Ironfist Chinmi

 is a Japanese manga series written by Takeshi Maekawa. It was published by Kodansha in "Monthly Shōnen Magazine" from 1983 to 1997 and collected in 35 "tankōbon" volumes. It is centered on the story of a boy called Chinmi who learns Kung Fu by fighting progressively more challenging foes.
This is the first and most widely published series of Ironfist Chinmi. Published as "Tekken Chinmi" in Japanese and "Ironfist Chinmi" in English. A part of this series was published by Bloomsbury UK and is still available from some online/physical book stores. The entire series was published by Kodansha in Japan, and Elex Media Komputindo in Indonesia. The series was also adapted as an anime television series in 1988, which was dubbed in English in the early 1990s as "Kung Fu Boy" and into Arabic as "MadressaT El Kung Fu"" ("Kung Fu School"). In Indonesia, the series known as "Kungfu Boy".
In 1987, the manga won the Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen.
It was followed by two sequel series, "New Ironfist Chinmi" and "Ironfist Chinmi Legends".
Locations.
Dairin Temple (大林寺).
Center of most of the activities, and the place Chinmi was formally taught martial arts. It is similar to the Chinese Shaolin temples and its culture. Known as the birthplace of "Dairin Kenpo" (大林 拳法 / "Dairin fist"), and located near Nankou Mountain. Headed by the High Priest, students and teachers train, eat and sleep within the Temple's grounds. Dairin Kenpo consists mainly of unarmed combat, and the only weapon training provided is with the staff (Konpo; 棍法). Master Riki is the resident staff expert, and is highly perceptive despite being completely blind. Chinmi, his disciples, his masters Ryukai, Riki, and Old Master/Roushi live and train within Dairin Temple.
Chinmi initially joins Dairin Temple at the age of ~10, but as his capabilities and qualities improve, at the age of ~20 he is promoted to instructor, and given a small group of students to train. His students are San-Chuu, Yukke, Kuppa, Nam-Uru, Yonfa, Koyuu and Gunte. Jin Tan is also often described as Chinmi's student.
Tekken Chinmi.
Chinmi is a young Chinese boy who was helping his sister in small restaurant business. He is talented in martial arts, and used to play with his pet monkey named Goku in the forests, giving him great agility. After defeating people who harasses his sister's restaurant, an old master (usually referred as 'Old Man/Rōshi') witnessed his talent. Believing Chinmi is the one prophesied to become a great master of martial arts, Rōshi arranged for him to train at Dairin Temple. From there, Chinmi learned Kung Fu, or Dairin Kenpo. It spans from the first to the sixth volume.
Starting from the sixth volume, Chinmi starts learning weapon-based Martial arts, the staff from Riki. He gained a friendly rival, Xu Fang. Chinmi's staff training saga ends at the 8th volume, which continues with the next saga about training with the revered Master You Sen. Chinmi learned his signature move, the "Tsuuhaiken" from Master You Sen just before he died, and Chinmi prompted to go on a journey to master his skills.
The journey spans in many volumes, but starting on the 23rd volume, Chinmi was forced to return to Dairin Temple after the temple was desecrated by a former apprentice of You Sen, the ruthless prodigal Oudow. Chinmi tasted true defeat for the first time against Oudow, but later the old Master/Roushi told him the secret of Dairin Temple's forbidden move: the Thunder God Fist (Raijin Ken; 雷神拳), one that could instantly kill the victim. Despite his best efforts, Chinmi is cornered and used the forbidden move, crippling Oudow. Believing he just violated the sanctity of Dairin by killing his opponent, Chinmi goes on a self-imposed exile. Fortunately for him, he found out that Oudow actually survived and as a result softened his attitude, enabling Chinmi to truly return to the Temple. He is later promoted to teacher.
As a teacher, Chinmi garnered a group of students, including the notorious and rebellious Gunte; though he later becomes enchanted with Chinmi's bravery and virtue to actually be more tolerant with his friends. After reacquainting with his students, Chinmi was thrust into the next saga where he fought the Wind Wolves army of horsemen (Fictional race based on the nomadic Mongolian and Manchurian tribes), who set their sights on Gunte's hometown. His deeds were noticed by the general of Chinese army and invited him to meet the Emperor.
