Original subtitles

Don't tel l me how well you fig ht,

or how g reat your teacher is,

or brag about you r style.

Kungfu -

two words.

Horizontal . Vertical .

Make a mistake - horizontal .

Stay stand i ng and you win .

Isn't that right?

We're from Foshan .

My father ran the fam ily business.

He exported goods to Hong Kong .

The l ps have a long history in Foshan .

They named a street after us.

That's how wealthy we were.

Before l tu rned 40, life was easy.

I lived off my fam i ly money.

I had only one passion .

At seven , l started learning kungfu .

My master was Chan Wah-shu n .

Foshan's Wing Chun began with Leu ng Jan .

I 'm the th ird generation .

When l started , my master was seventy.

The day l became a disciple ,

he tied the sash himself.

Th is sash stands for school and teacher.

It stands for honor.

You are now a martial artist.

You m ust live your life with honor.

One sash , an un broken trad ition .

I lived th roug h dynastic times,

the early republic, warlords ,

Japanese invasion and civi l war.

Finally, l came to Hong Kong .

What kept me going

was the martial arts code of honor.

My wife , Zhang Yongcheng ,

was the descendant of an l m perial M in ister.

She was a woman of few words

because she knew their power.

We u nderstood each other well .

She loved m usic.

I 'd take her to hear opera .

People were so conservative back then .

N ice women did n't visit places like th is.

But gossip didn't bother her.

When l went out, she lit a lam p

and left it lit till l came home .

If life has seasons,

my first forty years were spring .

( 1 936. Foshan , G uangdong Province .)

I n 1 936 , Foshan

was a prosperous city.

Life was peacefu l and good .

Back then , men socialised in brothels.

Such places were popular in the South .

Foshan's finest was Republic House.

Its walls were covered in gold ,

so we called it the Gold Pavilion .

It was the first to have an elevator.

Enter a prince, exit a pau per.

You'd spend money like water.

It was like a social club for martial artists .

Good men can be found among rogues.

And hidden masters too.

People saw it as a pleasure palace.

But to us,

it was a battleg rou nd .

I claim three accom plishments in life .

First, l u nited Xingyi and Bag ua styles.

Second , l became the director

of the Northern Martial Arts U n ion ,

bri nging together Tongbei , Can non Fist,

Tai Chi , Yan Qing and other schools.

Th ird , l took the northern masters south .

I n 1 929,

the First Southern Martial Arts Academy

was fou nded under my supervision

after talks here in the Gold Pavilion .

I 'm getting old .

It's time for new blood .

I held a retirement ceremony u p North .

You invited me to hold a second one here .

It's my farewell to my southern com rades.

U p North , the one who took part

was my top d isciple, Ma San .

He'll be my successor.

Please give h i m you r su pport.

I 'd always wanted

to take the southern styles north .

Sad ly, my time's u p.

I want to hold a demonstration match

with a southern martial artist.

Someone you all support.

Pick one.

Th i n k you're good enough

to challenge the Old Master?

Let's keep it sim ple .

I 'l l take you all on .

Get him !

That at the ceremony up North ,

l had the honor.

To worship at the feet of the Budd ha

first pass the G uardian of the Gate .

That's me.

How can l represent the South?

The southern schools

are H ung , Lau , Choy, Lee, and Mok.

I n ran k,

you are all my seniors.

You're the leaders and masters.

I have no standing .

The reputation of the South is at stake.

We Southerners

may be petty,

but we don't run away from a fig ht.

We're not afraid of these Northerners!

This is a challenge.

We will rise to it.

Isn't that right?

Absolutely!

It m ust be you .

I 'l l take the kids to my mother's.

Less for you to worry about.

When a man reaches forty,

he needs to be su re of things.

When it's all over,

come pick us u p .

Do you know

why a kn ife m ust have a sheath?

Its power lies not in sharpness,

but in concealment.

You're too sharp a blade.

You have to stay put.

My sheath

is you , Master.

With you arou nd ,

l 'm u nder control .

I can no longer control you .

You're too anxious to make your mark.

For now, leave Foshan .

M iss that train ,

and l'll break you r legs.

Central News:

Southern arm ies

marched north

claim ing for autonomy.

The Central Army blocked their advance .

