Orthodox Sects
Orthodox sects are the canonical 'good guys' of the wuxia genre — the Nine Schools and One Sect, led by Shaolin and Wudang. Their defining quality is that 'training is bound to a code of conduct' — they hold to chivalry, restraint from killing, and a refusal to harm the innocent.
Orthodox arts emphasize foundation. Posture, breath, dantian — without these in order, advanced techniques cannot be learned. This is why orthodox sects produce the strongest masters in the long run, but rarely the fastest-rising prodigies.
Inside the genre, the orthodox group is the canonical 'first wall.' When the Demonic Cult or unorthodox factions move, the orthodox sects are the ones who hold the line. This page walks the orthodox group's character, how it splits internally, and where its limits sit.
Core characteristics
The defining properties that set this category apart from others.
- Foundation-firstPosture, breath, and dantian are the prerequisites.
- Code-boundBehavior code (restraint from killing, no harm to innocents) shapes operation.
- Lineage-deepLong lineages let arts compound across generations.
- Slow but high capSlow growth, but the highest masters come from here.
How it differs from neighboring categories
Even within the same family, each category has a distinct character. Comparing side by side is the fastest way to grasp the differences.
Orthodox
The canonical good guys, bound by code.
Unorthodox
The pragmatic gray middle.
Demonic Cult
The canonical opposition; doctrine of liberation.
Neutral
Merchants, academies, escorts — outside the conflict.
When the orthodox shine
Their moment is the long campaign and the holding line.
- Holding the lineWhen the Demonic Cult or unorthodox factions move openly.
- Defending the innocentSheltering a town or individual from harm.
- Long campaignsStrong over time, weaker in a single decisive duel.
- Mass forcePulling out the full strength of a sect's combined practitioners.
How the orthodox group splits internally
Inside the orthodox group, several traditions coexist.
Buddhist tradition
Shaolin and similar — discipline plus precepts.
Daoist tradition
Wudang, Huashan, Kunlun — inner cultivation plus softness.
Combat-pragmatic tradition
Beggars' Sect — practical, free, close to ordinary life.
Limits of the orthodox group
Bound by code, they trade speed for depth.
- Slow growthFoundation-first means later results.
- Code-restricted operationCannot use the full toolkit; some options are off the table.
- Hard to react fastLong deliberation slows decisions in tight moments.
Subcategories
How an orthodox practitioner grows
The orthodox career runs from postural drills into the heart of a lineage.
Beginner orthodox practitioners drill posture, breath, and dantian. Foundational forms like Shaolin's Lohan Fist anchor the early years.
Mid-rank brings real combat-grade arts in line with the sect's character.
High rank and the peak brings out signature arts that define an era — Wudang's Tai Chi, Shaolin's 72 arts, and so on.
Patriarchal arts at the top represent the full lineage — usually known to only one or two living practitioners at a time.
Digging deeper into the orthodox group
Open each sect's page directly.