Pursuing the Trails of <em>Jianghu</em>: The Construction of the Chinese Online Fiction Realm

This paper employs the traditional concept of jianghu (lit. rivers and lakes) to elucidate the initial developmental phase of Chinese online fiction and the agencies that were actively engaged. The concept of jianghu pertains to spheres that frequently exhibit subversive or subcultural attributes and of community formation that are not subject to state control. The study initiates with an investigation into the inception and progression of Jin Yong Kezhan 金庸客栈 (Jin Yong Inn), one of the pioneering online platforms dedicated to Chinese online fiction. It reveals that the early contributors to online fiction sought to create an idealistic environment; nevertheless, the virtual domain manifested as a synthesis of utopian and anti-utopian elements, shaped by the advent of different forms of collaboration, conflict, and commercialization. Subsequently, a close reading is conducted to examine Cijian de shaonian 此间的少年 (There They Were), which was serialized online under the pseudonym Jiang Nan 江南. This work evokes a sense of nostalgia on two fronts—the sheer delight of immersing oneself in Jin Yong’s wuxia novels and the sentimental recollection of college life as a modernized manifestation of jianghu. The discussion further encompasses the legal dispute initiated by Jin Yong against Jiang Nan, marking the first lawsuit regarding fanfiction in mainland China. This case illustrates the discrepancy between the principles that inform the conduct of jianghu dwellers and the pragmatic constraints of contemporary legal systems, while also reflecting a tension between stateless subjects and state authorities.