California State University, Fullerton



Chapter 5

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000):

卧虎藏龙

Tragedy Ending is acceptable?

Two Generation’s Love Stories

The first step to understanding the film is to understand the name Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. The English title Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is a literal translation of 卧虎藏龙, but it is actually a Chinese idiom that has another meaning: "卧虎藏龙"(Wò hǔ cáng lóng) simply means "talented” or “extraordinary people hidden from view". This meaning comes from an ancient Chinese poem, by Yu Xin (513-581BCE) that reads "暗石疑藏虎，盘根似卧龙" (Àn shí yí cáng hǔ, pán gēn shì wòlóng), meaning, "behind the rock in the dark likely hides a tiger, and the coiling giant root resembles a crouching dragon" (). Therefore, one can understand that the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon tells the intricate tale of Luo Xiaohu (Tiger) and Yu Jiaolong (Dragon), as well as alludes to the complex story of many characters who are talented, or extraordinary people, who are hidden from view.

“On a deeper level, Crouching Tiger is not merely a product of Chinese popular culture, but a thoughtful exploration — and critical evaluation — of various aspects of Chinese classical culture” (Greydanus, ). There is a framework of a brotherhood characterized by the Jianghu, and the relationship between Li MuBai and XiuLian. There is also evidence of a conservative gender construction within the governor’s household by the relationship between Luo Xiaohu and Yu Jiaolong. Ultimately, the character development is the most prevalent method to portray the classical Chinese culture, which offers great perspective on the themes.

Within the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, there is a sense of strict adherence to the rules that can be understood in contemporary American culture to “walk the line”. To walk the line means to behave, to abide by the law, and by moral standards, to walk a straight path of decency by following the rules. The characters Li MuBai and Shu Lien have a complex relationship within the Jianghu, and carry the burden of unfulfilled love. Travers, from The Rolling Stones, has this to say about their relationship: “Both actors bring startling intimacies to a relationship that has been thwarted by a rigid sense of honor. Shu Lien had been engaged to a man, Mu Bai's brother by oath, who died saving Mu Bai in battle. Mu Bai's old friend, Sir Te (Lung Sihung), offers chastening advice: ‘When it comes to emotion, even great heroes can be idiots’” (Travers, 2000).

Li MuBai and Shu Lien dare not to pursue love. They are bound by rules of the Classical Chinese culture and rules of the brotherhood, Jianghu. It is a tragedy that these people could not be together, but it is also a testament of their strength and good virtue to hold true to societal rules.

Conversely, there is also a driving force throughout Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon that fights the classical Chinese culture. The American society today can understand this concept today as Breaking Bad, meaning, to challenge conventions, to defy authority and to evade the edges of the law. In the movie, Li Mubai referred to Yu Xiaolong as a “poisonous dragon”, when she chose to follow the dark path of Jianghu.

Mitchell describes Yu, Jiaolong best under the concept of breaking bad stating that “Jen (Zhang Ziyi), the tremulous and spoiled daughter of the governor of the province, is fascinated by Shu Lien's glamorous life, that a woman may have the life of adventure and freedom is marvelous to her. The refined Jen is to be married off into respectability. By night, though, she's a masked and cunning thief and fighter, out to steal the Green Destiny, an invincible blade once wielded by Li” (Mitchell, 2000). Yu, Jiaolong’s relationship with Luo Xiaohu is a desert bandit that is sanctioned in the classical Chinese culture. As a woman, she does not have many rights and her family plans to arrange her marriage. Her Kung Fu training, her desire to have freedom, and her love with Luo Xiaohu is very contradictory. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon encapsulates complex, two couple’s love stories set in the classical Chinese culture, and the Jianghu world that is still relevant today.

