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965 A.D.

During the Sung Dynasty in China

The new magistrate Liu Xuan-jiao of Lin-an city

set out for Shui Yue Temple

under the pretense of worship

But instead he had an ulterior motive

Master... the new magistrate

Master Liu is here!

Notify Master, I'll greet the magistrate

He's not to be disturbed during meditation

You notify him, I'll greet the magistrate

Let's go

Which one of you is Master Yu-tong?

He's in meditation

He's not aware of your visit

Please excuse us for not greeting you

A lowly magistrate like me

is not worth mentioning

Please!

Have a seat!

Ming-yue!

Excuse me!

Who is it?

The new magistrate of Lin-an

You must be Master Yu-tong

Yes

Please accept my apology

for not greeting you

No, pardon my imprudence

I didn't mean to intrude

Please...

Who summoned you?

Don't come in unless I call you, now get out

Yes, sir!

Please!

How can I be of service?

I wouldn't dare

Before I assumed office,

I've been told that Master Yu-tong of Shui Yue Temple

has the undisputed reputation

of being a living Buddha

That's why I wish to pay a visit

I have neither aspiration nor virtue

You're too modest

When I took office,

Masters of other temples have greeted me

But you wouldn't do me the honor

That reminded me of a story

I'm all ears

An eminent monk from Zhong-nan Shan

subjected himself to penance

One day he went into town to collect alms

Tofu...

His 6 roots and 4 elements were not pure and void

He was unable to free himself from mortal desires

No matter how hard he tried

Eventually he disappeared

I presume you seldom leave the Temple?

Of course

Your constancy and comprehension

must have no equal

and you have attained 33 days in Heaven

But Confucious said food and sex are normal for humans

Of those 33 days, 6 days for lust

23 days for the material world

and 4 for contemplation

They add up to 33

We say the Heaven of 33 Devas is the highest

and lovesickness is the worst sickness

Appearance is a void and vice versa

What's your opinion

of the word "lust"?

It refers not to lust, but appearance

People say the 4 elements are void

without knowing which 4 elements

People say the 6 roots are pure

without knowing which 6 roots

4 elements mean earth, water, fire and air

Our flesh and muscles come from earth

Blood and fluids from water

Warmth and cold from fire

Breathing and circulation from air

You'll be sick even ifjust one is off-balance

You'll be dead if one is missing

Who am I?

I am a void

What are the 6 roots?

Eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind produce

6 qualities- sight, sound, smell, taste, touch & idea

The eyes is the root of sight; as the ears to sound

The nose to smell; the tongue to taste

The body to touch; the mind to idea

6 roots and 6 qualities form 6 perceptions

producing 18 notions

equivalent to 18 beads in my hands

6 roots, 6 qualities and 6 perceptions

How can we see ourselves?

In the mirror, of course

But if I'm a void

You can't see me in the mirror;

without me, you won't see the world

That's why appearance is void and vice versa

It's not lust you were referring to

Incredible!

You certainly deserve your reputation

But I'm still convinced that

Celibacy is inhuman

and against nature

This is a Buddhist temple

women are not allowed

But if a beautiful woman should come visit

I'm afraid...

even you may not be able to resist

I must get back to my meditation

Excuse me!

Fetch my palanquin!

Yes, sir!

Wonderful!

Come, have a drink

Please bear with me, I'm new at this

Hong-lian, while you're still young

find yourself a husband

before it's too late

Unless the Magistrate has pity on me

it won't be that easy

Excuse me!

Sure!

The Magistrate wishes to speak to Miss Hong-lian

Please excuse me!

Pardon me

Looks like the Magistrate

is interested in Hong-lian

Master Yu-tong of Shui Yue Temple?

He fancies himself as a living Buddha

If you can seduce him

You'll get a reward

and I'll let you leave the brothel

But...

If you defy my orders...

Well, I'll try my best

Bodidharma is the 28th patriarch of Indian Buddhism

and the first patriarch of Chinese Zen lineage

He was the third son of King Simhavaram of India

He became a monk when he grew up

Following the instructions of his master Prajnatara

he traveled by sea to China

and arrived in September, 520 A.D.

