Aknight-errant[1] (orknight errant[2]) is a figure of medievalchivalric romance literature. The adjectiveerrant (meaning "wandering, roving") indicates how the knight-errant would wander the land in search ofadventures to prove hischivalric virtues, either inknightly duels (pas d'armes) or in some other pursuit ofcourtly love.
The knight-errant is a character who has broken away from the world of his origin, in order to go off on his own to right wrongs or to test and assert his own chivalric ideals.[3][4] He is motivated by idealism and often illusory goals.[5]
Inmedieval Europe, knight-errantry existed in literature, though fictional works from this time often were presented asnon-fiction.[6][7] The character of the wandering knight existed in romantic literature as it developed during the late 12th century. However, the term "knight-errant" was to come later; its first extant usage occurs in the 14th-century poemSir Gawain and the Green Knight.[8]
A knight-errant typically performed all his deeds in the name of a lady, and invoked her name before performing an exploit.[9] Their adventures often include mythical enemies such as giants, enchantresses, or dragons.
The models of the knight-errant are the heroes of theRound Table of Arthurian legend such asGawain,Lancelot, orPerceval. Their greatestquest is that ofHoly Grail, originating fromPerceval, the Story of the Grail written byChrétien de Troyes in the 12th century.[10]
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Russianbyliny (epic poems) featurebogatyrs, knights-errant who served as protectors of their homeland, and occasionally as adventurers.[11][12]
Xiake (Chinese:俠客) orxia (俠), sometimes translated as the "Chinese knight-errant" or "Chinese gallant", is a typevigilantefolk hero inAncient China who often wanders around the countryside (known asjianghu) solo or with a small group of like-minded companions upholding their own standards of justice. Such individuals are typicallymartial artists whose combat prowess, social support and connections (guanxi) allows them to defy oppressive local authorities such as officials, aristocrats, gentries, and bandits through acts of chivalry. Unlike their European counterpart, Chinesexia are not confined to any particular social caste and can be anything from free-spirited noblepeople, policemen or warriors, to travelling scholars, poets or physicians, and to peasant militiamen, skilled hunters, or simply trained vagrants. A popular literary tradition arose during theTang dynasty which centered on warriors with superhuman physical capabilities who saved kidnappeddamsels in distress and protected underdogs from injustice and bullying, or gifted slaves who proved their worth and loyalty by retrieving treasures or lovers for their feudal lords (e.g.Kunlun Nu).[13][14] The famous Tang poetLi Bai, a skilled swordsman himself, wrote ayuefu poemOde to Gallantry (俠客行) to praise the chivalrous romance of such heroes. Tales ofxia who excels in martial prowess have inspired an entire genre of Chinese literature calledwuxia (武俠, lit. "martial hero"), while tales of those who mastered magical skills or have cultivated supernatural abilities are calledxianxia (仙俠, lit. "immortal/saintly hero").
In Japan,musha shugyō is a similar concept featuring a quest or pilgrimage in which asamurai wanting to test his abilities in real conditions, leaves to travel across the country in a kind of initiatory journey and engages in duels along the way.
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