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Once Upon A Time In China IV
''Once Upon a Time in China IV'' is a 1993 Hong Kong–Chinese martial arts film and the fourth installment in the ''Once Upon a Time in China'' film series. It was directed by Yuen Bun in his directorial debut and produced by Tsui Hark, who directed the first three films. Vincent Zhao starred as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung, who was portrayed by Jet Li in the first three films. Plot In Beijing, China in 1900 during the Qing dynasty, Wong Fei-hung plans to return to Foshan with his father Wong Kei-ying and apprentices Leung Foon and Clubfoot. He also meets 14th Aunt, 13th Aunt's sister, who has a romantic crush on him. Just as Wong is about to leave, a Manchu general, Alan Chengdu, shows up and tells him that the Eight-Nation Alliance has challenged China to an international lion dance competition. The general is eager to recruit Wong to join him in representing China in the competition because Wong was the champion of the nati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark (, vi, Từ Khắc, born 15 February 1950), born Tsui Man-kong, is a Hong Kong film director, producer and screenwriter. Tsui has directed several influential Hong Kong films such as ''Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain'' (1983), the ''Once Upon a Time in China'' film series (1991–1997) and '' The Blade'' (1995). Tsui also has been a prolific writer and producer; his productions include ''A Better Tomorrow'' (1986), ''A Better Tomorrow II'' (1987), ''A Chinese Ghost Story'' (1987), '' The Killer'' (1989), ''The Legend of the Swordsman'' (1992), '' The Wicked City'' (1992), '' Iron Monkey'' (1993) and '' Black Mask'' (1996). He is viewed as a major figure in the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema and is regarded by critics as "one of the masters of Asian cinematography". In the late 1990s, Tsui had a short-lived career in the United States, directing the Jean-Claude Van Damme–led films ''Double Team'' (1997) and ''Knock Off'' (1998). Both films were commercially unsucc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jet Li
Li Lianjie (courtesy name Yangzhong; born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, Chinese martial arts, martial artist, and retired wushu (sport), Wushu champion. He is a naturalized Singaporean citizen. After three years of training with acclaimed Wushu (sport), Wushu teacher Wu Bin (wushu coach), Wu Bin, Li won his first national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team. After retiring from competitive Wushu at age 18, he went on to win great acclaim in China as an actor, making his debut with the film ''Shaolin Temple (1982 film), Shaolin Temple'' (1982). He went on to star in many critically acclaimed martial arts epic films, most notably as the lead in Zhang Yimou's Hero (2002 film), ''Hero'' (2002), ''Fist of Legend'' (1994), and the first three films in the ''Once Upon a Time in China (film series), Once Upon a Time in China'' series (1991–1993), in which he portrayed folk hero Wong Fei-hung. Li's first role in a non ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dragon Dance
Dragon dance () is a form of traditional dance and performance in Chinese culture. Like the lion dance, it is most often seen during festive celebrations. The dance is performed by a team of experienced dancers who manipulate a long flexible giant puppet of a dragon using poles positioned at regular intervals along the length of the dragon. The dance team simulates the imagined movements of this river spirit in a sinuous, undulating manner. The dragon dance is often performed during Chinese New Year. Chinese dragons are a symbol of China's culture, and they are believed to bring good luck to people, therefore the longer the dragon is in the dance, the more luck it will bring to the community. The dragons are believed to possess qualities that include great power, dignity, fertility, wisdom and auspiciousness. The appearance of a dragon is both fearsome and bold but it has a benevolent disposition, and it was an emblem to represent imperial authority. The movements in a perfo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diethyl Ether
Diethyl ether, or simply ether, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula , sometimes abbreviated as (see Pseudoelement symbols). It is a colourless, highly volatile, sweet-smelling ("ethereal odour"), extremely flammable liquid. It is commonly used as a solvent in laboratories and as a starting fluid for some engines. It was formerly used as a general anesthetic, until non-flammable drugs were developed, such as halothane. It has been used as a recreational drug to cause intoxication. Production Most diethyl ether is produced as a byproduct of the vapor-phase hydration of ethylene to make ethanol. This process uses solid-supported phosphoric acid catalysts and can be adjusted to make more ether if the need arises. Vapor-phase dehydration of ethanol over some alumina catalysts can give diethyl ether yields of up to 95%. Diethyl ether can be prepared both in laboratories and on an industrial scale by the acid ether synthesis. Ethanol is mixed with a stro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Xenophobia
Xenophobia () is the fear or dislike of anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange. It is an expression of perceived conflict between an in-group and out-group and may manifest in suspicion by the one of the other's activities, a desire to eliminate their presence, and fear of losing national, ethnic, or racial identity.Guido Bolaffi. ''Dictionary of race, ethnicity and culture''. SAGE Publications Ltd., 2003. Pp. 332. Alternate definitions A 1997 review article on xenophobia holds that it is "an element of a political struggle about who has the right to be cared for by the state and society: a fight for the collective good of the modern state." According to Italian sociologist Guido Bolaffi, xenophobia can also be exhibited as an "''uncritical exaltation of another culture''" which is ascribed "''an unreal, stereotyped and exotic quality''". History Ancient Europe An early example of xenophobic sentiment in Western culture is the Ancient Greek denigratio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Red Lanterns (Boxer Uprising)
