A Chinese Ghost Story III

A Chinese Ghost Story III

Year: 1991

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: Cantonese

Director: Tony Ching Siu-Tung

FantasyActionComedyHorror

A final confrontation between divine and demonic forces unfolds a century after the original tale. Buddhist monk Bai Yun and his disciple Fong are tasked with escorting a golden Buddha statue through a remote village. When local thieves block their path, the pair seek refuge in the haunted Orchid Temple, where supernatural challenges await.

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Timeline & Setting – A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Ancient China (fantasy wuxia) 100 years after the first film

The story unfolds in a mythic past where swordsmen and monks wield magical powers. It is explicitly set a hundred years after the events of A Chinese Ghost Story, weaving together Taoist and Buddhist rituals with supernatural beings. The era blends martial-arts fantasy with spiritual intrigue, rather than a modern setting, emphasizing timeless battles between light and darkness.

Location

Orchid Temple, Lotus Temple, Village near the temples

The primary action centers around the Orchid Temple where monks Bai Yun and Shi Fang reside, serving as a sanctuary amid spiritual dangers. The Lotus Temple is depicted as haunted and a focal point for ghostly activity and seduction. Surrounding the temples lies a rustic village that becomes a battleground where mortals and spirits collide, especially during bandit attacks and demon incursions.

🏯 Temple 🗺️ Fantasy setting 🏞️ Rural

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:11

Main Characters – A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991)

Meet the key characters of A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Swordsman Yin (Jacky Cheung)

A seasoned Taoist swordsman whose legend links back to the first film. He brings deft combat skill and spiritual power, acting as a bridge between humans and ghosts. Cautious but principled, Yin joins Shi Fang and Bai Yun to counter the Tree Demon and protect the living from supernatural threats.

🗡️ Swordsman 🧭 Mentor

Shi Fang

Master Bai Yun’s disciple, depicted as capable but initially inept. His growing compassion—especially toward Lotus—tests his loyalty to duty and to his master. He evolves from cautious observer to active participant in the battle against the Tree Demon.

🧗‍♂️ Disciple 💫 Romantic tension

Master Bai Yun

A venerable Buddhist master who orchestrates the defense against the demon threat. He empowers Shi Fang with spiritual strength, even sacrificing some of his energy to aid the younger monk. He disapproves of Shi Fang’s relationship with a ghost but ultimately acts to protect them both.

🧭 Master

Lotus (Joey Wong Cho-Yin)

A ghost who tries to seduce Shi Fang and, at times, manipulate events to her advantage. Her relationship with Shi Fang deepens feelings that complicate the mortal-immortal divide. Lotus’s actions are driven by a desire to survive and perhaps find peace beyond her urn.

🪷 Ghost 💕 Romantic

Butterfly (Nina Li Chi)

A rival ghost who suspects Lotus and schemes to expose her. Butterfly operates as a counterforce within the spirit world, pushing the plot forward through intrigue and competition for the Tree Demon’s favor.

🦋 Rival spirit

Tree Demon

The central supernatural antagonist who manipulates Lotus to secure Shi Fang’s fate. A powerful demon whose ascent nearly blocks the heroes’ escape, its defeat requires both Taoist and Buddhist magic working in concert.

🌳 Demon

Black Mountain Demon

A malignant force that pursues the group after the Tree Demon’s destruction. It summons dark pillars and casts a gloomy veil over the sky, intensifying the sense of peril until the sunlight breaks through.

🗡️ Villain

Orchid / Jade (Tiffany Lau)

A figure associated with the Orchid Temple’s lore. The summary doesn’t specify her exact role, but her presence signals the temple’s mystical energies and the broader spiritual ambiance surrounding the lotus- and orchid-themed sites.

🌺 Spirit

Rascal (Sam Ho Choi-Chow)

A mischievous character whose actions inject chaos into the travels around the temples. His tricks complicate the protagonists’ plans but also catalyze key confrontations with the demon forces.

🌀 Mischief

Rascal (Cheung Yiu-Sing)

Another roguish figure sharing the Rascal role, contributing to the film’s humor and obstacles. This rascal’s antics intersect with the more serious battles against the demonic powers.

🌀 Mischief

Man with Yin in Teahouse (Tommy Wong)

A minor but pivotal presence who interacts with Yin in a teahouse, adding texture to the world’s social milieu and hinting at wider networks of travelers and sages.

🫖 Support

Fong's Master (Lau Shun)

The master who mentors Fong, anchoring the film’s depiction of hierarchical spiritual training. His role reinforces the contrast between disciplined tradition and improvisational responses to danger.

🧭 Master

Monk Fong (Tony Leung)

A monk whose practical approach and quiet strength complement the other spiritual figures. He contributes to the ensemble’s dynamic as they navigate spectral threats and human peril.

🧭 Monk

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:11

Major Themes – A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991)

Explore the central themes of A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love vs Duty

Lotus, a ghost, and Shi Fang develop a bond that challenges the monk’s strict codes and the masters’ authority. Shi Fang’s compassion clashes with the danger of trusting a spirits’ world, testing loyalty to his master and to Lotus’s safety. The romance complicates the quest to defeat the Tree Demon, highlighting how personal attachments can both empower and imperil a quest for balance.

🕯️ Religious Syncretism

The protagonists blend Taoist and Buddhist practices to confront a common threat. Yin and Bai Yun combine their respective spiritual arts to counter the Tree Demon, illustrating how different traditions can cooperate against a superior evil. The narrative suggests harmony between sects as a practical force equal to traditional swords and magic.

☀️ Light vs Darkness

Darkness is a pervasive force wielded by the Black Mountain Demon and the Tree Demon’s influence. The turning point comes when sunlight reenters the earth, breaking the demon’s barrier and enabling the protagonists to prevail. The sun’s return represents moral clarity and the triumph of righteous power over despair.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:11

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A Chinese Ghost Story III Summary

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A Chinese Ghost Story III Summary

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A Chinese Ghost Story III Timeline

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