Jet Li Lianjie (courtesy nameYangzhong; born 26 April 1963)[2] is amartial artist, actor, and philanthropist. Witha career spanning more than forty years, he is regarded as one of the most iconic Chinese film stars and one of the greatest martial artists in the history of cinema.[3][4][5] His film career in Asia is credited with reviving Hong Kong kungfu films[6][7] as well asShaolin Temple.[8]
Li was trained as awushu athlete at the Beijing Shichahai Sports School and went on to win multiple national championships with theBeijing Wushu Team between 1974 and 1979.[6] After his retirement from the sport in 1979, he made his acting debut with the Hong Kong filmShaolin Temple (1982),[7] a runaway success followed by two sequels in1984 and1986. Li established himself as a leading action star with theOnce Upon a Time in China series (1991–1993), in which he portrayed Chinese folk heroWong Fei-hung, followed byBorn to Defence (1988), which is his directorial debut,Swordsman II (1992),Fong Sai-yuk (1993),Fist of Legend (1994),High Risk (1995),Black Mask (1996), andHitman (1998).[9]
As a philanthropist, Li foundedOne Foundation in 2007, which was registered in 2011 as the first private charitable fundraising organization in China.[10][11][12] He also co-foundedTaiji Zen, an online health program providing instruction inmeditation andtai chi.[13][14] Li toppedForbes's list of China's richest stars in 2004[15] and ranked 10th on theForbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2004, 3rd in 2008, 6th in 2009, 24th in 2010, 8th in 2011, 22nd in 2012, and 41st in 2013. He was named byTime magazine as one of the100 most influential people in 2010.[16]
Li was born inBeijing, and was the youngest of two boys and two girls. Hisancestral home is inShenyang, Liaoning. When he was two years old, his father died and his family then lived in poverty.[17][18]
Li was eight when his talent forwushu was noticed as he practiced at a school summer course at the Beijing Sports and Exercise School (now known asBeijing Sport University).[19][20] Renowned coachesLi Junfeng andWu Bin[21] made extra efforts to help the talented boy develop. Wu Bin even bought food for Li's family in order to boost Li's protein intake.[21]
At the age of eleven, Li became a member of the1974 China national wushu team which traveled to the United States during the time of thePing-pong diplomacy.[22] The group performed for American audiences in Hawaii, San Francisco, New York, and Washington, D.C., and additionally in Mexico City and Hong Kong.[22] When theChinese National Wushu Team went to perform for PresidentRichard Nixon in the United States, he was asked by Nixon to be his personal bodyguard. Li replied, "I don't want to protect any individual. When I grow up, I want to defend my one billion Chinese countrymen!"[23]
In November of the same year, theBeijing Wushu Team was founded and Li became a member.[24] He became the national all-around champion four times from 1975 to 1979.[25]
My winning first place caused quite a sensation because I was so young. I was 12 years old, and the other two medalists were in their mid- to late twenties. During the awards ceremony, as I stood on the top step of the podium, I was still shorter than the 2nd and 3rd place medalists. It must have been quite a sight.
Li retired from competitive wushu when he was only 18 due to a knee injury,[28] but became an assistant coach of the Beijing Wushu team for a few years. Li's martial arts prowess would eventually contribute to his domestic and international fame.[29]
Li's hand print and autograph at theAvenue of Stars in Hong Kong
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning inmainland China and then continuing intoHong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in thePhilippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce. They likened his career to an aircraft, which likewise "takes-off" as quickly, so they placed the name Jet Li on the movie posters.[31] Soon everybody was calling him by this new name, which was also based on the nickname, "Jet", given to him as a young student, due to his speed and grace when training with the Beijing Wushu team.[citation needed]
Li starred in the 1995 filmHigh Risk, where Li plays a Captain who becomes disillusioned after his wife is murdered by crime lords. Along the way, he pairs up with a wacky sell-out actor, Frankie (played byJacky Cheung), and proceeds to engage in a series of violent battles in a high-rise building. The setting is similar to that ofDie Hard and both their Chinese film titles. This movie is notable in that directorWong Jing had such a terrible experience working withJackie Chan in Jing's previous filmCity Hunter that he chose to make Cheung's character a biting satire of Chan. Li would later publicly apologise to Chan for taking part in it.
