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William Zheng

It was early morning on July 18, 1981. Louis Cha woke early to dress for the occasion, despite Beijing’s summer heat. He was going to see Deng Xiaoping, Beijing’s paramount leader.
A specially arranged car brought him and his family to the Great Hall of the People, where Deng greeted him at the door, wearing just a simple short-sleeved shirt.
This was the first time Deng had met someone from Hong Kong since becoming Vice-Chairman of the Communist Party Central Committee.
But Deng wanted the occasion to be casual. Seeing Cha in his formalwear, Deng said, “We are old friends, you can take off the suit, just make yourselves at home.”
It was the day the most powerful man in China met the most powerful pen in Hong Kong.


But they did have something in common. Both they and their families had suffered terribly during the turmoil after the Communist Party takeover of China.
Deng was not only purged and stripped of all his positions twice. He also saw his son Deng Pufang paralysed from the waist down.
Although Cha was safe in Hong Kong, his father Cha Shuqing was prosecuted on false charges and later executed, at the age of 55, in April 1951 in their hometown of Haining, in China’s eastern province of Zhejiang.
Deng expressed his regrets to Cha and suggested: “Let’s stay united and leave the past behind us.”
Cha responded: “Anyway he could not come back from Heaven, so, let it be.”
Louis Cha had been writing numerous editorials critical of the Cultural Revolution and urged China to return to the path of growth.
He supported leaders like Deng who were known for their reformist stance. In fact, he even predicted that Deng would, and in his view should, come back to the centre of power in China in a 1976 editorial, one year before Deng’s return.

Since Deng’s comeback, Cha had also been supportive of his switching the party’s focus to building the economy and opening China to the world. That became the foundation of the mutual respect between the two men.
During their meeting, Deng talked about the main tasks he wanted to carry out: “opposing hegemonism and safeguarding world peace, reunifying China and building our economy”.
Cha pointed out that growing the economy so that Chinese people could have a better life was the foundation of reunification. Deng agreed.
Besides talking about China’s future path, Deng had another task for Cha.
Tributes pour in for Chinese literary giant Louis Cha
He spoke at length on the issue of reunification with Taiwan in this meeting, wanting Louis to be the messenger between the mainland and the self-ruled island.
He believed Cha was the right man for the job, because he was deeply rooted in Chinese traditional culture, and well-respected by all overseas Chinese, including the Taiwanese.

Cha had good connections in Taiwan too. He was invited there in the spring of 1973 and, although Chiang Kai-shek was seriously ill and unable to meet him, his son Chiang Ching-kuo had a long discussion with Cha on politics and cross-strait affairs.
Besides politics, Deng also talked about Cha’s novels, written under his pen name of Jin Yong, and what he had learned from the swordsman stories.
He said lightheartedly that this was the third time he had made a comeback, just like “the characters in your books have to go through hell before they rise to the top. That is life.”
Deng Rong, the younger daughter of Deng Xiaoping, said her father used to read Cha’s martial arts novels – obtained from Hong Kong because they were banned in China – at noon and then half an hour before going to bed. Even on business trips, Deng would take a martial arts novel with him.
Editorial: Louis Cha, the man who united Chinese in name of chivalry
“My father loved to read martial arts novels before going to bed because they are light reading that helped him to relax,” she said.
“Sometimes he fell asleep while reading them. In fact, he wouldn’t remember the characters, plots, the ending etc. We sometimes put the martial arts novels he had just read the previous month besides his pillow. My father still read it with great interest, never realising it was the old book from last month.”