En route to the capital, Chinmi attended his sister's wedding. The Emperor invites him to participate in the upcoming annual national tournament of martial arts. While boarding with General Ourin's family, he developed a close friendship with the General's daughter, Renka. As the tournament begins, Chinmi was reunited with Xu Fang, but it turns out that he was brainwashed by an assassin who plotted to use him to kill the Emperor. Chinmi also befriended Dan Dan, a youth experts in martial arts solely based on kicking. Chinmi and Xu Fang reached the tournament finals, and Xu Fang's puppet master, Sinsai, kidnapped Renka and blackmailed Chinmi. Dan Dan inadvertently overhears the plot and rescued Renka, allowing Chinmi to restore Xu Fang's mind in the final battle and foiling the assassin's plot to kill the Emperor. Chinmi ended up as the champion and returned to the Dairin Temple. The first series of the manga ended there.
New Ironfist Chinmi.
New Ironfist Chinmi ("Shin Tekken Chinmi") is a Japanese manga series written by Takeshi Maekawa, and the second series of books in the Ironfist Chinmi saga. It was published by Kodansha in "Monthly Shōnen Magazine" from 1997 to 2004 and collected in 20 "tankōbon" volumes.
In the first saga, Chinmi must discover the force that is oppressing the Ka Nan (嘉南) people, and free the people from slavery by defeating their powerful oppressors. In the second saga, Chinmi, Xu-Fang, and Dan-Dan, was sent by the emperor to investigate a conspiracy within the Chinese Navy.
Characters.
Ho Jun
Bolo
Kiri
Ga Shin and Sho Tan
General Boru
Soubi
Ka Nan Saga.
The Dairin Temple monks lose contact with Kourin Temple in the autonomous Ka Nan (嘉南) region of South China. They send Chinmi to investigate. During the journey, Chinmi meets Pu Shin, a clumsy and wannabe swordsman. They arrive at the border of Ka Nan, and are refused entry into the region on the grounds that martial artists are not allowed. Ka Nan General Boru orders the border guards to kill them, as he is sure they will try to enter the region again. Chinmi and Pu Shin barely escapes a group of border soldiers and General Boru himself and falls into the river. They are rescued by fishermen Bolo and Kiri, and learn that two years ago, cruel businessman Jirai usurped the throne and killed the royal family. They smuggled Chinmi and Pu Shin into the region, but were later arrested.
Chinmi and Pu Shin arrive at Kourin Temple but find it destroyed and deserted. After Chinmi swiftly dispatches some of Jirai's soldiers, Two Kourin Temple disciples, Ga Shin and Sho Tan, appears and filled them in. When a grassroots movement of discontent started at the temple, Jirai ordered the temple closed, banned freedom of assembly, weapons, or martial arts in Ka Nan. Refusing to submit to tyranny, Kourin Temple remain defiant made a stand against the Ka Nan military, only to be utterly defeated and their head monk killed.
During a scout, Chinmi sees Bolo and Kiri in chains. He rescues them both, and defeated a squad of soldiers alone by knocking them off a bridge with his Tsuuhaiken. Intrigued, Soubi, the captain of the guards, vows to hunt down Chinmi. He orders his soldiers to gather/arrest every men and boys around Kourin Temple on the excuse of questioning, but in truth captures them for slave labor. Ga Shin and Sho Tan was arrested, but Chinmi, Pu Shin, Bolo and Kiri managed to evade capture.
Chinmi joined a rebellion led by Ho Jun, the former princess and sole survivor of the previous royal family. They discovered that Jirai runs a secret cannon factory using the Ka Nan people as slave labor. They plan to capture Jirai on the day of the cannon transportation where security is low. As they infiltrate the palace, Soubi appears and duels Chinmi alone, while Ho Jun and the others fight their way into Jirai's suite. After a grueling fight, Chinmi manages to knock out Soubi. The others surround Jirai in his private suite but he managed to escape. They continue to pursue the tyrant, but Soubi once again confronts Chinmi, and this time Chinmi defeats Soubi who falls to his death.
