Original subtitles

(Chinese folk music)

- [Narrator] Chinese Kungfu originated in Shaolin Temple

where it was practiced by devout monks

who as well as studying the thoughts of Buddha

developed a style and form of Shaolin Kungfu.

It's fame and practice spread to other parts of China

and even to Japan.

This story occurs during the Ching Dynasty

in a temple which studies Shaolin Kungfu

in an area occupied by the Japanese.

Here many monks studied the form of Kungfu.

This temple is extremely wealthy

and the Japanese would like to take its wealth

for themselves but they know

that the chief monk, Chi Yung

is an upright honest man with superb Kungfu.

They hatch a devious plot and send some ninja warriors

to try and assassinate the chief Monk Chi Yung

and so begins a series of confrontation.

(drum beats)

(speaks Chinese)

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Really excellent Kungfu.

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- [Monk] Yes.

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(speaks Chinese)

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Who sent you?

- [Master] What happened?

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You dare to tell me that you have failed?

You are all useless.

Get out of my sight.

- [Ninjas] Yes.

- Master, this attempt I think was made

by assassins from Japan.

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(Chinese folk music)

- [Ninjas] My lord, inspector has returned.

- [Master] What news?

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- Goddamn him.

He's not afraid to die.

- [Ninja] Honorable lord, Chi Yung thinks

that he is safe from us

because when our emperor was very ill and close to death,

Chi Yung came here and he was able to save his highness

using the medicine produced at Shaolin

so he thinks he can resist you

because the emperor ordered

that no one should disturb the temple.

- But our geologist has told me,

the temple is built on an old dragon's cave.

This is a very good omen for us.

- [Seller] Here's your medicine, come back in two days.

- [Woman] Thank you.

(people chattering)

(laughter)

- [Chi Yung] Wai Ming

- Damn you, useless monk.

Thanks for nothing.

- What do you say we get rid of him once for all.

Come on, let's do it.

(yells)

Get him.

(applause)

- [Crowd] Kill him.

Kill him

kill him.

Kill him,

kill him.

Kill him.

Kill him.

- Wai Ming.

(speaks Chinese)

(cheers)

- Shaolin monks should always be even tempered.

Our good reputation depends on this

so how could you get into a fight with those men?

You have disappointed me profoundly.

- Master, those damn Japanese were very drunk

and wanted to kill you.

So what should I do?

- Be quiet.

Those Japanese couldn't even fight you.

How could they possibly kill me?

- I lost my self control master.

- You have forgotten what I have taught you

and what is written in the holy book.

- I'm sorry.

- Wai Ming, your own Kungfu style

is the best of all the students in Shaolin temple

but your standard of behavior needs to be improved.

Shaolin monks must always have high standards of behavior.

- Hey, I want my change.

Time to pay your rent.

- Please give me some more time.

Business has been bad.

- Bad, huh?

(screams)

Come on old man.

(cries)

- Dad.

(cries)

Please don't.

- [Ninjas] Oh wow.

What a pretty girl.

- What the hell are you doing?

Take all these people back with us now.

- [ Ninjas] Yes.

(yelling)

- Kneel down.

Our lord orders the following sentence.

All the males will become slaves.

The girls will be prostitutes in Japan.

- You can't do this.

My family has owned this land for years

and we have already paid our taxes.

The harvest has been bad

but still you Japanese thieves want us to pay more.

You're goddamn animals.

(screams)

- Who else dares to speak?

(epic music)

- Gold?

Real money.

(laughs)

I really am lucky to find this money.

(laughs)

My money, my money,

my money, my money.

- Hey brother, do you think the thief could be

one of the other brothers?

- Hey who else?

Only a shaolin monk.

This is good Kungfu.

- That's right.

One day I wanna be that good.

- If you want to achieve such a high standard

you must practice harder.

- [Monk] Yes.

- We wanna see the master.

(speaks Chinese)

- Master is resting.

Don't disturb him.

- Damn you.

We have orders to arrest him.

Bring him here now.

- In this temple there are only monks.

There are no criminals.

We won't open our gates to your men.

Leave here.

Can you beat that.

- I'm gonna kill you.

- Get lost.

Kill me if you're able to.

You've threatened us, go ahead.

(speaks Chinese)

- It is forbidden to fight here.

For our rudeness, please forgive us.

- Damn your soul.

You know I'm not afraid of your Shaolin Kungfu.

Now, stop wasting time.

Come on, let's fight.

- I am a man of peace.

I cannot fight you in this place.

You must leave this temple now.

- Brother, brother.

- You stay here.

I am sorry for our rudeness.