The situation is explosive .

Halt!

Let us pass.

Sorry. This street is closed off.

No one bearing arms can enter.

Do you know who's in that rickshaw?

Cal l out the Gong Family disciples!

M iss Gong , it's good you're here.

He m ust call th is off. Win or lose, it!s a d isg race.

My father has never lost.

There's no q uestion of losing .

And so what if he wins?

They'll say he beat a nobody.

I p Man's not at h is level .

Where's my father?

Brother.

It's me, Baosen .

Isn't the Northeast big enoug h for you?

You had to come to Foshan? Get u p.

I 'm taking you home.

Home?

How's that possible?

The Japanese control the Northeast.

The Japanese flag

won't wave over me.

The time's not ripe.

Making soup like th is

is a lot of work.

It's not sou p.

It's snake stew.

Isn't that a winter dish?

It's a d ish from a long time ago.

Yes, decades .

1 905

was a Snake Year.

You left the Northeast that year.

The fire has to be right for stew.

Too low -

it'll lack taste .

Too hig h -

it'll scald .

There's a lesson in that.

Go.

Wait till the fire can take this wood .

I 'll go then .

The South may secede .

It's no time for diplomacy.

We're getting old .

Don't risk your reputation .

I p is more than he appears to be .

Force it,

things cou ld go wrong .

I know what l'm doing .

I 'm creating opportu nity.

This fire today

needs new wood .

You r northern colleagues

d isapprove of this match .

It's a huge honor.

Th is l p doesn't deserve it.

It's not how things are done.

Don't fol low the herd .

If the old never let go

when will the you ng get their chance?

I p Man has talent.

Let's see if he can prove himself.

The Gong Family has never lost before.

With you here,

what right does he have?

I once had a temper like you rs:

win ning was everything .

But life's bigger than that.

Take a longer view.

Past the mou ntains

the world opens u p.

Not to see the good in others ,

not to ad m it their talent,

is to lack generosity.

Ou r high standards in martial arts

apply to character as well .

Father,

why did you bring me to a brothel?

If you don't see someth i ng ,

does it not exist?

No harm in seeing .

The first time l came here

was before you were born .

Twenty years have passed in a flash .

I n life ,

ability isn't everyth ing .

Some thrive in lig ht,

others in shadow.

The times make us what we are.

I asked you to come South

to bring th ings fu ll circle

and to let you see

how l step down .

Since you were little ,

you've watched me fight.

This is the last time.

You're engaged to be married .

The Martial World

is no longer you r world .

Be a good doctor.

Live a peacefu l life.

Th is is my greatest wish .

Master l p .

We're here to celebrate.

You r big day is coming u p.

We'd like to show you our support.

I 'm h um bled , U ncle Deng .

It's noth ing at all .

Don't mention it.

Please.

On behalf of the lad ies

and staff, congratulations .

That's q uite a battle formation .

Sister San heads our Peking Opera trou pe .

She dabbles in Bag ua .

She'd like to offer a few pointers .

Please.

After you .

Bag ua is based on sword play.

Sing le reverse palm is a sing le blade .

Dou ble reverse palm is a double blade .

The feet arc out and in .

There are 64 transformations.

Attack comes out of nowhere.

Sister San , it's just practice.

No need to smash the ancestral tablets.

I 've done that many times before .

No big deal .

M r l p , Bag ua is u nderhanded .

Beware .

Than k you .

Ah , M r l p .

Today is a happy day.

We in Accounts wish you wel l .

Xingyi began with General Yue Fei .

It uses the fist as a spear.

Drill

Chop

Cross

Blast

Crush

Such sensitivity - im pressive!

That Crushing Fist is quite someth ing .

M r l p ,

each challenge leads to a higher peak.

Xingyi is brutal .

Don't u nderestimate it.

Let's see how high the peaks get.

H m m . This will be fu n .

My tu rn now, Master l p .

And what have you got for me, Yong?

A string of firecrackers.

That move, isn't that H ung Gar?

I 'm a jack of all trades.

You do m ix it up.

What's wrong with that?

So long as it works.

The 64 Hands have end less com binations.

You r Wing Chun is a three-trick pony.

Spade, Pin , Sheath .

How can it com pete?