Because Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty

refused to accept other faiths,

Bodhidharma continued north

until he arrived at the Shaolin Temple in Henan

According to the legend, for 9 years

he sat in meditation facing a wall

Hence he's also called the Wall-gazing Brahman(Priest)

One day a Confucian scholar named Shen-guang

requested audience with Bodhidharma

Since the Confucian teachings

were unable to satisfy his thirst for knowledge

He wished to become Bodhidharma's disciple

But upon arriving in China...

Bodhidharma has not seen anyone

Shen-guang was no exception

But Shen-guang was not disheartened

He waited in the courtyard without sleep or food

Days went by

Shen-guang persisted

He stood in the snow for 7 days

but failed to impress Bodhidharma

Finally

Sir...

Shen-guang cut off his arm with a sword

and fainted

Sir...

Why are you here?

My heart is anxious, please pacify it

Bring it to me and I'll pacify it

I can't find it

There, I have pacified it

Shen-guang was enlightened

The heart that needed to be pacified

is only an illusion

The true heart is at peace, the body of thought

Whenever we think

or control it

It becomes transcendental

and is not the true heart

Bodhidharma asked Shen-guang to produce his heart

to make him realize that

his so-called heart is imaginary

and help him find his true heart

Shen-guang experienced a sudden awakening

and removed the doubts he had

Thereby he could end his mental struggle

Bodhidharma named him Hui-ke, and he became

the second patriarch of Zen Buddhism in China

Help...

Qing-feng, Ming-yue, check it out

Yes, sir!

Help...

Help...

Don't worry, it's only a cold

You'll be fine after you take the medication

Help her up!

It's bitter

Yes, but it's good for you

I mean my life

I've had no family after my husband died

I got lost in the wind going to his grave

If the Gods didn't watch over me,

I could have been eaten by the wolves

Drink it while it's hot

Lie down and get some rest

I can't stay

A widow should not impose

I can't sleep in a temple

It's late and stormy outside

That's right

We're very accommodating

Saving a life beats building a 7-storey pagoda

That's right!

Stand back!

This is ginger water with sugar

lt'll neutralize the bitter taste

Amitabha!

It's inconvenient for me to stay

I can't blame them

They're hot blooded young men

Sleep upstairs in my eastern chamber

I'll be in the west chamber

They won't disturb you

Thank you, Master

"To preach Buddhism"

Go study!

Yes!

Cover up!

It hurts!

You'll catch a cold!

It's the medication kicking in

This is a relapse

Relapse?

I have a folk remedy

Tell me

I'll find the herbs for you

I don't need herbs

Then what is it?

Before my husband passed away

He used to take his clothes off

and place his warm stomach on mine

and I used to be fine right away

It works every time

Master...

Master...

So...

I'm afraid...

You're an enlightened monk

You must save me

Compassion is the basis of your faith

You must help me

Saving a life beats building a 7-storey pagoda

It's killing me, Master

I'll try

Master

It hurts!

Master Yu-tong of Shui Yue Temple

seldom leaves the temple

But a few drops of bodhi water

has entered in Hong-lian

Master Yu-tong meditating again?

Yes, his door is still locked

I doubt it!

- Master... - Magistrate!

Master...

Master...

Master...

Master...

Master...

Master...

Master...

Yu-tong reached Parinirvana that day

Death, in secular terms

Allegedly, on that day

the scheming magistrate's wife

gave birth to a daughter

by the name Liu Cui

who later became a prostitute

in the famous legend

The deliverance of Liu Cui

"Lotus river"

Whether or not there are similar stories

in the red-light districts nowadays

is hard to tell

But stories of reprisals breeding reprisals

are common in the red-light districts

Come on!

How much?

80 cents

That's too much!

60?

You're worth 20

Hey, your mother could be worth 20!

Don't mess with me!

Damn!

Where is it?