Shaolin has been dishonored.

Please forgive us.

- No way, we're gonna teach you a lesson in manners.

- [Ninja] Housan, don't forget our master's orders.

Our lord says that your master must come back.

If he doesn't, Shaolin temple

will then be destroyed.

- Our supreme monk is not afraid to go with you.

When he is ready, he will leave with you.

- Good, be quick then.

We'll leave at noon.

(speaks Chinese)

- [Monk] May Buddha go with you.

- Elder brother, are you alright?

- Carry on practicing.

Master, please don't go.

They only want to trap you.

- Ji Yung, what do you think?

- This is your decision.

- Well, in that case I'll go.

- Master,

- Listen, I wouldn't be afraid to go there

even if it meant I was going to hell.

- Master grant my wish, let me go as well.

- It would do no good.

Ji Yung.

- [Jiung] Yes.

- When I have left here,

you will be the senior Shaolin monk.

- I understand your orders.

(epic music)

(yells)

- Chi Yung, only a Shaolin monk

could have stolen that money.

I will give you three days to hand the thief to me.

- Lord, may I ask you a question?

- Ask it.

- Is it true that Chinese people write Chinese?

- Of course they do.

- And Chinese characters are written by Chinese?

- Of course they are.

- My lord, you can write Chinese very well.

Does that make you a Chinese person?

- What are you saying?

You're talking nonsense.

- Kungfu can be learnt by thieves.

Your soldiers know Kungfu.

Nevertheless, my honorable lord

does not suspect any of his most noble soldiers.

- Stop it old man.

Do you insult his lordship?

Get him.

- Hold it.

Shaolin is protected by your emperor.

He has given orders that no one should disturb

the peace of our temple.

Do you still obey the orders of your emperor?

- Noble lord, please do no get angry with the monk.

His arguments are very fair.

Perhaps we should ask the monk

how he would deal with this difficult problem.

Do you agree my lord?

- I think that this will not help us with this matter.

- I think if we ask for his help,

he will not refuse.

Well sir, will you help?

- Of course I will try my best in this.

- Thank you very much.

My lord.

- Right, you two let him go.

(speaks Chinese)

- Peace be with you.

- Lapshan, why did you want to release him?

- My lord, this is the plan we agreed on.

- But this monk has really good Kungfu.

He is no ordinary man.

- We can now pit them against each other.

This is what we agreed on.

- This plan is very good.

- [Male] The royal monk has arrived.

(Chinese folk music)

(speaks Chinese)

- What brings you here?

(speaks Chinese)

- My orders are very clear.

I am to ake over Shaolin temple.

- Please come inside with me and find a place to rest.

Thank you.

(laughter)

- What kind of Buddhas are these?

- Temple Buddhas.

- Modern wood, also the Buddha?

- He is the real and I'm real as you desire.

- Master, I'll ask you again,

what is the Buddha?

- Who is able to know that?

- What makes the soul free?

- Who can imprison us?

- Where is purity?

- Who can turn to you.

- What is eternal life?

- Who can decide when one is dead.

Answer this, where is Buddha's home?

- Although he is from the west, he is everywhere.

- But if he is everywhere, why search for him in the East?

Maybe your first step was wrong.

- And so what do you mean?

- You should ask yourself.

(laughs)

- Good answer, good answer.

Buddha exists in the mind.

We make our souls free.

We create ourselves.

Our own freedom.

Brother, Shaolin temple has everything already.

It does not need me.

Is there anything else you can teach me?

(speaks Chinese)

- Every man must find his own way.

- Brother, come with me.

My name is Chi Tao.

After meeting Shaolin's master Chi Yung today

and having had a talk,

I have decided that I have insufficient knowledge

to be the master of Shaolin.

(speaks Chinese)

My knowledge is not good enough

even to be compared with your own.

I acknowledge your wisdom.

Shaolin is a reflection of your grace.

(speaks Chinese)

- Your visit here has given me very great pleasure.

- Thank you for your courtesy.

Please come to Japan to visit us.

We would learn very much from such a visit.

- If I could have that pleasure, I'm sure

I could learn a great deal from your teachings.

- The pleasure would be all mine brother.

Goodbye.

- Let us leave.

(speaks Chinese)

Please.

- Kneel down.

My plan to capture Shaolin has failed

thanks to your incompetence.

Even worse, Chi Tai and the monk

have now become good friends.

Shaolin has escaped.

How can I get its wealth?

- Lord, since Chi Tai now refuses to help us,

we have to use a different method.

- You are Chinese monks

so why should you want to kill me now?

But they are not Chinese monks.

