Butterfly and Sword

Butterfly and Sword

Year: 1993

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: Cantonese

Director: Michael Mak Tong-Kit

ActionAdventureFantasy

A loyalist attempts to keep the King’s empire from being overthrown by a revolutionary group.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Butterfly and Sword (1993)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Butterfly and Sword (1993). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

River Hut, Elites Villa, Imperial Court

The story unfolds from a humble riverside hut where Butterfly and Sing share quiet moments, to the opulent Elites Villa whereMaster Suen operates, and up to the grandeur of the Imperial Court ruled by Eunuchs. These locations anchor a world of martial arts, intrigue, and political maneuvering that drives the plot. The contrast between the intimate, pastoral river setting and the marble halls of power highlights the personal costs of loyalty and ambition.

🌊 River 🏰 Elite Villa 🏛️ Imperial Court 🗺️ Wuxia Setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:03

Main Characters – Butterfly and Sword (1993)

Meet the key characters of Butterfly and Sword (1993), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Butterfly (Joey Wong Cho-Yin)

A young woman whose father once belonged to the martial world, Butterfly is driven by love and loyalty. She becomes entwined in the schemes of Sing and Ko, navigating danger with quiet courage. Her feelings drive key actions and reveal the costs of devotion in a ruthless society.

💖 Romance 🎭 Passion 🌊 River Life

Yip Cheung (Donnie Yen)

Sing's best friend and a member of the Happy Forest, Yip is steady, loyal, and protective. He loves Ko but keeps his feelings hidden, balancing camaraderie with the risk of exposure. His bravery and sense of duty help hold the group together in dire moments.

💪 Loyalty 🕊️ Friendship

Meng Sing-Wan (Tony Leung)

A talented assassin weary of a life spent killing, Sing is torn between his craft and his growing feelings for Butterfly. He proves resourceful and capable, earning trust within Suen's service before his loyalties are tested by the unfolding conspiracy. His artistry with a blade masks a deeply conflicted heart.

🗡️ Skill 💖 Love 🧭 Conflict

Ho Ching (Elsie Yeh)

A girl who grew up with Ko, Yip, and Sing, Ho Ching embodies a link to the past and the bonds of the group. Her role weaves through the undercover plot and the emotional stakes, representing innocence caught in a web of manipulation.

💫 Connection 🕊️ Trust

Prince Cha (Jimmy Lin Chih-Ying)

A young prince who becomes an ally in the fight against Tsao's plan. His presence brings a glimmer of legitimacy and a crucial political angle to the climactic confrontation. He acts as a bridge between the martial world and the court.

🤝 Alliance 👑 Authority

Eunuch Tsao (Chang Kuo-Chu)

The Grand Eunuch behind a scheme to destabilize the martial world, Tsao crafts plans to use messages and deception to seize power. He is the principal antagonist whose schemes drive the central conflict. His downfall comes through coordinated action and cunning resilience.

🗡️ Power 🕵️ Intrigue

Master Suen (Elvis Tsui Kam-Kong)

A powerful figure who commands respect and fear within Suen's Villa. He accepts Sing into his service, testing Sing's loyalty while leveraging his own influence in the larger game of power. His interactions with Ko, Sing, and Yip catalyze several pivotal confrontations.

🏯 Authority 🎭 Strategy

Eunuch Li

A shadowy court figure involved in Tsao's plots, Li represents the political elite's underbelly and the hidden hands behind the conspiracy. His true loyalties remain ambiguous until the climax reveals the depth of courtly manipulation.

🏛️ Court Power 🗝️ Secrecy

Lui Heung-Chuen (Tou Tsung-Hua)

A court or martial world figure whose actions influence the balance of power. He contributes to the shifting alliances that culminate in the final confrontation.

🧭 Influence 🗡️ Conspiracy

Lui Chung Yuen (Steve Lee Ka-Ting)

A member of the community around Suen, his role spans from combat to strategic support in the group's efforts against Tsao's scheme. His presence adds to the ensemble's tactical depth.

⚔️ Combat 🧭 Strategy

Lord Suen's Man / Guard (Choi Hin-Cheung)

A subordinate of Lord Suen, he carries out orders and guards important locations or people within the villa and court. His actions help shape the defense against the intrusions of Ko and Sing.

🛡️ Guard 🧱 Loyalty

Lord Suen's Man (Choi Kin-Shing)

Another faithful aide of Lord Suen, playing a supporting role in the villa's defenses and internal power dynamics. His presence underlines the layered intrigue surrounding Master Suen and Tsao.

🗡️ Spycraft 🏰 Guard

Forest Fighter (Chang Chung-Yu)

One of the skilled fighters from the forest faction who joins the defense against Suen's plans. They contribute to the action sequences and illustrate the martial world's diverse combatants.

🥋 Combat 🪄 Elemental

Bald Fighter (Chu Ben-Ke)

A nimble combatant among the forest fighters, bringing physical prowess and quick strikes to the ensemble in the climactic battles.

🥋 Martial Arts ⚡ Speed

Forest Fighter (Lin Kuang-Chin)

One of the forest warriors who aids in the struggle against the scheming court factions. Their presence adds to the breadth of the martial world depicted.

🥋 Combat 🪵 Nature

Forest Fighter (Suen Siu-Ming)

A member of the forest fighters who contributes to the action and the defense against the imperial plot. Their participation underscores the collective effort to resist tyranny.

🥋 Martial Arts 🧩 Teamwork

Forest Fighter (Wang Yao)

A skilled fighter from the forest faction who helps in the confrontations surrounding the villa and court intrigues. They illustrate the wide range of fighters in the martial world.

🥋 Combat 💥 Action

Eunuch (Wong Chung-Kui)

A court eunuch who contributes to the intricate power games within the imperial setting. Their actions reflect the court's intimate involvement in the martial world.

🏛️ Court Power 🕵️ Secrecy

Forest Fighter (So Man-Tsz)

Another member of the forest fighters who participates in pivotal battles and helps defend the group against Tsao's schemes. Their presence completes the ensemble of woodland combatants.

🥋 Combat 🛡️ Defense

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:03

Major Themes – Butterfly and Sword (1993)

Explore the central themes of Butterfly and Sword (1993), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Forbidden Love

Butterfly's affection for Sing and Ko's unrequited feelings create emotional tension that drives key decisions. Sing is torn between a perilous life as an assassin and his personal attachments, pulling other characters into a web of loyalties. Romantic longing acts as a catalyst for alliances and betrayals alike. The romance foregrounds the human cost of living within a ruthless martial world.

🗡️ Royal Betrayal

A conspiracy rooted in the court pits Tsao and Li against the martial world, using undercover identities and strategic deception to destabilize power. Plans unfold behind closed doors, revealing how political ambition can corrupt justice and fuel violence. Allies are tested as loyalties shift and the true aim of the conspiracy remains obscured until the end.

🕊️ Loyalty

The core group—Ko, Sing, Yip, and Ho Ching—must navigate shifting loyalties while carrying out dangerous missions. Their bonds provide resilience against a world built on treachery and manipulation. The teamwork and steadfastness of these friends become the decisive force against Suen and Tsao's schemes. Loyalty here is both a shield and a weapon.

💀 Tragedy

The pursuit of justice exacts a heavy toll, with friendships strained and sacrifices demanded. The extended ending reveals the ultimate costs of their choices, including the potential sacrifices by Ko and Yip. Violence and deception leave lasting scars on everyone involved, underscoring the cost of living in a world where power and loyalty collide.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:03

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