Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (墨香铜臭, Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù) is the pseudonym of the author of the novel Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. Her three danmei (耽美, Dānměi) web novels were originally published online at the Chinese web novel site JJWXC, where they became extremely popular.[1]
Her Weibo can be found here.
Biography[]
Origin as a Writer[]
Although she did not like writing as a child, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu loved reading and making up stories. Her origin goal was to be a mangaka, and her interest in danmei began by reading a fanfiction about the anime D. Gray-Man in middle school, wherein the male main character fell in love with a male side character. Ultimately, as she loved reading the works of others, she decided she wanted to try writing as well.[2][3]
During elementary school, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu wrote but did not complete her own horror stories. Her first novel was written during middle school, which became quite popular in her class.[4]
In 2014, while she was still in college, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu signed a contract with JJWXC and began publishing her own serial web novels.[1]
Influences[]
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu cites wuxia author Jin Yong's novels as one of her greatest influences, along with Stephen Chow's comedies, Tsui Hark's wuxia, and Lam Ching-ying's zombie movies.[4]
Pseudonym[]
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's pseudonym originates from the fact that while she wished to study literature in college, her mother insisted she study economics. Her mother told her that she could smell the fragrance of ink in one hand and the smell of money in the other. 墨香 (Mò Xiāng) means 'black fragrance' and 铜臭 (Tóng Xiù) is a phrase meaning 'the stink of money.'[2]
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation[]
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu first conceived of the idea for Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation during her last year at college. Worried about her thesis, she took to walking at night while listening to music. As she let her mind daydream, the image of a man came to her. He was clad in black, with a pale complexion and blood on his face, snapping something in his hand that could have been a flute or an arrow.
Curious, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu began to try to determine who he was and why he would have made such an expression. Eventually, this idea became Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, which she considers an "experimental" work.[5]
In her 2023 interview, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu elaborated on this, explaining that in her writing processes she creates characters first, and plots second. Her inspiration comes from seeking to satisfy an inner desire, such as solving mysteries, finding love, or surviving.[4]
According to her 2018 interview, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu did not expect Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation to become popular. She considered transmigration the only popular trope included in the novel, which was originally intended to be a story about revenge. After outlining, she realized her story was less about revenge than expected. Ultimately, she described the completed novel as a story about complicated revenge, as well as relationships and gratitude.[2]
Translations of her 2016 interview on Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation can be found here and here.
Novels[]
2014[]
- The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System (人渣反派自救系统, Rén Zhā Fǎn Pài Zì Jiù Xì Tǒng)
2015[]
- Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (魔道祖师, Mó Dào Zǔ Shī)
2017[]
- Heaven Official's Blessing (天官赐福, Tiān Guān Cì Fú)
Future[]
In her 2018 interview, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu confirmed that she was working on a fourth novel,[2] tentatively titled Grim Reapers Have No Days Off (死神没有休息日, Sǐ Shén Méi Yǒu Xiū Xī Rì).[6]
In the same interview she also mentioned that she had plans for a fifth novel in a supernatural modern setting. Although this novel was originally her second planned novel, she pushed it back in favor of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Heaven Official's Blessing, and Grim Reapers Have No Days Off.[2]
However, in an interview with Japanese author Risa Wataya in 2023, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu said that although she had many ideas, writing was slow, and a fourth novel had yet to take shape.[4] In March 2024, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu updated her JJWXC profile to say that her writing conditions had changed, and that she had put Grim Reapers Have No Days Off on hold for now. Her postscript states to fans that she is "not closing her pen," so fans should not worry, and ends with the line "hug.jpg."[1]
Adaptations[]
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation has four adaptations: a Manhua; an Animation in Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese; an Audio Drama in both Mandarin and Japanese; and a Web Series, The Untamed. There is also a Mobile Game and a Manga in development.
Her other two works, The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System[7] and Heaven Official's Blessing,[8] also have multimedia adaptations.
Awards and Recognition[]
All three of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's novels have been released internationally in multiple languages,[7][8][9] resulting in awards for her and her works both in China and abroad.
