Internationally acclaimed martial arts star Jet Li made his screen debut in 1982 with Cheung Yam-yim’s The Shaolin Temple. The 19-year-old Li plays Jue Yuan, who seeks shelter in the Shaolin Temple after his father falls victim to a power struggle. Within the temple walls, he embarks on a journey of martial arts mastery. Unlike traditional portrayals in Chinese-language cinema, the Buddhist monks in this film, indulge in earthly pleasures like alcohol and meat. Nor do they adhere to the Buddhist commandment of not killing when facing the film’s villains. Played by real-life martial arts athletes (like Li himself), these monks add a sense of authenticity to the film. As director, Cheung allowed his actors to choreograph their own actions before capturing these fight scenes using long takes. The Shaolin Temple inaugurated a series of Shaolin-themed films in Hong Kong cinema, and catapulted Jet Li into the limelight, firmly establishing him as an action and martial arts icon.

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