Should be up ahead

Really?

I'm sure it's up there!

Let's go!

Mother!

Who are you?

Xiao-bao

Yes, Hua Xiao-bao

Yes, Hua Wu-bao's daughter

Help!

Murder!

Take her away!

Go in

I can see the moon again!

The crescent moon with a chill

It's not the first time

I have seen a crescent moon like this

Each time I see it

I feel sad

Whenever I get a grievance

I feel a chill in my heart

I stare up at Heaven

thinking of the pains in my life,

the unspeakable sufferings;

I become speechless

About 3 years ago,

under a crescent moon just like this

Before I was forced to work in a brothel

I waitressed at Feng-ya restaurant

You wish to see me, Boss?

Sit over there

Don't pull a long face

This is not a funeral home

Come on, crack a smile

or else you won't get a tip

Tell me why you are here?

You're here to make money, right

Make some embroidery on your handkerchief, look

"Honey, I love you"

Don't play dumb with me

You're a big girl

Waitresses marry bank managers all the time

If you want,

you can also live in fancy houses and ride in cars

Lady boss...

The customers are complaining

What the hell...

Those bastards!

Honey...

What's wrong with you?

Don't get rough!

Did you spill the salt?

This is killing us!

Too salty? Just say so

Don't hammer as if this were a funeral

Too salty? That's easy!

Add more salt

What are you doing?

You're a friggin' bastard if you don't eat this

Fine! On one condition

Let's go out afterwards, my treat!

You're a bitch if you refuse

Fine! Eat this!

If you don't, you're a son of a bitch!

Salty?

No

No?

Eat!

Try it!

Talk is cheap... eat it!

I will

Salty?

No! How strange!

Now it's not salty, you miserable wretch!

Don't hit me!

What is it, Baby?

This woman...

6... 12...

36... 24

2 dollars and 12 cents

Let me...

Quit the act, I'm buying

This is not fair

You're trying to weasel out of it

"Feng-ya restaurant"

I arrive at Feng-ya Restaurant

that serves good food and wine

Shark's fin, bird's nest and meatballs

Fine wining and dining

Zhu Ye Qing and Wu Jia Pi

Mao Tai and Da Qu

You can never drink enough amongst friends

The literati are having a good time

writing poetry and painting,

singing and playing an instrument

Good food served by waitresses

who are really not bad

Tipping as much as they consume

Everyone is so sweet

One is pretty, one is cute

The new one is the best

With cherry lips and a slender waist

She pulls a poker face

Jerk!

Calling me ajerk

Making everyone laugh

I turn around to grab the money

forcing me to stoop

I bow to the customers

and tell them to mind their steps

I'll take anything for a tip

A silver dollar is fine

A car or a flat, I don't mind

In your dreams! Here...

I don't work for small change

What is it that you want?

Of course I'll be prepared to do it for more

Suit yourself!

No skin off my nose!

Go to Hell!

Long time no see...

Please go upstairs

This way...

The first time I saw the crescent moon

was the first time Mother took me to the Fox Lady

After we visited Father's grave

she took me to town

"Huan Cui House"

I didn't know where I was

But everyone seemed happy

Singing and laughing

All I can remember

was the crescent moon

and the tears in my Mother's eyes

She didn't say a word

I felt sad

I felt something bad

Mrs. Fung, looking for someone?

Is the Boss in?

She's upstairs!

What is it? Is her father...

I told you he wouldn't make it

But you insisted on borrowing the money

I must do something

and try to help him

Never mind...

Come inside!

Come on

Wait here!

Boss!

What?

Mrs. Fung is here with Yu-hua

Show them in

Come in

What is it? Is her father...

Damn... sit

Sit by the furnace

Sit...

What a pity!

I was just telling Lao San

to ask them for more time

But they refused

Everyone needs money

I can't even pay the interest, let alone the principal

That's too bad!

You're making it difficult

I can't help it

Her father was sick for 6 months

I used up all the money

That won't do!

