This Trope uses the Fu Manchu mustache to invoke and reference Asia, martial arts, the military, and Yellowface. Despite being named after Fu Manchu and being associated with one of the most infamous racist caricatures of the 20th century, the Fu Manchu mustache is still used to evoke Asian identity and Asian cultures. The Fu Manchu mustache is prominent in the Wuxia genre and it references various Asian military cultures across history as well, specifically the Hun Empire and the Mongolian Empire.
Characters with the Fu Manchu mustache are distanced from the eponymous character. Fu Manchu was an assassin, crime boss, Mad Scientist, and a Supervillain who aimed to destroy Western civilization and used his minions to do his dirty work, while rarely fighting directlynote . Because of the controversy behind Fu Manchu, creators have distanced their characters from him by giving their characters virtuous qualities and emphasizing martial arts. In contrast to Fu Manchu, the mustache is worn by fighters, martial artists, and warriors.