Th ree's enough to take care of you .

Yong , you r fireworks have fizzled .

What of it? l'm an old man .

Youth tru mps skill .

He mig ht be a grandmaster,

but don't hold back.

You'd better win .

Th is has been a real privilege.

To victory!

Good luck.

Every generation produces new talent.

M r l p , we were fated to meet.

For my final contest

l suggest we match wits,

not skill .

Do you accept?

As our guest,

it's u p to you .

When our U nion was fou nded 25 years ago,

a man came from the South .

He offered a challenge.

He held out a flat cake

and asked our Master to break.

Ou r Master wasn't offended .

He even named the man our first chairman .

It wasn't because of his kungfu

but what he said -

Kungfu divides into North and South .

M ust the cou ntry d ivide as wel l?

That man was also from Foshan -

l p Yun-biu .

He was a great man .

Today,

meeting another M r l p ,

l will ask that same question .

M r l p ,

can you break this cake in my hand?

A Tai Chi master kept a bird from flying

by g iving it no perch

from which to fly.

The Old Master's skill is too g reat.

M r l p is a sparrow in his palm .

I don't think he can do it.

The world is a big place.

Why lim it it to North and South?

It holds you back.

To you ,

this cake is the country.

To me it's m uch more.

Break from what you know

and you will know more.

If the Southern arts go far,

what bou ndary is the North?

Wou ld you agree?

Well said .

All my life , l've been the victor.

My techn iq ue has never failed me.

I never thought l'd see

the lim its of my own vision .

M r l p ,

today l've made you famous.

I n future ,

you'll face challenges at every step .

I hope you'll be like me .

Pass on the torch .

Never give up the faith .

Keep the light burning .

M iss Gong , you m ustn't do this.

The Gongs have never been defeated .

I wi ll redeem our honor.

G ive th is to l p. He'l l u nderstand .

I have no chance

to be as great as Father.

It wasn't my choice.

But l'll make my mark.

Go.

Tonight, following Northern custom ,

the win ner will host a banq uet.

Neither l p Man nor l will attend .

You'll represent me .

Don't worry.

I 'l l do the right thing .

Let's go!

Of Master Gong's martial arts,

Ma San inherited the steel

and his daughter the silk.

She is the sole heir to the 64 Hands.

Her moves are dead ly.

I n booking the whole place first,

she forces your hand .

Don't u nderrate Gong Er.

The Martial World has fou r taboos:

mon ks, Taoist priests, women and ch ild ren .

G rappling with them is a bad idea .

She's gone to so much trou ble -

how could l not accept?

Three days ago,

my father sat here.

Ton ight,

it's between us.

Please.

Pity about the lovely decor.

Kungfu is about precision .

If anyth ing gets broken ,

you win .

M r l p ,

l showed you the 64 Hands

so that you'd know

the world is a big place .

Kungfu isn't just charging forward .

Look behind you as wel l .

I hope that's enough of a clue.

It went your way th is time .

Who knows what

next time will bring .

Come.

I 'll be waiting .

Take care.

( I d ream of seeing the 64 Hands) (again in the snow.)

(l'm waiting . What's keeping you?)

Does it fit?

Does Foshan get this cold?

You look lovely.

Let's take a fam ily photo .

(October 1 938. Foshan fell to the Japanese .)

I n October 1 938,

the Japanese invaded Foshan .

Their army took over our home.

If life has four seasons,

we went from spring straig ht to winter.

I 'l l be back with dinner.

Help me prosper?

Rescue me from poverty?

I 've never been poor in my life .

The country's in crisis

and everyone is suffering .

To be poor is no big deal .

I 'd rather starve

than eat Japanese rice.

I won't collaborate.

I have plenty of friends.

They'll help me throug h .

Enjoy your d inner.

You won't find those friends here,

on ly collaborators.

We had a d i n ner just now.

These are the leftovers.

If it's not beneath you ,

take them back to your fam ily.

How can l accept?

Dirty money paid for it.

No point in waste. We're old friends.

You're most welcome.

They're brand new.

I was going to the Northeast.

But that's im possible now.

Sell them and l can feed my fam ily.

Why is there a button m issing?

Is there?

M ust've dropped off.

I began studying kungfu at seven .

