In the past 5,000 years, Chinese civilization has spawned countless classic works of literature. Fantasy has been a particular jewel in this crown as tradition, religion and mythology combined to provide a deep well of inspiration to draw from. In the 21st century, Chinese fantasy literature enjoyed a new leap as the continued international success of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings inspired local authors to write more creatively. The rise of the Internet has seen many authors turn to e-publishing, with the best making millions from spreading their works online. However, some have pointed out that modern Chinese fantasy is not built on a solid foundation.

Stronger base sought

Modern Chinese fantasy is an extremely prolific industry, as hundreds of books are published or released online each year. For example, Yang Zhi, or Jiang Nan to use his penname, is not only the editor of Legend of Novoland, a magazine selling more than 150,000 copies a month, but is also a best-selling author. His novel Dragon Raja brought him nearly 8 million yuan ($1.25 million dollars) in 2011.

Zhang Lei, 21, is a big fan of fantasy. She described Dragon Raja as a "refreshing" work which opened her up to some new reading experiences. "The writer united dragon tales from different cultures together, including Norse Saga, Christian mythology, Chinese legends, and even Middle Age alchemy," said Zhang.

Though Yang Zhi is enjoying great success, he is concerned by the genre's lack of depth. According to him, the greatest challenge is the lack of good authors and works. "Some very good writers have quit writing, while young writers are still acquiring their skills," said Yang.

A possible cause for this shortage of writers is that fantasy is still not recognized as mainstream. Liu Xiyang, vice director of Magic Fantasy magazine, explained that it was because no master has appeared in Chinese fantasy literature. "Although we have many talented fantasy writers now, none of them can be called masters," he pointed out.

Pulp fiction is another challenge to Chinese fantasy. With the popularity of e-books, many fantasy writers signed contracts with online publishers. Some of these writers write at a dramatic speed which harms quality, with books millions of words long regularly appearing. According to Lin Wei, a 22-year-old fantasy fan, some online writers are just copying materials from other books with little modification and even forget previous plots. "Many online fantasy writers are not responsible toward their readers at all," said Lin.

The glorious and the prosperous

Chinese readers have been enjoying fantasy for a long time. But it was not until The Journey to the West, written by Wu Chengen (1505-1580), that fantasy reached its peak. Journey to the West is listed among China's Four Great Classical Novels alongside Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin and Dream of the Red Chamber, and influenced many later works. For instance, Dragon Ball, the world's most successful manga, was inspired by The Journey to the West. 

According to Liu Xiyang, modern Chinese fantasy can be divided into two sub-genres. "The first is the reproduction of Western fantasies, using settings like Harry Potter or World of Warcraft," said Liu.

The second sub-genre, Neo-classic Chinese fantasy, is generally based on Chinese culture. Kung fu, traditional art, Taoism and Chinese Buddhism, mythologies and old poems usually influence these works.

But the most significant feature of Neo-classic Chinese fantasy is that authors have begun searching for inspiration beyond their own culture. Dragon Raja is one of the most successful examples of this.

Novoland is a fictional world created by a group of gifted fantasy writers in China, aiming to build up a Chinese "Middle-earth." The writers have depicted Novoland as a detailed world, creating its cosmos, stars, landscapes, flora, fauna, races, civilizations, religions and political systems.

Many fans are addicted to Novoland stories, but they have found non-Chinese elements within. Wu Xuwen, 23, pointed out that many Western fantasy elements are adopted in Novoland. "In Novoland there is a race named Heluo which is an exact copy of the dwarf race in Lord of the Rings and Dungeons and Dragons."

Yang Zhi admitted that Novoland was influenced by Western fantasy, but he insisted that the aesthetic value of the Novoland stories is Oriental. "To be more accurate, the thinking pattern and behavior of the characters in Novoland are Oriental," said Yang.

In more predictable days

Harry Potter would not have been so successful without previous classics like Narnia and Lord of the Rings. Both Liu Xiyang and Yang Zhi confirmed that they are taking action to promote fantasy literature in China.

According to Liu, good communication with the world of fantasy literature is necessary for Chinese writers. "Magic Fantasy magazine is planning to release a special edition which provides translations of the best fantasy novels from around the world. I hope this will help Chinese writers learn from others and attract more readers," said Liu.

Liu suggested that an award for fantasy literature should be set up to encourage the development of fantasy in China. In the West, the Nebula Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers provides a great impulse to the genre. "Chinese fantasy writers should have their own highest award," said Liu.

Yang Zhi agreed that ensuring the quality of works is important. According to Yang, he has prepared for some fallow years in which profits are low.

"We have kept investing in content for a long time in order to offer the best stories. In my opinion, a good atmosphere for fantasy writers is a greater goal," said Yang, "only when the authors can enjoy a fulfilling career through their creations can we have good fantasy stories. A good story is everything."

Yang's team has also been making attempts in other areas of the fantasy industry, including board games and filmmaking. Yang confirmed that a film about his Dragon Raja tales is being prepared now, with a total investment of 150 million yuan ($23 million dollars).

"Chinese fantasy literature is on the rise. I have confidence that Chinese fantasy will embrace a new spring," said Yang.