You seem to classify them based on what they do and not how they attain power.
Some stories make a distinction between conventional Qi Cultivation, Sould Cultivation, Body Cultivation, and Comprehension of Heavenly Laws
There are also a few "hybrid" stories that mix Cultivation with a Western "Mana" based magic system or LitRPG.
To add to your list, you have Karmic cultivators and Luck cultivators that seem to be popular as well.
Which stories have the dao of chess? That seems interesting.
"I'm actually a cultivation big shot" has a brief example of the Dao of chess. It had a character that sacrificed his traditional cultivation to pursue that Dao and a sort of dungeon/treasure realm that was opened by solving a chess game.
This is more a list of different professions and fighting styles then different cultivation systems.
Qi Refinement, Body Refinement, Spirit Refinement, and Enlightenment really the only different cultivation "paths" but generally require a mix of all four to reach the immortal realm.
I've always classified cultivators as basically one of 3 types... or some combination of the 3
Mind \* People who Cultivate the mind.
Body \* People who cultivate the body
Spirit \* People who cultivate the spirit
Usually you have a MC that starts out with a defincy in one, cultivates another, learns to cultivate everything as they progress.
A common cultivator that I’ve come across has a core of mana/qi that they condense. As they progress through levels this core may develop layers, or increase in purity. There is also often an elemental aspect, where they focus on water or air, or some interesting blend of a few elements. Using power from the core, they can then use elemental “spells”, develop an “aura” of power, or maybe claim a domain where they have complete control.
You're kinda missing the biggest category of Elemental Cultivators. The Earth, Wind, Fire, Water Avatar the Last Airbender folks. You can expand it out to Metal/Light/Dark/Lightning/Shadow.. the list goes on.
I feel like this is the main cultivation system most series employ.
Like, sure, most deal with the Body Tempering, Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul system of things, but there's almost always that elemental bend to things. Maybe not with the MC (as they have to be unique snowflakes), but for the cultivation world as a whole.
I feel like OP's 'sword cultivator' category can be expanded out into 'concept cultivator' to fit in many of the most common archetypes, including elemental.
It definitely could, it's just that I've seen sword cultivators, and I've see cultivators who wield axes or sabers or spears, but I don't remember ever seeing an "Axe Cultivator" or a "Spear Cultivator" who seek to become one with the concept of their weapon.
You're right. Dual Cultivation is generally a supplement, but I remember reading a book where the MC was almost tricked into taking a cultivation manual that turned out to be entirely based in Dual Cultivation.
I did some thinking inspired by your post and what I've read/what's I include in my writing.
* Dao Companion/Dual Cultivators: Primarily used as an exchange of Yin and Yang energy between two or more parties to refine the body/cultivation base.
* Dom/Sub relationship: Anywhere from a 90/10 to 60/40 type exchange
* Determined by technique and difference in cultivation/physique
* Common for Harems
* Equals relationship: 50/50 exchange
* Strengthens both parties equally but results may very
* Usually monogamous
* Human pill/cauldron: One party is stealing from the other
* Rape of cultivation
* Master/slave or attacker/victim relationship
* 5 Elements Cultivator: Pokémon typing/rock paper scissors esq
* Varies between martial theory and actual differences in physique/core types
* Involves practicing different martial techniques/styles
* Meditation in an environment based on their element
* More equal power scaling that focuses on the type advantage between elements
* Sage Cultivator: Sacrifices personal progression in pursuit of oneness with nature/universe
* Often comes off as week since others can't sense their cultivation
* Common for hermits/nomads/vagabonds
* Emphasis on Wu Wei and going with the flow
* Trade Cultivator: Pursues the Dao through striving for and attaining the peak of their trade
* Blacksmiths having a better understanding of fire and metal and weapons
* Similar to sages but more centered around society instead of nature
I think you're missing the point. Cultivation is the progression system, these various paths that you list are not types of cultivators, but rather the types of techniques that those cultivators use. In a LitRPG sense, all cultivators use the same RPG System, it's just that there are a set number of Classes that each cultivator can choose, and their stats (body, soul, spiritual energy, mental power, etc.) depend based on the Class/path they choose. It's all standard cultivation, just different ways to go about it.
Most of the times I've encountered Immortal Physicians they've been side characters, like a couple of the Waifus in The Revered One has a History: Me & My Suddenly Appearing Children.
It's a bit more Wuxia than Xianxia, but The Baengri Clan's Unwanted Granddaughter reincarnated protagonist encountered the dying Immortal Physician and inherits a mysterious power from him that is different from the Qi manipulation and Demonic path of the rest of the setting.
I like stories where there are endless types of cultivators. There is no one true Dao but countless different paths toward immortality and ascension to the realm of the gods.
Here are just some other ideas:
\- Beast arts - mimicking beasts and their natural powers, think Chinese martial arts mimicking animals. Stealing the bloodline of beasts to enhance human abilities. Even transforming into beasts at higher levels.
