Imprint Asia

A Touch of Zen

Edition no. 64

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This release can only be found in the following box set: The Cinema Of King Hu: Volume One (1965 - 1973)

Release Date: Sunday, 26 July 2026
Country of Release: Australia
MSRP: $299.95 (Box set exclusive)

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Licensor Information

The Taiwan Film Institute

Directed by: King Hu

Featuring: Hsu Feng, Shih Chun, Bai Ying, Xue Han, Zhang Bingyu

King Hu’s epic wuxia masterpiece A Touch Of Zen has received endless accolades since its release. An ambitious, experimental work that transforms as it unfolds, its release cemented King Hu as an auteur and marked a turning point in the global recognition of Chinese cinema.

Gu Sheng-zhai, an artist in his early 30s, still lives with his mother, but he is suddenly shaken by the arrival of Yang Hui-zhen, a mysterious princess on the run. Yang brings Gu into her circle of protectors, including a nameless monk whose spiritual guidance transforms him into a valiant fighter.

Starring Hsu Feng, Shih Chun, Bai Ying, Tien Peng, and Roy Chiao Hung, filming took place over almost four years, with the memorable ten-minute bamboo forest fight sequence taking twenty-five days alone.

What begins as a haunting tale of suspicion and survival erupts into one of the most extraordinary martial arts epics ever filmed, and the meticulous 4K restoration elevates Hu’s vision to a breathtaking new level.

Year: 1971
Time: 180 min.