Before l turned forty,

l was never beaten .

When that happened ,

lt was life that dealt the blows.

I n eight years of war

l lost everything .

Money,

friends...

Ch ina will never die!

G irls obey their Madam .

Gangsters obey their boss.

Our boss was Sun Yat-sen

We followed his orders.

We Southerners have fire in our bell ies

and a sense of honou r.

Only cowards fear the Japs.

I 'l l kill any l see !

( 1 938. U ncle Deng died) (in a Japanese bombard ment.)

(Collaborators took over the Gold Pavilion .)

Finally, l lost my fam ily.

(l p Man lost two daughters in the war.)

No one move!

Where are you going? Show your l Ds!

H urry.

I Ds!

Where are you going? l Ds!

Halt!

( 1 939. Traveling to Northwest U niversity) (to practice medicine,)

(Gong Er meets The Razor, a Nationalist agent. )

( 1 940. Ma San collaborates with the Japanese,)

(taki ng an official post in the puppet government.)

Do you remember what l taug ht you?

Yes.

Never put you rself first,

show respect.

There's always someone better.

To yield is not to lose .

Master, you have taught me

to be modest

and know my place.

I took you in as an orphan .

You broug ht

cred it to ou r school .

Let's go over

my su preme move.

The Old Monkey Hangs up his Badge.

Have you practiced it?

Yes.

You know the key to it?

I was never told .

It's looking back in reflection .

It's not the u pward move,

but the tu rning back.

U nderstand what l'm saying?

A warrior molds himself to the times.

What if

l can't turn back?

Then the Gong Fam ily legacy

cannot live on in you .

Stay back.

Let him go.

Never darken my door again .

Get lost.

Master!

The whole clan

heard you were coming

and raced i n from all over.

And J iang?

He's keeping them company.

M iss Gong ,

they're awaiting your decision .

They d id n't come all this way

to hear my decision .

Did Father have any last words?

Don't seek vengeance .

M iss,

your father forbade revenge .

I ag ree Ma San deserves to die .

It's a massive crime

to betray one's teacher.

Nothing is worse.

On the other hand ,

it was your father

who u nited Xingyi and Bagua .

Ma San worked hard at Xingyi .

And your father taug ht you

the 64 Hands h i mself.

The two of you are his legacy.

If you stand together,

the legacy remains whole.

Besides,

if you take action ,

whatever the outcome,

people will laugh .

They'll say what's th is Gong school

where the d isciple kills the master,

and the daug hter kills her brother-in-arms?

A pack of wild an imals?

Besides, as for Ma San ,

even your father could n't fin ish him off.

You think you can?

M iss Gong ,

we're old men .

We made the long trip here

with your best interests in mind .

Take our advice .

J ust get married .

You r father's last words

were Don't seek vengeance .

If you kill Ma San

won't that go against his wishes?

My father said that

out of love for me .

He wants me to have a peacefu l l ife.

But if l don't avenge his death ,

l 'l l never be at peace.

I u nderstand what you're sayi ng .

With respect,

he treated you

all like brothers.

After he d ied ,

you shou ld've dealt with Ma San .

I nstead you come here

as h is messenger.

After all my father did for you !

I know

Ma San works for the Japanese.

He's got power.

But l'll stand up for my fam ily.

Is he com ing , or not?

What does it matter?

He comes, you go,

and that's the end of it, rig ht?

It's better to let it go, M iss Gong .

Some things are out of our hands.

It's the Will of Heaven .

Maybe l am the Wil l of Heaven .

Oh ye gods and spirits

gu ide th is soul to Paradise!

Halt!

We mustn't stop!

Don't block the road .

Keep to the side .

Move!

Ma San ordered us

to escort the body.

M iss Gong ,

Ma San's men

are blocking the road .

The have ban ners of mou rn i ng .

Trou blemakers!

M iss Gong ,

time is of the essence .

J iang !

Tel l Ma San he's a dead man .

Let's go!

Let's go!

Oh ye gods and spirits

...g u ide this soul to Parad ise!

They're here.

Stop her.

Keep her back.

Let me at her.

Stop her.

Stay back. We're here for Ma San .

Since you're my senior,

l won't force my way i n .

But know th is .

