Chen Zhen

Chen Zhen is the main protagonist of the 1972 Hong Kong martial arts film Fist of Fury. He is depicted as an apprentice of the martial artist Huo Yuanjia, who founded the Chin Woo Athletic Association in 1910. After Huo Yuanjia dies under dubious circumstances, Chen Zhen discovers that his master was poisoned by their rivals from a Japanese dojo in Hongkou District, Shanghai. He seeks to bring the murderers to justice and embarks on a quest to avenge Huo Yuanjia and revive his master's legacy, the "Jingwu Spirit". 
He was portrayed by the late Bruce Lee. 
== Biography ==
Chen Zhen grew up studying kung fu under Master Hou of the Jing Wu School. This was the most prestigious school in Shanghai. Chen Zhen was raised as a son to Master Hou and became known as one of their finest students. He took an interest in engineering and entered a trade school in Kyōto, Japan. During his time there the Japanese occupation of Shanghai began. While his primary interest in Japan was engineering, Chen found time to study other martial arts there as well, incorporating elements of karate and boxing into his style.
Chen also began a relationship with a Japanese woman, Mitsuko Yamada, attending the same school.
=== Return to China ===
When Chen Zhen learned that Master Hou had died fighting the head of the Niguchi clan in Shanghai, he returned to avenge his master. Chen trashed the entire Niguchi school and their master, Akutagawa. Realizing that Master Hou should have beaten Akutagawa, Chen Zhen had Hou’s body examined. Thus, he discovered that Hou had been poisoned.
Since Akutagawa’s defeat the Jing Wu students flocked to Chen Zhen. He started teaching them the Jing Wu Fist of Legend as well as the new techniques he had acquired in Japan. This earned him the ire of the new Jing Wu Master, Master Hou’s son Ting En. Akutagawa was unaware of Master Hou’s poisoning. Once he was informed, he confronted General Fujita, head of the Niguchi clan and leader of the Japanese occupation forces. Fujita, also known as “The Supreme Killer” dismissed Akutagawa’s protestations of honor. Fujita then summarily killed him, vowing to do whatever it took to enforce Japanese domination.
=== The Supreme Killer ===
To provoke war between the Niguchi and Jing Wu clans, General Fujita left Akutagawa’s body in front of the Niguchi temple. There was a note reading, “Revenge is mine — Chen Zhen.” The enraged Niguchi clan armed themselves and rushed to the Jing Wu temple. The fracas was broken up by the police, who arrested Chen Zhen for his connection with the killing of Akutagawa.
Chen Zhen was tried for the murder of Akutagawa. The trial was a farce. The witnesses included a bad liar and a drunk. However, Mitsuko arrived and testified that Chen Zhen had spent the night of Akutagawa’s murder with her. The case was dismissed. Chen asked to take Mitsuko in at the Jing Wu temple, since she had left her family and life in Japan behind by admitting her relationship to Zhen in public. The temple refused. Further, Chen Zhen was treated as a traitor throughout Shanghai for consorting with a Japanese woman. Chen Zhen and Mitsuko moved to a small shack outside of town and took up a simple farmers’ life.
=== Exile of the fist ===
Funakoshi Fumio, Mitsuko’s uncle and one of the finest samurai, was called to Shanghai. His task was to challenge Ting En and the Jing Wu temple. Instead, Funakoshi challenged Chen Zhen, whose prowess and respectful manner had greatly impressed Funakoshi in Japan. Funakoshi barely beat Chen Zhen. He then took the opportunity to mentor the gifted young man, telling Chen that once he learned to adapt to his opponents he would be unbeatable.
As a consequence, General Fujita decided to take matters into his own hands and personally challenged Ting En. Ting En met with Chen Zhen the night before the challenge match to patch up their differences. Ting also asked Chen Zhen to take over the school should he fall in battle.
=== Get up, stand up ===
Instead, Chen accompanied Ting to meet Fujita. After Fujita defeated Ting En, Chen Zhen challenged the “Supreme Killer”. He used the wisdom Funakoshi had taught him to defeat the general, killing the “Supreme Killer” with his own sword. In order to prevent war between China and Japan over the general’s death, Chen Zhen took responsibility for the general’s death. A sympathetic Japanese official helped fake Chen’s execution. He then smuggled Chen out of Shanghai to join Mitsuko.
Chen's example subsequently inspired his fellow countrymen to stand up to the Japanese occupation.
== Personality ==
Chen Zhen is a particularly dedicated and serious individual. He also has a great deal of compassion, and though he does not seek conflict he will not hesitate to stand up for himself or others. Chen is highly patriotic, working to set an example to his fellow countrymen. Honor is very important to Chen. When he heard his master had fallen in battle, he immediately set out to avenge him. When Mitsuko gave up everything for him he refused to leave her despite the charges that consorting with her was treason.
== Appearance ==
Chen Zhen is a lithe man. He usually wears formal dress, such as his school uniform. His expression is usually polite but distant, changing to cold intensity when he is angry.
== Powers & Abilities ==
Chen Zhen is a gifted martial artist. He has trained since childhood, and is probably one of the finest martial artists alive. Zhen does not engage in unnecessary violence, but when he needs to fight he does so brutally. He then favors punishing moves that incapacitate as well as intimidating onlookers. He is skilled in the use of melee weaponry, but usually just engages enemies in hand-to-hand.
Category:Movie Heroes
Category:Action Heroes
Category:Live Action Heroes
Category:Male
Category:Martial Artists
Category:Fighters
Category:Anti-Heroes
Category:Honorable
Category:Brutes
Category:One-Man Army
Category:Nurturers
Category:Genius
Category:Patriots
Category:Sympathetic
Category:Vengeful
Category:In Love
Category:Neutral Good