This movie, directed by Jhang Sinyan and released in 1982, has the highest reputation among the movies concerning the Shaolin temple. It is the first wusia movie produced in Mainland China in more than thirty years after wusia movies were banned in 1949.

      It is based on the story Shihsan Gunseng Jiu Tang Wang (literally meaning "the thirteen martial arts monks rescue the king of the Tang"). It starts with the protagonist Monk Jyue Yuan, nickname Siaohu (played by Jet Li), challenging his miserable fate. Together with his senior fellow disciple known by the nickname Drunk Monk and their master Zih Guan, they form an alliance to fight against General Wang Renze (played by Yu Chenghui). Wang was both the nephew of the Prince of Jheng, Wang Shichong and subordinate General. And the Prince of Jheng is the political and military rival of the king of the Tang, Li Shihmin. This story combines a revenge story with historical events, and contains both the excellent wusia episodes and magnificent scenes, which can only be seen in epic movies. So this movie is more entertaining than ordinary wusia movies.

      This movie was filmed in the real location of the Shaolin temple on the Songshan Mountains. And there is a documentary about this temple at the beginning of the movie. So the audience will know more about the temple. In addition, the movie was directed, financed, and technically supported by a Hong Kong movie producer, and the roles were all played by famous martial arts masters and mistresses in Mainland China including Jet Li (Li Lianjie), Yu Hai, Yu Chenghui, Hu Jianciang. With a very strong working team, this movie became one of the most important movies in the 80s.