You can't h ide from me forever.

I wi ll take back my fam ily's legacy.

Come out!

Better to advance than to stop .

The Old Master taught me this.

It became my philosophy of life .

It's a shame

he couldn't follow h is own advice .

H is precious teachings are mine now.

You want them -

send a member of the fam ily.

You'll be marrying out.

You don't cou nt.

Don't ask after me .

No news means l'm gone.

Find someone else.

M iss,

to give up such an ideal marriage -

is it really worth it?

Think it over.

If you take those vows ,

you'll never be able to marry,

teach , or have ch ildren .

There's no tu rning back.

Father,

can you read what's in my heart?

If you agree with me ,

show me a flame before Budd ha .

Better to advance than to stop .

He mocks us for having no successor.

I can only advance.

I can't stop.

( 1 950. Hong Kong . Tai Nan Street)

Ever taught before, Master l p?

To teach for a living

is a new experience.

So why now?

I 'm starting a new life .

You've got your th ings .

You're confident.

Saves ru nning back and forth .

I n Hong Kong no one knows Wing Chu n .

Any special moves?

Not really.

Th ree basic hands - Spade, Pin , Sheath .

How many forms?

The Concept,

The Bridge,

and Darting Fingers.

Weapons?

Double Knives

and the Six-and-a-half Point Pole.

Anything else?

That's it.

Bone-setting ,

i nternal energy -

l don't do any of that.

Drifters,

l ion dancers -

l don't teach those types.

Why not?

Kungfu isn't a sideshow.

So l won't teach d rifters.

Lion dancers jum p at firecrackers.

They're always brawling

and showing off,

all for a bit of cash .

It's crude.

I 'l l ask you straight -

ever been in a real fight?

It's wall-to-wall kungfu schools here.

They start fig hts over nothing .

Master l p ,

have you got what it takes?

Try me and find out.

Fig ht! Fight!

I 've had a few years of training .

Show me your stuff, Master l p.

Have you had lunch?

Barbecued pork and rice.

I suggest you wait a bit.

It'd be a shame to waste it.

Waste it?

Brother H u ng ,

are you okay?

Where's the tea?

Tea?

To g ive to your new master!

We've put a bed here for you .

I hope it'll do for now.

Sorry it's a bit shabby.

Is there a ham mer?

Master l p ,

The boys and l want some lessons .

Eighty cents a head .

Cheap enoug h .

But call yourself a master,

you'd better deliver the goods.

No snake oil .

How good's you r ku ngfu , anyway?

Lock the gate.

Hey!

Little fucker.

Shut the door and it's on for real .

You've got two hands and two feet.

How you gonna beat us all?

You're mistaken .

I have two hands but

Wing Ch u n has eig ht kicks.

Never mind your boys.

There's more than enough for you .

More than enoug h for me?

That one's free.

First kick.

Fourth kick.

One more left.

Do you remember ou r oath?

What oath?

I vow with all my heart

to be loyal

and obedient

to the Party.

I fear neither hardsh i p

nor sacrifice.

Should l forsake these vows,

l accept the harshest pun ish ment.

Fuck.

The war is over.

This is Hong Kong .

But we stand by our code -

Join us alive.

Leave us dead .

I 'm leaving now.

Can you stop me?

Try us and see .

(l n exile in Hong Kong , The Razor)

(ran the Wh ite Rose Barber Shop .)

( 1 950. Chinese New Year's Eve. Hong Kong)

You don't look like you need a doctor.

I 'd like to see the 64 Hands again .

If you don't mind me saying -

You lost. l won .

Have a seat.

If you'd said that at the door,

l wou ld n't have made it so easy

for you to get you r du m plings.

Than k you .

You know,

l 'd hoped to visit the Northeast in 1 937 .

There was a challenge waiting for me .

I had a warm coat made.

But the war stopped me from going .

I d id n't keep the coat,

but l still have one of its buttons.

Call it a memento.

The 64 Hands is too im portant a legacy.

Why let it disappear?

I n centuries of martial arts history,

so many th ings

have vanished .

Why shou ld the Gong Family arts survive?

M r l p ,

no art is hig her than Heaven

no gift more solid than Earth .

Nothing lasts forever and that's fine .