The Jianghu Life

The term Jianghu derived from classical Wu Xia stories, and the transliteration of the term means “rivers and lakes”.  The term was first introduced by poet Fan Zhongyan; in his poem, Yueyang Lou Ji 岳阳楼记, he describes Jianghu as a “distant to the courts and temples, making a world in its own right”. Jianghu is a term unfamiliar by the western culture and was originally used to describe the martial arts community in Wuxia. In the film, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000), director Ang Lee portrays the lives of the martial arts warriors on their quest to finding the Green Destiny. Ang Lee fascinates the American audience by incorporating Jianghu and martial arts with a sense of fantasy and surrealism.

The film opens with Li Mu Bai renouncing his sword, the Green Destiny to his friend Shu Lien.  Li Mu Bai is a warrior from Jianghu, who has fought for the good in many battles with his sword. This is indicated by his statement that the “sword has taken more than its share of life”. Due to his past involvement in Jianghu, Li Mu Bai’s renouncement of the Green Destiny is a symbolic movement of turning away from his violent life to a nonviolent life. As he talks to Shu Lien in the beginning of the film, “I need to end this kind of life”. As Li Mu Bai reaches the peak of his meditation process, instead of seeing “enlighten”, Li Mu Bai claimed that he saw and emptiness of nothing. By giving away the sword, Li Mu Bai officially retires from the Jianghu life.

Jianghu was originally used to describe the leaders in the martial art community. In the film, as Sir Te tells the history of the Green Destiny, he states that a “world full of wilder characters, your quest to run a healthy city depending not on the judges and the court, but by courting the warriors of Jianghu then your position will be safe”.  The Jianghu Community played an important role in protecting the provinces in China. The term served as a barrier between good and evil, right and wrong. A majority of the Wuxia stories focus on the heroic figure fighting against evil. This is similar to the film, in which Li Mu Bai is the heroic figure fighting the evil Jade Fox. Although the term was once used to glorify the right wing community in Jianghu, it has transitioned in the 21st century to link with the gangster communities in Asia as opposed to the heroic figures once used in the past. Nowadays, the media has portrayed Jianghu as those who are involved in violence, killing, drug trafficking and any form of illegal act in the black market.

Ancient Women in China

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a timeless story that takes place in Qing, China. Li MuBai, a great warrior, decides to turn in his sword, the Green Destiny, to a treasured friend. When the sword is stolen, it is up to him to retrieve it. Simultaneously, he is trying to avenge his master's death by the evil Jade Fox. Shu Lien, the secret love of his life, joins him in his quest. In the midst of this, they are introduced to Yu Jiaolong, the mysterious and beautiful daughter of a powerful politician family. Li Mubai, the wise martial arts master, battles with a fierce young, Yu Jiaolong after she steals his legendary sword. Though she is the mysterious link to all these tales, this is overall about two love stories. But beneath it all, this is about two love stories.

The girls in Ancient China, who were born in a rich family like Yu Jiaolong’s, are limited of social lives. Higher-class women were often times, forbidden to go out in China, while women from poor families must go out to work. The truth is, that when men talk ill about how women are meant to be at home, they are talking about a very narrow-minded narrow-mindedly speaking of women of the upper to middle-class. Basically, privileged women may look forward to marrying. It is insignificant if the working class families do not enjoy the benefits of having a full-time housewife. In fact, when it comes to the working class, it is important for women enter the work force.

A marriage would be decided not by a young couple's love ever since ancient times, but by their parents' desires. Only after a matchmaker's introduction and when parents considered the two family conditions were similar and could be matched, then the Marriage procedures progress only after a matchmaker’s introduction and the approval of the parents’ from both sides. Conditions that were taken into consideration included wealth and social status. If a young man's family were wealthy, his parents would never permit him to marry a woman from a poor family.

Pre-Arranged Marriages

As a part of ancient tradition, the idea of an arranged marriage was very common in many countries, including Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and most parts of Asia. Often times, arranged marriages are viewed as forced marriage, child marriage, or marriage with pre-determined benefits that involves superstitions, class reputation, politics, and wealth and inheritance issues.