They are ninja.

(yells)

- Master.

- What is it?

- The royal monk has been killed by ninja.

- Ninja?

So they are involved in this?

If the ninja are involved here,

then it's bad.

Very bad.

- Master, the ninja were dressed the same as us.

- So they want to blame us.

(speaks Chinese)

- You're a two timing bastard.

Your men assassinated the royal monk, Chi Tao.

- My lord, there was no enmity between Chi Tao and I.

We did not kill him.

Someone else did this.

- Be quiet.

I witnessed one of your Chinese monks leaving the house.

- I'll give you 10 days to find the killer.

If not, you will die.

- Why are you fighting here?

Don't you know it's wrong?

(laughs)

- No need to worry.

We're just practicing.

- What is it?

What's wrong?

- Chi Tao has been killed by the Chinese.

- What's that?

We must take revenge.

Let's go and get them.

- You know we can't do that.

- We can take revenge.

- Who killed Chi Tao?

- Perhaps a Chinese monk.

- Then we are going to Shaolin to take revenge.

- I think it won't be easy for us

to find the Chinese monk that killed him.

- So what are you saying?

- We must go to China.

With all my strength, I'll get revenge.

- You're saying we fight the Chinese monk?

Right, they must have killed him.

We should go there right away

and take revenge for the death of the royal monk.

- Alright, let's work together

and get revenge for his death.

- Sir, please.

- Please.

Excuse me master.

This man has requested for you.

Master.

- Peace be with you.

May I please know your name.

- [Shek] My surname is Shek.

- Please, Mr. Shek what brings you here to Shaolin?

- I have heard many interesting things said about Shaolin

so I've come here today to try to be your student.

- Thank you.

We live here to develop ourselves spiritually

as well as physically.

I believe I am not able to teach you.

- Master Chi, I have saved up a little money

if you would agree to teach me Shaolin Kungfu,

you could have a thousand tails.

- Why are you so certain that I am able

to teach you a good form of Kungfu?

- I have heard from a good friend

that a famous Japanese monk was challenged recently

by monks using your style.

That's why I have come here.

(laughs)

Master, why do you laugh?

- Tell me, what's the real reason

for you coming to Shaolin?

- What do mean by saying that?

- Listen, you come from Fujen to learn Kungfu

but you can learn it in a southern temple in Fujen

so why come here?

(laughs)

You know, only the Japanese and ourselves

know about the assassination of the royal monk Chi Tao.

So how did you find out about it?

Also, the marks on your hands

suggest you already know a martial arts style.

Perhaps karate.

Tell me, who are you really?

- Your ideas are correct.

I know karate and I'm also Japanese.

- What is your real name?

My real name is Chung Tao.

I have come here to avenge Chi Tao.

- I will tell you now

the death of Chi Tao was not our fault.

Please believe me.

- [Chung Tao] I don't believe you.

- So you've decided to avenge him.

- [Chung Tao] That is correct.

I have come here today to get rid of you.

- You know Shaolin is a place of holiness.

Not a place for killing.

It's for spiritual development.

Not a place for revenge or fighting.

Chung Tao, please leave here.

Please.

- Hold it.

What about Chi Tao's death?

- In five days, I'll be able to give you an answer.

- Right, I will wait for your anwswer.

- Excuse me.

(laughs)

(applause)

- Brother Yung, it is your turn now.

- I'll done you well with only three attacks.

(yells)

Number two.

- Have a drink.

(laughs)

You are all good enough

to represent the Japanese Shaolin temple.

Those damn Chinese monks will really suffer.

- My lord, we'll teach the Chinese monks

a real good lesson.

- At least you will avenge Chi Tao's death.

- [Monks] We will.

- Who wants to avenge Chi Tao?

- Who are you?

Why do you want to know that?

- You will answer me.

Why do you want to avenge the death of Chi Tao?

- I ask you again, who are you?

- My identity is not your concern.

- You damn fools.

You're all goddamn useless.

- Hold it.

I'm inspector Lapsan, stationed here.

You are?

- I am known as Chng Tao.

I'm here because of Chi Tao.

- Oh, master Chung Tao.

So you've come here to kill Chi Tao's murderer.

Is that correct?

- I have not come here to kill anyone.

Only to find his murderer.

I see that you're all monks

and you belong to the Japanese Shaolin temple.

Isn't it true you're not allowed to drink

or get excited before a contest?

What is your name?

- I'm Yung Chi.

- Yung Chi, if you want to avenge Chi Tao,

you must listen to me, understand?

- [Monks] Yes sir.

- Good, now you must follow me.

- [Monks] Yes.

