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Xuanzang (film)

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Xuanzang
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese大唐玄奘
Simplified Chinese大唐玄奘
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinDà Táng Xuánzàng
Directed byHuo Jianqi
Written byZou Jingzhi
Produced byWong Kar-wai
StarringHuang Xiaoming
CinematographySun Ming, Satish Bhargav
Production
companies
Distributed byChina Film Group Corporation
Release date
  • 29 April 2016 (2016-04-29)
Running time
115 minutes [2]
CountryChina
LanguagesMandarin and some Sanskrit[3]
Box officeCN¥32.9 million[2]

Xuanzang or Xuan Zang is a 2016 Chinese-Indian historical adventure film based on Xuanzang's nearly two-decade overland journey to India during the Tang dynasty in the seventh century.[4][5] The film is directed by Huo Jianqi and produced by Wong Kar-wai. It stars Huang Xiaoming, Kent Tong, Purba Rgyal, Sonu Sood and Tan Kai.[6][7] It was released in China and India on 29 April 2016, with distribution in China by China Film Group Corporation.[8][9] It was selected as the Chinese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but was not nominated.[10][11] 'Xuan Zang' was screened at the 2nd Annual Asian World Film Festival on 31 October 2016 in Culver City.[12]

Plot

During the Tang dynasty's era of "Zhen Guan" (of Emperor Taizong), Xuan Zang, a young Buddhist monk, in his quest to find the knowledge in Buddhism, embarks on a journey to India, that is fraught with perils and dangers. He encounters natural disasters, and sees the sufferings of the common people. Soldiers get in his way, his disciple betrays him, he struggles through deserts, and is short on food and water. He finally arrives in India, and studies Buddhism in earnest. By the time he returns to China, he is 50 years old.

The screen play is largely based on a biography by Sramana Huili, a Tang Dynasty Buddhist priest.[13] Xuanzang's works and his biography were also inspiration for the Classic Ming Dynasty novel "Journey to the West" purportedly by Wu Ch'eng-en, and translated by Arthur Waley in his allegorical book "Monkey", published by Allen and Unwin Ltd in 1942. This later fanciful folktale primarily deals with the exploits of Sun Wu Kong (“the Monkey King”), who is Xuanzang, protector rather than Xuanzang himself. According to the film credits the real-life Xuanzang may have traveled 25,000 kilometers during his 19-year journey and visited 110 countries.

Xuanzang’s life depicted in the film and the novel “Journey to the West” share an overall theme, i.e.: his quest to bring Buddhist Scriptures to Tang Dynasty China. In addition, there are subtle parallels, for example, in order to start his journey Xuanzang must get past 5 watchtowers where there are warrants for his arrest. As noted in the Chasing Dramas: all things Chinese drama website (which has a detailed summary of the plot), “the 5 watchtowers are changed to the 5 mountain peaks or 五行山 which represent the hand of the Ru Lai Buddha. The Monkey King 孙悟空 wreaked havoc and tried to escape the heavens but the [Buddha] used his hands to create five mountain peaks that the Monkey King could not escape. The monkey king was imprisoned under the mountain until he was rescued by his teacher, Xuan Zang."[14]

In another example, in the film Xuanzang, nearly dies of thirst in the desert but is rescued by his old wise horse. In the novel, “Xuan Zang has a trusty steed the White Dragon Horse or 白龙马. The White Dragon Horse was actually a dragon prince who serves as Xuan Zang’s steed for his journey.”[14]

Cast

The story of Xuanzang’s epic quest is shown as a series of encounters with characters portrayed in cameo performances listed in part below in order of appearance.[13] The film periodically includes maps to show his progress to the locations where the encounters occur.

  • Jonathan Kos-Read as Alexander Cunningham, British archaeologist active during India’s colonial period who attests to the accuracy of Xuanzang’s accounts of India in an introduction.
  • Huang Xiaoming as Xuanzang, the protagonist and only character seen throughout the duration of the film.
  • Zhao Liang as imperial edict reader, who announced that, because of a famine, the citizens of Chang’an may leave. According to the film’s text insert, this allows Xuanzang to join the exodus in 627.
  • Xu Zheng as Li Daliang, the governor of Liangzhou who ordered Xuanzang to return to Chang’an.
  • Karim Hajee as Haihui, the senior Buddhist priest in the region of Hexi who helped Xuanzang. He sent two acolytes to accompany Xuanzang for a while.
  • Luo Jin as Li Chang, sympathetic prefect of Guazhou who tore up a warrant for Xuanzang’s arrest.
  • Vivian Dawson as Wu Qing ,Silk Road merchant, leading a caravan though the desert which Xuanzang joins for a while.
  • Lou Jiayue as a woman from the western region who joins Xuanzang for a while and whose father gives Xuanzang an old horse who knows the way.
  • Purba Rgyal as Shi Putuo, aka Vandak, a disciple who approaches chanting Xuanzang with a knife with an intent to kill him. In the end, he does not do it but is sent away.
  • Tan Kai as Wang Xiang, watchtower captain, whose men shoot arrows at Xuanzang but who sends him on his way after learning of his mission.
  • Che Xiao as Xuanzang's mother (flashback). Xuanzang has a vision of his mother while hallucinating in the Taklamakan Desert after spilling his water. He is saved by his old horse which carries him unconscious to Wild Horse Spring and then to Gaochang.
  • Jiang Chao as King Aratürük, whom Xuanzang meets in Yi Wu, today’s Hami, after traversing the desert at the end of 629. He asks Xuanzang to visit the neighboring kingdom of Gaochang (Karakhajo). Xuanzang complies despite reservations.
  • Andrew Lin as Qu Wentai, king of Gaochang, who tried to force Xuanzang to remain with him, which caused Xuanzang to begin a hunger strike. The king relents and sends escorts to accompany Xuanzang across the treacherous snow-covered mountain peaks of Lingshan (in Tian Shan mountain ranges).
  • Gao Xing as Gaochang queen.
  • Kent Tong as Mucha Judou, perhaps the King of Kucha, who along with the virtuous monk, Moksha Gupta, greeted Xuanzang ceremoniously with beautiful music and dancing. Xuanzang waited at the capital for better weather before crossing the mountains and then continuing his travels to India.
  • Ram Gopal Bajaj as Śīlabhadra, the Right Dharma Store at Nalanda Temple in India which Xuanzang reached in Aug 631. Xuanzang kissed his feet and asked to become his student.
  • Ali Fazal as Jayaram, a slave who was cursed by his master for touching his daughter while rescuing her from a fire. Jayaram was able to save some of the scriptures when Xuanzang’s boat capsized and was eventually freed of his curse with Xuanzang’s help.
  • Neha Sharma as Kumari, Jayaram’s wife, who was cast out by her father.
  • Sonu Sood as Emperor Harshavardhana who invites Śīlabhadra, of Nalanda Temple to send representatives to a Great Debate on the merits of Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism. Xuanzang was chosen as the chief defender of Mahayana Buddhism. Emperor Harsha declared him the winner.
  • Mandana Karimi as Rajyashri, Emperor Harsha’s sister.
  • Winston Chao as Emperor Taizong of Tang, who welcomed Xuanzang back to Tang China in 642 where Xuanzang wrote translations of the scriptures that he had brought back with him. Emperor Taizong wrote the preface.