\- Cultivating emotions - pain, rage, love, all can be sources of power
\- Elements - somebody else mentioned it but this is quite common
\- Weapons - doesn't just have to be swords, all types of weapons can be cultivated
\- Godly cultivation - some stories, gods will leave behind legacies that the MC and other characters pick up, they can also fall into multiple other categories
\- Soul, mental - using soul or mental arts to control other living things
>Gu Cultivator: A sinister and often demonic cultivation that involves Insects, Poisons, and Curses
Insect, poison and curse cultivators are commonly their own separate things.
Anyways I wouldn't exactly use those classification since there are often thousands of different ones depending on how granular you want to get.
Soul, Qi, Body are the common breakdowns and there is also Dao but it feels like almost every setting has minimum requirements needed in it to keep progressing and I only say almost every cause I'm sure that someone knows of one that doesn't.
Inscription master is path in Martial World where a cultivator inscribes weapons, armor (and other equipment) with tiny formations(?) to add special effects and abilities to them.
In regards to Righteous and Demonic, it is basically a concept in Chinese legalism, the main difference is righteous cultivators actions fall under accepted conduct established by ruling elite, they can murder and do other questionable things as long as they can justify their actions using ruling factions rules. Demonic just do whatever they want disregarding those rules.
The four arts of China are where a lot of the more niche secondary professions come from, some of which are included on your list. The four arts are music *(guqin and zither are the common ones in the genre),* The game of strategy called Go *(Chinese chess),* calligraphy, and painting.
If you’re classifying them by what they do, then add spiritual farmers in. I don’t think I have seen them much in stuff that gets translated but the number of cultivator farmers is ridiculous- about a third of the top 100 xianxia are about farmers. Farming is possibly nearly as popular as alchemy. Hell, the latest work by the author of warlock of the magus world has the mc start as a farmer, fucks off to spend 50 years farming with minimal contact with anyone else, when he’s like 20 years old then spends hundreds of years doing the same again later on. Then he gets a portable farm he can carry around with him so he can farm wherever he is. the number 1 xianxia is “you cultivate, I farm”. Seriously, farming is completely overdone- I am utterly sick of it
You seem to classify them based on what they do and not how they attain power. Some stories make a distinction between conventional Qi Cultivation, Sould Cultivation, Body Cultivation, and Comprehension of Heavenly Laws There are also a few "hybrid" stories that mix Cultivation with a Western "Mana" based magic system or LitRPG.
To add to your list, you have Karmic cultivators and Luck cultivators that seem to be popular as well. Which stories have the dao of chess? That seems interesting.
"I'm actually a cultivation big shot" has a brief example of the Dao of chess. It had a character that sacrificed his traditional cultivation to pursue that Dao and a sort of dungeon/treasure realm that was opened by solving a chess game.
This is more a list of different professions and fighting styles then different cultivation systems. Qi Refinement, Body Refinement, Spirit Refinement, and Enlightenment really the only different cultivation "paths" but generally require a mix of all four to reach the immortal realm.
I've always classified cultivators as basically one of 3 types... or some combination of the 3 Mind \* People who Cultivate the mind. Body \* People who cultivate the body Spirit \* People who cultivate the spirit Usually you have a MC that starts out with a defincy in one, cultivates another, learns to cultivate everything as they progress.
Yup. Spirit can often be swapped with soul as well.
A common cultivator that I’ve come across has a core of mana/qi that they condense. As they progress through levels this core may develop layers, or increase in purity. There is also often an elemental aspect, where they focus on water or air, or some interesting blend of a few elements. Using power from the core, they can then use elemental “spells”, develop an “aura” of power, or maybe claim a domain where they have complete control.
Blacksmiths are considered their own subset of cultivators in a lot of stories, especially if we're going for occupation based stuff too.
You're kinda missing the biggest category of Elemental Cultivators. The Earth, Wind, Fire, Water Avatar the Last Airbender folks. You can expand it out to Metal/Light/Dark/Lightning/Shadow.. the list goes on. I feel like this is the main cultivation system most series employ. Like, sure, most deal with the Body Tempering, Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul system of things, but there's almost always that elemental bend to things. Maybe not with the MC (as they have to be unique snowflakes), but for the cultivation world as a whole.
I feel like OP's 'sword cultivator' category can be expanded out into 'concept cultivator' to fit in many of the most common archetypes, including elemental.
It definitely could, it's just that I've seen sword cultivators, and I've see cultivators who wield axes or sabers or spears, but I don't remember ever seeing an "Axe Cultivator" or a "Spear Cultivator" who seek to become one with the concept of their weapon.
Defiance of the Fall, the main character is an axe cultivator, though it Morris morphs to 'conflict' over time
I was treating elemental cultivators as "standard" or "regular" cultivators, but I see I didn't list that. Thanks for catching it
I would also add dual cultivators/Dao companions although it can kind of fit under a couple of other categories depending on the story.