(Chinese folk music)

- To the death.

(speaks Chinese)

We are all monks.

How can we fight each other?

- Then how could Chinese monks assassinate Chi Tao?

Answer me that.

- What are you saying?

- [Japanese Monk] Accept the duel

if you're good enough to fight us.

- Alright then, we accept.

Listen, you mustn't forget the rules.

We cannot fight them.

- I am very sorry.

Shaolin temple cannot accept this challenge.

(speaks Chinese)

Please leave now.

- We'll be back here.

I guarantee you that.

Let's go.

- [Japanese Monk] Master, they won't accept our challenge.

- [Other Japanese Monk] Master, what do we do now?

- [Japanese Monk] Master,

shall we force our way into the temple?

- [Master] No, we will not do that.

I must find some conclusive evidence

to prove their guilt.

(chanting)

- Who's there?

- How dare you enter the ground of Shaolin.

You must come with me to see the master.

Karate style.

So, you're Japanese then.

Now I'll show you some Chinese Kungfu.

Leaving here?

To leave here you must ask for permission first.

- Master's orders.

You must stop fighting.

My brother, you must let him go.

(speaks Chinese)

- Where is he?

- Lapshan, why do you come here so early?

- My lord, the Shaolin monks have refused the challenge.

They will not fight with Chung Tao.

- It doesn't matter.

They've only three days left.

If they don't give me the man by then,

I'll execute the monk Chi Yung.

- What if he gives you somebody who says he's the murderer.

What then?

- So what shall we do then?

- We must find a way to finish them off.

- [Master] Finish them?

- Right.

(laughs)

- [Ninjas] We will obey.

(Chinese folk music)

- I'm sorry, our master will not see any guests.

- [Monks] Chong Te, Chong Te,

who did this to you?

- A Japanese monk.

- Chong Te.

- Wai Ming.

- Brother, I can't stand it any longer.

We must kill these damn Japanese murderers

to avenge our brothers who have died today.

- Wai Ming let's go and get them.

- Brother, let's go.

- What are you doing here?

- We're here to get revenge.

- Look, you killed Chi Tao.

It's his murder that has to be avenged.

- Stop.

Shaolin monks must not fight.

What are you doing?

Tell me, haven't you learnt anything from me?

- Master, it was they who killed the other monks

and so we thought that we--

- Quiet.

Come with me.

- Master.

- Hold it.

So you leave here like dogs

with your tails between your legs.

(speaks Chinese)

- Master Chung Tao, it's all a misunderstanding.

- I don't accept that apology.

You burst in here and then disturb our ceremony?

Please explain why.

- [Chi Yung] Of course there is no explanation.

I will accept all responsibility.

Please punish me as you see fit.

- Right.

Then your punishment will be to accept our challenge.

Master Chi Tao was assassinated

and so his wicked assassin must suffer the same.

That is justice.

- Mister Chung Tao.

- You will call me master Chung Tao.

- Master Chung Tao,

I am not afraid to accept your challenge

but you must understand one thing.

I assure you, none of the Shaolin monks is the killer.

- Do not argue.

Do you accept the challenge or not?

(speaks Chinese)

- Tomorrow morning I will be waiting for you at Shaolin.

- Brothers, this contest will consist of seven monks.

Now who will begin?

- The fist Japanese fighter is Ta Ju.

- Are you ready?

I'm the Chinese represent, Wai Ming.

- Whoever steps off the carpet will be the loser.

Begin.

- Hold it.

You've lost.

He has won.

- Brother you fought well.

- Very well.

- You must do your best as well.

- I am Yung Chi,

who will fight with me?

- Chi Kuong.

- Chi Kuong will fight you.

- Thank you for sparing me.

- No need.

- Chi Yu, I will use this spear.

- I am Wai Chen.

Let us begin.

I have lost the fight.

You are the winner.

- I am Ji Hang.

I will use this step.

Are you willing to fight me?

- I am Yi Tang.

Ji Hang, I'll chop your step to bits.

- Chop it to bits?

Then I'll use it or firewood.

Come on.

(laughs)

Come on.

Hey, wanna continue?

Do you wanna continue?

- Ji Yung, be polite.

- Yes.

Brother, get dressed or you'll catch cold.

- Thank you for sparing my life.

- Master Chi Yung, the inspector is here.

- Why does he come here?

- I don't know.

- Inspector Lapshan.

- I heard that all the Chinese monks

and the Japanese were having a contest.

I was afraid that someone might be hurt.

(speaks Chinese)

- We're just exchanging our ideas.

How could anyone possibly get hurt

from such an exchange?

