Jianghu
/tɕjɑ́ŋ.xǔ/noun
A Chinese term literally meaning “rivers and lakes,” referring to the unofficial social world beyond government authority, especially in martial-arts fiction.
Did you know?In wuxia fiction, Jianghu functions like a parallel society ruled by martial honor, rival schools, secret alliances, vendettas, and codes outside formal law.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese, 1st millennium BCE
Old Chinese
江
“A river, especially the Yangtze; the character originally referred to a major river.”
Old Chinese, 1st millennium BCE
Old Chinese
湖
“A lake or inland body of water.”
Middle Chinese, c. 600–900 CE
Middle Chinese
江湖
“Rivers and lakes; a geographical expression combining the two landscape terms.”
Medieval Chinese, c. 900–1300 CE
Chinese
江湖
“The wider world away from official institutions; also itinerant or marginal social life.”
20th Century
Modern Chinese
江湖
“A martial or criminal underworld, particularly in wuxia literature and cinema.”
Modern English
English
jianghu
“A loanword for the unofficial martial-arts world or parallel society portrayed in Chinese culture and fiction.”