Jianghu

The Jianghu (江湖 jiānghú) is a society which exists in parallel to that of ordinary people and the mainstream. It encompasses the community of martial artists, who may chose to gather as clans, families, sects or some combination thereof to pass down certain styles or schools of martial arts, gangs made up of individuals sharing a common occupation and organizations offering their services to the people of the jianghu. It also includes wandering heroes, physicians, craftsmen and merchants independent of such groups but who chose to operate within this society. The jianghu has its own set of code of conduct and practices; most prominent is the separation from the State and its governing Court.