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Portrait of Jin Yong

Jin Yong books in order

Hong Kong writer

Lived
1924–2018
Country
British Hong Kong
Books
16
Series
1
Also writes as
鏞, 姚嘉衣, 姚馥蘭, 宜

Jin Yong published 16 novels, beginning with The Book and the Sword (1955). The series is Condor Trilogy (3 books, starting with The Legend of the Condor Heroes). The best-known is A Hero Born (2019).

Updated September 2026

Condor Trilogy books in order (3)Series page

Reading order: 1 The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1957) · 2 The Return of the Condor Heroes (1959) · 3 The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (1961)

  1. 1.

    The Legend of the Condor Heroes (Jan 1957)

    Adapted for TV

    Buy
  2. 2.

    The Return of the Condor Heroes (May 1959)

    Adapted for TV

    Buy
  3. 3.

    The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (Jul 1961)

    Adapted for film

    Buy

Where to start with Jin Yong

Standalone novels in order

  1. The Book and the Sword (Feb 1955)

    511 pagesAdapted for TV

    Buy

  2. Sword Stained with Royal Blood (Jan 1956)

    Adapted for film

    Buy

  3. Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain (1959)

    416 pages

    Buy

  4. Other Tales of the Flying Fox (1960)

    Adapted for film

    Buy

  5. Blade-dance of the Two Lovers (1961)

    Buy

  6. Swordswoman Riding West on White Horse (1961)

    Buy

  7. A Deadly Secret (1963)

    Buy

  8. Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (Sep 1963)

    Adapted for film

    Buy

  9. Ode to Gallantry (1965)

    Adapted for TV

    Buy

  10. The Smiling, Proud Wanderer (1967)

    Adapted for film

    Buy

  11. The Deer and the Cauldron (Oct 1969)

    564 pages

    Buy

  12. Sword of the Yue Maiden (1970)

    Buy

  13. A Hero Born (2019)

    395 pages

    Buy

Film and TV adaptations

About Jin Yong

Louis Cha Leung-yung, better known by his pen name Jin Yong, was a Chinese wuxia novelist and co-founder of Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao. Cha authored 15 novels between 1955 and 1972 and became one of the most popular Chinese writers of all time, with over 100 million copies sold globally—excluding widespread pirated editions. Cha's novels, which have been adapted into numerous TV dramas, films, and video games, are esteemed for their literary quality and universal appeal, resonating with both scholarly and popular audiences.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Jin Yong FAQ

How many books has Jin Yong written?
Jin Yong published 16 novels that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Jin Yong's books in?
Read each series in its own order: start Condor Trilogy with The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
What is Jin Yong's last book?
A Hero Born (2019).
What is Jin Yong's most famous book?
A Hero Born (2019) is Jin Yong's most widely read book.
Are Jin Yong's books connected?
3 books belong to 1 series (Condor Trilogy); the other 13 books stand alone.
Does Jin Yong write under a pen name?
Yes: Jin Yong has also published as 鏞, 姚嘉衣, 姚馥蘭 and 宜.
Which Jin Yong books have been adapted?
9 books have been adapted for film or TV, including The Book and the Sword (TV), Sword Stained with Royal Blood (film, 1981), The Legend of the Condor Heroes (TV) and The Return of the Condor Heroes (TV, 1983).

Authors like Jin Yong

Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.