongfang Bubai, Joe Chen’s interpretation was widely praised and elevated the character into a feminist cultural symbol. Chen Xiao’s portrayal of Lin Pingzhi also attracted positive feedback, whereas Yuan Shanshan’s casting as Ren Yingying was viewed as less fitting. The series’ focus on romantic storylines met with varied responses; however, several new on-screen couples—including Wallace Huo and Joe Chen, Han Dong and Deng Sha, Chen Xiao and Yang Rong, as well as Lü Jiarong and Han Dong—proved popular with younger audiences.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
2013	5th China TV Drama Awards	Most Popular Actress (Hong Kong/Taiwan)	Joe Chen	Template:Won

• Swordsman on Cathay Media's website