Shaolin Abbot
While international favorite David Chiang was best known for his roles as a grinning, streetwise, fighter in many Chang Cheh-directed classics, he rarely played a noble warrior monk. But here he portrays the great Chih Shim, the monk who saved the Southern Shaolin Temple. Making this production all the more notable is Lo Lieh, Shaws' first international star, who returns to a role he also made famous - that of Shaolin renegade Pai Mei. This, and even more, makes for a true martial arts epic of the first order.
From the archive
Abbot of Shaolin (少林英雄榜),[1] also known as Shaolin Abbot or A Slice of Death, is a Shaw Brothers film directed by Ho Meng Hua. It is a Shaolin Temple-themed martial arts film about their rebellion against the Qing, featuring David Chiang and Lo Lieh as Priest Pai Mei. Plot The Monk Chi San (David Chiang) is sent by his Shaolin masters to learn a special kung fu from a Wu-Tang priest and befriends his niece Wu Mei (Lily Li). The priest's brother is Pai Mei (Lo Lieh), who disapproves of his associating with Shaolin rebels who oppose the Qing, leaves as his nephew Dao De (Ku Kuan Chun) remains behind to cause trouble for Chi San. While Chi San is in training, the Qing soldiers and a northern Lama attack and destroy Shaolin Temple. Chi San arrives too late as the attack has already run its course. His master orders him to go to the south to search for loyal Shaolin men and rebuild the temple. Pai Mei is promoted by the court, returns to his brother's temple, and arranges for his nephew to poison him. He then attacks the priest himself and kills him for teaching Chi San kung fu. Pai Mei orders the search for Chi San so that he may kill him. Chi San arrives in the south and assists a local businessman, Mr. Li who is being robbed. The grateful man takes Chi San into his home. At this point Chi San gains his first student, Jin Lun nephew of Mr Li and goes through various integrity "tests" from local businessmen to prove if he is a true Shaolin monk. Chi San succeeds and the impressed businessmen offer to help him rebuild the temple. Chi San also gains more students after a butcher and a knife grinder fail in their attempts to beat him at kung fu. Pai Mei and his nephew then attempt to kill Wu Mei, but she is rescued by Chi San and his students. Chi San orders his students to head south to wait on a ferry while he pursues Pai Mei and the Lama. Chi San meets the lama in the woods and defeats him but Pai Mei intercepts Wu Mei and the students. Chi San arrives before Pai Mei can kill them and defeats Pai Mei. Cast David Chiang a.k.a. David Chiang Da-Wei as Monk Chi SanLo Lieh as Pai MeiChing Miao a.k.a. Cheng Miu as Mr. LiKu Kuan-Chung as Dao DeLily Li a.k.a. Lily Li-Li as Wu MeiNorman Chui as Li Jin-LunYeung Chi-Hing as Wu ChanChiang Tao as Tibetan Lama/Yuan GuanHelen Poon Bing-Seung as Miss JinbaoSi Wai as EmperorBruce Tong Yim-Chaan as Shaolin recruit Hong Xi-GuanChan Shen as Dan Tian-GangShum Lo as Head AbbotYue Wing as General Yue Ying-QiChiang Nan as General LiSai Gwa-Pau as Stuttering servantWong Ching-Ho as WangJamie Luk Kim-Ming as Shaolin recruit LinWang Han-Chen as MagistrateNg Hong-Sang as Shaolin recruit Gong Qian-JinKeung Hon as Li Ba-ShanLee Sau-Kei as Rich manWong Chi-Ming as BanditHsu Hsia as SoldierSiu Tak-Foo as Shaolin studentChik Ngai-Hung as BanditTam Bo as MonkKwok Yan-Chi as Shaolin recruit Gui Jue-QiLui Tat as Rich manTai Gwan-Tak as Traitor monkHuang Ha as SoldierKong Chuen as SoldierLau Cheun as ServantGam Tin-Chue as Rich manWong Kung-Miu as ServantFung Ging-Man as Man at palace
Why this is free to watch
Shaolin Abbot (1979) is hosted by the Internet Archive as a public-domain or openly licensed work, which means its copyright has expired, lapsed, or was released by the rights holder. The uploader declared an explicit licence, linked in the source panel. Nitrate streams the file directly from the Archive and hosts no video itself.
- Director
- Ho Meng-Hua
- Starring
- David Chiang Da-Wei, Lo Lieh, Ching Miao, Eddie Koo Koon Chung, Lily Li, Norman Tsui Siu-Keung, Yang Chi-Ching, Chiang Tao
Player shortcuts
- Space Play / pause
- ← → Skip 10s
- ↑ ↓ Volume
- M Mute
- F Fullscreen
- 0–9 Jump to %

