To promotetai chi, in 2012, Li starred in a film titledTai Chi and co-produced the movie with Chen Kuo-Fu. Li portrayed tai chi masterYang Luchan.[37][38]
In 1998, he made his international film debut inLethal Weapon 4 which also marked the first time he had ever played a villain in a film. He agreed to doLethal Weapon 4 after the producerJoel Silver promised to give him the leading role in his next film,Romeo Must Die (2000), alongside singerAaliyah. The film became a box office hit. Though Li spoke very little English at the time of production, his performance as Chinese mafia hitman Wah Sing Ku was praised.[39][40]
Li turned downChow Yun-fat's role inCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) because he promised his wife that he would not make any films during her pregnancy.[41] He also turned down the role ofSeraph inThe Matrix trilogy, based on his belief that the role was not one which required his skills and that the films were iconic and stunning enough without adding his name to the cast list. Li was also cast asKato inThe Green Hornet when the film was still in development in 2000. In 2001, it was moved to another studio. When the film was moved on again and released in 2011, the role of Kato was portrayed byJay Chou.
In 2001, he appeared in two more films:The One, which was the first of his films withJason Statham, andKiss of the Dragon oppositeBridget Fonda which did moderately well at the box office. In July 2001, Li agreed to produce and star in an action film withJackie Chan which was to be released in 2002 or 2003, but no further news of their collaboration surfaced until 2006. In 2002, the period martial arts epic filmHero was released in the Chinese market. This film was both a commercial and critical success and became the highest-grossing motion picture inChinese film history at the time.[42] In 2003 he reunited with producer Joel Silver for the action thriller filmCradle 2 the Grave where he starred alongside rapperDMX and fellow martial artistMark Dacascos. In 2004, Li lent his likeness, voice and provided motion capture work for the video gameJet Li: Rise to Honor.
Li was presented the Visionary Award by East West Players, the oldestAsian American theatre in the United States,[43] in 2002 by contemporaryJohn Woo. The award recognizes "artists who have raised the visibility of the Asian Pacific American community through theater, film and television."[44] He delivered his acceptance speech in his native language of Mandarin.[45]
Li took on a more serious role in the 2005 film,Unleashed (a.k.a.Danny the Dog), where he portrayed an adult with the mentality of a child who has been raised like an animal. Although his martial arts skills were used extensively, it was a somber film with more depth than had been previously seen in Li's films, and co-starred dramatic actorsBob Hoskins andMorgan Freeman.
In 2006, themartial arts film epicFearless, was released worldwide. Although he will continue to make martial arts films,Fearless is his last wushu martial arts film.[46][47][48][49] InFearless, he playedHuo Yuanjia, the real-life founder ofChin Woo Athletic Association, who reportedly defeated foreign boxers and Japanese martial artists in publicised events at a time when China's power was seen as eroding. Together with the filmFist of Legend, Li has portrayed both Chen Jun, the student and avenger of Huo Yuanjia (a.k.a. Fok Yun Gap), as well as Huo Yuanjia himself.Fearless was released on 26 January 2006 in Hong Kong, followed by a 22 September 2006 release in the United States where it reached second place in its first weekend.
