# The Buddhist Fist

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1980 Hong Kong film by Yuen Woo-ping

The Buddhist Fist Film poster 佛掌羅漢拳 Directed by Yuen Woo-ping Tsui Siu-ming (Co-Director) Screenplay by Tsui Siu-ming Wong Jing Lam Chi-ming Produced by Yuen Woo-ping Starring Tsui Siu-ming Yuen Shun-yi Cinematography Ma Koon-wah Edited by Law Siu-kwong Music by Frankie Chan Production company Peace Film Production Distributed by Golden Harvest Release date 7 May 1980 (1980-05-07) Running time 90 minutes Country Hong Kong Language Cantonese

***The Buddhist Fist*** ([Chinese](/source/Traditional_Chinese_characters): 佛掌羅漢拳), also known as ***Secret of the Buddhist Fist***, is a 1980 [Hong Kong martial arts](/source/Hong_Kong_action_cinema) [comedy film](/source/Comedy_film) directed by [Yuen Woo-ping](/source/Yuen_Woo-ping) with [Tsui Siu-ming](/source/Tsui_Siu-ming) as an uncredited co-director.[1]

## Plot

Orphans Si Ming and Ah Hsiang are raised by monks, who train them in the variations of the Buddhist Fist technique. Si Ming becomes a monk, but Ah Hsiang grows up and moves to the city. When he loses his job at a barber shop for fighting with a customer, he and his friend return home to visit his godfather. But when he gets there, he finds that his godfather, a police officer, is missing. While they search for him, various assassins try to murder him, but he always escapes, until he discovers that the culprit is a local tea merchant who has crippled his godfather and trapped him in the basement. Si Ming tries to rescue him, but he dies after he writes a mysterious character in the dirt. As Ah Hsiang attempts to investigate and solve the crime, he discovers a plot to steal a valuable jade Buddha.

## Cast

- [Tsui Siu-ming](/source/Tsui_Siu-ming) as Si Ming

- [Yuen Shun-yi](/source/Yuen_Shun-yi) as Ah Hsiang

- [Chan Siu-pang](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chan_Siu-pang&action=edit&redlink=1) as The boy's master

- [Fan Mei-sheng](/source/Fan_Mei-sheng) as Fat Master

- [Yuen Siu-tien](/source/Yuen_Siu-tien) as Sleeping monk

- [Lee Hoi-sang](/source/Lee_Hoi-sang) as Mr. Chen

- [Chan Lung](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chan_Lung&action=edit&redlink=1) [[es](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lung_Chan); [zh](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%99%88%E9%BE%99_(%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E6%BC%94%E5%91%98))] as Yu

- [Ho Pak-kwong](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ho_Pak-kwong&action=edit&redlink=1) as Barber shop owner

- [Yuen Jan-Yeung](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yuen_Jan-Yeung&action=edit&redlink=1) as Undercover Agent

- [Yuen Cheung-yan](/source/Yuen_Cheung-yan) as Leader of thugs / Stutterer with bird cage

- [Tong Ching](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tong_Ching&action=edit&redlink=1) as Cloth seller

- [Wu Dai-wai](/source/Wu_Dai-wai) as Sheriff

- [Cheung Hei](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cheung_Hei&action=edit&redlink=1) as Ah Hsiang's godfather

- [Au Shu-cham](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Au_Shu-cham&action=edit&redlink=1) as Sheriff's assistant

- [Yue Tau Wan](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yue_Tau_Wan&action=edit&redlink=1) as Barber Shop Customer (Cameo)

- [Addy Sung](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Addy_Sung&action=edit&redlink=1) as Assassin Disguised as Fortune Teller

- [San Kuai](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=San_Kuai&action=edit&redlink=1) as Assassin Disguised as Gimp

- [Yuen Yat-chor](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yuen_Yat-chor&action=edit&redlink=1) - as Temple Guard