That night, to the surprise of many observers in China and Hong Kong, China Central Television’s prime time news programme, Xinwen Lianbo, carried news of the historical meeting.
Not long afterwards, China lifted its ban on Louis Cha’s novels. And four years later, Cha received the news that his father had been rehabilitated.
“Of course, I am deeply saddened, but I don’t have a grudge, because I fully understood that this is a common tragedy that is extremely difficult to avoid in the great turmoil of a great era,” Cha said on hearing the news.
Wuxia legend Louis Cha battled liver cancer and dementia in twilight years
Louis Cha’s influence did not stop with Deng Xiaoping’s generation. Later Chinese leaders, including successive presidents Jiang Zemin and Xi Jinping, were fans of his works.
In May 2015, Xi talked about Peach Blossom Island during his visit to Zhoushan in Cha’s home province of Zhejiang where a tourist attraction had been inspired by the home of the book’s famous swordsman Huang Yaoshi. Xi regretted that “Mr Jin Yong had not been to the island.”


Cha was invited to be dean of Zhejiang University’s School of Humanities in 1999 “to promote the Chinese humanistic spirit”. In 2007, he was still appointed as the honorary dean of the School. Xi was in charge of Zhejiang from 2002 to 2007.
In 1984, Cha published The Future of Hong Kong, a compilation of editorials he had written for ﻿Ming Pao, the newspaper he founded in Hong Kong. He sent a copy of the book to Hu Yaobang, then general secretary of the Communist Party, and two weeks later, on another visit to China, Cha was received warmly by Hu.
From masses to bosses, Louis Cha’s sway over China was complete
Cha also met Jiang Zemin on 19 March 1993, who acknowledged that his novels had many readers on the mainland, and “many leaders also love to watch” the film adaptations.
“I know that your novel contains rich historical, geographical background, Chinese cultural traditions and so on,” Jiang told him, who also remarked that they shared the accent of their neighbouring home provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang.


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Louis Cha 'Jin Yong'

The shared sorrow of Louis Cha ‘Jin Yong’ and Deng Xiaoping

When Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (left) met Louis Cha ‘Jin Yong’ in 1983, he wanted to keep it casual as they were, he felt, ‘old friends’. Cha, however, had dressed formally to meet the most powerful man in China. Photo: China News Service

The Multi-talented Louis Cha Leung-yunk, one of Hong Kong's most writers, is being interviewed at his home. Using Jin Yong as the pen-name, Dr Cha's popular martial arts novels are devoured by Chinese people across the world, the social spectrum and all ages. This quietly-spoken, quintessentially Chinese man wrote fifteen best-selling martial arts novels, between 1955 and 1972. He is also a publisher, editor and political commentator. He founded the Ming Pao newspaper and its sister publications.

epa07099215 Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a meeting with Russian Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 17 October 2018. EPA-EFE/MADOKA IKEGAMI / POOL

WARNING: this is not Deng Nan but Deng Rong. HKG69-19970220-Beijing, CHINA: File photograph dated 10 December 1989 showing Chinese senior leader Deng Xiaoping with his daughter Deng Nan [She is DENG RONG, not Deng Nan]. Deng Nan, Vice Minister of the State and Technology Commission accompanied her father on his landmark southern tour in 1992, though little is known of her. AFP PHOTO AFP PHOTO FILES/Catherine HENRIETTE/jd/pp

Funeral of Hong Kong martial arts novelist Louis Cha ‘Jin Yong’ to be private affair

Young visitors write condolence notes at the Jin Yong Gallery. Photo: Nora Tam

The Jin Yong Gallery showcases the fantastic world of martial arts created by Jin Yong. The Gallery displays more than 300 exhibits featuring the early career of Dr Louis Cha (Jin Yong), the creative process behind his martial arts novels and the impact the novels have had on Hong Kong's popular culture, at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin. 31OCT18 SCMP / Nora Tam

Visitors write condolence notes on message board at the Jin Yong Gallery held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin. 31OCT18 SCMP / Nora Tam

Louis Cha ‘Jin Yong’: From masses to bosses, his sway over China was complete

Legendary martial arts novelist Louis Cha died in Hong Kong on Tuesday at the age of 94. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (left) meets Louis Cha during Cha's visit to Beijing in 1983. Photo: China News Service

Tributes pour in for Chinese literary giant Louis Cha ‘Jin Yong’, the ‘greatest epic writer of our time who embodied the martial arts spirit’

More than 100 million copies of Louis Cha’s works have been sold. Photo: Oliver Tsang

Dr Louis Cha Leung-yunk, Chairman of the Ming Pao Enterprise, is awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Law at the 127th congregation ceremony of the University of Hong Kong.

