Chinese martial arts 101: how they are shown in films and by whom – 10 things to know

We answer 10 common questions about martial arts as depicted in Chinese cinema, from the Shaolin Monastery to famous martial arts actors

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Jet Li in a still from Fong Sai Yuk (1993). Martial arts films are heavily linked with Chinese culture, from the Shaolin Temple in China, to famous martial artists from history such as Wong Fei-hung, Fong Sai-yuk and Hong Xiguan. Photo: Eastern Productions Ltd

Published: 6:15pm, 13 Jun 2024Updated: 3:54pm, 2 Jul 2024

From ancient Shaolin techniques to iconic movie stars like Bruce Lee, delve into the history, philosophy and cinematic impact of kung fu with our martial arts series.

It is almost an understatement to say that Hong Kong martial arts cinema is rooted in traditional Chinese culture.

Below, we look back at some of our most popular explainers that shed light on 10 frequently asked questions culture buffs may have come across.

1. What is wushu? And how did Jet Li study it and make it famous in movies?

Wushu comes up a lot in the context of martial arts films, but what does it mean? A literal translation is “military arts”.

Jet Li as San Lun in a still from Kids from Shaolin (1984). Until Li and Donnie Yen began appearing in Hong Kong movies, they had mainly featured southern Chinese kung fu, not classical wushu. Photo: Chung Yuen Motion Picture

Today, though, wushu is generally taken to mean the sports version of martial arts that was established in mainland China after the communists took power in 1949. Read the full story

2. What do we really know about the Shaolin Monastery, the home of kung fu featured in Jet Li’s Shaolin Temple?

Andy Lau as General Hou Jie in a still from Shaolin (2011). Photo: Emperor Motion Pictures

Everyone with an interest in martial arts films has heard of the Shaolin Monastery on Songshan mountain near the former Chinese imperial capital of Luoyang in Henan province.

According to film critic Ng Ho, writing in 1980, more than half of the wuxia and kung fu films made in Hong Kong and Taiwan “touch on the monastery and the legends surrounding it”. Read the full story

3. He was played by Jet Li and Jackie Chan in movies. Who was Wong Fei-hung for real?

Jackie Chan as Wong Fei-hung in a still from Drunken Master (1978). Photo: Golden Harvest

Wong Fei-hung is the most famous of all the exponents of southern-style Chinese martial arts, and his exploits have passed into legend.

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