- [Yu Miu-lin](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yu_Miu-lin&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Che Dei](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Che_Dei&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Yeung Sai-gwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yeung_Sai-gwan&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Hoh Tin-shing](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hoh_Tin-shing&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Yuen Chun-yeung](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yuen_Chun-yeung&action=edit&redlink=1)

The director's brother [Yuen Shun-yi](/source/Yuen_Shun-yi) stars as Ah Hsiang. Another brother of the director, [Yuen Cheung-yan](/source/Yuen_Cheung-yan), appears as the leader of the thugs as well as a stutterer with a bird cage. Two other brothers of the director, Yuen Yat-chor and Yuen Chun-yeung, appear in nameless roles. The director's father [Yuen Siu-tien](/source/Yuen_Siu-tien) appears as the sleeping monk guarding the temple.

## Production

The [Yuen Clan](/source/Yuen_Clan) is credited as the martial arts director.[1] The Yuen Clan consists of [Yuen Woo-ping](/source/Yuen_Woo-ping) and five of his ten siblings, namely [Yuen Cheung-yan](/source/Yuen_Cheung-yan), [Yuen Shun-yi](/source/Yuen_Shun-yi), Yuen Yat-chor, Yuen Chun-yeung, and Yuen Lung-chu.

## Release

The film was released in Hong Kong on 7 May 1980.[1]

## Reception

Reviewer Tony Ryan of fareastfilms.com gave the film a rating of 3 out of 5 stars, writing, "The most consistently good action director in Hong Kong’s history – whatever the genre – has arguably been Yuen Woo-Ping, and this old-school classic is just another typical example of why he is perceived as such. [...] The plot follows a formulaic seek and revenge storyline with a few plot-twists thrown in to keep it relatively fresh. However, what we all want to see from a film like this is intricate kung-fu choreography, and for the most part, it delivers."[2]

Reviewer Andrew Borntreger of badmovies.org gave the film a rating of 3 out of 5, writing, "A number of 'item fu' fight scenes are scattered throughout the movie. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, this is when the combatants are either using an unusual item as a weapon (like a chessboard) or fighting around the item (like a birdcage). When done correctly it almost seems like a dance, the two warriors trading the item as they exchange blows. They pulled it off marvelously here, though the songbird looked a little perplexed and wigged out after his cage was tossed around."[3]

Reviewer Ben Johnson of kungfumovieguide.com gave the film a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, writing, "There is little in the way of surprises in this early Yuen Clan romp, but Woo-ping‘s sensitive side does seep through via the boys’ playful affections and the monk's complex psychology. What sets this aside from many, many others of its kind is the director's gradual progression into a more experimental and inventive style of film making. The fight choreography takes many unexpected turns, transforming ordinary situations (a meal or a game of chess) into magnificently crafted routines, with everyday items transformed into lethal weapons."[4] The review concludes, "His sense of humour would later get much broader and the kung fu more eccentric (*[Dreadnaught](/source/Dreadnaught_(film))*, *[Drunken Tai Chi](/source/Drunken_Tai_Chi)*), but *The Buddhist Fist* sees Yuen Woo-ping in a wonderfully reflective mood and his feet still firmly on the ground. The result is a rough diamond."[4]

Reviewer John Kreng of martialartsentertainment.com wrote, "The action here is good, fast, and plentiful. The fights are a classic of the genre during this period and are very well choreographed. If you’ve never seen this film you are in for a nice treat. Even though this is an early Woo-Ping effort, he and his clan show you why they are one of the best fight choreographers in the business. Each fight is different in style, tempo, and mood."[5]

