From HongKong Films blog:
The Chinese have always referred to a place within their history as “Jiang Hu (ʱüÊπñ)” (Gong wu – in Cantonese). This age is a part of China’s mythical past, and is the time when heroes, anti-heroes, and villains feature prominently.
The term, “Jiang Hu”, which literally means “rivers and lakes”, but actually describe the martial world, is where sword-bearing men and women embark on their self-quests for honour, power, and respect. These incredible people are an entity wholly different than their national countrymen. They have their own rules, fights, disputes, and ideology. They may go into seclusion for many years simply to learn a more powerful martial art, so that they can challenge another. Defeating a worthy opponent would lead to respect, and a name for themselves to be remembered throughout history….[Full Text]