Even on interest alone

lt'll snowball into a huge amount

You must do something

What can I do?

What did you say?

I don't believe you

You're so young!

It's really quite simple

Work for me and you can pay your debt

You'll earn enough

to support yourself and Yu-hua

How can I face my husband?

I'm from a proper family

I can't work in a brothel

Money is king, people don't care what you do

They'll respect you for your money

That's right!

No one is born into a brothel

But fate determines your life

You have other ideas?

I'm a Buddhist

I'm making a suggestion because I feel sorry for you

I can't force you

Just pay off the debt

Don't make things difficult for us

I don't have that much money

That's my point!

Don't be so narrow minded

Even if you live in widowhood till you die

No one will erect a stone arch to honor your chastity

Crying doesn't help! You need to make money

Very well

Mother...

I knew you'd come around

Come, let's check out the room

Come on!

Mother...

She can't stay here

Even if she stays, she can't call you Mother

or you'll drive away the customers

Mother...

Come here...

Your mother is dead, this is your sister

Mother...

If you cry again, I'll kill you

Mother put me in a school on a work-study basis

As much as I missed her, I dared not visit her

I learnt calligraphy and painting

Helped students with copying

I mop and I clean

I must make something of myself

Because I'm living off someone else

I don't pay attention to others like the other girls

I keep to myself

and make friends with my own shadow

I age before my years

I love myself because no one else will

I pity and encourage myself

I comfort myself

I focus only on the present

because I have no future

As I grow up,

I realize that my beauty

is my only consolation

My beauty makes me stand out

But also makes me afraid

If Mother wasn't good looking

they would never have forced her into whoring

I decided to focus on studying

and working

I believed good things come to good persons

and there's justice in the world;

Or maybe not

Miss Wu

What is it?

A customer is waiting upstairs

What a pain!

Listen to me, understand?

Make a good showing for me

Study hard

You're different because you're in work-study

You must work hard, understand?

I will

I have to go

Already? Can't you stay?

I'm going to town in your mother's pedicab

I'll come back tomorrow

You'll be alone in the school

Be careful!

Take care!

I know! It's not the first time

Go back and be careful!

Go on!

You're still here, Mr. Wang?

The woman who left here

She looks familiar

That's why I came back for a look

She's my mother

What? Your mother?

What is it?

That's hard to believe!

And such a shame!

What do you mean?

Nothing! If I should mention

to the principal and the other students

that your mother works in a brothel

It probably won't affect

an auditor like you on work-study

But it'll damage the reputation of the school

I believe

no one will know if I keep it quiet

Thank you, Mr. Wang

Even if they knew

I'll just leave, it's no big deal

It's getting late, you should go

You're not afraid to be here by yourself?

I heard the school is haunted

A wolf in sheep's clothing

is worse than ghosts

Like mother like daughter

Your tongue is sharper than your mother's

Help!

Help!

Help!

Help!

Help!

Help!

Who is it?

It's me!

Yu-hua, Madam wishes to see you

That's why I brought her here

Please come in

Have a seat!

Thank you

Have a nice chat, I'll get back to my customers

Go ahead!

Sit down, Yu-hua! We're family

Come on...

I'll get to the point

I've been looking for you

Your mother...

Don't be too sad

Your mother died a few days ago

What?

She died of venereal disease

What? Just like that?

Calm down...

Everyone gets sick

To make a buck one needs to serve customers

Who knows who passed her the disease!

That's her misfortune!

I'd report to the authorities since I couldn't find you

and buried her in a common graveyard

You're an adult,

not a child anymore

What's the use of crying?

Here's the death certificate

and the receipt for her funeral

They add up to $30 plus change

This is your mother's IOU

She was almost done paying up her debt

But she stopped working because of the disease

The interests snowballed into a large sum

I have it!

247.85

That much?

Plus the funeral costs

How much in total?

266.15

What now? This is so difficult...

I loaned her the money because she was a friend

And now look what happened!

Sit down and we'll talk

Talk my ass!

Calm down...

