Shaolin Temple (film)
Encyclopedia
The Shaolin Temple is a 1982 Hong Kong martial arts film
directed by Chang Hsin-yen and starring Jet Li
in his debut role. The film is based on Shaolin Monastery in China and depicts Shaolin Kung Fu
. The film was the first Hong Kong production to be filmed in mainland China.
A remake of the film was released in 2011 titled Shaolin and starred Andy Lau
, Nicholas Tse
and Jackie Chan
.
and Tang Dynasty
.
The film opens with the scene of a novice about to be accepted into the Shaolin monastery. When the novice is asked about the vows of abstentions, the film goes into a flashback showing how he came to the Shaolin Temple; the novice was a conscripted laborer who was forced, with his father, into service of the warlord Wang Shichong
, who ruled from Luoyang
and assigned to oversee defences at a region near Shaolin monastery against rival warlords.
Provoked into retaliating against harsh treatment, the father was killed by the guards, but the son managed to escape and found refuge in Shaolin Temple, and was given the name Jueyuan. In the temple, Jueyuan eagerly sought to learn martial arts in order to avenge his father. During a failed assassination attempt of Wang Renze, he saved a local girl, Bai, who turned out to be daughter of one of his instructors from the temple.
Later, Jueyuan and Bai saved a man who was spying on Wang Renze's defences. The spy turned out to be Li Shimin
, son of a rival warlord who founded the Tang Dynasty
, Li Yuan
. Li Shimin was discovered by Wang Renze's men, but managed to escape with the help of a group of martial monks from Shaolin. After Li Shimin escaped, Shaolin temple came under attack by an army for aiding Wang Shichong's enemies, but the army was defeated with the timely arrival of Tang's forces. After Wang Shichong was defeated, Li Shimin returned to the temple to reward the monks and proclaimed high honours for the temple.
The movie have a great influences on Shaolin Kung fu deveopment,more and more foreigner knew Chinese shaolin kung fu and come to China to study.
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
directed by Chang Hsin-yen and starring Jet Li
Jet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
in his debut role. The film is based on Shaolin Monastery in China and depicts Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin kung fu
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery.Of the multitude styles of kung fu and wushu, only some are actually related to Shaolin...
. The film was the first Hong Kong production to be filmed in mainland China.
A remake of the film was released in 2011 titled Shaolin and starred Andy Lau
Andy Lau
Andy Lau MH, JP is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer, actor, and film producer. Lau has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maintaining a successful singing career at the same time...
, Nicholas Tse
Nicholas Tse
Nicholas Tse is a Hong Kong singer-songwriter, actor and musician, and son of actor Patrick Tse. He is a member of the Emperor Entertainment Group...
and Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
.
Plot
The film was set during the transition period between Sui DynastySui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
and Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
.
The film opens with the scene of a novice about to be accepted into the Shaolin monastery. When the novice is asked about the vows of abstentions, the film goes into a flashback showing how he came to the Shaolin Temple; the novice was a conscripted laborer who was forced, with his father, into service of the warlord Wang Shichong
Wang Shichong
Wang Shichong , courtesy name Xingman , was a general of the Chinese Sui Dynasty who deposed Sui's last emperor Yang Tong and briefly ruled as the emperor of a succeeding state of Zheng...
, who ruled from Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
and assigned to oversee defences at a region near Shaolin monastery against rival warlords.
Provoked into retaliating against harsh treatment, the father was killed by the guards, but the son managed to escape and found refuge in Shaolin Temple, and was given the name Jueyuan. In the temple, Jueyuan eagerly sought to learn martial arts in order to avenge his father. During a failed assassination attempt of Wang Renze, he saved a local girl, Bai, who turned out to be daughter of one of his instructors from the temple.
Later, Jueyuan and Bai saved a man who was spying on Wang Renze's defences. The spy turned out to be Li Shimin
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
, son of a rival warlord who founded the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, Li Yuan
Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Emperor Gāozǔ of Táng , born Lǐ Yuān , courtesy name Shūdé , was the founder of the Tang Dynasty of China, and the first emperor of this dynasty from 618 to 626. Under the Sui dynasty, Li Yuan was the governor in the area of modern-day Shanxi, and was based in Taiyuan.In 615, Li Yuan was assigned...
. Li Shimin was discovered by Wang Renze's men, but managed to escape with the help of a group of martial monks from Shaolin. After Li Shimin escaped, Shaolin temple came under attack by an army for aiding Wang Shichong's enemies, but the army was defeated with the timely arrival of Tang's forces. After Wang Shichong was defeated, Li Shimin returned to the temple to reward the monks and proclaimed high honours for the temple.
Award nomination
- 2nd Hong Kong Film Awards2nd Hong Kong Film Awards-Best Film:-Best Director:-Best Screenplay:-Best Actor:-Best Actress:-Best New Performer:-Best Cinematography:-Best Film Editing:-Best Art Direction:-Best Action Direction:-Best Original Film Score:-Best Original Film Song:...
- Nomination: Best Action Direction (Yue Hoi, Ma Yin-tat, Pan QingfuPan QingfuPan Qingfu , also known as Grandmaster Pan, is a Chinese martial artist. Currently living in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, Grandmaster Pan's awards include a Hall of Fame award from the United International Kung Fu Federation, a Hall of Fame Award from the World Christian Martial Arts Federation, the...
, Wong Seung-hoi)
- Nomination: Best Action Direction (Yue Hoi, Ma Yin-tat, Pan Qingfu
Reception
The movie had a mostly positive reception from critics. It is credited with being the first movie to popularize Shaolin martial arts with audiences in China and internationally. The movie's popularity swiftly encouraged filmmakers in China and Hong Kong produce more Shaolin movies.The movie have a great influences on Shaolin Kung fu deveopment,more and more foreigner knew Chinese shaolin kung fu and come to China to study.
External links
- The Shaolin Temple at Hong Kong CinemagicHong Kong CinemagicHong Kong Cinemagic, sometimes referred to as HKCinemagic, is a bilingual website providing a repository for information about Chinese language films from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, and the people that created them. The website contains news, interviews, film reviews and a database of people,...