Reviewer Kami of darksidereviews.com gave the film a rating of 6.5 out of 10, writing, "The Buddhist Fist is what we can call a family production: the choreography is provided by the Yuen clan, Yuen Woo-Ping is the co-director and producer, and among the other members of the family, Yuen Cheung Yan, Yuen Yat Chor, Simon Yuen and Yuen Shun-Yi make appearances in turn."[6] The review concludes, "Starting with a simple but solid plot, [Wong Jing](/source/Wong_Jing) (yes, yes) and [Tsui Siu-Ming](/source/Tsui_Siu-Ming) added too many useless passages to the screenplay, pretexts for fight scenes in order to fill a significant void. At the same time, with Wong Jing writing, we couldn't be surprised. Even the fights seem botched, later on. From genius choreographers like Yuen Woo-Ping, we were used to more efficiency ([Snake In The Eagle's Shadow](/source/Snake_in_the_Eagle's_Shadow)) and inventiveness ([The Miracle Fighters](/source/The_Miracle_Fighters))."[6]

Reviewer Sean Gilman of thechinesecinema.com wrote that "the film is plagued by a half-baked mystery, wildly broad supporting performances, and leads that simply lack the star charisma to carry a plot like this. But the fight scenes are simply amazing. Yuen Woo-ping directs his brother Yuen Shun-yee and Tsui Siu-ming in some of the best hand-to-hand fight scenes in the genre (the finale is as good as it gets). Yuen's father Yuen Siu-tien (the Drunken Master himself) also appears and the stunts and choreography are credited to the whole Yuen family. The screenplay was co-written by Wong Jing, perhaps the nuttiest of lowbrow Hong Kong directors. I'm just going to go ahead and blame him for everything wrong with the movie."[7]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-auto_1-2) ["The Buddhist Fist (1980)"](https://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=6106&display_set=eng). *hkmdb.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Ryan, Tony. ["The Buddhist Fist (1980) - Review"](https://www.fareastfilms.com/?review_post_type=the-buddhist-fist).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["The Buddhist Fist B-Movie Review"](https://www.badmovies.org/movies/buddhafist/). *www.badmovies.org*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto2_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto2_4-1) ["Kung Fu Movie Guide"](https://kungfumovieguide.com/the-buddhist-fist/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Kreng, John (2 October 2010). ["The Buddhist Fist (1979) DVD"](https://www.martialartsentertainment.com/the-buddhist-fist-1979-dvd/).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto1_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto1_6-1) ["\[Film\] The Buddhist Fist, de Yuen Woo Ping et Tsui Siu-Ming (1980)"](https://www.darksidereviews.com/film-the-buddhist-fist-de-yuen-woo-ping-et-tsui-siu-ming-1980/). *Dark Side Reviews*. 22 September 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Yuen Woo-ping Capsule Reviews"](https://www.thechinesecinema.com/yuen-woo-ping-capsule-reviews/). *The Chinese Cinema*. 30 March 2018.

## External links

- [*The Buddhist Fist*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080748/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [*The Buddhist Fist*](https://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=6106&display_set=eng) at the [Hong Kong Movie Database](/source/Hong_Kong_Movie_Database)

- [*The Buddhist Fist*](https://letterboxd.com/film/the-buddhist-fist/) at [Letterboxd](/source/Letterboxd)

- [*The Buddhist Fist*](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/buddhist_fist) at [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes)

v t e Films directed by Yuen Woo-ping Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978) Drunken Master (1978) Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979) The Magnificent Butcher (1979) The Buddhist Fist (1980) Dreadnaught (1981) Legend of a Fighter (1982) The Miracle Fighters (1982) Shaolin Drunkard (1983) Drunken Tai Chi (1984) Mismatched Couples (1985) The Close Encounter of the Vampire (1986) Tiger Cage (1988) In the Line of Duty 4: Witness (1989) Tiger Cage 2 (1990) Tiger Cage 3 (1991) Iron Monkey (1993) Heroes Among Heroes (1993) Tai Chi Master (1993) Wing Chun (1994) Fire Dragon (1994) Red Wolf (1995) Tai Chi Boxer (1996) True Legend (2010) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016) The Thousand Faces of Dunjia (2017) Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018) Septet: The Story of Hong Kong (2022) Blades of the Guardians (2026)

