Chen Zhen is a fictional character created by Hong Kong writer Ni Kuang. First portrayed by Bruce Lee in the 1972 film Fist of Fury, the character has been the subject of numerous film and television series, including remakes and adaptations of Fist of Fury. Many notable actors, including Jet Li and Donnie Yen, have portrayed Chen Zhen on screen after Bruce Lee. Although Chen Zhen's story varies in the different remakes and adaptations, most have an ending similar to the original Fist of Fury. Chen Zhen is believed to be based on Liu Zhensheng (劉振聲), an apprentice of Huo Yuanjia, a martial artist who lived during the late Qing dynasty of China.

Basic story

Chen Zhen is depicted as an apprentice of the martial artist Huo Yuanjia, who founded the Chin Woo Athletic Association (also known as Chin Woo School or Jingwu School) in 1910. After Huo Yuanjia meets his demise under dubious circumstances, Chen Zhen discovers that his shih-fu was poisoned by their rivals from a Japanese dojo in Hongkou District, Shanghai. The furious apprentice seeks to bring the murderers to justice and embarks on a brutal quest to avenge Huo Yuanjia and revive his shih-fu's legacy, the "Jingwu Spirit".

Character features

During the premiere of Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen in September 2010, when reporters asked Donnie Yen on the differences between his Chen Zhen and the earlier versions, Yen replied: "Chen Zhen is Bruce Lee." He said that Lee's portrayal of Chen Zhen in Fist of Fury (1972) served as the foundation for subsequent depictions of the character. He further explained that certain features of his character, such as the white Mao suit and the use of nunchaku, were based on Lee's Chen Zhen. However, there were differences in movements and overall character design between his Chen Zhen and Lee's. Since Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen pays tribute to Lee, Yen decided to retain the white Mao suit and the use of nunchaku in the final dojo fight scene, in addition to repeating Chen Zhen's famous line: "The Chinese are not sick men of East Asia!".

Appearances in media

Film

Television