Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils or Eightfold Path of the Heavenly Dragon (天龙八部) is a contemporary wuxia novel written by Jin Yong. It was originally published in 1963, and has since spawned several movies and television serials in both Mainland China and Hong Kong. The title of the novel itself is based on an ancient Buddhist principle.

Background

The main thematic element of the novel concerns the complex, often troubled relationships between the great multitude of characters from various kingdoms and sects, and the inherent bond that underlies the struggles of each. Ultimately, the novel examines the cause and effect interaction that forms and breaks these bonds on five uniquely corresponding levels: self, family, society, ethnic group, and country (dominion). The timeframe in which the novel takes place is historically based upon the era of the Northern Song Dynasty, and includes the warring kingdoms of Song, Liao, Dali, and Western Xia.

Major Characters

• Qiao Feng 乔峰 later became Xiao Feng 萧峰 -- "Northern Qiao Feng", one of the two Wulin legends; born of Qidan descent but was taken in by the Han assassins who killed his parents. At first he used his adopted parents' surname but later changed to his real parents'. Initially the leader of the Beggars' Sect, he was exiled after a controversy had revealed his true nationality and later encounters characters whose lives would be profoundly affected by their union. He eventually stopped a possible war between Song and Liao, but then he committed suicide as he believed he had nowhere to go.
  
• Murong Fu 慕容复 -- "Southern Murong", whose skill is matched by that of Qiao Feng's; born of a royal lineage and successor to the throne of decimated Later Yan. A power-hungry and self-absorbed individual, he would stop at nothing to restore his kingdom. After a lengthy bout with Duan Yu and a failed alliance with Duan Yanqing (resulting in several heedless deaths), he went insane and become somewhat of a recluse.
  
• Duan Yu 段誉 -- Prince of Dali. He is a pacifist by nature, although he later stumbles upon the secret arts of the 六脉神剑 (Liu Mai Shen Jian) by chance. His father, Duan Zhengchun, is a notorious playboy who had affairs with several women who -- much to his dismay -- are revealed to be the birth mothers of several of his own love interests. In an ironic turn of events, it is revealed in the end that his true father is Duan Yanqing, who had been meaning to kill him.
  
• Duan Zhengchun 段正淳 -- Father of Duan Yu and the brother of the emperor of Dali. He inherited the throne after his brother abdicated the throne. He had affairs with several women, many of them bearing him daughters:
  • Wang Fu Ren 王夫人 who bore Wang Yuyan 王语嫣
  • Gan Bao Bao 甘宝宝 who bore Zhong Ling 钟灵
  • Qin Hongmian 秦红棉 who bore Mu Wanqing 木婉清
  • Ruan Xingzhu 阮星竹 who bore A Zhu 阿珠, A Zi 阿紫
  • Dao Baifeng 刀白凤 who bore Duan Yu, the only male. As it turns out, Dao Baifeng was herself not so prudent and had a relationship with Duan Yanqing, who was the true father of Daun Yu.
• Xu Zhu 虚竹 -- A Shaolin monk. He bears traits similar to that of Duan Yu. Accidentally solves the "Unsolvable Weiqi Game" (with help) and inherits the power of the Xiaoyao Sect Grandmaster in order to defeat Ding Chunqiu, a traitor and a murderer. His powers are further augmented as he comes into contact with the Tian Shan Tong Lao. Later he was found to be the captured son of Ye Er Niang and a Shaolin monk.
  
• Wang Yuyan 王语嫣 (Lady Wang) -- Initially she loved the elusive Murong Fu, who had no desires outside of conquering the kingdoms. Finally she redirects her love to Duan Yu, who was obsessed with her right from the very beginning. Her past is largely unknown until the end, where it is revealed that she is related to the Tian Shan Tong Lao and her younger disciple sister.
  
• A Zhu 阿朱 -- The love interest of Qiao Feng. She is one of the daughters of Duan Zhengchun and is a master of disguise. After a misunderstanding between Qiao Feng and Duan Zhengchun (in which Qiao Feng is led to believe that Duan Zhengchun killed his birth parents), a disguised A Zhu is slain at the hands of her lover.
  
• A Zi 阿紫 -- A Zhu's younger sister. Very childish and self-centered, she causes much hassles for Qiao Feng, who swore an oath to take care of her after her sister's passing. She is heavily infatuated with Qiao Feng, although he sees her as nothing more than a burden which he is obligated to carry. After Qiao Feng commits suicide, a heartbroken A Zi follows suit.
  
• You Tanzhi 游坦之 (Tie Chou 铁丑, "The Iron Clown") -- A prisoner of A Zi who developed a scathing hatred for Qiao Feng after he killed his father during the Hero's Covention. He is the polar opposite of A Zi: a selfless, noble individual who would willingly submit to the wishes of loved ones. He falls in love with A Zi and, as a result, has a cast-iron mask placed over his face as an amusement to her sadistic desires. His story is that of a true tragedy -- giving everything to his betrothed and yet receiving naught but death in return.
  
• Si Da E Ren 四大恶人 ("The Four Evil Ones") -- a band of four malevolent individuals, consisting of:
  
  • Duan Yanqing 段延庆 (E Guan Man Ying 恶贯满盈, "Overflowing Evil") -- Extremely powerful despite his form as a crippled old man. Once a prince of Dali, he was outcast and left for dead, after which he was brought back to life by a woman who was shrouded in light. The women turned out to be Dao Baifeng, who gave birth to his son Dian Yu
    
  • Ye Er Niang 叶二娘 (Wu E Bu Zuo 无恶不作, "Submitting only to Evil") -- Deprived of her only son, she crazily seized and killed the sons from others. It turned out Xu Zhu was her son.
    
  • Yue Lao San 岳老三 (Xiong Shen E Sha 凶神恶煞, "Evil Mystic Brute") -- Comical (but evil) individual who nags constantly about his status with regards to others. He is outsmarted by Duan Yu and becomes his disciple. He is also known as 南海鳄神 (Crocodile Spawn of the Southern Seas). Despite his ignoble namesake, he came through as a loyal disciple by sacrificing his own life so that Duan Yu could be saved.
    
  • Yun Zhonghe 云中鹤 (Qiong Xiong Ji E 穷凶极恶, "Evil of Frailty") -- A lecherous fiend who preys on the weak. Slain by Duan Yu near the epilogue.
    
• Wu Ya Zi 无涯子 -- Grandmaster of the Xiaoyao Sect.
  
• Tian Shan Tong Lao 天山童姥 -- Training partner of Wu Ya Zi and long-time nemesis of Li Qiushui, her disciple sister.
• Li Qiushui 李秋水 -- Training partner Wu Ya Zi and younger disciple sister to Tian Shan Tong Lao. Mother of Wang Fu Ren, who gives birth to Wang Yuyan.