Stealing the Fist

Stealing the Fist (《偷拳》Tōu quán)

From Republican‑era wuxia master Gong Baiyu (宮白羽 Gōng Báiyǔ), Stealing the Fist is a landmark realistic kung‑fu novel rooted in the legend of Yang Luchan (楊露蟬 Yáng Lùchán), founder of Yang‑style Taiji Quan (太極拳 Tàijíquán).

Sickly yet fiercely determined, young Yang Luchan dreams of mastering supreme martial arts. After outgrowing mediocre local instruction, he journeys hundreds of li to Chen Village, hoping to study under the reclusive genius Chen Qingping (陳清平 Chén Qīngpíng). Proud, guarded, and unwilling to share his precious boxing heritage, Chen repeatedly turns the earnest seeker away.

Refusing to abandon his quest, Yang makes a desperate gamble. He disguises himself as a mute beggar, takes menial labour at Chen's household, and secretly observes boxing practice from behind walls for years. What unfolds is far more than a tale of stolen combat secrets. Gong Baiyu paints a gritty, unromantic jianghu (江湖 Jiānghú): full of petty grudges, false masters, social hypocrisy, and human frailty. Side plots weave in false accusations, murder mysteries, and tangled personal loyalties among Chen's disciples.

This world‑first complete English translation by Arthur Peng brings the 1940s classic to global readers. It preserves Gong's sharp social satire and psychological depth, with supporting appendices of character lists, martial‑arts glossaries and cultural notes. Moving beyond flashy fantasy wuxia tropes, Stealing the Fist explores persistence, humility, and the heavy human cost of pursuing mastery.