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Chen Zhen () is a fictional character created by
Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
writer
Ni Kuang Ni Cong (30 May 1935 – 3 July 2022), courtesy name Yiming, better known by his pen name Ni Kuang (also romanised Ngai Hong, I Kuang and Yi Kuang), was a Hong Kong American, Hong Kong-American novelist and screenwriter. He wrote over 300 C ...
. First portrayed by
Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy which was formed from ...
in the 1972 film '' Fist of Fury'', the character has been the subject of numerous film and television series, including remakes and adaptations of ''Fist of Fury''. Many notable actors, including
Jet Li Li Lianjie (courtesy name Yangzhong; born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese-born Singaporean Martial arts, martial artist and actor. With a Jet Li filmography, film career spanning more than forty years, Li is re ...
and Donnie Yen, have portrayed Chen Zhen on screen after Bruce Lee. Although Chen Zhen's story varies in the different remakes and adaptations, most have an ending similar to the original ''Fist of Fury''. Chen Zhen is believed to be based on Liu Zhensheng (劉振聲), an apprentice of Huo Yuanjia, a martial artist who lived during the late
Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...
of
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
.


Basic story

Chen Zhen is depicted as an apprentice of the martial artist Huo Yuanjia, who founded the Chin Woo Athletic Association (also known as Chin Woo School or Jingwu School) in 1910. After Huo Yuanjia meets his demise under dubious circumstances, Chen Zhen discovers that his shih-fu was poisoned by their rivals from a Japanese
dojo A is a hall or place for immersive learning, experiential learning, or meditation. This is traditionally in the field of martial arts. The term literally means "place of the Tao, Way" in Japanese language, Japanese. History The word ''d� ...
in Hongkou District,
Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...
. The furious apprentice seeks to bring the murderers to justice and embarks on a brutal quest to avenge Huo Yuanjia and revive his shih-fu's legacy, the "Jingwu Spirit".


Character features

During the premiere of '' Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen'' in September 2010, when reporters asked Donnie Yen on the differences between his Chen Zhen and the earlier versions, Yen replied: "Chen Zhen is
Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy which was formed from ...
." He said that Lee's portrayal of Chen Zhen in '' Fist of Fury'' (1972) served as the foundation for subsequent depictions of the character. He further explained that certain features of his character, such as the white Mao suit and the use of nunchaku, were based on Lee's Chen Zhen. However, there were differences in movements and overall character design between his Chen Zhen and Lee's. Since ''Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen'' pays tribute to Lee, Yen decided to retain the white Mao suit and the use of nunchaku in the final dojo fight scene, in addition to repeating Chen Zhen's famous line: "The Chinese are not sick men of East Asia!".


Appearances in media

: ''Note: There are many remakes and sequels that are not possible to list here.''


Film

* '' Fist of Fury'' (精武門), a 1972 film starring
Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy which was formed from ...
as Chen Zhen. This was the first appearance of Chen Zhen on screen. * '' New Fist of Fury'' (新精武門), a 1976 sequel to ''Fist of Fury''. In this film, Chen Zhen's fiancée (portrayed by Nora Miao) meets a young Taiwanese boy, Lung (portrayed by Jackie Chan), who will become Chen Zhen's successor. Chan had previously appeared as a stuntman in the original ''Fist of Fury''. * '' Fist of Fury II'', a 1977 Bruceploitation sequel to ''Fist of Fury''. * '' Fist of Fury III'', a 1978 Bruceploitation sequel to ''Fist of Fury II''. * '' Fist of Legend'' (精武英雄), a 1994 loose remake of ''Fist of Fury'', starring
Jet Li Li Lianjie (courtesy name Yangzhong; born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese-born Singaporean Martial arts, martial artist and actor. With a Jet Li filmography, film career spanning more than forty years, Li is re ...
as Chen Zhen. In the film, Chen Zhen fights to salvage Jingwu School's reputation after Huo Yuanjia's death. He defeats a Japanese general responsible for his master's death and escapes from Shanghai. * ''Fist of Fury 4'', a 1998 Bruceploitation sequel to ''Fist of Fury'' starring Dragon Shek Tianlong Shi as Chen Zhen, is a direct sequel to the original that ignores the Bruce Li and Jackie Chan films. * ''Hero Youngster'' (少年陳真), a 2004 film starring Tsui Siu-lung as a younger Chen Zhen. In this film, Chen Zhen rescues a Manchu princess, starting an adventure in which he helps the princess and a Chinese resistance fighter (portrayed by Yuen Biao) defend China from Japanese invaders. * '' Fearless'', a 2006 film in which Jet Li stars as Huo Yuanjia, the teacher of Chen Zen. * '' Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen'' (精武風雲 - 陳真), a 2010 film starring Donnie Yen as Chen Zhen. In this film, after killing Huo Yuanjia's murderers, Chen Zhen leaves China to help the Allies fight the Germans in France during World War I. He returns to China after the war and joins an underground resistance movement in Shanghai to stop the Japanese from invading China just before World War II. Chen Zhen disguises himself as a masked vigilante (based on the Green Hornet's sidekick Kato).