Keep this button .

As for what may and may not be seen ,

let's not talk about it now.

M r l p, ten years ago on New Year's eve

do you know where l was?

M r l p ,

may l have a word?

The Gong arts belong to the Gong fam i ly.

The 64 Hands aren't there just for show.

The Gong Fam ily lives.

I know how m uch talent is there .

I 'm keen to learn .

I 'll be waiting .

People - they change with the times.

Wear shoes that suit the crossing ,

and underpants that fit your ass.

I n Hong Kong ,

l can on ly afford these cigarettes.

Back home,

l smoked real Manchurian tobacco.

Now that was smoking .

Be m ild , good , respectful , thrifty, deferential .

Deferential is the key.

Let's say l'm smoking .

A stranger sits down .

I defer to him : Have a smoke.

Even if he doesn't smoke, he m ust accept

or he'll make me lose face.

M r l p ,

have a smoke .

Than k you .

You're welcome .

You've got the gift.

Twenty years ago,

we cou ld have sparred .

What a shame .

Some work in the light,

others in shadow.

The face of a school must be spotless.

Blood m ust flow only in the shadows.

If not, if it stains the face,

then the school itself may perish .

The face offers the cigarettes.

The d irty work is done in the shadows.

M r l p , you're too late.

Forget the 64 hands -

you'll never see even one.

( 1 940. Chinese New Year's Eve. The Northeast.)

Is it hard to kill a man?

M iss Gong ,

it's not like in the old days.

M urder is pu nishable by death .

Is Ma San worth it?

We make ou r own path in l ife.

Should we go home,

or keep waiting?

It's New Year's Eve.

He'll be here soon .

We have to wait.

All right.

We'll wait.

Th is is between M iss Gong and Ma San .

Everyone else stay out of it.

There you are ,

sti ll playing with you r mon key.

Deal with him !

Get him !

You're worse than a debt collector,

trying to ru in my New Year's Eve.

The d u m pli ngs are i n the pot,

but you won't be eating them .

I let you off before

to avoid destroying the Gong clan .

You shou ld know when to give u p .

Those needing salvation burn joss.

Those who are hungry, eat.

What l must do,

l wi ll do and nothing can stop me.

The Gong Fam ily legacy

m ust return to me ton ight.

Fine.

It's a part of me.

You want it -

come and get it.

Master!

Keep away.

Keep away.

Ma San ,

speak!

That day,

the Old Master

spoke to me

about h is su preme move -

Old Monkey H angs u p h is Badge .

He said the key to the move

was turning back.

At the time,

l d id n't get it.

I thoug ht

he couldn't keep u p with the times.

The Gong Fam ily legacy

l return to you .

Let's be clear.

You did n't return it.

I took it back myself.

M iss Gong !

M iss Gong !

( 1 952 . Hong Kong . White Rose Barber Shop)

Sorry.

I m iss my mom .

You got my notice about the memorial?

Yes.

Open a business, follow the ru les.

It's the same everywhere.

Do you know how m uch weight

a su m mons from me carries?

It's measu red in gold .

Brother, l've got the money.

And l've got my life.

Wh ichever is worth more,

take it.

I li ke those eyes of yours.

They rem ind me of my mom's.

Want both? Or just one?

Not so fast.

How about,

you do the honors?

Forget it.

You're a real man .

It's the an niversary of my mom's death .

I 'l l leave you those two lam ps of you rs.

As the rivers flow, we'll meet again .

I 'l l take my leave.

Want the money -

there're ru les for that too.

What use are rules?

Keep it simple.

I stab you three times then you stab me.

How com mon .

Then raise the tone .

See that chair over there?

If l can't plant your ass there,

keep the cash .

You're kidding , aren't you?

Brother,

here's you r prayer money.

Next time you'll be joining your mom .

Off you go.

To tell the truth ,

Take me as a d isciple !

Teach you?

It'd be a waste of my ti me .

That's speaking honestly too.

J ust a few pointers?

(That same year, The Razor began teach i ng .)

(Baji ku ngfu came to Hong Kong .)

I n 1 952 , Gong Er stopped seeing patients.

Some say her old injury drove her to opium .

Others that she was obsessed with kungfu .

I last saw her at a teahouse .

