Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Traditional Chinese: 臥虎藏龍; Simplified Chinese: 卧虎藏龙; Hanyu Pinyin: Wòhǔ Cánglóng) is a Chinese-language wuxia (chivalric and martial arts) film released in 2000. A China-Hong Kong-Taiwan-United States co-production, the film was directed by Ang Lee and features an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors, including Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen. The movie was based on the fourth novel in a pentalogy, known in China as the Crane-Iron Pentalogy, by Wang Dulu. The martial arts and action sequences were choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping.

Plot:

The fictional story is set in the historic Qing Dynasty in China. The approximate date of the story is during the 43rd year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (i.e. 1778).[3]

The story follows two martial arts warriors, Li Mu-bai (Chinese: 李慕白; Hanyu Pinyin: Lǐ Mùbái) (Chow Yun-Fat) and Yu Shu-lien (Chinese: 余秀蓮; Hanyu Pinyin: Yú Xiùlián) (Michelle Yeoh). Li Mu-bai returns one day from deep meditation to surrender the Green Destiny, a legendary sword that has remained in his use for many years. He requests Yu Shu-lien, a close friend who inherits a house of armed escorts from her father, to transport it to Sir Te, a long-term friend, for safekeeping in Beijing.

Mu-bai and Shu-lien are attracted to one another but abstain from a relationship, constrained by commonplace propriety because of Shu-lien's betrothal years ago to Mu-bai's "Brother in Oath," who has since died.

Once in Beijing, Shu-lien delivers the sword to Sir Te and meets Jen (Chinese: 玉嬌龍; Hanyu Pinyin: Yù Jiāolóng) (Zhang Ziyi). Jen is the daughter of Governor Yu, who is a Manchu aristocrat visiting Sir Te on business. Jen is destined for an arranged marriage, yet yearns for adventure instead of a life as a court wife. Jen is fascinated by Shu-lien's background as a fighter and develops an attachment to her.

One night, a masked thief sneaks onto Sir Te's property and steals the Green Destiny. The thief is pursued by guards and by Shu-lien, across rooftops, alleys, walls, houses and various obstacles within the enclosed estate of Sir Te. Amidst combat, and much to Shu-lien's surprise, she discovers that the thief is well-versed in martial arts and has apparently mastered the Wudang school of martial arts, like Mu -bai.

The thief turns out to be Jen. To retrieve the sword, Mu-bai fights with Jen on several occasions, but he refuses to kill her because he sees her potential and wants to train her as his apprentice. Jen also fights with Shu-lien, who spares her out of feelings of love and friendship.

Jen, headstrong in her powers and emboldened by her forbidden love to the desert bandit Lo (played by Chang Chen), consequently does not accept Mu-bai as master, nor Shu-lien as a friend. Jen stands at crossroads of her life choices. She must choose either life as a court official's wife or life with Lo. She also considers a rebellious (and romantic in her eyes) existence as either an outlaw under Jade Fox (a renegade old female fighter who murdered Mu-bai's master) or a somewhat more assured, but nonetheless unconventional, martial path with Mu-bai as a teacher.

In the end, Mu-bai does kill Jade Fox, but is fatally poisoned defending Jen from an attack of assassin needles aimed at Jen. Jade Fox wanted Jen murdered as Jen hid the true meanings of the secret Wudang journals from Jade. Jade had progressed as far she could since she could not read the manuals. Jen surpassed her and, according to Jade, Jen's potential was limitless.

Mu-bai, knowing that he will die, professes his feelings for Shu-lien. He dies, when Jen is unable to prepare the antidote quickly enough. A heartbroken Shu-lien then advises Jen that, no matter what path she chooses, she always remain true to herself. Jen goes to the sect at Wudang mountains and spends one last night with Lo, who is waiting for her. The next morning, he sees her standing beside the side of the mountain. She asks him to make a wish. He complies, and wishes for them to be back in the desert together.

Jen leaps into the clouds below, leaving Lo behind. The ending does not disclose whether she dies or not.