Yue-hua is smart

She won't put us in a hole

Meet the customers...

Yes...

Xiao Hong... Cui Lan... Hong Hong

No...

Jin Lan... Hua Xiao-bao... Hong Hua

Good...

She's a student and painter

Come here please

Look at this!

Yu-hua is Xiao-bao's pseudonym

Excellent...

This is my card

Inukai Jiro

Xiao Hong

They're all here except those on leave

And your pick...

I want Xiao Hong

Cui Lan

Hua Xiao-bao

Yes...

She emerged unsullied from the filth

The manager of Xiang Sheng-cheng

offered to pay $1,000 to light her candle

but the Boss turned down the offer

$1,000? That's too much!

That's enough to buy a quadrangle

You can buy a quadrangle anywhere

The first night of a painter is a chance of a lifetime

Excuse me, who wants to pick Hua Xiao-bao?

That's me!

What a coincidence!

The manager of Xiang Sheng-cheng summoned her

Take another pick!

Really?

This is for the better

Keep the money for your quadrangle

Damn!

Be patient! You're a virgin

I've been asking around

Nobody knew how Mother died

Even if they did

they wouldn't dare tell you

Why am I summoned to meet the customers

but not to serve them?

You're still fresh. They're reeling in the big fish

Someone wants to light your candle

What? I don't have one

That means your virginity

Who says I'm a virgin?

Me neither

But they lit my candle 3 times only

3 times?

That's the most you can do

You know "sayonara" in Japanese?

Sayonara?

That's goodbye

How is that related to lighting candles?

You're so ignorant!

There's a Chinese saying

You're finished after the third time

3 candles... sayonara

Don't they need to see red to light a candle?

Of course

Count the days, coincide with your period

But the first time is always reserved for Lao San

What?

Lao San is the worst

You won't get away!

Hurry!

Go ahead

Who is it?

It's me! Hurry!

Stop pawing me!

You must learn from the master

Let go of me!

Stop it!

Last round!

Down with the lanterns!

Now you can tell me

How did my mother die?

Not until your candle is lit the third time

Congratulations... cheers!

"Honey, I love you"

Come!

"Good luck and prosperity to lovers"

Good...

Be careful!

This is weird!

I spent $1,000

But I wasn't up to it

I even used a dogskin plaster

and rubbed myself all over

But it wouldn't harden

I couldn't no matter how hard I tried

Where did this come from?

"Hua Liu Avenue"

A year flew by

I was busy entertaining

Other than putting on make up

I did nothing else

I ate and drank whenever food was served

and lived like a zombie

Life only got worse

People aim high, water runs low

Everyone wants to fly

But I don't have wings

I have seen and heard enough this past year

Men are divided into different schools

and different grades

The same applies to brothels

Ranked first is the "recital class"

followed by "teahouse" and "lower rung"

You can tell its status from its name

But even that

is ranked higher than Lotus River

where grading is irrelevant

and the customers are rogues with no morals

People who come here

have no shame

Enough?

More! Don't be so stingy!

What are you staring at?

Go home and stare at your mother!

As if she didn't sleep with anyone!

Have you seen enough? Damn it!

I won't see

So what?

You can come in and watch if you pay

Living one day at a time

I tried hard to forget my past

and not to think of the future

Sometimes, I didn't even know

what I'm living for

Actually, I do know

I'm living just for one reason

I want to find out

how Mother died

I know there's something wrong

Of the people I talked to...

Either they didn't know

Or those who knew, were evasive

They sighed in despair but refused to tell me

When I met Cai Feng in a third grade brothel

I finally learned the truth of Mother's death

Sad... so sad!

"Cui Hong Tang"

I arrive at Cui Hong Tang

These women are incredible

They are so flexible

serving a different man every night

They are so pretty

Thousands slept on their arms

and thousands more kissed their lips

They swagger along

taking in customers of all shapes and sizes

serving all sorts of delicacies

Hey, sweetheart

hold me in your arms

Boss...

Get away from my door!