The Red Lanterns () were the women's fighting groups organized by village women who were not allowed to join the men's groups during the Boxer Uprising of 1900. Villagers said these women had supernatural powers and were called upon to perform tasks which the male Boxers could not. Background Unlike the Taiping rebels but like many Chinese folk sects such as the White Lotus Sect, Boxer ideology forbade contact with women. Boxer discipline in its strictest form did not allow sexual contact with or even looking at a woman for fear that the female's polluting ''yin'' would destroy the invulnerability ritual. Nevertheless, women organized parallel units: The Red Lanterns (''Hongdeng zhao'', i.e. "Red Lanterns Shining"), for younger women, "Blue Lanterns" (''Landeng zhao'') for middle-aged women, and Black Lanterns (''Heideng zhao'') for elderly women. The Red Lanterns ranged in age from twelve to eighteen, did not set their hair in the traditional way and did not bind their feet. T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Once Upon A Time In China III
''Once Upon a Time in China III'' is a 1993 Hong Kong martial arts film written, produced and directed by Tsui Hark, starring Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung. It is the third installment in the ''Once Upon a Time in China'' film series. Plot In the late 19th century China during the Qing dynasty Chinese sovereignty is being eroded by foreign imperialism. Empress Dowager Cixi and Li Hongzhang decide to stage a lion dance competition to showcase Chinese martial arts and restore national pride. Interested parties from all over China are invited to participate and compete for the title of "Lion Dance King". Wong Fei-hung travels by train from Foshan to Beijing with his romantic interest Thirteenth Aunt, 13th Aunt and apprentice Leung Foon to meet his father, Wong Kei-ying, at the Ten Tigers of Canton, Cantonese Ten Tigers Association. At the train station, 13th Aunt meets Tomanovsky, a Russian diplomat, who was her classmate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lion Dance
F Lion dance () is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture and other Asian countries in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume to bring good luck and fortune. The lion dance is usually performed during the Chinese New Year and other Chinese traditional, cultural and religious festivals. It may also be performed at important occasions such as business opening events, special celebrations or wedding ceremonies, or may be used to honour special guests by the Chinese communities. The Chinese lion dance is normally operated by two dancers, one of whom manipulates the head while the other forms the rear end of the lion. It is distinguishable from the dragon dance which is performed by many people who hold the long sinuous body of the dragon on poles. Chinese lion dance fundamental movements can be found in Chinese martial arts, and it is commonly performed to a vigorous drum beat. There are two main forms of the Chinese lion dance, the Northern Lion and the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eight-Nation Alliance
The Eight-Nation Alliance was a multinational military coalition that invaded northern China in 1900 with the stated aim of relieving the foreign legations in Beijing, then besieged by the popular Boxer militia, who were determined to remove foreign imperialism in China. The Allied forces consisted of about 45,000 troops from what have, in popular tradition, been called eight 'nations' but included several empires, so thus actually far more than 8 nations in our contemporary 21st century terms, comprising: the German Empire, the Empire of Japan, the Russian Empire, the British Empire, particularly including forces from its full and sub-continent domains of Australia which was not a discrete official alliance signatory and the Empire of India, France which continued with overseas possessions, the United States which as democracy has historically demurred its global reach as 'empire', Italy, a kingdom in this peirod, and the Empire of Austria-Hungary. Neither the Chinese nor the qu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manchu People
The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized ethnic minority in China and the people from whom Manchuria derives its name. The Later Jin (1616–1636) and Qing (1636–1912) dynasties of China were established and ruled by the Manchus, who are descended from the Jurchen people who earlier established the Jin dynasty (1115–1234) in northern China. Manchus form the largest branch of the Tungusic peoples and are distributed throughout China, forming the fourth largest ethnic group in the country. They can be found in 31 Chinese provincial regions. Among them, Liaoning has the largest population and Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Inner Mongolia and Beijing have over 100,000 Manchu residents. About half of the population live in Liaoning and one-fifth in Hebei. There are a number of Manchu autonomous counties in China, such as Xinbin, Xiuyan, Qinglong, Fengning, Yitong, Qingyuan, Weichang, Kua ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thirteenth Aunt
Thirteenth Aunt, Chinese given name Siu-kwan or Aunt Yee(少筠; "Siu-kwan", incorrectly translated in some subtitles as "Peony"), is a fictional character created by Hong Kong director Tsui Hark for his 1991 martial arts film ''Once Upon a Time in China''. The character was first portrayed by Rosamund Kwan. Fictional history Siu-kwan was the Western-educated aunt and love interest of the protagonist, Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung in the film ''Once Upon a Time in China''. Wong Fei-hung respectfully calls Siu-kwan "Thirteenth Aunt", in accordance with Chinese name#Forms of address, Chinese traditions emphasizing generations and family status. In imperial China it was considered disrespectful to refer to Thirteenth Aunt as "Siu-kwan", despite her later insistence that Wong Fei-hung do so. Their romance is forbidden since they are considered relatives due to Siu-kwan's father was a blood brother of Wong's grandfather. Siu-kwan later appeared with Kwan reprised her role in four '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wong Kei-ying
Wong Kei-ying or Huang Qiying (c. 1815–1886) was a Chinese Hung Ga martial artist and physician of Cantonese ethnicity, who lived during the Qing dynasty. He was one of the Ten Tigers of Canton. He was best known for his use of the Tiger Crane Paired Form Fist skill set. His son, Wong Fei-hung, who inherited his martial arts and medical skills, is commonly portrayed as a folk hero in Chinese popular culture. Life Wong was born in Luzhou Hamlet, Lingxi Village, Xiqiao Country, Foshan Town, Nanhai County, Guangzhou Prefecture, Guangdong Province, which is now part of Xiqiao Town, Nanhai District, Foshan City, during the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor. His date of birth is not known. Since his son, Wong Fei-hung, lived from 1847 to 1924, his year of birth was estimated to be between 1810 and 1820. In his younger days, Wong earned a living by performing martial arts and acrobatics in the streets. One day, he encountered Luk Ah-choi (陸阿采; Lu A'cai), a notable practitioner of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
