Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils poem
The chapter titles of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils are verses that make up five poems.
The title of each chapter is a verse and the ten chapters in each book actually forms a poem. Each book is named after the used for that poem.
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils by was first serialised in newspapers from 3 September 1963 to 27 May 1966.
The story has been revised twice with the second edition published in October 1978 and the third edition released in November 2002.
The Eight Races of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils would be a more accurate translation of the story's title. The Eight Races refer to the deities in Buddhist cosmology. They are: Deva, Nāga, Yaksha, Asura, Garuda, Kinnara, Gandharva and Mahoraga. These demi-gods and semi-devils are above mortals but are still bound to the by their own desires.
The widely accepted translation of the title collectively refers to the eight races as demi-gods and semi-devils.
The story follows the journeys of three protagonists. The main thematic element of the novel concerns the complex, troubled relationships between characters from various kingdoms and sects, and the inherent bond that underlies the struggles of each. The novel examines the cause and effect that forms and breaks these bonds on five uniquely corresponding levels: self, family, society, ethnic group, and country.
Book 2《苏幕遮》Shrouding Screen in Suzhou – featuring Qiao Feng and Duan Yu
向来痴，
Always foolish,
从此醉，
Henceforth obsessed,
水榭听香，指点群豪戏。
Listening to the lady in the waterside pavilion, watching her advise the gathered heroes.
剧饮千杯男儿事，
Unrestrained drinking of a thousand cups at a men's gathering,
杏子林中，商略平生义。
In the forest of apricots, discussing the meaning of life.
昔时因，
Reasons of the past,
今日意，
Wishes of the present,
胡汉恩仇，须倾英雄泪。
Vengeance of a foreign man, suppresses the emptying of a hero's tears.
虽万千人吾往矣，
Even in the face tens of thousand people I will carry on,
悄立雁门，绝壁无余字。
Sadness remains at Yanmen, with no words left.
Poem
Each verse in the poem refers to a key scene or summarises the events in each chapter. This poem uses the , as indicated by the book's title.by the book's title.
Original text:
向来痴，从此醉，
水榭听香、指点群豪戏。
剧饮千杯男儿事。
杏子林中、商略平生义。
昔时因，今日意，
胡汉恩仇，须倾英雄泪。
虽万千人吾往矣。
悄立雁门、绝壁无余字。
Translation:
Always foolish, henceforth obsessed,
Listening to the lady in the waterside pavilion, watching her advise the gathered heroes.
Unrestrained drinking of a thousand cups at a men's gathering,
In the forest of apricots, discussing the meaning of life.
Reasons of the past, wishes of the present,
Vengeance of a foreign man, suppresses the emptying of a hero's tears.
Even in the face tens of thousand people I will carry on,
Sadness remains at Yanmen, with no words left.
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DEMI GODS AND SEMI DEVILS Book 2 of 5 (Shrouding Screen In Suzhou) by Jin Yong
Historical FictionBetween the period of 960-1127, Northern Song Dynasty is at war with the Liao dynasty. Three sworn brothers; Xiao Feng, Duan Yu, and Xuzhu join forces to bring what's right and just in the martial world. The three of them each have their own char...