I haven't eaten in 3 days

You're such a filthy liar

You're fatter than anyone I know

Boss...

Damn it!

Quit the act!

Here, this butt is for you

Bitch!

Miss...

Go on up!

What is it?

Your husband wants you to take your son home

And freeze to death?

The boy is fine here

Tell him I'm busy

I'll talk to him later

He won't come inside

He considers it a disgrace!

He's been a cuckold all these years

He should be used to it

Tell him to make do with noodles for a few days

She's with a customer

It's too cold

Get yourself some noodles

Go on home!

Just a minute!

Customers! Come out, ladies

"Hua Xiao-bao"

Get me 2 dozens of panty hose from Shanghai

2 bottles of cologne

Alright, I will

Don't forget!

Don't worry, baby

Don't you forget!

Put it on my tab...

Have a safe trip! Hurry back!

Give me a kiss

Baby!

Put it on my tab...

Come on!

Damn!

Damn! This is never-ending

He was piling for an hour

He sure got his money's worth

I bet his mother is a whore

and he's taking it out on me for his father

You know, I forgot to ask you yesterday

Is Hua Xiao-bao your real name?

No, it's Yu-hua

Lao San gave me that name

I thought you're related to Hua Wu-bao

You know her?

Of course! She died such a horrible death!

How did she die?

You know her?

She's my mother!

Your real mother?

Yes!

Really?

Yes! How did she die?

Tell me, how did she die?

It was so sad...

It must have been 13 years ago

I heard she borrowed from those blood suckers

and was forced into prostitution

She couldn't stand it at first

and kept crying

Get used to it!

Haven't you heard that song?

It's your fate that sends you to prostitution

These men are lechers

They do what they want

for their money's worth

They have a good time

and don't give a damn how you feel

Everyone has parents

When they were young

they too were their parents' pride and joy

People grow up to have children

and head up a household

Nobody is born into such a lowly life!

Who'd want to live like this?

Customers! Come out, ladies

How is Wu-bao?

Good! She has a few regulars

Different strokes for different folks

Some people

prefer new faces

She may look quite serious

But she has return-customers

Barking dogs don't bite

Boss...

What is it?

Miss Wu is not feeling well

What is it?

Spit it out!

I have pimples on my body

Tropical bubo?

You'll live

Get back to work!

But...

What?

It's hurting me. Can I rest?

Rest? This is not a retirement home

Stop crying!

That won't put food on the table

She's our bright new star

Go easy on her

It's business as usual even if they're all dead

What's the big deal?

Stop standing there!

Get out! There's nothing to see...

Make sure she gets back to work!

Damn! Just my rotten luck!

Overnight guests...

You're sick!

Please don't yell!

Don't let the Boss know!

Nonsense!

Sir!

Where is the manager?

Where the hell is he?

Sir, please help me out!

Just make do for the night

I'll serve you again when I get well

The hell with you!

Sir!

Manager!

I'm begging you, please don't go!

You're sick! Are you trying to kill me?

Manager! Where the hell...

What is it?

What kind of place is this?

She has venereal disease! Don't let her work!

Yes, sir

Please stay for the night

Stay my ass! I want my refund!

What's with you, Miss Wu?

You'll have a hard time

Wu-bao!

Cai-feng!

Get me the Boss!

Please don't get upset, sir

Let's talk...

Sure enough, the Fox Lady punished her the next day

She was all black and blue

That night, they tied her up

To do what?

To cure her disease

Please don't...

Hurry!

No...

No... please...

Damn! We did her in!

She's a bloody mess

Hurry... open it

Toss her in!

She's still alive!

So? She's useless to me now

Do it!

Boss...

I said do it!

I'm not dead...

Nail her in!

But she's still alive!

I said nail her in!

When they carried away the coffin

I could still hear her screaming

I'm alive...

But to no avail

Mother

Who are you?

Xiao-bao

Yes, Hua Xiao-bao

Yes, Hua Wu-bao's daughter

Help!

Murder!

Mother...

Mother...