v t e Films by Wong Jing Filmography Films directed Wits of the Brats (1984) The Magic Crystal (1986) The Romancing Star (1987) The Romancing Star II (1988) The Crazy Companies (1988) How to Pick Girls Up! (1988) The Crazy Companies II (1988) Casino Raiders (1989) Crocodile Hunter (1989) God of Gamblers (1989) God of Gamblers II (1990) God of Gamblers III: Back to Shanghai (1991) Dances with Dragon (1991) The Last Blood (1991) Tricky Brains (1991) Casino Tycoon (1992) Casino Tycoon 2 (1992) Royal Tramp (1992) Royal Tramp II (1992) City Hunter (1993) Fight Back to School III (1993) Future Cops (1993) Holy Weapon (1993) Last Hero in China (1993) Legend of the Liquid Sword (1993) Perfect Exchange (1993) Kung Fu Cult Master (1993) The New Legend of Shaolin (1994) Hail the Judge (1994) Return to a Better Tomorrow (1994) God of Gamblers Returns (1994) High Risk (1995) The Saint of Gamblers (1995) God of Gamblers 3: The Early Stage (1997) We're No Bad Guys (1997) A True Mob Story (1998) The Conman (1998) The Conmen in Vegas (1999) The Tricky Master (1999) Prince Charming (1999) Love Me, Love My Money (2001) The Spy Dad (2003) Moving Targets (2004) Love Is a Many Stupid Thing (2004) Kung Fu Mahjong (2005) Kung Fu Mahjong 2 (2005) My Kung-Fu Sweetheart (2006) My Wife Is a Gambling Maestro (2008) I Corrupt All Cops (2009) On His Majesty's Secret Service (2009) To Live and Die in Mongkok (2009) Black Ransom (2010) Future X-Cops (2010) Men Suddenly in Love (2011) Treasure Inn (2011) Hong Kong Ghost Stories (2011) Mr. and Mrs. Gambler (2012) Marrying Mr. Perfect (2012) The Last Tycoon (2012) Princess and the Seven Kung Fu Masters (2013) From Vegas to Macau (2014) From Vegas to Macau II (2015) From Vegas to Macau III (2016) Mission Milano (2016) Chasing the Dragon (2017) Chasing the Dragon II: Wild Wild Bunch (2019) Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong (2021) New Kung Fu Cult Master 1 (2022) New Kung Fu Cult Master 2 (2022) Films written The Buddhist Fist (1980) Dreadnaught (1981) Treasure Hunters (1981) Legend of a Fighter (1982) Shaolin Prince (1983) New Tales of the Flying Fox (1984) The Seventh Curse (1986) Evil Cat (1987) The Dragon Family (1988) Perfect Match (1989) The Romancing Star III (1989) The Fortune Code (1990) No Risk, No Gain (1990) The Banquet (1991) Naked Killer (1992) Raped by an Angel (1993) Flying Dagger (1993) My Father Is a Hero (1995) Satan Returns (1996) Raped by an Angel 2: The Uniform Fan (1998) Century of the Dragon (1999) The Duel (2000) The Wesley's Mysterious File (2001) Naked Weapon (2002) Slim till Dead (2005) Set Up (2005) Wo Hu (2006) The Lady Iron Chef (2007) The Vampire Who Admires Me (2008) Naked Soldier (2012) Enter the Fat Dragon (2020) Films produced only 100 Ways to Murder Your Wife (1986) Lee Rock (1991) Lee Rock II (1991) Fight Back to School (1991) Millionaire Cop (1993) A Chinese Torture Chamber Story (1994) Young and Dangerous (1996) Forbidden City Cop (1996) Sex and Zen II (1996) Ebola Syndrome (1996) Sex and Zen III (1998) Haunted Mansion (1998) Your Place or Mine! (1999) Fist Power (2000) Conman in Tokyo (2000) Hong Kong Bronx (2008) The Underdog Knight (2008) Sakra (2023)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Buddhist Fist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Buddhist_Fist) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Buddhist_Fist?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.