The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
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| The 36th Chamber of Shaolin | |
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 36th Chamber of Shaolin poster |
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| Directed by | Lau Kar-Leung |
| Produced by | Mona Fong Run Run Shaw |
| Written by | Kuang Li |
| Starring | Gordon Liu |
| Music by | Yung-Yu Chen |
| Cinematography | Huang Yeh-tai |
| Editing by | Hing Lung Geung Yen Hae Li |
| Distributed by | World Northal (1979) (USA) (dubbed) |
| Release date(s) | 1978 |
| Running time | 115 min. |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin or Shao Lin san shi liu fang is a martial arts film from Hong Kong, directed by Lau Kar-leung, and first screened in 1978. It is also known as The Master Killer and "Shaolin Master Killer". It is considered to be a classic in the genre. The main character San Te is an historical figure from the Manchu Dynasty, presented in a highly fictionalized account of his life. The character is played by the director's adopted brother Gordon Liu in his breakthrough role. The film spawned two "sequels": Return to the 36th Chamber (Return of the Master Killer), which was more comedic in presentation and featured Gordon Liu as the main character with another actor in the smaller role of San Te. Later, Liu reprised his role as San Te in the movie Disciples of the 36th Chamber (Disciples of the Master Killer').
[edit] Plot
A young student is drawn by his activist teacher into the local rebellion against the Manchu government. The government officials squash the uprising and liquidate the school, killing friends and family members as well. The young man seeks vengeance. Wounded in an attack by Manchu henchmen, he flees to the Shaolin temple and seeks training in kung fu. Initially the Buddhist monks reject him for using stealth to enter the temple. The chief abbot takes mercy on the young man and lets him stay. One year later, he begins his martial arts training and advances rapidly.
However, as he nears the end of his education, the temple officially exiles him because he wants to aid the people against the oppressors, and he returns to the outside world. He returns to the city of his birth, and assists the people by teaching them martial arts. Before the political revolution he is inspiring is complete, he is forced into conflict with his rival the official. Finally, he triumphs and pursues a life teaching others martial arts.
[edit] The 36th Chamber and Buddhist educational theory
The film demonstrates a solid insight into methods of Buddhist education. When he arrives at the temple, the student is assumed to have an interest in living there indefinitely, and is set to sweeping. Only after an extended period does the student ask for knowledge, and seeks the "best, or highest" knowledge. This "best" knowledge is an internal Buddhist one, not the expected martial arts success! He seeks the next greatest learning, but is defeated. In humility the student begins training with the most elemental skills: strength, endurance, agility. Each test requires more and more of the student, challenging him not only to learn humility, but his own mind. As the student develops he is faced with deeper challenges: contests from fellow monks that require advanced skills and research into the very nature of martial arts. As each stage of education is completed, he is forcefully ejected from the chamber of teaching and told not to return. Finally, after besting another monk in combat, the student asks to be able to take his teachings to the outside world. For this "crime" he is ejected from the temple: he has learnt that Buddhist knowledge is only complete in action in the world. The process of learning through experience and moving on is central to Buddhist ideas of education, as is the process of becoming ready to learn through humility.