I stepped into the martial arts movie market when I was only 16. I think I have proved my ability in this field and it won't make sense for me to continue for another five or 10 years. Huo Yuanjia is a conclusion to my life as a martial arts star.[50]
Li has stated in an interview with theShenzhen Daily newspaper that this will be his last martial arts epic, which is also stated in the film's television promotions. However, he plans to continue his film career in other genres. Specifically, he plans to continue acting in epic action and martial arts films dealing more with religious and philosophical issues.[citation needed]
Li's 2007 Hollywood film,War, was released in August of that year, and re-teamed him with actorJason Statham, who previously starred with him inThe One, and action choreographerCorey Yuen.War raked in a disappointingUS$23million at the box office, becoming one of Li's lowest grossers in America; however, it was a hit on video, accumulating nearlyUS$52million in rental revenue, more than doubling its box office take.[51] With the exception ofRomeo Must Die and the worldwide release ofHero, most of Li's American/Western films have been only modest hits likeKiss of the Dragon,The One,Unleashed,Cradle 2 the Grave, and the worldwide release ofFearless.
He has a very good control of the strength of every fist and kick. In the past, he used too much strength, those that get hit would be in great pain. He's the archetype of power. […] Yes, he's still the best.
Li was appointed by the Chinese Wushu Association as the "Image Ambassador of Wushu" (orIWUF ambassador) at the2007 World Wushu Championships in Beijing. In late 2007, Li returned again to China to participate in the China/Hong Kong co-production of the period war filmThe Warlords withAndy Lau andTakeshi Kaneshiro. This film, with its focus on dramatics rather than martial arts, netted Li theHong Kong Film Award for Best Actor.
In 1987, Li married Huang Qiuyan,[63] his Beijing Wushu Team fellow member andKids From Shaolin co-star. They have two daughters, Si and Taimi.[64] He met actressNina Li Chi during the filming ofDragon Fight (1989) and divorced Huang in 1990. In 1999, Li married Nina at his villa inArcadia, California,[citation needed] which he owned from 1998 to 2004.[65] The couple have two daughters, Jane (born 2000) and Jada (born 2002).[66]
In 1997, Li obtained US citizenship, which he renounced in April 2009.[67][68][69] In July 2009, Amy Zhou Weiyan, then executive chairperson of theOne Foundation, confirmed that Li had become a Singaporean citizen.[70] In 2011, Li confirmed his Singaporean citizenship.[71]
In 1998, Li converted toTibetan Buddhism when he was promotingLethal Weapon 4 in Taiwan.[72][73] His master is Lho Kunsang.[74]
In 2013, Li revealed that he suffers fromhyperthyroidism and had been dealing with the issue for the past three years.[75] In 2016, Li stated that he was accepting fewer film offers due to his charity work rather than his illness, from which he had recovered.[76]
Li likes to play badminton and table tennis, ride his bicycle, read and meditate in his free time. He collects rareTibetan beads.[77][78]
Li, as a Buddhist, believes that the difficulties of everyday life can be overcome with the help of religious philosophies.[79] He thinks that fame is not something he can control; therefore, he does not care about it.[80]
I never say to myself I'm the best fighter in the world. If someone learns martial arts solely to pick fights on the street, to lean on it as a keystone weapon in conflicts, to use it to bully and intimidate others – then that person, in my opinion, cannot be considered a true martial artist.[81]
According to Li, everything he has ever wanted to tell the world can be found in three of his films: the message ofHero is that the suffering of one person can never be as significant as the suffering of a nation;Unleashed shows that violence is never a solution; andFearless tells that the biggest enemy of a person is himself. Li thinks that the greatest weapon is a smile and the largest power is love.[82]
About Wushu, he said that he believes the essence of martial arts is not power or speed but inner harmony, and considers it a sad development that today's Wushu championships place greater emphasis on form than on the essence of being a martial artist. He believes Wushu now lacks individuality and competitors move like machines, whereas according to his views Wushu should not be considered a race where the fastest athlete wins. He would like to see Wushu as a form of art, where artists have a distinctive style. Li blames the new competition rules that, according to him, place limitations on martial artists.[83]