Meanwhile, another rebel group opens various gates to let the main body of citizens into the cannon factory. Several hundred citizens storm the factory with primitive weapons, but they are halted by cannon-fire from Boru. After a brief standoff, the riot resumes after Boru leaves for the palace and a group of prisoners led by Sho Tan make a surprise attack using gunpowder barrels. The remaining guards made a desperate attempt at escape, but were stopped when the resistance group managed to use a cannon against them. The soldiers in the factory surrenders and the rebels free all the slaves.
Chinmi, Ho Jun and a few more rebels corner Jirai, but Boru appears on the scene. Although he faces Boru alone so Ho Jun can capture Jirai, Boru is shown to be incredibly skilled and powerful, his Iron Armor Technique allows him to destroy even brick walls with his bare hands. Meanwhile, Ho Jun managed to capture Jirai and uses him as a hostage against an army of soldiers, but Boru leaves Chinmi to save Jirai.
Jirai escapes through a secret tunnel that leads to a river with Ho Jun in pursuit while Chinmi managed to face Boru again to allow Ho Jun to chase Jirai. Once again Chinmi slowly got overwhelmed by Boru, who is able to endure several Tsuuhaiken strikes, and even able to use it against Chinmi. Desperate, Chinmi resorted to the Thunder God Fist, and although he fails to execute it properly because of his injuries, he managed to knock Boru off the castle walls. Boru survives the fall. But, ashamed to be defeated by a weaker warrior, takes his own life in front of Ho Jun and her men. 
Meanwhile, Ho Jun discovers that Jirai is planning to flee Ka Nan with its gold reserves. Alone, Ho Jun confronted Jirai, but he managed to escape through the river with a boat, but were intercepted by the fishermen's fleet led by Bolo. Cornered, Jirai is forced to surrender, and was sent to the capital for his punishment. The liberation plan is a success. Ho Jun takes the throne, and is very thankful to Chinmi for his help. After a long rest, Chinmi leaves Ka Nan and returns to Dairin Temple.
Navy Saga.
After the Emperor heard of Chinmi's involvement in Ka Nan, he asked General Ourin to dispatch Chinmi, along with Dan Dan and Xu Fang, to infiltrate the Navy. The emperor has suspected that there were men with other motives and to overthrow Admiral Zuiun, his closest military advisor, in order to gain authority in the navy. 
After meeting up, the trio enlisted in the Navy. After displaying great combat skills during the recruitment, the senior officers became suspicious of them and Dan Dan was arrested and tortured in a sea tide cell. He survived and was rescued by Xu Fang. Meanwhile, Chinmi sneaks into Admiral Zuiun's room and delivers the Emperor's message, gaining his trust.
It is revealed that Kaion, one of the Admiral's adjutant, and his lieutenant Geibi, plans to kill Chao Liu, the admiral's other adjutant and successor to the admiralty. Chao Liu is returning with his fleet from a mission. Kaion and Geibi rounded the new recruits, with Xu Fang and Dan Dan in tow, to engage Chao Liu's fleet claiming that it has been hijacked by pirates. The plan is that during the battle Kaion's fleet will destroy Chao Liu's and kill the new recruits. As the Admiral discovered the rouse, he was arrested by the mutineers.
Chinmi was discovered as he was eavesdropping on the conversation and got knocked overboard the flagship during a struggle against Kaion. But, against all odds, managed to return to the fleet into the flagship, just in time as the Kaion's and Chao Liu's fleets engage. Using Goku's help, Chinmi managed to send a signal to Chao Liu from Admiral Zuiun, making him aware that something is going on. Meanwhile, Xu Fang and Dan Dan managed to get most of the recruits in their ships to their side, allowing them to commandeer the ship to get to the flagship. However, when Admiral Zuiun suggests Chinmi to disable the flagship's steering mechanism to slow down Kaion's plan, Geibi caught him in the act. Geibi turns out to be really tough, and as Chinmi got exhausted, he was captured.
