The Shaolin Temple is a martial arts film released in 1982 and directed by Chang Hsin-yen. It stars Jet Li as the orphaned protagonist, Jue Yuan, who witnesses the ruthless execution of his father by the treacherous General Wang Shichong. The story is set during the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century and is loosely based on a legendary tale of the founding of the Shaolin Temple.
After his father's murder, Jue Yuan seeks refuge in the Shaolin Temple and trains in their martial arts system. He becomes a skilled fighter and is chosen to represent the temple in a martial arts tournament against other sects. The tournament is a ploy by Wang Shichong to lure out the Shaolin monks and attack them. Jue Yuan and the other Shaolin monks fight off the attacks and successfully defend their temple.
Meanwhile, Wang Shichong has made himself emperor in the East Capital and is preparing to invade the central capital. Jue Yuan decides to leave the temple and seek revenge on Wang Shichong for the murder of his father. He teams up with a group of rebels and assists them in their efforts to overthrow Wang Shichong's regime.
The film features numerous action scenes with elaborate choreography and displays of martial arts skills. Jet Li's performance as Jue Yuan helped launch his career as a martial arts actor. The Shaolin Temple was a critical and commercial success and spawned several sequels.