# Master of Zen > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Master_of_Zen > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Master_of_Zen.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Zen > Source revision: 1349023645 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|1994 Hong Kong film by Brandy Yuen}} {{Use Hong Kong English|date=June 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Master of Zen | image = Master of Zen 1994.jpg | caption = DVD cover art | native_name = {{zhl|c=達摩祖師傳}} | director = Brandy Yuen | producer = Brandy Yuen | writer = {{ubl|Brandy Yuen|Johnny Lee|Chan Koo-fong|Sam Yeung}} | starring = {{ubl|[Derek Yee](/source/Derek_Yee)|[Louis Fan](/source/Louis_Fan_(actor))}} | music = {{ubl|Lowell Lo|Sherman Chow}} | cinematography = Stephen Poon | editing = Chun Yu | studio = Brandy Film Production | distributor = | released = {{Film date|1994|2|26|df=y}} | runtime = 89 minutes | country = Hong Kong | language = Cantonese | budget = | gross = HK$2,126,231{{cite web|title=Master of Zen (1994)|url=http://www.hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=7801&display_set=eng|publisher=Hong Kong Movie Database|accessdate=20 March 2013}} }} '''''Master of Zen''''' ({{zhl|c=達摩祖師傳}}), also known as '''''Bodhidharma''''', is a 1994 Hong Kong film based on the legends surrounding the life of the Buddhist monk [Bodhidharma](/source/Bodhidharma), who lived around the fifth or sixth century. The film was directed, produced, and co-written by Brandy Yuen, and starred [Derek Yee](/source/Derek_Yee) and [Louis Fan](/source/Louis_Fan_(actor)) in the leading roles. == Synopsis == [Bodhidharma](/source/Bodhidharma) was born in [Kanchipuram](/source/Kanchipuram) in the fifth or sixth century as the third son of a [Pallava](/source/Pallava_dynasty) king in South India. After his father dies, he leaves home and practises Buddhism under the tutelage of the master [Prajnatara](/source/Prajnatara). Many decades later, he travels to China to spread [Zen Buddhism](/source/Ch%C3%A1n_Buddhism) and search for a successor. In China, Bodhidharma meets [Emperor Wu](/source/Emperor_Wu_of_Liang) of the [Liang dynasty](/source/Liang_dynasty) and tells him that he has not accumulated any [merit](/source/Merit_(Buddhism)) even though the emperor has made many financial contributions to the Buddhist community. The emperor is displeased after hearing what Bodhidharma said. The locals are also unfriendly towards Bodhidharma, but he surprises them on one occasion when he saves a girl from drowning, and crosses a river by using ''[qinggong](/source/qinggong)'' and with the aid of a [reed](/source/Reed_(plant)). Bodhidharma eventually arrives at [Shaolin Monastery](/source/Shaolin_Monastery) and settles down in a cave in the backhill. [He faces the wall and enters a state of meditation for nine years](/source/Bodhidharma). He did not move at all throughout those years and many people came to look at him when they heard about it. Shenguang is a former soldier who has given up violence and become a Buddhist monk to seek peace and redemption. After experiencing strange visions, he makes his way to Shaolin and kneels outside the cave under heavy snowfall. By then, Bodhidharma has awakened from his meditation and he accepts Shenguang as his apprentice after Shenguang [cuts off his left arm](/source/Bodhidharma) to show his sincerity. Bodhidharma renames Shenguang to "[Huike](/source/Dazu_Huike)". Bodhidharma fends off a group of thugs trying to rob the Shaolin monks and miraculously survives after being set on fire. The robbers retreat in shame when they realise they cannot harm him. After witnessing the Shaolin monks' inability to protect themselves, Bodhidharma teaches them martial arts, which later evolved into [Shaolin Kung Fu](/source/Shaolin_Kung_Fu). In his old age, he wishes to return to India so he [gathers his apprentices and tests their understanding of his teachings. He eventually chooses Huike as his successor](/source/Bodhidharma). In the final scene, Bodhidharma [is seen walking away with a single shoe dangling from his staff](/source/Bodhidharma). He meets a peasant, who greets him. The peasant later goes to Shaolin to tell a monk that he met Bodhidharma earlier, but the monk says Bodhidharma died three years ago. To verify the truth, they open Bodhidharma's coffin and are surprised to see that it is empty, except for the other shoe. == Cast == {{castlist| * [Derek Yee](/source/Derek_Yee) as [Bodhidharma](/source/Bodhidharma) * [Louis Fan](/source/Louis_Fan_(actor)) as Shenguang / [Huike](/source/Dazu_Huike) * Chan Chung-yung as [Prajnatara](/source/Prajnatara) * [Wu Ma](/source/Wu_Ma) as Shenguang's master * Fan Mei-sheng as the fat monk * [Eddy Ko](/source/Eddy_Ko) as Bodhidharma's father * [Austin Wai](/source/Austin_Wai) as Bodhidharma's brother }} == Reception == Mark Pollard wrote in a review on the website Kung Fu Cinema: {{blockquote|Brandy Yuen's ''Master of Zen'' is a rare gem in the realm of martial arts movies. It contains equal parts [wuxia](/source/wuxia)-styled martial arts, drama and religious philosophy. Yuen manages to create an action-filled homage to Bodhidharma (known as Tamo in China), the symbolic father of [Shaolin wushu](/source/Shaolin_Kung_Fu) while staying true to the figure’s influence on the development of [Chan (Zen) Buddhism](/source/Chinese_Ch%C3%A1n) in China.{{cite web|last=Pollard|first=Mark|title=REVIEW: Master of Zen (1994)|url=http://www.kungfucinema.com/reviews/master-of-zen-1994|publisher=Kung Fu Cinema|accessdate=20 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114035831/http://www.kungfucinema.com/reviews/master-of-zen-1994|archive-date=14 January 2014|url-status=dead}}}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{IMDb title|0109521}} * {{hkmdb title|7801}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Master of Zen}} Category:1994 films Category:Hong Kong fantasy films Category:Kung fu films Category:1994 Cantonese-language films Category:Films about Buddhism Category:1994 fantasy films Category:1994 Hong Kong films Category:Films set in ancient India Category:Films set in Kanchipuram Category:Pallava dynasty Category:Films about Shaolin Monastery Category:Hong Kong martial arts films Category:Films about princes Category:Films about grief Category:Films about nuns Category:Films set in the Northern and Southern dynasties --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Master of Zen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Zen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Zen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.