Do you know this opera?

I th in k l heard it before i n Foshan .

Someth ing about a d ream .

A Dream of Love .

Love is just that, a dream .

It's said

no instru ment is as lovely as a voice.

Words always sou nd better su ng .

Has M iss Gong stud ied opera?

J ust the basics.

Back then if l'd put my mind to it,

l 'd be an opera star.

All those tales, happy and sad ...

lf l tired of Yang Family Women Generals,

l 'd sing Waking from a Dream .

Th i n k of it -

me on stage, you in the audience,

meeting that way.

Wou ld n't that be something?

But what if it was sold out?

You flatter me .

If you came , l 'd save you a seat.

You've performed well in the opera of life.

You have both timing and skill .

U nfortunately,

you never saw beyond your role.

I 'd no idea you watched me like an opera.

This opera of m ine,

applauded or not,

will play on to the end .

I asked you

here to bring things to a close

and say what needs to be said .

Are you going somewhere?

We have a saying in the North -

a tiger never quits the mountain .

We've both been living on foreign soil .

I 'm so very tired .

I want to go home.

But l wanted to return this to you first.

As for the 64 Hands,

l 've already forgotten them .

I was lucky to meet you in my prime.

Sad ly, my time is ru nn ing out.

To say there are no regrets in life ,

is just to fool you rself.

How boring it would be without regrets.

M r l p, to tell you the truth ,

l cared about you .

I don't m ind telling you that.

It's not a crime to love.

But that's all it can ever be.

I never said that to anyone before .

Seeing you tonight,

l don't know why, it just came out.

Let's say we suspend this game

of chess between us.

Take care.

I n life, as in chess,

a move once made stays on the board .

What we have

is simply fate.

You r father once said ,

never give u p the faith .

Keep the light burning .

I hope that one day

l 'l l see the 64 Hands once more.

My father said mastery had three stages -

being ,

knowing ,

doing .

I know myself.

I 've seen the world .

Sad ly, l can't pass on what l know.

This is a road

l won't see to the end .

I hope you wil l .

Is th is street of schools

all the Martial World has come to be?

A great age offers a choice :

stay or move on .

I choose to remain in my era ,

the times when l was happiest.

(l n 1 953 , Gong Er d ied in Hong Kong .)

(She kept her vows)

(to the end .)

Tomorrow l take M iss Gong's coffin home.

She left this for you .

I n im perial times l was an executioner.

The Republic left me out of a job .

Had Master Gong not taken me in ,

l 'd have landed in the gutter like a dog .

He never looked down on me.

He made me his daughter's g uard ian .

My fierceness wou ld protect her.

He nicknamed me Lucky Star,

so fortu ne would shine on her always.

For a woman ,

taking vows is a kind of death .

To avenge her father,

she vowed never to marry or teach ,

to remain single her whole life .

She kept that vow.

These are the ashes

from when she cut and burnt her hair.

She said she knew you a long time,

But you d idn't really know her,

nor she you .

Seeing these ashes,

you'll understand her better.

M r l p ,

the Gong Family is through .

M iss Gong belongs to you now.

Like her father,

Gong Er never lost a fig ht.

She on ly ever lost to herself.

( 1 953. l p Man gets his Hong Kong l D)

After the border to China is sh ut.

The day l left Foshan ,

l wanted to say something

but cou ld n't speak the words.

(My heart will carry me back to you .)

When l left her that time,

l thoug ht l'd be able to retu rn .

But it was the last time l saw her.

After that l only had the path ahead .

There was no tu rn i ng back,

and no road home .

(l n 1 960 , Zhang Yongcheng died of illness.)

(l p Man never returned to Foshan .)

Okay, begin .

Left fist

out,

palm open ,

turn the wrist,

pu ll back,

rig ht fist,

out,

open ,

twist the wrist,

pu ll back.

M r l p ,

all encounters in this world

are a kind of reun ion .

They say l popu larized Wing Ch u n .

I hope they're right.

I never d id it for fame .

The martial arts belong to all .

We're all on the same q uest.

It all comes down to those two words -

Horizontal . Vertical .

( I p Man was a huge inspiration to others.) (Because of him ,)

(the torch of Wing Chu n) (has been carried around the world .)