Shi Mian Mai Fu or House of Flying Daggers (2)

Part Two

There are cultural influences taken from Chinese literature and musical tradition. One such example is the title of the movie. Shi mian mai fu is a Chinese idiom meaning “ambush from ten sides, or all sides.” The title is also taken from a piece of Chinese music by the same title. It was written about the battles between the Chu and Han forces before the founding of the Han dynasty in 206 BC. Zhang Ziyi, who played Mei, learned Chinese ethnic dances when she was 11, she learned for six years, and the first two she had a dance teacher. Mei’s sings a famous Chinese song in the Peony Pavilion. It goes,

A rare beauty in the North.

She's the finest lady on earth.

A glance from her, the whole city goes down.

A second glance leaves the nation in ruins.

There exists no city or nation

That has been more cherished

Than a beauty like this.”

The song was originally a poem, which was later set to music. It was written about an Imperial Concubine by her brother and addressed to the emperor. It was meant as a warning to the emperor against overindulgence in beauty. These are some very important cultural influences upon the film.