Zhuangzi Tests His Wife

Zhuangzi Tests His Wife (Chinese: 莊子試妻; pinyin: Zhuangzi shi qi) is a 1913 Hong Kong drama film directed by Li Minwei. It is the earliest feature film of Hong Kong cinema, and the only film made by the Huamei (Chinese-American) Studio, which was co-founded by Benjamin Brodsky, who had sold his Asia Film Company in Shanghai, and Li Minwei. The film was never screened in Hong Kong. Brodsky brought the film to the United States,^[1] and it became the first Hong Kong-produced fiction film to be shown in the United States.^[2] It is based on the zidishu play "The Butterfly Dream" written by Chunshuzhai.^[3]

Zhuangzi Tests His Wife
Directed by	Li Beihai
Written by	Li Minwei
Produced by	Li Beihai
Distributed by	Huamei
Release date	1913 (1913)
Country	Hong Kong
Language	silent

Cast

Li Minwei stars as the wife of Zhuangzi, and Li Minwei's wife Yan Shanshan (1896–1951) became the first Chinese film actress, playing a servant girl.^[4]

• Li Beihai ... Zhuangzi
• Li Minwei ... Zhuangzi's wife
• Yan Shanshan ... Servant Girl

Background

Main article: Zhuang Zhou

Fourth century BCE Zhuangzi (or Zhuang Zhou), one of the two defining figures of Chinese Taoism, based his philosophy on all things changing, and the perception of truth depending on the context under which it exists. Throughout history, his teachings have been particularly favored by Chinese scholars and artists, many of whom were inspired by Zhuangzi's philosophy.

Plot

In other media

Operatic versions of Zhuangzi Tests His Wife have been performed on stage by the Peking Opera and others.

Zhuangzi

Most operatic versions end with Zhuangzi burying his wife after she commits suicide for being disloyal to her husband. But this version tackles the story from a different angle. While Tian Shi still ultimately kills herself, Zhuangzi turns her and himself into butterflies and then, eventually, into dust.

See also

• Cinema of Hong Kong
• List of Hong Kong films