1. The Two Great Factions
拔剑之前,须知所为何人.
"Before drawing the sword, one must know in whose name it is raised."
The Murim (武林), literally "the forest of martial arts", refers to a realm accessible beyond the secular world—hidden to ordinary eyes but very real in its consequences. It is neither a political territory nor a nation, but a fluid network of clans, sects, wandering masters, martial traditions, and ancient oaths. Since the earliest known days of this parallel society—some placing its origins under the Song dynasty, others even earlier during the Warring States period—the Murim has been structured around a fundamental divide: that between the Righteous Faction (正派 / Jeong-pa) and the Demonic Faction (魔派 / Sa-pa).
The Righteous Faction, Jeong-pa, presents itself as the heir to a virtuous path grounded in Confucian principles of loyalty, integrity, hierarchical respect, and protection of the people. It includes orthodox sects such as the Mount Hua Sect, the Shaolin Temple, and the Wudang Sect. They adhere to codes of honor, both written and oral, forbidding unjust use of force, poison[1], cowardly assassination, and forbidden techniques. Their organization is hierarchical, often linked to the Murim Alliance, a council tasked with arbitrating disputes and maintaining balance. Members of the Jeong-pa faction see themselves as guardians of martial order—the pillars of the Murim. Their quest transcends mere power; it aims for transcendence through discipline and wielding the sword in service of justice.
[1] except for the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
In opposition stands the Demonic Faction, Sa-pa, composed of marginalized sects often persecuted by the orthodox. Its philosophy is based on the absolute liberation of martial potential, regardless of the cost. It is characterized by the use of forbidden techniques: devastating manipulation of internal Qi, mental domination, poison, and martial necromancy. It openly rejects traditional moral values, viewing ethics as a cage designed to weaken the free. Its structure is often clan-based or anarchic, led by tyrannical chiefs or champions of absolute individualism. At the heart of Sa-pa lies the Heavenly Demon Cult, which has produced feared and admired figures—swordsmen with curved blades, masters with dark veins, and silent assassins. For them, the world is an arena where only the worthy survive, and power is the only truth.
Between these two poles exists an unstable balance, with many gray areas, unorthodox: neutral sects, mercenaries without banners, and hermits detached from the conflict. Yet, in the great wars of the Murim, the question remains: to which faction do you belong? The Murim is not a world of mere shadow and light, but a shifting map of armed convictions, sword lineages, and rival doctrines. The distinction between Righteous and Demonic is not only measured by proclaimed ideals but revealed in the way one chooses to kill—or not to kill.
2. The Five Great Founding Sects
据说,当这把剑被铸造时,有五只手争夺剑柄.于是,武林的五大支柱由此诞生.
"It is said that when the sword was forged, five hands contested its hilt. Thus were born the five pillars of the Murim."
At the dawn of the Murim as we know it today, five sects emerged as the foundations of martial power. Three aligned themselves with the Righteous Path (正道), one followed the Path of Chaos (魔道), and the fifth refused to define itself in anything but silence. These founding sects are more than mere schools; they represent institutions, lineages, living philosophies, and political forces. They have inspired thousands of disciples, sparked wars, forged treaties, and often set the unspoken rules of the Murim.
These five sects are: the Mount Hua Sect, the Shaolin Temple, the Wudang Sect, the Heavenly Demon Cult, and the Lone Crane Sect.
The Mount Hua Sect (华山派 / Hwasan-pa), affiliated with the Righteous Path, is perched atop one of the world's sacred peaks. It embodies the way of the straight sword—both elegant and rigorous. Its style, often called the "Pure Sword of Heaven" or the "Plum Blossom Sword," emphasizes fluidity, sensing the enemy's breath, and neutralization rather than destruction. Founded by the legendary master Baek Cheon, the sect is renowned for the mental discipline of its members and their rejection of political ambition, though they have fought in many wars when the balance of the Murim was threatened.
The Shaolin Temple (少林寺 / Soryeon-sa), also aligned with the Righteous Path, is more than a training ground—it is a spiritual and martial citadel. Founded by the monk Batuo and later Bodhidharma, Shaolin cultivates a martial art deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism, combining physical asceticism, hand-to-hand combat, and mastery of Qi. Highly influential within the Murim Alliance, the temple often serves as a moral mediator between factions, despite repeated attacks from the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The Wudang Sect (武当派 / Mudang-pa), another pillar of the Righteous Path, is based on Mount Wudang. It emphasizes harmony with natural cycles, circular movement, and avoidance of direct confrontation. Its dominant style is Taiji (拳), taught both as a martial art and spiritual path. Founded by Zhang Sanfeng, the school avoids military alliances and passes its teachings to a select circle of carefully chosen disciples.