Xu Fang and Dan Dan managed to get to the flagship's deck. Even though they have to face Geibi, soldiers loyal to Kaion, and Kaion having Chinmi and Admiral Zuiun as hostage, they managed to rescue Chinmi. Just then, Chao Liu, having learned about Kaion's plan by interrogating the crew of one of his ships, boards the flagship, rescues the admiral, and battles Kaion's crew. However, Kaion manages to escape in the commotion to another ship as half the flagship is destroyed by gunpowder explosion lit by Geibi. Xu Fang, Dan Dan, and Chinmi barely escapes with the Admiral as Chao Liu's and his crew also escapes. Geibi is captured by the trio and the recruits that helped Xu Fang and Dan Dan.
Kaion then dispatches the Navy's Elite Marines to finish off the survivors. Chao Liu and his lieutenant, Han Zhou, goes after Kaion while Chinmi, Xu Fang, and Dan Dan battles the marines. Armed with their signature chakram weapons, the marines fare well against the trio. Chinmi, Xu Fang and Dan Dan managed to defeat most of them until their commander, Tsuen appears. Tsuen proves to be an exceptional soldier and leader, pushing the trio to their limits and badly injuring them. Only the combination of Dan Dan's Windmill throw, Xu Fang's Spinning Staff, and Chinmi's Tsuuhaiken, Tsuen was finally defeated.
Meanwhile, Kaion engages in a fight with Chao Liu and Han Zhou on the flagship. Chao Liu hatchs a plan to use his ship to sink Kaion's remaining ship, but he lost his voice during the fight. Though ultimately gets the upper hand after a gruelling battle, Han Zhou then signals their crew to finish off Kaion's fleet, even though the cannon fire will be dangerously close to them. The cannon volley immobilize Kaion's last ship, but it also damages the barely seaworthy flagship. As the flagship started to sink, the ship's main mast hits Kaion from the back, killing him, and his body fell to the sea. The elite marines abandoned ship and jumped to the sea, while Chinmi, Xu Fang, and Dan Dan jumped to the other side of the sinking ship to reunite with Chao Liu as his fleet arrives.
In the aftermath, Admiral Zuiun appoints Chao Liu as his successor. After recuperating, Chinmi, Xu Fang, and Dan Dan departs to the capital to report to the Emperor.
Characters.
Zuiun
Chao Liu
Kaion
Geibi
The Elite Marines
Ironfist Chinmi Legends.
Ironfist Chinmi Legends ("Tekken Chinmi Legends") is a Japanese manga series written by Takeshi Maekawa, and the third series of books in the Ironfist Chinmi saga. It was published by Kodansha in "Monthly Shōnen Magazine" from 2006 and is a currently ongoing series, consisting of at least 24 "tankōbon" volumes. It was published by Elex Media Komputindo in Indonesia.
In the first saga, Chinmi must rescue Princess Mito of a neighbouring kingdom from bandits. In the second saga, Chinmi helps save his love interest Yan from a flash flood that hits the nearby town.
Princess Mito Saga.
Princess Mito was kidnapped by bandits of the Mualong region after she disobeys protocol and goes for a midnight walk alone. She runs away partially due to fear of attending a ceremony with the Chinese emperor, for which she is chosen as representative of her kingdom.
After a lengthy chase, Chinmi and his apprentice Gunte finds the princess taken captive by bandit warlord Zeigan of the Mualong region, and held prisoner in his castle. Luckily Zeigan treats the princess well and does not harm or mistreat her (it is later revealed that he had a daughter of her age who disappeared). After defeating various guards and thugs, Chinmi locates the princess and sets out to infiltrate the impregnable castle. Chinmi is joined by the princess's Royal Guards, Commander Pegu and Captain Durato of the same. Chinmi defeats various members of the warlord's elite forces, a team of ten, including a monkey-tamer like himself, and evolves his "Tsuuhaiken" technique to defeat another formidable opponent also trained in the same technique.
Gunte and the accompanying team also manage to defeat various opponents. The team intercepts the princess but she is taken captive again by a pair of two men, dubbed the "Pendulum Spider", due to their swinging technique. The princess realizes how many people have risked their lives to protect hers. After they recapture the princess, they are stopped by the powerful leader of the ten, the "Red Eyed Swordsman", Gantei.