In China, arranged marriage was originally only occurred in rich and powerful families, from business merchants to the emperor of China himself. Different household may have different motives. For instance, a wealthy merchant will marry his daughter to a wealthier household for business gains, or the emperor of China will want his children to marry each other’s in order to protect the royal bloodline.

Once the marriage is determined, the bride and the groom will meet for the very first time on their wedding day. The children, whose marital fate was already determined by the parents, still often obey either with a sense of acceptance or reluctance. For extreme cases, the marrying child will try to run away or even commit suicide. Yu Jiaolong, was a perfect example of an extremist, by running away to fight gang members on her wedding day. Back then, a beautiful girl like Yu, Jiaolong that has a powerful family and clean personal background, Yu Jiaolong was considered to be an ideal bride for many to desire. However, after Yu Jiaolong escapes, her family’s reputation will be forever damaged because of the dishonor she has caused.

In modern times, arranged marriages often carry negative connotations because the concept of a pre-arranged marriage itself conflicts with today’s beliefs in freedom of choice. In comparison to liberal marriages, the traditional fixed marriages are very stable. Instead of passionate, loving relationships, arranged marriages create steady bonds with realistic relationship expectations, which is the reason that divorce rates were also much lower, when compared to liberal marriages. Although it is no longer widely accepted, in some countries that has history of fixed marriages, the older generations still try to dictate the decision making process in the younger generations’ liberal marital choices in some countries with the history of fixed marriages. Especially in Asian cultures, the parents or grandparents will offer to fund the wedding, along with valuable jewelries, and will even donate a large amount of money after the wedding, so the young couple can start their lives together with some assets. In some cases, the young couple will also be granted or inherited with real-estate property once they have their first- born (preferably a son).

Background of Evil : the Story of Jade Fox

Typically, an evil character in Jianghu is perceived as a skillful person or group, seeking to destroy and take over pre-established martial arts groups as head master. Small time “villains” can also be thieves, robbers, and burglars. In the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the villain in Jianghu was Jade Fox, who stole the sacred Wudang Manual and secretly practiced it herself without her master’s consent.

When society was much simpler in the old times, many adopted martial arts well. Not only can it be used as self-defense and a tool of protection for others, but it is also a way to gain social status and respect. Like a double bladed sword, practicing martial arts is a weapon that can be served for both beneficial and evil purposes.

Based on Confucianism, philosopher Mencius （孟子）argues that all people were born with innocent hearts. Evil will not exist until one’s decided to commit inappropriate actions to satisfy desires. Another philosopher, Xun-Zi (荀子), believed that evil pre-exists in humanity and it is one’s choice to choose to do good or evil , therefore as a society, we need rules and punishments to maintain order and justice.

In this film, Jade Fox’s heart was once pure and innocent. She seeks for Li Mu-Bai’s master to become his disciple; not only she was rejected, she also was molested by the master. She vowed to take revenge by poisoning the master and stealing the sacred Wudan Manual. When Jade Fox realized that her disciple, Yu Jiaolong, has been secretly practicing new Kung Fu techniques behind her back, Jade Foxt felt betrayed and was even more furious than before. The villains in most movies often die in the end, but evil, good, truth and lie are all concepts that are as fluid as water and time. Jade Fox’s role was placed as a typical villain in the Jianghu was all because of her fragile, and misunderstood soul.

What makes this movie a tragedy or Hollywood film?

Films with tragic plots or endings are very common in Asian movies. The differences between the Hollywood films with happy endings films and realistic, Asian tragic films are not only seen within the stories themselves, but also in the philosophical concept of human nature. In China, the tragic movies hold a higher value than movies with positive endings; filmmakers will indeed have more respect as directors for creating tragic movies.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a film directed by Li An. At the end of the film, Yu, Jiaolong jumps from the cliff, flying in the air, which leaves the audience with an open ending. It also leaves the viewers with the space of imagination. It is tragic that the villain is dead and leaves the world with an unfulfilled love, or other complex aspects with many subplots and plot twists. This film takes place before its time, though it is based upon ancient Chinese times. Movies should tend toward these complex themes to capture an audience.

