Shaolin Wuzang

Shaolin Wuzang (Chinese: 《中华小子》; pinyin: zhōng huá xiǎo zi; literally: "Chinese Kids") is a Franco-Chinese animated TV series produced by Les Cartooneurs Associés, Fantasia Animation, France 3 and Jetix Europe. It spans twenty-six episodes, over two thirteen episode seasons, which were broadcast on France 3 in France and CCTV in China. In Australia, the series is broadcast on ABC3.

Plot

In the 16th Century, during the Sui Dynasty a powerful Demon named Heihu attempted to dominate all of China, but thanks to a Grandmaster of Shaolin and three heroic Shaolin “knights”, Heihu was defeated and mystically sealed inside a great bell.

After one-thousand years, in the 17th Century -- circa 1600-1618 -- a peasant woman comes across the bell (overgrown and forgotten in a forest, somewhere in the Henan Province). When she touches it, the mystic seal breaks and Heihu is freed. The Demon chases the peasant woman down and possesses her body.

Not far away, at a Shaolin Temple, Master Tsen Zang watches over his students and followers. In the midst of the daily affairs, Heihu infiltrates the temple and ransacks its library in search of two special books. If the Demon claims these books, he can become so powerful that no one could challenge him as he renews his quest for world domination. Heihu manages to uncover the first book at the temple -- the Book of Wisdom -- but disappears after failing to find the second one.

Meanwhile, Master Tsen Zang consults the spirits of the ancient Grand Masters of Shaolin. They tell him to seek out the spirits of the three Original Shaolin Knights who defeated Heihu. The three have been reincarnated into three young children, and so Master Tsen Zang must find them and train them, in order to defeat the Demon before he can find the second book.

The Main Characters

• Heihu -- A powerful Demon, formerly sealed away inside the mystic prison-bell, now freed and attempting to take over the world once again. Originally depicted as a monster (in the series opening episode), Heihu has now possessed a peasant woman, and is using her body as a vessel for his power. He seeks two books -- the Book of Wisdom and one other -- to use their power to become unbeatable. To this end, he recruits an army of thugs -- the Black Foxes -- to do his bidding while he searches for the books.

• Master Tsen Zang -- The current Grand Master of the Shaolin Temple. He is an old, stern yet kindly man. He has great skill in Kung Fu, despite his advanced age. He gives sage advice, and believes that, in spite of the age (and gender) of the charges he must find and train they are the best hope for defeating the Demon.

• Hua -- a young teenage girl. She is headstrong and mad about martial arts. She was with her grandmother, delivering laundry at the Temple when Heihu attacked. She attempted to aid Master Tsen Zang in keeping the Book of Wisdom away from Heihu’s grasp. Even though she failed, the Spirit of the Grand Master indicated that she was one of the Reincarnated Knights, and that she would help Tsen Zang find the other two Knights. She impressed Master Tsen Zang with her use of a large cloth as a weapon, that he gave her a rope made of “an indestructible weave” to use in her battles. She also proves to have some form of qi power, as she creates a energy shield to protect herself from a serpent's attack (in Episode Two).

• Tang -- a young man who is the son of one of the city governors in Hunan Province. He is somewhat snobbish, and has high opinions of himself and his apparent destiny. He fights with Hua, and proves to have some adeptness with Kung Fu. To show his pride in Teng’s appointment to the Shaolin, his father gives him a sword his ancestor used in battle. Wearing round spectacles, he is very astute and clever to solve riddles and think on his feet. Teng is believed to be the second of the Three Knights.

• Cheng -- a young peasant boy who’s village was ransacked by forces of Heihu. Cheng was discovered by Hua, after she attempted to find aid in his village (which had been seized by the Black Foxes). The two ended up fighting the Black Foxes, along with Teng and Master Tsen Zang, defeating them and freeing the villagers. Showing skill with staves, Cheng was given a three-second chain staff by Master Tsen Zang. Proving his courage and skill, he joined with Teng and Hua at the Shaolin Temple to train as the third Knight.

Episode list

• The Demon's Return (Le Retour du Démon)
• Hangman's Swamp (Le Marais des Pendus, lit. "The Swamp of the Hanged")
• Kwai Gonjin (Kwaï Gonjin)
• Your Worst Enemy (Ton Pire Ennemi)
• The River Dragons (Les Dragons-Rivières)
• Eye in the Medallion (Le Revers de la Médaille, lit. "The back of the medallion")
• The Daikinis (Les Dâkinis)
• The Imperial Escort (L'Escorte Impériale)
• The Wheel of Time (La roue du temps)
• Deep Within the Mirror (Au fond du miroir)
• The K'Uei (Les K'Uei)
• Little Sister (Petite Soeur)
• The Veil of Light (Le Voile de Lumière)
• Frog Spirit (L'esprit grenouille)
• Diamond Eyes (Les larmes de diamant, lit. "The tears of diamond")
• The Ogres of Kaifeng (Les Ogres de Kaïfeng)
• Yi's Sacred Bow (L'Arc Sacré de Yi)
• The Pavilion of Whispers (Le pavillon des murmures)
• Young Love (Amour de Jeunesse)
• The Realm of Quiet Waters (Le Royaume des Eaux Calmes) Note: "royaume" also translates to "kingdom"
• A Thousand Faces (Mille Visages)
• Kuulnn (Kunlun)
• Shadow Thief (Le Voleur d'Ombres)
• The Invisible Castle (Le Château Invisible)
• Xi-Rang (Xi Rang)
• The Trap (Le Piège)

External links

• Official website (French)
• Shaolin Wuzang at Fantasia Animation: Chinese, English
• Shaolin Wuzang at CNTV, CCTV's official website
• Shaolin Wuzang at ABC Online