The One-Handed Beggar (Part 2)

Huanzhulouzhu (Li Shoumin)Nanhai Publication Company · ChinaFeb 2017

3.8

Word count: 328K words
Chapters: 30

Summary

Wuxia novel. Installments 1–12 were published by Shanghai Yuanchang Printing House, and installments 13–14 by Wuxun Publishing House; installments 1–3 carry no publication date, installment 4 was published in April 1950, and installment 14 in May 1951. Complete.

Editor's review

The One-Handed Beggar (Part Two) is the second half of Huanzhulouzhu's wuxia novel The One-Handed Beggar, continuing the plot of the first volume and bringing the whole work to a close. Huanzhulouzhu is known for gorgeous, bizarre imagination and dramatic, upsurging narrative; this book dwells on key turns in the characters' fates and the final settlement of jianghu grudges, letting readers experience the chapter-based rhythm and storyteller's voice typical of Republican-era old-school wuxia. The 2017 Nanhai Publishing House reprint is based on the original editions and preserves the appearance of the work as published in fourteen installments, giving it some textual value for studying Huanzhulouzhu's late style and the publishing history of old-school wuxia. Read it in sequence with the first volume, or character relationships and plot foreshadowing will easily come adrift. It suits wuxia fans as extended reading and readers interested in how Republican-era popular literature circulated in editions. Note that the book was written in the early 1950s, so its language habits and narrative rhythm differ markedly from contemporary fiction; first-time readers should slow down.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Wuxia readers who have finished Part One and want the ending
Old-school wuxia fans who enjoy Huanzhulouzhu's sword-immortal fantasy style
Scholarly readers interested in Republican-era popular literature editions and publishing history

Not a good fit for

First-time readers without Part One's characters and plot
Readers who prefer modern, fast-paced narrative and short sentences
Readers unused to chapter-based storyteller language who need strong plot momentum

Reading tips

Finish Part One before starting this book to avoid gaps in relationships and foreshadowing.
Read in chapter order, noting end-of-chapter suspense and the narrator's commentary.
Compare with other Huanzhulouzhu works to see how his fantastical style continues.
When you meet classical or old-fashioned expressions, infer from context rather than stopping over every word.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
第三十回惊喜交集
第三十一回风雪空山忽来良友
第三十二回围炉煮酒共结情鸳
第三十三回庆芳辰欢宴白莲磴急父仇初试碧雷针
第三十四回小双侠再遇王鹿子
第三十五回传剑诀再见王鹿子
第三十六回武功真谛
第三十七回古洞飞身凌空歼巨寇
第三十八回孤篷夜话截浪驶轻舫
第三十九回临大敌独挥双铁桨
第四十回江心大战
第四十一回人鱼的神威
第四十二回截江开铁锁浪花如雪火龙飞
第四十三回小双侠初会童天保
第四十四回黑店疑云
第四十五回一个凶险的隐名老人
第四十六回月夜渡江欣逢异士鲸波剪寇快述奇情
第四十七回珍重短长亭良友殷勤分飞劳燕
第四十八回涉长途小侠追异士投旅店黑夜矢同俦
第四十九回颊有紫葡萄的异人
第五十回入荆门欣逢奇女子谒三老小住寿星坪
第五十一回练水性初学双剪手
第五十二回岳阳搂上的遇合
第五十三回独手丐大闹洞庭湖
第五十四回双侠倒反湖心洲
第五十五回丽景幻繁霞锦仗画船迎来祸水深宵飞白刃华堂红烛变起萧墙
第五十六回桑盆子大斗地趟刀
第五十七回巧除双害小侠立功变起非常群贼大乱
第五十八回破君山群凶授首纠史实总结全书

FAQ

Can I read this second volume without having read the first?

Not advisable. This is the second half of The One-Handed Beggar; character relationships, grudge threads, and key foreshadowing are all developed in the first volume, so starting here can leave you confused about identities and motivations. Best to finish Part One first, then continue straight into this book.

What if the language style is hard going?

Huanzhulouzhu uses the chapter-based storyteller method, with old-fashioned and classical elements mixed into the sentences. Slow down at first, read section by section according to the chapter headings, and when you meet unfamiliar expressions infer the general meaning from context rather than checking every word; after a few chapters the rhythm becomes noticeably easier.

What is special about this edition?

According to the sources, installments 1–12 were published by Shanghai Yuanchang Printing House and installments 13–14 by Wuxun Publishing House; early installments had varying publication dates, with installment 4 in April 1950 and installment 14 in May 1951. The 2017 Nanhai edition is based on these, preserving the appearance of the original serial publication and offering reference value for textual research.

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About the author

Huanzhulouzhu (Li Shoumin) Author · Chinese · 1902–1961

Huanzhulouzhu, originally named Li Shanji and later renamed Li Shoumin, was a native of Changshou, Sichuan (now part of Chongqing). Living from 1902 to 1961, he was a master of Republican-era wuxia fiction. He rose to fame in 1932 with The Legend of the Shu Mountain Swordsmen, a series he continued for years; the library holds more than four hundred related works. His novels blend sword immortals, strange tales, and Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist thought into a singular vision, marked by bold imagination and vast scope. As one of the Five Masters of the Northern School, he wrote over forty million characters in his lifetime and left a profound mark on the history of wuxia fiction. Public information about his life is limited, and many biographical details remain uncertain; readers may best approach him through his works and their distinctive narrative style and fantastical worlds.