The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo (2011) is one of the movies in Hollywood with a raw and tragic ending. In the end, the villain is killed; however, the building love story was unsuccessful. In complex novels and literature with plot twists such as Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth, demonstrated that good characters may become delusional, be dramatic, or kill themselves and others. Batman’s trilogy successfully shows a hero protagonist with a dark past, and who is scarred. The audience is left lingering and wanting for a developing story and romantic happenings.

Nevertheless, a majority of people enjoy watching films with happy endings as a way to cope with their stressful, daily lives. Films with happy endings are similar to games, which lead people imagining themselves as the leading characters of the film, experiencing the romantic love, being the hero, and saving the world. However, not many people enjoy watching tragic films, because these films lack room for fantasies; instead, the audience questions the society around them, as well as themselves. themselves and the society structure.

Tragic films and films with happy endings may also be reviewed as different philosophical concepts. Is fate equal to all of us or is it sometimes sucks Is the human race born with equal morals and values, or do misfortunes occur because of predestined unfortunate events? Many believe that everybody is born a pure individual; external causes and social construction may contribute to negative aspects of life; however, not all results of social construction are undesirable. Others believe that people are born with sin and dark spots that will later incite wrongful actions.

Star Spangled Heroes

Americans have patriotic citizens that live in the American Dream (working as a successful businessperson, owning a house, as well as owning a family). Today, I would like to focus on America and how they share characteristics that are synonymous to propaganda during the tough economic situation, as well as during the war.

One of the symbols that were used in American propaganda was Super Man. His first film was not until 1978; however, his comic books have been around since 1938, which came about 40 years before the film. The reason why Super Man was an American propaganda symbol in 1938 was because that DC needed a hero that would fight against dictators, bullies and oppressors. In one of the comic books, Super Man confronted against Hitler; this is because the book took place in Belgium, Germany, and Hitler sought to take over the other countries of Europe. He also faced Zalar of Sahara, an assassin. Zalar was the Assassin too. In the 1938 comic book, rather than defeating Lex Luthor, he attempted to show his American pride to communist dictators.

In 1944, Marvel created a patriotic superhero: Captain America. Captain America was originally created to prove that the Triple Axis was the villain of WWII. In a later edition, it was mentioned that communism was horrible. After WWII, Communism became more relevant. This era was known as the Cold War; both the U.S. and Communist countries were armed; however, neither of these countries fought on the battlefield.

References:

"Jianghu." Jianghu. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.

Lee, Ang, and James Schamus. Audio commentary. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

(2000).DVD. Sony Pictures Classics, 2001.

(2013, June 27). Chinese lesson: Crouching tiger hidden dragon, a movie and a Chinese idiom. Retrieved from

Greydanus, S. (n.d.) Crouching tiger, hidden meaning. Retrieved from

Travers, P. (2000, Dec 22) Rolling stone review: Crouching tiger, hidden dragon. Retrieved from

Mitchell, E. (2000, Oct 9). Crouching tiger hidden dragon (2000). Retrieved from

Chapter 5: Crouching Tiger (2000)

1. The film opens with Li Mu Bai renouncing his sword, the Green Destiny. Who did Li Mu Bai want to entrust his sword to?

