Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
#564.53 adjusted 4.29 for sample size in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 1 book Status Complete 1963 Reading commitment Low Jin Yong Last reviewed 2026-11-01
Overview
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (Chinese title Tianlong Babu) is a martial-arts novel by Jin Yong (Louis Cha), serialized in the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao and the Singapore paper Nanyang Siang Pau from 3 September 1963 to 27 May 1966. It is set in eleventh-century China, where the Song, Liao, Dali, Western Xia and Tibetan realms and many martial sects coexist. The story follows three main characters: Duan Yu, a Dali prince who rejects violence; Qiao Feng, leader of the Beggar Clan; and Xuzhu, a Shaolin monk. The three become sworn brothers. It is a single complete novel, later revised by the author, and it is not part of his other series.
Historical fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (1 work) counts toward ranking
Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils Jin Yong
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils; Chinese title 天龍八部 (Tianlong Babu). Serialized in Ming Pao from 1963 to 1966. | 1963 | 1 | core | 4.53 (1,443 ratings) |
Standalone wuxia novel in eleventh-century China.
Quick answers
- How many books are in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils? Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils's Core Canon is 1 book.
- Is Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils finished? Complete (1963).
- How much reading does Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils take? Low reading commitment (estimated from 1 Core Canon book).
- How is Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils ranked? #56 in this site's official ranking, based on 1,443 reader ratings across 1 Core Canon book. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #56?
Ranked #56 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 4.53 across 1 core book.
- A smaller readership (1,443 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- Less than 0.01 behind #55, Realm of the Elderlings (a finer tie-break level decides the order).
- Above the top-10 average of 4.46.
Why explore this universe?
Top-tier rated · 1 book · Complete · 1k ratings · Ranks #56 overall
Good choice if you want a quick, low-commitment historical fantasy universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
A single Core Canon work: no sequencing question to resolve.
Awards (verified)
- No awards found for this universe.
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Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 4.53 across 1,443 ratings on 1 Core Canon book. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Canon Extension: The Novels of Charles Williams, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, The Deer and the Cauldron, Legendele Țării lui Vam, Guild Hunter, The Heroic Legend of Arslan and Labyrinths of Echo; open ratings filled accepted 2026-11-01
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
- Wikipedia Tier 2
Last reviewed: 2026-11-01
Rule: Core Canon = the single novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (Tianlong Babu, serialized 1963-1966).