Interview with Payhuan Shiao

Kung Fu, Comics and Empowering the Inner Hero: The Story of Payhuan Shiao and Immortal Studios

The media is currently dominated by superheroes: from Superman to Spider-Man, The Avengers to the Justice League.

However, artist, entrepreneur, and Kung Fu disciple Payhuan Shiao offers a new perspective on the nature of a true hero – that there is one inside everyone, and they simply need to be inspired and awakened. 

His stories do not feature capes or mutations but instead focus on the human potential for growth, discipline and transformation. 

A Radical Idea

Talking about his life, inspiration and work, Payhuan talked about this radical idea:

“It’s about becoming the best versions of ourselves. We all have different backgrounds, different histories, wants and needs. To frame it in therapeutic terms we all have different trauma and trajectories.

“It’s a study of how we become heroes in a story of our choosing. The hope is that this is a translatable skill and knowledge. 

“It’s true that when you see characters that you can identify with and the journey that they go on and the choices that they make. This gives us insight into how we can do this in our own lives – and that is the really exciting part.”

Empowering the superhero within everyone

Shiao has created inspiring stories that fuse together martial arts, self-discovery – discovery and storytelling that focuses on the question: Can the stories that mean so much to us empower us to become our superheroes?

These empowering stories are being created by his company, Immortal Studios. 

Immortal Studios is a modern pop‑culture content studio creating a global Wuxia “story verse.” It blends comics, film/TV, games, and emerging technology.  It champions cultural authenticity, Kung Fu action and culture, and fan‑driven storytelling.

This is done by utilising the artform of Wuxia, a genre of Chinese fiction centred around themes of martial arts and chivalry and heroism. The genre itself is already incredibly successful, inspiring TV series, films comics – and even produced the martial arts classic, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

These stories struck a chord with Shiao:

“It offered a moral code, a spiritual path, and high-octane action. It was everything I needed as a young man trying to understand his place in the world.”

When asked to explain what Wuxia is to the uninitiated:

“Wuxia has been around for as long a Chinese culture has been around. Wu means martial and Xia means chivalry. 

“It’s a more subtle, more service-oriented and passion-oriented hero that doesn’t require leotards or superpowers.

“The art form emerged from the Chinese masses. It first started where people who practice martial arts became quite powerful, almost super–human. 

“Chinese culture has been populated with these characters both in real life and in legend. Often to right injustices in times of lawlessness and chaos. 

“These stories then became popularised by writers and readers. They started to start to satisfy what I see as a human need for heroism, to aspire and fight for a sense of order and peace.

“And so, Wuxia became a spiritual connection with the Chinese masters. It’s where everyday people could go to feel empowered and inspired.”

A proud family lineage

In a similar way that the mysteries and power of Kung Fu are often passed down family lines, Payhuan was passed the stories of Wuxia by his father, Shiao Yi. Shiao is held to be one of the most celebrated Wuxia novelists in Chinese literary history. 

Payhuan is building upon this proud lineage with the founding of Immortal Studios – with which he has put into practice his vision of creating a modern Wuxia universe. 

“I am proud to be a modern-day lineage holder in this tradition. The Wuxia fantasy tradition runs deep in my family – and I am honoured to have been born into it. 

“I have taken this family history and also a connection to the authentic teachings of martial arts, in the way that it has transformed my life. 

“I created Immortal Studios as a kind of repository for all those things – and not just for a Chinese audience but a global audience.”

He goes on to explain the roots of his work:

“I don’t think it’s possible to do this authentically without going to the source – the Shaolin tradition. 

“So, we started with the introduction of the Shaolin dream master who reaches people in their dreams and offers teachings.

“This story turned out to be a big hit!”

The authentic elements of the kung fu in his stories are in part drawn from his studies of Kung Fu – which are central to his life and works. 

“I have been able to spend time with some legendary masters – inside mountains inside caves, sometimes in my home, at other times travelling with them.

“It’s part of my joy and life to share this life through storytelling. I believe that it has the potential to bring what it has always done – to bring empowerment, self- – and transformation.”

He also discussed how the ancient traditions of Kung Fu are still relevant today – and can bring peace in an era dominated by digital noise. 

“I had this conversation with a Shaolin Master recently. It’s bringing stillness. It can bring peace – and not simply as a concept, because we all want peace in that sense. 

“The cultivation and meditation of Kung Fu provided immense benefits. 

“Everything nowadays is digitised. Social media is everywhere and is affecting the mental faculties and neural pathways of the younger generations and is reducing their attention span. 

“We are seeing a destruction of mental health, and I think it’s only going to get worse. 

“We need to invest in our natural intelligence – and this is where the mind/body practice of Kung Fu is so important.” 

He continued to talk about what his own Kung Fu journey has taught him.

“That mastery requires repetition. My kung Fu practice means that I am working on myself consistently. 

“If I do this consistently – there is nothing that cannot be achieved. There are hidden abilities within all of us.

“At Immortal Studios we are aiming to inspire the hero within all of us.”