Louis Cha (left) signing an autograph for Jack Ma (second from right) and Lucy Peng (centre in front row), CEO of Lazada, an e-commerce firm owned by Alibaba. Undated. Handout.

LOUIS CHA, WRITER, AT HIS OFFICE AT NORTH POINT. SCMP/ Martin Chan

Andy Lau as Yang Guo in TVB's adaptation of Louis Cha's The Return of the Condor Heroes opposite Idy Chan who played Dragon Girl, Yang's master as well as lover.Source: TVB*** This photo was licensed for one time use only. PLEASE CLEAR THE COPYRIGHTS WITH THE OWNER BEFORE REPUBLISHING THIS IMAGE.***

Recipients of honorary degrees from the Univesity of Hong Kong (from left): Li Ka-shing, Chairman of Cheung Kong Holdings, Dr Louis Cha Leung-yunk, Chairman of the Ming Pao Enterprise, Lord Todd of Trumpington, Peter Ann Lee Vine, a senior partner of the law firm Deacons, attending the 127th congregation ceremony at the university.

Cha wrote these words to Jack Ma. They read: “I would rather leave a treasure trove empty handed than forsake my integrity. Treasures can be left aside but honesty cannot be abandoned.” Photo: Handout

Visitors enjoy the exhibition of Jin Yong Gallery at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Shatin. 01MAR17 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Novels displayed at exhibition of Jin Yong Gallery, a permanent exhibition, at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin. Jin Yong (aka Louis Chia Leung-yung) is one of the renowned Chinese martial arts novel writer in the 20th century. 01MAR17 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Louis Cha (left), Chairman of Chinese newspaper publisher Ming Pao Enterprises Corporation Ltd, attending the company's annual general meeting.

Novels on display at first permanent exhibition of Jin Yong Gallery in Sha Tin. Works by renowned martial arts novelist Jin Yong (aka. Louis Cha) find a new home with the opening of the Jin Yong Gallery at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum after three years of preparation. 28FEB17 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

From left: Dr Louis Cha Leung-yunk, founder and Chairman of Ming Pao Enterprise, Zhou Nan, Director of the Xinhua News Agency, and Simon Li Fook-sean, Vice-Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, attending an inauguration ceremony of the Hong Kong Federation of Journalists.

Louis Cha, also known as Cha Leung-yung, with Jack Ma. Undated. Handout.

Hong Kong wuxia legend Louis Cha ‘Jin Yong’ battled liver cancer and dementia in twilight years, friend says

Novelist Louis Cha holding a copy of ‘Book and Sword, Gratitude and Revenge’ at his office in 2002. Photo: Reuters

Legendary Hong Kong martial arts novelist Louis Cha Leung-yung's son Andrew Cha, expressed thanks for the words of consolation given to the family and apologised for not being able to answer all phone calls and messages. He posted a collage of his father’s photos on WeChat. Photo: Wechat

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The historical meeting of Hong Kong’s greatest pen and China’s most powerful man
Martial arts writer and paramount leader both knew suffering during the turmoil after the Communist Party takeover of China.



The historical meeting of Hong Kong’s greatest pen and China’s most powerful man


China society

Chinese authors

Books and literature

Chinese culture

The shared sorrow of Louis Cha ‘Jin Yong’ and Deng Xiaoping

The historical meeting of Hong Kong’s greatest pen and China’s most powerful man Martial arts writer and paramount leader both knew suffering during the turmoil after the Communist Party takeover of China.

The historical meeting of Hong Kong’s greatest pen and China’s most powerful man

Martial arts writer and paramount leader both knew suffering during the turmoil after the Communist Party takeover of China.