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 – Butterfly and Sword (1993)

Trace every key event in Butterfly and Sword (1993) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Butterfly and Sing's peaceful life by the river

Butterfly and Sing live together in a small hut beside a river, sharing simple joys like fishing and poetry. They are deeply in love, and Butterfly imagines a quiet life together. Sing often goes away on what he calls 'business' to earn money, but the audience learns that he is an assassin for the Happy Forest.

Pre-mission Riverside hut
2

Ko's mission to steal a letter

Grand Eunuch Tsao tasks Ko with stealing a crucial letter from Master Suen, ruler of the Elites Villa sect. He also instructs Ko to have Sing fake his own death and infiltrate Suen's service as a lone swordsman. Sing agrees and quickly proves his prowess, earning Suen's trust.

Early mission Grand Eunuch Tsao's court
3

Sing enters Suen's service and meets Ho Ching's lookalike

Sing's ruse works and he becomes Suen's trusted lone swordsman. He impresses Suen with his skill, gaining influence within Suen's circle. During this time he encounters Suen's woman, a lookalike of Ho Ching, the one who disappeared years ago, hinting at a deeper connection.

During service Master Suen's Elites Villa
4

Ho Ching is given to Sing and the wedding night unfolds

Suen notices Sing's growing attachment to his woman and arranges for Ho Ching to be given to Sing. On the night of the wedding, Ho Ching attempts to steal a message but fails and dies. Sing is devastated by her death and begins to question the hidden secrets behind Suen's world.

Night of wedding Elites Villa
5

Sing returns to Happy Forest and confronts Ko

Grief-stricken, Sing returns to the Happy Forest and confronts Ko, demanding why Ho Ching was kept alive in the underground. Ko's response reveals a clash of loyalties and a plan to protect all of them, not just their own interests. The confrontation sets the stage for a renewed effort to obtain the message.

Immediately after wedding Happy Forest
6

Ko and Yip infiltrate Suen's villa and defeat Suen

Ko and Yip infiltrate Suen's Elites Villa with Sing already inside, and together they defeat Suen to seize the stolen message. The operation demonstrates their teamwork and sharp execution under pressure. The letter becomes the leverage they need to expose the larger plot.

Infiltration and confrontation Elites Villa
7

Delivery of the message reveals a deeper conspiracy

Ko and Sing deliver the stolen letter to Eunuch Tsao, only to learn a shocking truth: Eunuch Li is actually Tsao in disguise. Tsao unveils a plan to destroy the martial-arts world, turning their actions into a fight against a larger, more dangerous conspiracy. The stakes escalate from personal vengeance to systemic upheaval.

Delivery of letter Tsao's court
8

The final confrontation and the fall of Tsao

In a climactic battle, Ko, Sing, and a young prince join forces to defeat Tsao. Their victory disrupts the conspirators' grip on the martial world and signals a potential shift in power. The defeat of Tsao restores a fragile balance and paves the way for new leadership to emerge.

Climactic battle Tsao's stronghold
9

Ko and Yip's climactic sacrifice

After the victory, Ko feels rejected by Sing and leaps from a cliff, choosing a sacrifice over a doomed future. Yip follows Ko and holds her as they plunge, confessing his willingness to die for her happiness. They fall into the ocean and die embracing each other, leaving Butterfly and Sing to mourn.

Endgame Cliff and ocean
10

Butterfly and Sing mourn their friends

Butterfly and Sing witness the deaths of Ko and Yip and are left to grapple with profound grief. The couple supports each other as they try to find a way forward in a world that has been irrevocably changed. Their sorrow underscores the cost of loyalty, love, and power.

After deaths Cliff and shore
11

A fragile hope for the future

In the aftermath, Butterfly and Sing cling to each other and to a hope for peace, even as they acknowledge the heavy losses they've endured. They navigate a world where love persists, but the scars of betrayal and war linger. The ending hints at a wary, quieter future.

Post-climax Riverside hut

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:33

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Butterfly and Sword Summary

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Butterfly and Sword Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Butterfly and Sword

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Butterfly and Sword

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