Once upon a time in China 3 (4½ Stars)

Once Upon a Time in China III (1993), directed by Tsui Hark, continues the semi-mythical biography of Wong Fei-hung while anchoring its story in real political tensions of late Qing dynasty China. The film is set in 1895, shortly after the First Sino-Japanese War, during a period when China’s weakness had become painfully visible to both foreign powers and internal reformers.

Historical background

The defeat of the Qing Empire by Japan in 1894–1895 exposed the failure of China’s military modernisation and intensified national humiliation. Reformist scholars and officials argued that China needed Western-style education and technology to survive, while conservative factions saw these ideas as a betrayal of Confucian values. The film directly references this ideological struggle through the Lion Dance Competition, a traditional cultural event that becomes a symbolic battleground between nationalism, reform and corruption.

Plot synopsis

Wong Fei-hung arrives in Beijing with his father Wong Kei-ying and his students to attend the annual Lion King Competition, an event meant to celebrate Chinese martial arts and unity. Unofficially, the competition also serves political ends; government officials use it to promote their own power, while reform-minded figures hope to reclaim Chinese dignity through tradition rather than empty spectacle.

Soon after arriving, Wong crosses paths again with his 13th Aunt, who is practising photography in Beijing. Her presence highlights the film’s central tension between tradition and modernity. Unlike earlier entries, 13th Aunt is more assertive here; she openly challenges sexist customs and advocates education as a means of national renewal.

The competition itself is overseen by Li Hung-chang, a real historical statesman and key figure in the Self-Strengthening Movement. Li is portrayed as a pragmatic but compromised official, caught between appeasing conservative forces at court and dealing with the realities of foreign pressure after China’s defeat by Japan. His political weakness allows corrupt Manchu officials to manipulate the event for personal gain.

As the lion dance trials progress, Wong Fei-hung faces rivals who use dirty tactics, bribery and violence. These confrontations escalate when Wong uncovers a plot to assassinate Li Hung-chang during the final ceremony. The assassination attempt reflects real fears of political instability in the Qing court, where reformists, conservatives and secret societies often resorted to violence.

The climax unfolds during the final lion dance performances, staged high above the ground on precarious poles. This sequence is both a physical test and a metaphor for China’s unstable position in the world. Wong Fei-hung defeats his opponents through discipline, moral integrity and mastery of traditional kung fu, rejecting the corruption surrounding him. He also thwarts the assassination attempt, saving Li Hung-chang and preventing further chaos.

Despite Wong’s victory, the ending remains bittersweet. Li Hung-chang survives but the system he represents is unchanged. Reform remains limited, corruption persists and China’s future is uncertain. Wong Fei-hung returns south with his students, reaffirming his role not as a political leader but as a moral guardian of Chinese values.

Themes and historical meaning

Once Upon a Time in China III uses spectacle to explore the cultural crisis of late nineteenth-century China. The lion dance competition symbolises national identity under threat; Western influence is unavoidable but blindly copying it is portrayed as dangerous. Wong Fei-hung stands for ethical tradition rather than reactionary conservatism, offering a vision of Chinese strength rooted in moral conduct, discipline and community rather than political power.

In this way, the film frames history not as triumph but as warning; China’s survival depends on balancing reform with cultural integrity, a question that remained unresolved at the end of the Qing dynasty.

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