Li believes that Wushu is not primarily for self-defense and instead of trying to play the hero people should think about peaceful resolutions of conflicts and call the police if necessary:
"A gun outdoes years of martial arts training in a split second. Like I've said many times before, it is important to differentiate between movies and reality. The hero in movies may be able to knock the gun off his opponent and save the day, but in real life – probably that is not the case."[84]
He has also stated that he has never had to use his martial arts skills in a real-life fight and he does not wish to, either.[81]
In 2011, Li founded Taiji Zen, along with co-founder Executive chairmanJack Ma. Taiji Zen combined the martial art oftai chi (taijiquan in Chinese) with practices such asmeditation. It packaged these into several different classes and online programs.[85]
Li has been a "philanthropic ambassador" of theRed Cross Society of China since January 2006. He contributed 500,000 yuan (US$62,500) of box office revenues from his filmFearless to the Red Cross' psychological sunshine project, which promotes mental health.[86]
In April 2007, touched by his life-shaking experience in the Maldives when he was close to dying during the2004 tsunami, Li formed his own non-profit foundation calledOne Foundation.[87][88] The One Foundation supports international disaster relief efforts in conjunction with the Red Cross as well as other efforts, including mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Since the starting of the foundation, Li has been involved with recovery efforts in seven disasters, including the2008 Sichuan earthquake[89] andTyphoon Morakot in Taiwan.[90] In the2013 Lushan earthquake inYa'an, Sichuan, Li and other members of the entertainment sector were the first to appeal for donations of money, goods and materials to help the victims of the disaster.[91][92]Wu Jing was a One Foundation volunteer and helped in the effort.[93]
Li discussed his commitment to philanthropy in an interview with the December 2009 issue ofAlliance magazine, stating that "grassroots non-government organizations can help the government in its blind spots. Government relief is not always detail-oriented. Grassroots NGOs can't be as big as a government effort, but they need to be flexible and independent."[94]
In September 2010, he was appointed by the International Red Cross as the first Good Will Ambassador. He posted online, saying:
"Today I signed a deal with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – IFRC – to become the FIRST goodwill ambassador in the history of this humanitarian organization. I am very honored! At the same time, I will not pause to celebrate, but instead keep pushing forward and do my best to help the world! Thank you all once again for your support and belief in me!"[95]
It was also announced in September 2010, when Li was attending his wax unveiling ceremony in Hong Kong Madame Tussauds, that Li would be meeting Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to talk about charity work.[96] "Three days ago, I received an email from Gates, hoping I could make time because he and Buffett hoped I could go for a 30-minute chat before the dinner about the future we face as human beings, so I will go," Li said.[97]
By USbox office statistics, the most successful Jet Li film as of August 2010 isLethal Weapon 4, which grossed over $130 million domestically, while the second isThe Expendables with over $103 million.[98]Hero is the third most successful foreign language film in the US,[99] and one of the most critically acclaimed Li movies.[100]Fearless is the seventh most successful foreign language film of all time in the US.[99] From an aggregated critical point of view, the best acclaimed Li movie isFist of Legend (Rotten Tomatoes: 100%) and the worst isThe One (Rotten Tomatoes: 13%).[100]
^abMinami, Kazushi (2024).People's Diplomacy: How Americans and Chinese Transformed US-China Relations during the Cold War. Ithaca, NY:Cornell University Press. p. 167.ISBN9781501774157.
^"35年过去了，82版《少林寺》6大主演现状令人吃惊" [35 years later, the current situation of the 6 leading actors in the 82 edition of "Shaolin Temple" is surprising].Sina News (in Chinese).Sina Corporation. 7 July 2017. Retrieved1 April 2022.
^"回望中国电影20年 从5亿人看《少林寺》到票房1日破亿" [Looking back at Chinese movies over 20 years, from500 million people watching "Shaolin Temple" to the box office breaking100 million in one day].China Daily (in Chinese). 29 December 2014. Retrieved1 April 2022.
^"新《少林寺》欲收10亿美元 新《智取威虎山》请徐克执导" [The new "Shaolin Temple" wants to collectUS$1 billion, and the new "Taking Tiger Mountain" asks Tsui Hark to direct].People's Daily (in Chinese). 23 January 2014. Retrieved2 April 2022.
