The Novel of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
The Author
 Mr. Wang Dulu had a very miserable life. He was not only born poor, also suffered the tragedies from the World War II, Chinese Civil War and Chinese Cultural Revolution. He tried many different jobs for a living from a servant to a teacher. He wrote 16 martial art novels in his life (1909-1977). Most of them have a tragedy ending. The movie of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is adapted 4th episode in a series of five novels. The followings are the brief introductions. |
I. Crane Frightens Kun Lun
The first episode is a Romeo and Juliet type story about Southern Crane. The name of Southern Crane is mentioned in the movie during the restaurant fighting.
The Southern Crane loved a girl whose grandpa, named Kun Lun, killed Crane’s father. In the end, the girl killed herself and tried to exchange the safety of her grandpa. Her grandpa committed suicide for the sorrow of his granddaughter later.
Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat)’s father and teacher appeared on the second part of the story. In the end of the story, Southern Crane asked Li Mu Bai ‘s teacher to teach Li martial art before going the mountain as a hermit.
This novel has 20 chapters and 500 thousand words.
II. Treasured Sword, Golden Hairpin
The episode is a love and sad story between Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat), Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh). Li loved Yu in his heart. Li knew Yu liked him too. However, Yu and Meng, her fiancé, had an engagement from their parents. Meng and Li were good friends. Meng didn't do well for his living and liked Li and Yu together. But Li wouldn’t accept the ideal because of Chinese ethical culture. Li tried to fall in love with another working girl and failed. The working girl gave her Golden Hairpin to Li as a love gift. After Meng died for protecting Li, Li still wouldn’t propose to Yu. Later, Li killed a bay guy and got arrested in the jail. Li wouldn’t escape and prepared to die because of respecting the law. In the end, Southern Crane appeared, rescued Li and left a note and a treasured sword for Yu.
This novel has 34 chapters and 450 thousand words. |
III. Sword Spirit, Pearl Light
Li acted as an Incognito’s fugitive after escaping from the jail. He found the Green Destiny accidentally. He stole subtly the diagram of human body vital points from a monk without informing Southern Crane. Li disobeyed Southern Crane’s order of marrying Yu with thousand of reasons. Li just wanted to keep the sibling’s relationship with Yu. The other part of the story was the stealing precious pearl from the Forbidden City by the brother of Lo in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
This novel has 22 chapters and 400 thousand words.
IV. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
This is a romantic love and sad story about Jade Charming Dragon (Princess Jen) and Lo Little Tiger (Bandit Lo). The ending story is different from the movie. In short, the behavior of Jen jeopardized her father’s career. Jen pretended to commit suicide by jumping of a cliff. After her mother died, she kept her promise to her mother to leave Lo and vanished in the desert on a horse back with the Green Destiny. Li Mu Bai didn’t die in this episode either.
This novel has 14 chapters and 500 thousand words. |
V. Iron Knight, Silver Vase
This is a story about the son of Jen (Jade Charming Dragon). Jen gave birth of Lo’s son in the desert. Miss Fang replaced her son with a baby girl. Fang was robbed and rescued by a warrior Han. The boy was named Iron Aroma. The girl was named Snow Vase. After growing up, the boy traveled thousands miles to look for his parents. Finally, he met Jen and Lo in the desert. He didn't recognize parents until they were both killed in front of him. So the tiger perished in the mountain and the dragon lost in the desert. In the end, Iron Aroma and Snow Vase got married.
Yu died from disease in the end and Li Mu Bai was alone and regretted his love to Yu forever.
This novel has 19 chapters and 800 thousand words.
The Next Movie
Ang Lee will make the pre-sequel of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. The name of the movie will be Treasured Sword, Golden Hairpin. The story will combine episode two and three.
Lust, Caution
Ang Lee didn't make the pre-sequel of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, because of the cost issue and his health problem. He made a low-cost Academy Award-winning Brokeback Mountain in 2005. He made another awesome Chinese movie Lust, Caution in 2007.
The Lust, Caution movies is based on the short novel by Eileen Chang. It depicts a female student plotted to kill a Chinese traitor collaborated with the Japanese during World War II.