The Heavenly Demon Cult (天魔教), or simply the Ma Gyo Sect, affiliated with the Path of Chaos, is the declared enemy of the established order. Founded by an unknown figure known in the era as the "First Demon," it rejects Confucian and Buddhist principles. Its philosophy does not seek chaos for its own sake but liberation from the mental, moral, and physical constraints imposed by orthodox martial society. Its disciples, feared for their lack of empathy and mastery of inverted Qi, remain fiercely loyal to their Demon Master. Their headquarters are often mobile or hidden, known variously as the "Valley of a Thousand Blades" or the "Underground Black Temple," depending on the era.
Finally, the Lone Crane Sect (孤鹤派 / Gohak-pa), neutral in affiliation, is an enigmatic presence within the Murim. Founded by Lady Yu Mi-sul, the "White Crane of Winter," this sect prioritizes mobility, fluid arts, and techniques of dematerialization. It refuses participation in alliances or wars, teaching that "to win is to survive without striking." Yet its influence is undeniable, with many wandering masters claiming its spiritual lineage.
Though differing in philosophy, these five great sects have given rise to countless sub-sects, affiliated clans, rival lineages, and derived styles. Their alliances and schisms have shaped the history of the Murim—like secret pulses beneath the surface of visible history.
3. The Murim Alliance
当刀锋过多,便需一只手来握住剑鞘.联盟自称是那只手,旁人却视其为另一柄刀.
"When blades become too numerous, a hand is needed to hold the sheath. The Alliance claims to be that hand. Others see it as just another blade."
The Murim Alliance (武林盟 / Murim-maeng) is a federative organization established to bring a semblance of order, dialogue, and cooperation among the countless sects, clans, schools, and factions that make up the Murim. Its creation was born out of a succession of civil wars, inter-clan massacres, and the unchecked rise of the Heavenly Demon Cult, which had long exploited the internal divisions within the Righteous Path. The founding goals of the Alliance are multifaceted: to maintain martial balance between the major factions, arbitrate territorial and ideological disputes, protect civilian populations from martial excesses, officially register and recognize sects, and combat the Heavenly Demon Cult along with other forces deemed destructive.
Structurally, the Alliance functions as a martial confederate council, built on a flexible yet symbolically potent hierarchy. The Supreme Leader, or Maengju, is elected by consensus among the Grand Masters of recognized sects. While the Maengju holds strategic and diplomatic power, direct military command is rare—his authority is based more on reputation and the respect he commands than coercive strength. The Council of Ten, composed of representatives from the ten major schools, acts like a senate: proposing policy, settling disputes, and voting on martial sanctions against rogue sects. Lastly, the Alliance's agents, the Saja, serve as messengers, investigators, and occasionally enforcers of the Council's decisions—highly trained martial experts tasked with resolving conflicts without civilian casualties.
Core members of the Alliance traditionally include the Mount Hua Sect, the Shaolin Temple, the Wudang Sect, the Tang Clan of Sichuan, the Celestial Sword School, and the Namgung family. Smaller schools may temporarily join the Alliance or hold observer status, depending on their reputation, strength, or conduct.
The Alliance plays a crucial role both militarily and politically. It coordinates efforts against the Demonic Sect, mediates between rival schools, and offers formal recognition—granting access to resources, martial archives, and relics. It also safeguards villages and monasteries affiliated with the Murim. However, it is not without criticism: accusations of favoritism toward major sects, oligarchic tendencies, corruption within the Council, disdain for neutral or minority sects, and a tendency to justify violence in the name of order without ethical nuance have all been raised.
Philosophically, the Alliance promotes a moderate, rational, Confucian vision of the Murim—emphasizing hierarchy, restraint of personal ambition, and unity in the face of external threats. Nevertheless, its critics—including voices from within—suspect it of aiming to centralize the Murim under a single banner, thereby endangering the very essence of the martial world: freedom, diversity, and the pursuit of personal mastery.
Several notable conflicts have involved the Alliance. Among them is the War of the Three Valleys, a coalition-led campaign against the Demonic Sects, which had infiltrated multiple neutral clans. Another was the Black Pavilion Affair, when Alliance Master Tang Tianxue (唐天雪) was accused of using forbidden techniques during a covert mission—an incident that nearly tore the Council apart.