As an Asian-American, nothing is more exciting and reassuring than the release of a movie starring Asian cast members—even more so if it receives high reviews and garners positive attention for Asian culture. The Marvel movie, Shang-Chi, which released in late 2021 did just that. First of all, it stars phenomenal actors and actresses including Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Ronny Chieng, Tony Leung, and many more. Additionally, it’s an exhilarating movie with an intriguing plotline, relatable characters, and stunning scenery. Above all, it promotes Chinese culture and Asian-American quirks in unique, fascinating ways.
- Language
The majority of Shang-Chi’s dialogue is spoken in Mandarin, which makes the plotline more realistic and appealing as much of the film takes place in East Asia, most notably China. Language is one of the most distinguishable aspects of culture, allowing the film to accumulate more positive attention for Chinese culture. Additionally, one of the characters notably jokes that he speaks “ABC.” “ABC” stands for “American-born Chinese” and it’s a colloquial term that’s at times derogatory as it usually refers to children of Chinese immigrants who have assimilated to western culture and speak English as a first language, while not understanding Mandarin or Chinese culture to the same extent. However, it’s mostly a light-hearted term that Chinese-Americans may throw around to poke fun at their attempts to learn and appreciate the culture. So, the character saying he speaks “ABC” is implying that he speaks terrible, broken Chinese, which is a break of comedic relief among the overall intense, fast-paced scenes of the movie. Speaking “ABC” is a quality that many Chinese-Americans can relate to, but definitely do not want to admit!
- Guardian Lions
In many scenes in the film, statues of lions can be seen at the entrances and gates of important places. These statues are known as guardian lions and they protect the inhabitants from evil spirits. They’re traditional Chinese statues typically built with stone, bronze, marble, or even gold. In China, these statues can be found in front of historical buildings and palaces like the Forbidden City located in Beijing. Today, they’re common and can be found in front of many Asian-owned buildings like restaurants or supermarkets. Just take a stroll down Chinatown, and you’ll be sure to see one!
- Day of the Dead / QingMing Festival (清明节 qīngmíng jié)
In Shang-Chi, the characters are seen preparing for the Day of the Dead or 清明节 (qīngmíng jié), a traditional Chinese holiday typically celebrated in early April. Families pay their respects to their ancestors or deceased loved ones by visiting their graves, cleaning them, and leaving offerings like fruits, tea, or flowers. Additionally, another custom of this holiday is to wear willow branches and place them on gates and entrances as it is believed to ward off evil spirits.
Sources: https://medium.com/illumination/how-accurately-does-shang-chi-reflect-chinese-culture-b38e8326f1a0
https://www.skratch.world/post/shang-chi-how-chinese-culture-inspired-the-film
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/article-stone-lions.htm
https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/qingming-festival.htm
太棒了！我十二月跟朋友一起看Shang Chi。我们都喜欢看。看电影的时候，我不知道这个文章的资料。
我跟我的家一起看Shang Chi。我跟我的家很喜欢看这个电影。我要学多中国文化!
我在乐队课看了这部电影，我觉得很好看！因为Shang- Chi是一部西放的电影，所以我以前觉得他们所说的中方的事情不是真的，或者不是准确。我常常唐人街看到你说的狮子，但是我不着是什么意思。谢谢！
我觉得这个电影很好看。我很想看这个电影。我学了很多东西！
我觉得这部电影很好看。 我下周就去看这部电影。 shangchi应该会让我学到很多东西。