- Master Chi Yung, a monk should not tell lies.

With all these men here

this is not a simple discussion.

- Inspector, this meeting concerns only Buddha's followers

so you should leave us to continue our discission.

(laughs)

- Master Chung Tao, I've made a mistake.

- Inspector, please leave us alone now

to continue our meeting, please.

- Of course I will, goodbye.

(speaks Chinese)

- I am extremely grateful for your help.

- No need.

I don't like them at all.

Master, let us continue our contest.

- It's getting late now.

We will continue with our contest tomorrow.

Please stay here tonight.

- Thank you very much, we will stay here.

- Hey, tell me what's your opinion of Chinese Kungfu.

- It's much better than I imagined.

- Brother Tao, I believe the Chinese aren't good enough

to defeat us tomorrow.

Don't worry.

- Yung Ji, what is it?

Not feeling well?

- I think that Chung Tao is now acting quite strangely.

- First time I noticed it was in today's contest.

- Really, anything else?

- He respects the Chinese monk Chi Yung very much.

- Then we should find out the real reason

why he decided to come here.

- Don Cha, Si Mai,

I don't care at all about that Chung Tao guy.

Tomorrow you two must try to defeat those Chinese monks.

You must uphold the honor of the Japanese style

of Shaolin Kungfu.

- [Monks] Yes.

- [Yung Ji] Tomorrow, be careful

because the fight will have no boundaries.

Let us sleep.

- [Monks] Yes.

- Brother, brother you've lost.

My name is Tong Fe.

I will be the next Shaolin representative.

- I am Japanese monk Doi Chao.

I want to see Chinese Kungfu.

Let's change the fight rules.

We'll tie our hands together.

You see that drum, whoever hits it first

is the winner.

- Right.

- Bei Ju what's this?

Let him go.

- Master, perhaps he will try to kill himself.

- Are these men really Shaolin monks?

- These people are the real murderers of Chi Tao.

- How do you know that?

- It was me who cut off his finger.

- Who are you?

- You cannot kill him.

Not in the grounds of Shaolin.

- Get away.

Stop it.

- Master, kill him now to avenge Chi Tao.

- Even though Chi Tao and I were colleagues,

I am now under the orders of the emperor.

To solve this problem and find out the real murderer.

To kill a ninja won't help us with this, understand?

- Master, I am sorry.

I want to avenge Chi Tao.

- May I take these two men with me?

- Do you believe what I told you now?

- I do, I do now.

(speaks Chinese)

- Master, the ninja are very strong.

We should go and help master Chung Tao to arrest them

so the peace will return again.

(speaks Chinese)

- You may go now and help fight them

but try not to kill them.

- [Monks] Yes.

- Lapshan, why have you come here?

What do you want to say to me?

- Lord, our plan has failed.

- What's that?

I'm telling you, my men haven't returned.

Shaolin is also quiet.

So they have probably come to terms.

Our little secret is secret no longer.

- What should we do now?

- My lord.

- My lord.

The welfare of the ninja must come first

so you must forgive me.

- You're a ninja?

(laughs)

- Yes I am a ninja.

I always have been.

- Why trick me?

- Alright, I'll tell you.

I wanted to use your greed for the treasure of Shaolin

to start a war here.

But Chung Tao has completely ruined my plan.

- You, you.

- Lapshan, the emperor's seal.

You must obey it.

(laughs)

- I see only useless bits of metal.

If you want me, you come and get me.

- Lapshan, don't force me to kill you.

(laughs)

- Don't be so certain.

(whistles)

Kill them.

- Brother you must kill.

If you don't, you will be killed.

- You must commit servitude to retain your honor.

- Master Chung Tao,

you have now completed your mission.

When will you return to your home in Japan?

- Yung Chin and the others have already returned

but they asked me before they left here

to do one more thing.

We won two contests

but we had one draw and lost three times

and so now there's one thing left.

There is still one contest that must be fought.

- One contest left.

You want me to fight you, master Chung Tao.

I'm so sorry, I can't accept.

- If you refuse to have this contest with me

then I'll have to do this, to retain my honor.

- Master Chung Tao.

(sighs)

Please.

Master Chung Tao, you have won.

- No.

If had not held your final attack back,

I would've been finished.

Master Chi Yung, my Kungfu is much slower than yours.

I know this now.

(speaks Chinese)

- Always be honest and merciful.

Keep Buddha in your heart

then there will be no difference between us.

- I would like to learn more from you master.

Be my teacher.

(drum beats)

(chanting)

(speaks Chinese)

(Chinese folk music)

(speaks Chinese)