^中国电影年鉴 [China Film Yearbook] (in Chinese).中国电影出版社 (China Film Press). 1985. p. 46.两年来,包括三种拷贝( 8.75 毫米、 16 毫米和 35 毫米)在内,观众人次最多的十几部影片是:《武当》,从 1983 年 7 月发行到 1984 年 6 月,有五亿四千四百多万观众;《武林志》,从 1983 年 8 月到 1984 年 6 月,四亿二千五百七十九万观众;第三位是"上影"的喜剧片《飞来的女婿》。 这是出乎我意料之外的,无论评论界还是领导同志,几乎没有人认为这是一部好的或者比较好的影片(当然内容上是没有问题的) ,我好象还没有看到过有什么评论提到这部影片,但是 1983 年 1 月到 1984 年 6 月,观众人次一亿九千九百五十万;另外几部影片的观众人次:《蓝盾保险箱》, 一亿七千万;《特殊身份的警官》,一亿三千万;《人到中年》,一亿二千万;《蛇案》, 1983 年 12 月到今年 6 月,一亿二千万;《东方剑》,一亿人次;《咱们的牛百岁》,一亿一千万;《小小得月楼》,八千八百万;还有两部与香港合拍的影片,《少林弟子》,四亿九千万;《自古英雄出少年》,从 1984 年 1 月到 6 月,二亿六千万。我算了一下,除两部合拍影片外,这 10 部影片中上座的情况大概是这样的:两部武打片,占九亿六千九百八十三万;四部惊险片,或叫地下斗争或侦破片,六亿三千万;另外喜剧片,三亿九千万;还有《人到中年》,一亿二千万,加上两部合拍片, 12 部影片观众人次约三十亿。 [In the past two years, including three copies (8.75mm, 16mm and 35mm), the dozen films with the most audiences were: "Wudang", which was released from July 1983 to June 1984, with more than544 million viewers; "Wu lin zhi", from August 1983 to June 1984,425.79 million viewers; the third is the Shanghai Film Studio comedy "Fei lai de nü xu". This is beyond my expectations, no matter critics or leading comrades, almost no one thinks this is a good or relatively good film (of course there is no problem with the content), I don't seem to have seen it. What reviews mention this film, but from January 1983 to June 1984, the audience was199.5 million; the audience for the other films: "Blue Shield Safe",170 million; "A Policeman with a Special Identity",130 million; "At Middle Age",120 million; "She an", December 1983 to June this year,120 million; "Dong Fangjian",100 million people; "Our Niu Baisui",110 million; "Little Deyuelou",88 million; and two films co-produced with Hong Kong, "Kids from Shaolin",490 million; "Young Heroes", from January to June 1984,260 million. I calculated, except for the two co-production films, the status of the top 10 films is probably like this: two martial arts films, accounting for969.83 million; four thrilling films, or underground struggles or detective films,630 million; comedy films,390 million; and "At Middle Age",120 million, plus two co-productions, 12 films with an audience of about3 billion.]
^"李连杰20年前移民美国 被证实已经移民新加坡" [Jet Li, emigrated to United States 20 years ago, has been confirmed migrated to Singapore]. News.xinhuanet.com. Archived fromthe original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved2 October 2010.
^"Jet Li Becomes 'Philanthropic Ambassador' of Red Cross." Xinhua News Agency. 23 January 2006.China.org.cnArchived 11 December 2008 at theWayback Machine
Ducker, Chris, and Stuart Cutler.The HKS Guide to Jet Li. London: Hong Kong Superstars, 2000.
Marx, Christy.Jet Li. Martial Arts Masters. Rosen Publishing Group, 2002.ISBN0-8239-3519-1.
Parish, James Robert.Jet Li: A Biography. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2002.ISBN1-56025-376-2.
Farquhar, M.(2010) ‘Jet Li: "Wushu Master" in Sport and Film’ in Jeffreys, Elaine. & Edwards, Louise (eds.), Celebrity in China, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong pp. 103–124.ISBN962-209-088-5
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