The entire team of rescuers are captured by Gantei and his men, and brought before Zeigan. Zeigan organizes a final duel between champions Chinmi and Gantei, and if Chinmi wins, the princess will be set free. Gantei ferociously attacks Chinmi using his "Black Wing" technique, that involves attacks carried out during somersaults using two detachable swords. Exhausted with the previous battles, Chinmi is forced to fight "With All Of One's Strength" (Ch. 35) to defeat Gantei in a climatic last battle. Completely exhausted, Chinmi collapses on the battlefield shortly after defeating Gantei.
Zeigan reveals the final battle between Chinmi and Gantei is staged as such that he would benefit regardless of who won. If Gantei won, Zeigan would keep the princess captive and bargain with her kingdom for her release. And if Chinmi won, Gantei, the leader of an illegal narcotics trade operation running without Zeigan's permission, would be defeated, cleaning up his region.
Princess Mito is released by Zeigan with the words "This might be a lawless land, but we keep our word". He further states "The line between good and evil are not so easy to define; A man who steals to avoid starvation; And a man who kills to save his own life; There are many who have lived a privileged life and have never seen the real world". He leaves her with the advice "Always keep your eyes and heart close to the ground." Princess Mito is very thankful to everyone who rescued her, especially Chinmi, as she fell unconscious during the final battle. They leave Zeigan's castle and upon reaching their caravan, the princess publicly takes responsibility for the incident. Zeigan's daughter also returns after 4 years, with her newborn child, asking Zeigan to name him/her. The princess decides to continue to journey towards the capital of China, to meet with the Chinese Emperor despite losing the gifts they carried for him. Overjoyed with his daughter's return, Zeigan returns the stolen gifts and promises the princess protection while within his lands.
In a quiet moment, Princess Mito visits Chinmi in his room and personally invites him and his disciple Gunte to her kingdom, calling Chinmi their "Saviour". She kisses Chinmi on the cheek saying "This is the last time we'll be able to meet in private". She leaves quickly, saying she will never forget him. After recovering, Chinmi leaves the procession as the entire army salutes Chinmi and Gunte.
Flood Saga.
The Chinese Emperor personally nominates Chinmi for the country's Outstanding Contribution Award, citing his various significant victories during the past years. Despite his initial hesitation, Chinmi humbly accepts the award with encouragement from the head monk. Army General Ourin and a group of soldiers arrive at Dairin Temple to present Chinmi with the award. Being smitten with Chinmi in the previous story, the General's young daughter Renka covertly follows her father to Dairin Temple. After the ceremony, the army continues on their mission. Unable to take her with him, the General requests Chinmi to find boarding for his daughter at the village. Chinmi requests Yan to house Renka for the week, which she accepts.
Torrential rain prevents movement within the town, and the local village chief notices that the river is draining instead of swelling. He suspects a rockslide has blocked the flow of the river, and it could break at any moment with rushing flood water. The village and Dairin Temple is alerted, and Ryukai and various others arrive to help the villagers evacuate. Filled to the brim, the artificial dam collapses, swelling the river immensely and flooding many crop fields. Yan runs to help the chief's family escape the incoming flood. While rescuing his newborn twins from the riverbank, Yan gets caught by the river's strong current and falls unconscious. With no other option, Chinmi jumps in to save her.
Master Ryukai and Chinmi's students build a rope to save them. Chinmi grabs the rope, but the bamboo upon which it was tied breaks. Chinmi plunges deep into the river waters with Yan and miraculously find themselves in a boat stuck on the riverbed, which they use to rise to the surface. They crash somewhat safely into a river bridge. Chinmi's students tie Jin Tan to a rope, and he jumps below the bridge to save Chinmi and Yan, barely escaping as the bridge collapses. The townspeople are relieved that nobody was hurt, and Chinmi comforts Yan as she breaks down into tears.
Witnessing the event and the prompt action of Dairin Temple students and instructors, Renka writes her accounts of the event, entitled "Chinmi's Heroic Tale".
Manga.
English Series.
Bloomsbury UK Publishing
Anime.
The first series of Ironfist Chinmi was developed into an animated series by Ashi Productions with the assistance of the author Takeshi Maekawa. It consisted of 20 episodes and was broadcast from July 1988 to December 1988 on TV Asahi.