The Magnificent Butcher

The Magnificent Butcher

Year: 1979

Runtime: 108 mins

Language: Cantonese

Director: Yuen Woo-Ping

ActionComedy

Lam Sai-Wing, a stout butcher apprentice under the legendary Wong Fei Hung, finds himself at odds with the rival Five Dragons kung‑fu school. He is blamed for assaulting the school's head’s god‑daughter and for killing the head’s son, prompting Ko, the Five Dragons leader, to pursue deadly revenge.

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Timeline & Setting – The Magnificent Butcher (1979)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Magnificent Butcher (1979). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Wong Fei-hung's town, Po Chi Lam, Butcher Wing's house, rented boat, town square

The story unfolds across a traditional Cantonese town tied to Wong Fei-hung and his students. Key locations include Po Chi Lam, the martial arts school, and Butcher Wing's home. The action moves to a rented boat during a private party and culminates in the town square, where the final confrontations occur. The settings emphasize martial arts culture, family honor, and rivalries within Wong Fei-hung's circle.

🏯 Cantonese town 🥋 Martial arts setting 🗺️ Period piece

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:52

Main Characters – The Magnificent Butcher (1979)

Meet the key characters of The Magnificent Butcher (1979), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lam Sai-wing (Butcher Wing)

A loyal student of Wong Fei-hung, known as Butcher Wing for his tough, protective nature. He initially defends his friends and hesitates to see the true familial connections at play. He is fatally wounded by Master Ko Ba Tin and is later cared for by Beggar So, who begins training him to improve his kung fu.

⚔️ Prodigy 🥊 Martial artist 🧭 Loyal student

Lam Sai-kwong

Lam Sai-kwong is the long-lost brother who arrives with his wife Yuet-mei, setting off a chain of misunderstandings and violence. He fights against Tai-hoi and is ultimately murdered by him, becoming a tragic catalyst for the ensuing feud. His bond with his brother and his family drives much of the drama.

⚔️ Rivalry 🩸 Brother 🕊️ Tragic figure

Yuet-mei

Wife of Lam Sai-kwong who is abducted by Tai-hoi and later saved by the protagonists. She provides crucial information and, at one point, hands over the ring that ties the murder to the killer. Her fate anchors the personal stakes of the conflict.

💃 Captive 🗝️ Key witness 🧩 Catalyst

Ko Tai-hoi

The ruthless son of Master Ko, obsessed with Yuet-mei and willing to abduct and harm to get what he wants. He assaults Lan-hsing and is responsible for multiple deaths, culminating in a final confrontation with Butcher Wing. His unchecked ambition accelerates the tragedy at the heart of the story.

🗡️ Villain 💀 Abductor 🥊 Rival

Lan-hsing

Master Ko’s goddaughter who witnesses events and carries secrets. She stays with Butcher Wing, hiding her identity, and becomes a focal point during the confrontation. Her confrontation with Tai-hoi ends tragically when Tai-hoi kills her in a violent attempt to silence her.

🕊️ Goddaughter 🕵️ Witness 🗝️ Secret identity

Beggar So

A wily, highly skilled elder with a fondness for alcohol and a sharp wit. He reconnects Sai-kwong with Butcher Wing, guides the training, and acts as a bridge between generations. His practical wisdom and kung fu prowess play a crucial role in shaping the younger fighters.

🎭 Mentor 🥃 Elder 🛡️ Wise fighter

Wong Fei-hung

The revered master who leaves his students to handle danger in his absence and returns at the end to restore order. His presence represents authority and moral grounding for the younger generation. His eventual return frames the resolution of the conflict and the balance between honor and consequence.

🏯 Master 🥋 Guardian 🧭 Authority figure

Night Watchman

A vigilant figure who discovers the murder consequences and tries to leverage the situation by selling information and the ring. His discovery ties the strand of events together and leads to key revelations. He is murdered by Tai-hoi, highlighting the peril surrounding the central conflict.

🕴️ Witness 🗝️ Clue carrier 🗡️ Victim

Master Ko Ba Tin

Father figure to Tai-hoi, a formidable martial artist who seeks to protect his family’s honor. He opposes Butcher Wing and attacks Po Chi Lam, escalating the feud. His final clash with Butcher Wing is a turning point in the story's pursuit of justice and balance within the martial lineage.

👨‍🏫 Father figure 🗡️ Rival 🧱 Baroque authority

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:52

Major Themes – The Magnificent Butcher (1979)

Explore the central themes of The Magnificent Butcher (1979), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Revenge

Revenge threads through the plot as long-buried tensions resurface between families. Lam Sai-kwong returns with a mission that intensifies the feud, and Tai-hoi’s actions ignite a cycle of retaliation. Butcher Wing must choose between protection and vengeance as the conflict escalates. The theme probes the cost of seeking vengeance for loved ones and the toll it takes on relationships.

💪 Training & Mastery

After Lam Sai-wing is fatally wounded, Beggar So becomes the mentor who pushes him toward greater kung fu mastery. The training sequences emphasize discipline, humility, and the transfer of martial wisdom across generations. Butcher Wing's path to improvement is framed as personal growth as much as athletic prowess. The theme shows that true mastery requires endurance and guidance.

🕵️ Identity & Deception

Lan-hsing’s guarded identity and the misunderstandings around Butcher Wing drive a web of intrigue. Master Ko’s jealousy and misperceptions fuel confrontations and alter loyalties. The ring left by the night watchman ties the families to a murder, revealing how truth can be obscured by appearances. Secrets propel the drama and force characters to choose sides.

🏮 Honor & Loyalty

Despite fierce rivalries, loyalty binds Wong Fei-hung, Beggar So, and their students. Butcher Wing’s injury and subsequent training are framed as tests of character rather than mere power. The narrative underscores responsibility for violence and the importance of protecting the weak. The conclusion returns to the value of honor within a community of martial artists.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:52

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The Magnificent Butcher Timeline

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