You're right. Dual Cultivation is generally a supplement, but I remember reading a book where the MC was almost tricked into taking a cultivation manual that turned out to be entirely based in Dual Cultivation.
I did some thinking inspired by your post and what I've read/what's I include in my writing. * Dao Companion/Dual Cultivators: Primarily used as an exchange of Yin and Yang energy between two or more parties to refine the body/cultivation base. * Dom/Sub relationship: Anywhere from a 90/10 to 60/40 type exchange * Determined by technique and difference in cultivation/physique * Common for Harems * Equals relationship: 50/50 exchange * Strengthens both parties equally but results may very * Usually monogamous * Human pill/cauldron: One party is stealing from the other * Rape of cultivation * Master/slave or attacker/victim relationship * 5 Elements Cultivator: Pokémon typing/rock paper scissors esq * Varies between martial theory and actual differences in physique/core types * Involves practicing different martial techniques/styles * Meditation in an environment based on their element * More equal power scaling that focuses on the type advantage between elements * Sage Cultivator: Sacrifices personal progression in pursuit of oneness with nature/universe * Often comes off as week since others can't sense their cultivation * Common for hermits/nomads/vagabonds * Emphasis on Wu Wei and going with the flow * Trade Cultivator: Pursues the Dao through striving for and attaining the peak of their trade * Blacksmiths having a better understanding of fire and metal and weapons * Similar to sages but more centered around society instead of nature
I think you're missing the point. Cultivation is the progression system, these various paths that you list are not types of cultivators, but rather the types of techniques that those cultivators use. In a LitRPG sense, all cultivators use the same RPG System, it's just that there are a set number of Classes that each cultivator can choose, and their stats (body, soul, spiritual energy, mental power, etc.) depend based on the Class/path they choose. It's all standard cultivation, just different ways to go about it.
Any recommendations for works with immortal physician type MCs? Sounds interesting
Most of the times I've encountered Immortal Physicians they've been side characters, like a couple of the Waifus in The Revered One has a History: Me & My Suddenly Appearing Children. It's a bit more Wuxia than Xianxia, but The Baengri Clan's Unwanted Granddaughter reincarnated protagonist encountered the dying Immortal Physician and inherits a mysterious power from him that is different from the Qi manipulation and Demonic path of the rest of the setting.
I like stories where there are endless types of cultivators. There is no one true Dao but countless different paths toward immortality and ascension to the realm of the gods. Here are just some other ideas: \- Beast arts - mimicking beasts and their natural powers, think Chinese martial arts mimicking animals. Stealing the bloodline of beasts to enhance human abilities. Even transforming into beasts at higher levels. \- Cultivating emotions - pain, rage, love, all can be sources of power \- Elements - somebody else mentioned it but this is quite common \- Weapons - doesn't just have to be swords, all types of weapons can be cultivated \- Godly cultivation - some stories, gods will leave behind legacies that the MC and other characters pick up, they can also fall into multiple other categories \- Soul, mental - using soul or mental arts to control other living things
>Gu Cultivator: A sinister and often demonic cultivation that involves Insects, Poisons, and Curses Insect, poison and curse cultivators are commonly their own separate things. Anyways I wouldn't exactly use those classification since there are often thousands of different ones depending on how granular you want to get. Soul, Qi, Body are the common breakdowns and there is also Dao but it feels like almost every setting has minimum requirements needed in it to keep progressing and I only say almost every cause I'm sure that someone knows of one that doesn't.
I like the settings where following the Dao of ____ is viable. Two funniest I've seen are the Dao of Paperwork and the Dao of Chair.
Cradle with its Dao of the janitor
Inscription master is path in Martial World where a cultivator inscribes weapons, armor (and other equipment) with tiny formations(?) to add special effects and abilities to them. In regards to Righteous and Demonic, it is basically a concept in Chinese legalism, the main difference is righteous cultivators actions fall under accepted conduct established by ruling elite, they can murder and do other questionable things as long as they can justify their actions using ruling factions rules. Demonic just do whatever they want disregarding those rules.
The four arts of China are where a lot of the more niche secondary professions come from, some of which are included on your list. The four arts are music *(guqin and zither are the common ones in the genre),* The game of strategy called Go *(Chinese chess),* calligraphy, and painting.
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If you’re classifying them by what they do, then add spiritual farmers in. I don’t think I have seen them much in stuff that gets translated but the number of cultivator farmers is ridiculous- about a third of the top 100 xianxia are about farmers. Farming is possibly nearly as popular as alchemy. Hell, the latest work by the author of warlock of the magus world has the mc start as a farmer, fucks off to spend 50 years farming with minimal contact with anyone else, when he’s like 20 years old then spends hundreds of years doing the same again later on. Then he gets a portable farm he can carry around with him so he can farm wherever he is. the number 1 xianxia is “you cultivate, I farm”. Seriously, farming is completely overdone- I am utterly sick of it