Classic Wuxia Movie: 36 CHAMBERS OF SHAOLIN

[Ken Cheng]

One of the all-time greatest wuxia movies was 1978's Shaw Brothers film 36 CHAMBERS OF SHAOLIN (sometimes titled MASTER KILLER for English-speaking audiences), starring Gordon Liu as the Shaolin monk San-Te. Perhaps more than any other movie, the film dramatized the rigors of the Shaolin martial arts training process. Has everyone seen this movie? Thoughts about it?

[wkeej]

Yes, I have watched it when I was a kid. To think about it, are there really 36 chambers?

[Ken Cheng]

Yes, I have watched it when I was a kid. To think about it, are there really 36 chambers?

I don't know if the real Shaolin Temple has 36 chambers, but in the film, it was originally 35 until San-Te established the 36th, which was dedicated to the training of lay disciples. In the film, Shaolin originally only imparted its martial arts skills to its resident monks, but after San-Te adventured in the world of laymen, the Shaolin authorities allowed San-Te to train laymen in Shaolin martial arts.