Near the beginning of the Tang dynasty, in 7th century China, General Shi Yan-sheng is tricked into leaving the crown prince unguarded. The crown prince is murdered by one of his brothers ...
See full summary »
From "Dexter" to The Suicide Squad, here are our picks for the reboots and remakes we're most excited for in 2021 and beyond.
Here are some great movies worth streaming that you won't see at the Oscars this year.
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Temptation of a Monk (1993)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
6 wins & 13 nominations.
See more awards »
Edit
Cast
| Credited cast: | |||
| Joan Chen | ... | Princess Hong-e - Scarlet / Qing-shou - Violet | |
| Hsing-Kuo Wu | ... | General Shi Yan-sheng / Jing-yi | |
| Fengyi Zhang | ... | General Huo Da | |
 |
Ming-Yang Li | ... | The Abbot |
| Lisa Lu | ... | Shi's Mother | |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Teddy Robin Kwan | ... | Soldier | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Near the beginning of the Tang dynasty, in 7th century China, General Shi Yan-sheng is tricked into leaving the crown prince unguarded. The crown prince is murdered by one of his brothers who then becomes emperor. Shi retreats to a monastery, perhaps to hide, perhaps to plan a coup. When his loyal troops as well as the princess he desires are slain, he seeks refuge in a remote, abandoned monastery where an aged abbot schools him with practical, earthy teachings. The emperor's forces pursue Shi: first a woman, then a general seek to overpower him with lust and might. Over the course of the film, the reds of battle give way to blues of meditation. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Certificate:
See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
Shi Yan-sheng: This armour doesn't keep warm, hampers farm work. It's useless.
See more »
Did You Know?
Quotes
Emissary: By the Grace of Heaven, the Emperor so decrees: Emperor rules with sincerity and faith. He thirsts for talents. Now orders Jing-yi to return to the Palace, to be promoted to grade one Generalissimo, his late father posthumously made Generalissimo, his late mother a Noble Lady. By Imperial order, 1st month, 1st year of Emperor Shi-min's reign.Shi Yan-sheng: This armour doesn't keep warm, hampers farm work. It's useless.
See more »
Temptation of a Monk is a treat for those viewers who value character development and self discovery. The movie is the story of a army general who strives to transcend the trappings of his position, social expectation and his current state of existence. He enters a monastery which shakes his social foundations (an elder brother monk, 10 years old ordering an ex-general around), but the teachings are ineffective because of his hidden motivations in joining the monastery. After a traumatic event, he moves on to another monastery, where his life begins to change. His newfound learnings and knowledge are again tested to determine whether he perseveres.
The subtlety of the plot and the gradual development of the character is wonderful, much like the metamorphosis of a caterpillar. This is the strength of the film, enticing viewers to watch on to find out whether the protagonist perseveres. The contemporary style of the costumes is another feature of this film adding to the beauty of the landscape. Overall, Temptation of a Monk is an oriental treat -- displaying both the beauty of the land and of the human soul.