A. Jen Yu/Jiao Long

B. Yu Shu Lien

C. Sir Te

D. Luo xiaohu

2. What was Li Mu Bai doing in Wudang Mountain?

A. Practicing deep meditation

B. Practicing new sword skills

C. Fighting Paul Bunyan

D. Fighting bandits

3. Who murdered Li Mu Bai’s master?

A. Star Fox

B. Jade Fox

C. Luo Xiaohu

D. Nine-tailed Fox

4. What was stolen from Li Mu Bai’s master?

A. Secret Wudang manual

B. Green Destiny sword

C. Jianghu

D. poisonous dragon

5. How did Shu Lien reveal the sword thief’s identity?

A. Intentionally dropping a teacup during her visit to the Yu family

B. Following the thief to the hideout

C. Unmasking the thief during a fight

D. Interrogating a servant of the Yu family

6. How did Jen Yu and Luo Xiaohu meet?

A. They are childhood friends

B. Luo Xiaohu is from an aristocrat family that is acquainted with the Yu family

C. Luo Xiaohu was hired as a bodyguard for Jen Yu

D. Luo Xiaohu and his gang robbed Jen Yu’s caravan in the desert

7. Jen Yu fell out with the Jade Fox because…

A. Jen Yu took the last piece of dumpling

B. The Jade Fox called Jen Yu a whore

C. Jen Yu hid the true meanings of the Wudang manual from the Jade Fox

D. Jen Yu made fun of the Jade Fox for being illiterate

8. Where did Li Mu Bai send Luo Xiaohu after he crashed Jen Yu’s wedding?

A. Mongolia

B. Wudang Mountain

C. Shaolin Temple

D. Xin jiang area

9. What did the Jade Fox use to poison Li Mu Bai?

A. A needle laced with the Purple Yin Poison

B. A sword laced with the Purple Yin Poison

C. A dumpling laced with the Purple Yin Poison

D. A cup of tea laced with the Purple Yin Poison

10. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon encapsulates complex two couple love stories set in classical Chinese culture and Jianghu world. Yu, Jiaolong’s relationship with Luo Xiaohu, the desert bandit is sanctioned in classical Chinese culture.

As a woman, she does not have many rights and her family will arrange her marriage contract. Her KungFu training, desire to have freedom, and her love with Luo Xiaohu are very contradiction. At the end of the film, Yu, Jiaolong jumped from the cliff flying in the air. What did Luo Xiaohu wish for at the Wudang Mountain?

A. To find Green Destiny sword

B. To turn away from violent life to a nonviolent life

C. To be the new leader of Jianghu

D. To be together with Jen Yu in the desert

Chapter 6

American Dream in China (2013):

中国合伙人

American Dream Vs. Chinese Dream

“What is a dream? It is the thing that allows you to draw happiness from persistence?” asked Quoting, from the film, American Dream in China. Director Peter Chan gives his audience the definition of what constitutes a dream, from the perspective of the Chinese youth of the 1980’s. After Deng Xiaoping (one of the previous Chinese presidents) guided China’s Open Door Policy in 1978, the younger generation was encouraged to study abroad in the world’s most developed country: America. In doing so, the “American Dream” was deeply implanted into people’s minds. Peter Chan was born in Hong Kong, and moved to Thailand with his parents in his adolescent years. He later studied in the United States and majored in film in the University of California, Los Angeles. However, Chan did not come back to finish did not return to the U.S. to complete his degree in UCLA after his interning position in Hong Kong. Out of all the films director Chan has produced, American Dream in China is one of the most successful films, with a total of 5 hundred million RMB box office earnings and raising.

The film starts with the college life of three close friends; Cheng, Dongqing(成东青), Meng, Xiaojun(孟晓俊), and Wang, Yang(王洋). Flitting back and forth between drama and comedy, the film introduces the three hard-working students who are applying for their U.S. student visas, and hoping to seek their fortunes abroad. However, Meng is the only one who succeeds, while Cheng and Wang remain in Beijing as teachers. As time progresses, many professional and romantic events in their lives bring the three together, and form their own company, “New Dream”. Cheng began his business because he was privately teaching students outside of the school, thus being dismissed from the university. Together with Wang, they coordinated a very successful English language academy, which later becomes an influential company helping Chinese students pass the entrance exams of American universities, to continue their studies in America. However, the examination board accuses New Dream of stealing their material to give their students, an unfair advantage in their exams. The film ends with the three friends taking their company to IPO, and resolving the fraud.