Television

* '' The Legendary Fok'' (大俠霍元甲), a 1981 Hong Kong television series loosely based on the life of Huo Yuanjia. Wong Yuen-sun and Bruce Leung portrayed Huo Yuanjia and Chen Zhen respectively. * ''The Fist'' (陳真), a 1982 sequel to ''The Legendary Fok''. Bruce Leung reprised his role as Chen Zhen with a new storyline. This ATV production co-starred Candice Yu, Lau Wai-man, Choi King-fai, and Bill Tung. In this series, Chen Zhen becomes a wanted criminal after avenging Huo Yuanjia. With assistance from the mayor of Shanghai, he escapes by faking his own death, moves to Beijing with Huo Yuanjia's son, and leads a reclusive life under a fake name. However, his true identity is revealed when he gets drawn into a conflict with Satō, a Japanese official. Although his involvement in the conflict places his life in danger, it also ignites his nationalist fervour. While Satō plans his revenge, Chen Zhen resolves to reopen Huo Yuanjia's Jingwu School to spread the Jingwu spirit. * '' Fist of Fury'' (精武門), a 1995 television series based on the 1972 film of the same title, produced by ATV and starring Donnie Yen as Chen Zhen. Yen has become synonymous with his role in other regions outside of Hong Kong with significant Chinese populations. * ''Chen Zhen'' (陳真後傳), a 2001 Chinese television series that tells the story of Chen Zhen after Huo Yuanjia's death. Bruce Leung portrayed Chen Zhen. The supporting cast includes He Qing, Ding Haifeng, Chen Baoguo, Shen Junyi, and Jin Qiaoqiao. * '' Huo Yuanjia'' (霍元甲), a 2001 Chinese television series loosely based on Huo Yuanjia's life, with Chen Zhen's story as a subplot. Vincent Zhao and Wu Yue portrayed Huo Yuanjia and Chen Zhen respectively. * '' Jingwu Yingxiong Chen Zhen'' (精武英雄陳真), a 2001 sequel to ''Huo Yuanjia'' (2001). Wu Yue reprised his role as Chen Zhen. * '' Huo Yuanjia'' (霍元甲), a 2008 remake of ''The Legendary Fok''. Ekin Cheng and Jordan Chan portrayed Huo Yuanjia and Chen Zhen respectively. The fight scene in the last episode and the ending are reminiscent of '' Fist of Fury'' and the earlier adaptations. * '' Legend of the Fist: Chen Zhen'' (精武陳真), a 2008 sequel to ''Huo Yuanjia''. Jordan Chan reprised his role as Chen Zhen.


See also

* Cheng Chao-an, a character portrayed by Bruce Lee in ''The Big Boss'' (1971)


Notes


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chen, Zhen Film characters introduced in 1972 Thriller film characters Fictional Chinese people Fictional nunchakuka Fictional wushu practitioners Fictional Hung Ga practitioners Fictional karateka Fictional Jeet Kune Do practitioners