Soundtrack

  • "Heart Sutra" performed by Faye Wong
  • "Qiannian Yibore" (千年一般若) performed by Huang Xiaoming & Han Lei

Production

The film was produced by China’s biggest state owned production company China Film Corporation and its Indian partner Eros International. It was a prestige project as the first agreement on joint productions was signed in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in May 2015. [3][15]

It was filmed on location in Turpan (including the Flaming Mountain Scenic Area, Changji, Altay, Aksu, Kashi all of which are in the Xinjiang province of China, the Gansu province of China, and India. [16][14] The sets were lavish, hundreds of extras were used and 10 companies from the US and China comprising 200 people were hired for post-production.[15]

In an interview with the Hindustan Times, translated from Chinese, the director noted that most of the shoots were outdoors. “It was physically taxing. In India, we spent 10 days in April and May and another 20 days in September. . . The heat and the sun were all very challenging.”[15]

The primary language spoken in the film is Mandarin. However, an important dialog between Xuanzang and his master, Śīlabhadra, is in Sanskrit, a rare instance of the use of this language in a mainstream film. The director noted that "We spent a long time with Sanskrit scholars, both in India and Peking University, to get this right, and we had Huang Xiaoming do the lines himself”. [3]

Reception

The film grossed US$2.94 million on its opening weekend in China.[17] A review by Derek Elley on the Sino-Cinema website commented that “most of Xuanzang’s encounters are quite engrossing, thanks to the casting” and he goes on to praise several of the actors. He further commented that: “Given the need to have a star in the title role, and one who can project a strong sense of conviction, Huang is an excellent choice, all firm jaw and intense gaze. Though he doesn’t get much chance to build a personality for Xuanzang outside his Buddhist platitudes, Huang does manage to carry the film on his shoulders . . .” The photography is referred to as “stunning”.[13]

Awards and nominations

See also

References

  1. ^ "India-China ink maiden film co-production deal". Indian television.com. 15 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b 大唐玄奘（2016）. cbooo.cn (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Crossing the wall: What it took to produce the first India-China joint film, Xuanzang, the story of legendary traveler and monk Hiuen Tsang". India Today. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Eros, China Film Corporation sign co-production deal". Nextvindia.com. 15 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Aamir Khan to release PK in China, share stage with Jackie Chan". Hindustan Times. 12 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Eros International announces first Sino-Indian co-production with Chinese Film Corporation". Bollywoodtrade.com. 15 May 2015.
  7. ^ 大唐玄奘 (2016). movie.douban.com (in Chinese). douban.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  8. ^ 大唐玄奘（2016）. cbooo.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  9. ^ Ryan, Fergus (27 May 2016). "China, India Promote Cultural, Historic Ties Through Film". China Film Insider. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  10. ^ "Xuan Zang chosen as China's Foreign Language Oscar entry". 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  11. ^ Rahman, Abid (5 October 2016). "Oscars: China Selects 'Xuan Zang' for Foreign-Language Category". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  12. ^ "Xuan Zang". 29 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  13. ^ a b c "Review: Xuan Zang (2016)". Sino-Cinema 《神州电影》. 10 June 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  14. ^ a b c "Xuan Zang (2016 Film) – the Man who inspired Journey to the West". Chasing Dramas: All Things Chinese Dramas. 21 July 2022. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  15. ^ a b c "First India-China movie 'Xuanzang' to hit screens this month". Hindustan Times. 8 April 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  16. ^ "《大唐玄奘》火焰山开机 黄晓明为戏吃素". 新浪 (Sina.com). 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  17. ^ Frater, Patrick (1 May 2016). "China Box Office: 'Book of Love' Wins May Day Weekend". Variety. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  18. ^ 第十二屆中美電影節星光熠熠——開幕式暨金天使獎頒獎典禮耀動洛城 (in Simplified Chinese). Chinese American Film Festival. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  19. ^ 金鸡奖提名：《潘金莲》领跑 范冰冰周冬雨再争影后. ifeng (in Chinese). 16 August 2017.
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