American Dream in China attempts to make a number of points, in relation to education, dreams, and reality. At the end of the film, Cheng explains to the examination board that Chinese students are well adapted to memorization. By residing the examination rules of the United States, he says, “I memorized the entire Xinhua Dictionary, and I was considered a mediocre student. Chinese students are extremely adept at taking exams; you can’t imagine what they’re willing to go through to succeed” (American Dream in China). Disparate from the western education system, which develops students’ creative spirits and manipulative abilities, Chinese education emphasizes on the capacity of memorization. With a large number of population, to become successful in China is much more difficult than in other countries. Students are to endure through two main tests in order to get in a good university be accepted into high standing universities. The two tests, Zhong Kao (known as the final exam of primary school), and Gao Kao (SAT, but with only one chance to do well) are the only things that matter in their academic lives. In China, there is a high ratio of students who commit suicide due to the pressure of Gao Kao. This once in a lifetime, class-dividing test, now can be taken more than once; nevertheless, students are to take an extra year waiting for their second opportunity. Furthermore, it is always humiliating to take this test a second time. Along with the pressure from family and society, students are forced to put efforts on memorization, even with concepts they barely understand, or disagree with. Eventually, students like Cheng and Dongqing work diligently; they remember what it means to be extremely successful, while the majority of students remain mediocre with exactly the tacit knowledge they have learned from school.

Why is the American Dream so attractive to Chinese students? In this film, “We see characters struggle to make a name for themselves in America, despite studying hard and working themselves to death. They go in search of the American Dream, and when it doesn't work out for them they feel cheated” (Marsh 2013). However, America is still considered as the paradise of middle class families, who are impressed by Hollywood films with the notion of two children, a dog, and a vacation every weekend. There is an overwhelming contrast of lifestyle between Hollywood films and the reality of the Social Darwinist views in the Chinese society. It is similar to comparing the golden sunshine with severe pollution, as well as free speech with governmental control. Chinese people have over-beautified the American lifestyle in films. In other words, people in China have been living in a society full of pressure and inhibitions. The American lifestyle is just as comfortable and easy as all have wanted. Indeed, it is true that some of the Chinese political policies are difficult to live with. For instance, the one-child policy is made to control the birth rate of China, and to force women to abort the second child. This has caused many broken, devastated hearts. Likewise, having religious beliefs controlled by the government and supervisory control of speech also emits an abundance of pressure to Chinese people.

In developing countries, getting an America VISA is not an easy process. During the 1990’s, China’s economic situation was tough; the percentage of the American Visa grant was tremendously low. A visa interview is required for Chinese citizens to obtain their American visas, along with additional documents, including property certificates. It often limits the time length of staying in America from one month to a maximum of one year. Nowadays, many visa applications are denied during the interview. The precious visa also makes America a desirable place to go.

American Dream in China is considered as the Chinese version of The Social Network. Obviously, the two films both mention how it is a trend for having a group of friends working together to open small businesses, and that they have all experienced conflicts and business crises. “As in The Social Network, legal proceedings frame the drama, as New Dream is sued by U.S. educational authorities for helping Chinese students cheat on entry exams. It’s here that Chan succumbs to crowd-pleasing tactics, devising a jingoistic climax to score a victory against their American plaintiffs, who are presented as stereotypically arrogant, self-interested and prejudiced” (Lee 2013). The two films both show their respects to the young business creators, but with different lifestyles of the characters, and their strategies in business.

As one of Hong Kong’s most revered directors, it is surprising to see “how much Peter Chan panders to this dog-eat-dog aesthetic: one that fully asserts, China is here to stay, deal with it” (Hsieh 2013). Many experts review this film, stating that Chinese people are embracing.their power and fearlessness to the world. Fortunately, the Chinese audience loves this concept of being successful in America. This film became very popular amongst the younger generation, along with its objective: to find a dream, and to make it come true.

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