The
Mandarin term wu xia pian originally referred to the
genre of
martial arts films. "Wu xia" means
chivalrous combat, and "pian" means film. It’s China's version of the
Western, but instead of six-shooters and saloons, its swords and kung-fu. It's arguably the first form of martial arts film, with its origins dating back hundreds of years.
Often based on
legends, popular fiction, or Chinese
opera, they feature a strong
supernatural element, with people flying, shooting
death rays out of their hands, and displaying
deadly mental powers. This style of film fell out of favor with the development of more
realistic styles in the 1970s, but has experienced a recent revival thanks to such filmmakers as
Tsui Hark and the popularity of films like
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Even western films, such as
The Matrix, are becoming influenced by Wu Xia Pian.