In 2023, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's interview with the Japanese literature magazine "Subaru" led to the magazine's first reprint since its inception in 1979.[10]
| Mo Xiang Tong Xiu | Jinjiang Annual Festival | Most Popular Author | 1 | 2017 | [11] | |
| Heaven Official's Blessing | Jinjiang Annual Festival | Excellent Work | 2017 | [12] | ||
| Mo Xiang Tong Xiu | Online Literature Awards | Most Influential Chinese Female Author | 14 | 2017 | [13] | |
| Mo Xiang Tong Xiu | Jinjiang Annual Festival | Most Popular Author in a Pure Love Series(纯爱系列) | 1 | 2018 | [14] | |
| Mo Xiang Tong Xiu | Jinjiang Annual Festival | Most Influential Author in IP Adaptation | 1 | 2018 | [15] | |
| Mo Xiang Tong Xiu | Online Literature Awards | Most Influential Chinese Female Author | 10 | 2018 | [16] | |
| Mo Xiang Tong Xiu | Jinjiang Annual Festival | Most Influential Author in IP Adaptation | 1 | 2019 | [17] | |
| Heaven Official's Blessing | Weibo IP Value List | Top Three | 2019 | [18] | ||
| Mo Xiang Tong Xiu | 5th Dangdang Influential Writers Selection | Online Literature Authors List | 1 | 2019 | [19] | |
| Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation | Ridibook | Rising Star Award (뉴 스타상) | February 2020 | [20] | ||
| Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation | Daria Series Uni 2021 | Best Novel | 1 | December 13 2021 | [21] | |
| Heaven Official's Blessing, Vol. 1 | New York Times Bestseller List | Paperback Trade Fiction | 8 | Week of January 2 2022 | [22] | |
| Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Vol. 1 | New York Times Bestseller List | Paperback Trade Fiction | 9 | Week of January 2 2022 | [22] | |
| The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System, Vol. 1 | New York Times Bestseller List | Paperback Trade Fiction | 14 | Week of January 2 2022 | [22] | |
| Heaven Official's Blessing, Vol. 2 | New York Times Bestseller List | Paperback Trade Fiction | 5 | Week of March 6 2022 | [23] | |
| Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Vol. 1 | Chill Chill's BL Awards 2022 | Best Novel | 2 | April 1, 2022 | [24] | |
| The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System, Vol. 2 | New York Times Bestseller List | Paperback Trade Fiction | 8 | Week of May 8 2022 | [25] | |
| Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Vol. 2 | New York Times Bestseller List | Paperback Trade Fiction | 8 | Week of June 5 2022 | [26] | |
| Heaven Official's Blessing, Vol. 3 | New York Times Bestseller List | Paperback Trade Fiction | 14 | Week of July 31 2022 | [27] | |
| Heaven Official's Blessing, Vol. 4 | New York Times Bestseller List | Paperback Trade Fiction | 9 | Week of October 16 2022 | [28] | |
| The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System, Vol. 4 | New York Times Bestseller List | Paperback Trade Fiction | 11 | Week of November 20 2022 | [29] | |
| Heaven Official's Blessing, Vol. 1 | Chill Chill's BL Awards 2023 | Best Novel | 1 | March 31, 2023 | [30] | |
| Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Vol. 5 | New York Times Bestseller List | Paperback Trade Fiction | 4 | Week of May 21 2023 | [31] | |
| Heaven Official's Blessing, Vol. 7 | New York Times Bestseller List | Paperback Trade Fiction | 5 | Week of October 1 2023 | [32] |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 MXTX's Works on JJWXC
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Author Interview
- ↑ English Translation of Interview
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Author Interview, Subaru Magazine, May 2023.
- ↑ Author's Weibo
- ↑ http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3444956
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Scum Villain Release Information
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Heaven Official's Blessing Release Information
- ↑ Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation Release Information
- ↑ Subaru Reprint News
- ↑ https://baike.baidu.com/reference/19698408/60b2dM7Kp80N_EXA01fTIpsJTo13BZyt8TWJse0AdNakkDCRFcAPpc5SBdJv3qYtb8lXliuBXCsV7op9sHZ4eISiIMdwVpEMu2xE5ug
- ↑ https://baike.baidu.com/reference/19698408/70fd37tHifsx3mriElNnpJbulUX45a4apwXk-obsl_DfIZYDag5rKXqOaWVD5GGY6rEKtRss5kmjDFJXCJjFFYtyLydP6ryzmwttE7E
- ↑ https://baike.baidu.com/reference/19698408/a7ceEn6ihVFf_8ahEF-W7TVXm_ijwgW3OZSUpr60BfuBZB1-id-Vx-r_NDzYcWzBNgSuaT1eihjU1KKZrmMcaRDzf4zI5naqHR18qozUcnfogiyNVSojONOyKvo
- ↑ https://baike.baidu.com/reference/19698408/8f42ja-HgdMyvFjYVZHilUg8Ce953oM836D35V7xYEa5-67ytwwAh8BnJI-uPA42nkwMSHj-2rMJX--0vqXcPQc8tGzdPJAq28O8Jiw
- ↑ https://baike.baidu.com/reference/19698408/95e2eQKcIx70ME4lE9o1AO_ESEDaavWYYmVA0ktHQoIqKKs3fGhU4hJnCwUb_KFl4x9TQ5SPzuctwFG-_k-xTyhOUdnH3XVdI9o
- ↑ https://baike.baidu.com/reference/19698408/42910C9ARsKDhYnvs1GxIBfGLCq5CIlHfZiLeqv970cuFcLB2PkPp3x0Db0JSyjTAoaYZRep9Igl-Fx1_zFxhesxKGE5nrKgAx86viMvfPAqA3kR
- ↑ https://baike.baidu.com/reference/19698408/d439rGZ5PuhfIkrc-p4YA2VwT4dc4A5mLiUSnI9hS3n1Qi4GcCyfNRIwCLjQZRynoXH5CArMyMl67MXtqIRIlFaf015bt8GUiKHX
- ↑ https://baike.baidu.com/reference/19698408/430biC-n-YJIoc1Ypa_2Moj5vX6ik3rkQRSCjPvIyVIM87Mu_YaPsZO8F1d9sVyfyITJyRebcfOEtaqficr7YIQmUyFwBlRfpB2juvuOHJyj
- ↑ https://baike.baidu.com/reference/19698408/857ew89_bvmFootSB4541ZT4jq3BFDiMLomj7vsst4jbihxaHCEYJ1Ma2CXvlgzcuX7GXyIIPmisW6elCmwFWMbFmHCwSpeHr1lr5O7hdy1ebShU5WIkBsqfYeF8jHO83iUqiA
- ↑ Blogger Announcement of Rising Star Award
- ↑ Daria Series Uni 2021, Best Novel Winner
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 New York Times Bestseller List, Paperback Trade Fiction
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2022/03/06/trade-fiction-paperback/
- ↑ BL Awards List
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2022/05/08/trade-fiction-paperback/
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2022/06/05/trade-fiction-paperback/
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2022/07/31/trade-fiction-paperback/
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2022/10/16/trade-fiction-paperback/
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2022/11/20/trade-fiction-paperback/
- ↑ BL Award List
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2023/05/21/trade-fiction-paperback/
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2023/10/01/trade-fiction-paperback/