Shaolin Prince (Chinese: 少林傳人) aka Death Mask of the Ninja, Shaolin Death Mask, Iron Fingers of Death is a 1982 Hong Kong martial arts-action film released by Shaw Brothers and directed by Chia Tang. It is one of the Shaolin Temple themed martial arts films and featured Ti Lung, Derek Yee and Jason Pai Piao.
Plot
The 9th Prince aka "Iron Fingers" wants the royal seal to become emperor. To get it he must kill the current emperor and his two new born sons elder brother Tao Hing and younger Wong Szu Tai, and their bodyguards Gu Long and Li Chin. Gu Long and Li Chin escapes with the boys and they end up separated, Tao Hing goes under the care of the "3 Holy Fools" at Shaolin temple and Szu Tai under the care of the Prime Minister (Ku Feng) and are unaware of each other's whereabouts or existence. Tao Hing is raised by the 3 Holy Fools who are forbidden to come out of their dwelling due to corruption in Shaolin Temple and learns the secret Yijin Jing, however he is naive and knows nothing of his lineage though he carries the royal seal. He constantly gets into fights with a traitorous monk who secretly works for the 9th Prince but bests him in every scuffle. Wong Szu Tai however being raised by the Prime Minister and Gu Long is well aware of the existence of his brother (though he does not know who he is), the evils of the 9th Prince, and getting revenge. Gu Long tells him the only way to beat the 9th Prince is to go to Shaolin and get the Yijin Jing. The 9th Prince hears of the existence of Wong Szu Tai and visits the Prime Minister. He attempts to test if Wong knows kung fu but Wong holds back as he realizes he cannot beat the 9th Prince.
After an arranged exorcism by monk Dao Kong goes haywire and leaves Tao Hing to fend for himself , a passing Wong Szu Tai rescues and befriends Tao Hung. Tao Hung offers to escort him to Shaolin which angers monk Dao Kong as they arrive. Szu Tai fights his way into Shaolin to get the Yijin manual but is defeated and held captive. Monk Dao Kong goes to apprehend Tao Hing but he is defeated again by Tao Hing. Tao Hing goes to rescue Wong Szu Tai and finds out about the corrupt Shaolin monks and helps Szu Tai to escape. They are almost successful but lose to the "18 Buddhas" until rescued by the 3 Holy Fools whose house arrest is about to expire and they also gave them the Yi Jin manual. Tao Hing goes with Wong Szu Tai to kill a puppet emperor but after meeting with him, Tao Hung realizes the puppet emperor is a good man. This cause a rift between him and Wong Szu Tai after Wong tries to kill the puppet emperor and Tao is forced to use the Yijin on Wong. An angered Wong departs until intercepted by "Fire Man" and "Water Man", however Tao Hing arrives, helps him defeat them and they make amends. They return to the Prime Minister's house but everyone is dead except the Prime Minister and Gu Long. Tao Hing kneels to help Gu Long and accidentally drops the royal seal which sparks the curiosity of Gu Long thus prompting him to say "we found him!" before he dies. Tao Hing and Wong Szu Tai realize they are brothers and go to Shaolin to defeat an awaiting 9th Prince. After the Prince is killed, Wong Szu Tai returns to the throne and Tao Hing becomes an elder monk at Shaolin with the 3 Holy Fools.
Cast
- Ti Lung – Tao Hing/Dao Xing
- Derek Yee – Wong Szu Tai/Wang Zi Tai
- Jason Pai Piao – 9th Prince/Lord 9th/Iron fingers
- Yuen Wah - Li Chin/Li Zheng
- Chan Shen aka Alan Chan - Abbot of Shaolin temple
- Yue Tau Wan - holy fool monk Wu Li
- Yuen Bun – Water General/man
- Lam Fai Wong – holy fool monk Wu Ming
- Elvis Tsui aka Elvis Tsui Kam Kong - Monk Wu Ren
- Ku Feng - Prime Minister Wang
- Alan Chan Kwok-Kuen - holy fool monk Wu Zhi
- Lee Hoi-sang - Monk Dao Kong
- Tong Gai - Chief of Lohan with two swords
- Chiang Tao - Fire General/man
- Ngaai Fei - Emperor
- Kwan Fung - Gu Long/Master Gu
- Ku Kuan-Chung - Puppet Emperor
- Chan Leung - Soldier in first attack
- Wong Pau-Gei - General who attacks the palace
- Cheung Kwok-Wah - 9th Lord's Personal Guard
- Lau Yuk-Pok - Xia Suqin
- Shum Lo - Master Xia
- Cheung Chok-Chow - Master Xia's servant
- Wong Chi-Ming - Soldier / Palace Guard / Monk
- To Wai-Wo - Palace Guard
- Lee Fat-Yuen - Palace Guard
- Wong Chi-Wai - Guard Tu / Soldier
- Yeung Chi-Hing - Innkeeper
- Ma Hon-Yuen - Shaolin Lohan Monk / Shaolin Guardian
- Lee Hang - Palace Guard / Monk
- Lung Ying - Shaolin Guardian / Soldier
- Wong Wai-Tong - Shaolin Guardian / Monk present during the exorcism
- Choi Kwok-Keung - Shaolin Guardian
- Kong Chuen - Soldier / Palace Guard / Shaolin Guardia
- Wong Chi-Keung - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
- Chui Fat - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
- Tam Bo - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
- Tam Wai-Man - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
- Tang Yuk-Wing - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
- San Kuai - Soldier in 9th Lord's Army
- Chan Siu-Gai - Shaolin Lohan Monk / Monk
- Ng Yuen-Fan - Monk
- Stephen Chan Yung - Snr Monk
- Fei Gin - Soldier / Monk
- Ling Chi-Hung - Palace Guard / Lohan Monk
- Ho Chi-Wai - Soldier / Monk
- Lam Foo-Wai - Soldier / Monk
- Chu Kong - Shaolin Lohan monk
- Chan Ming-Wai - Shaolin Lohan monk
- Jacky Yeung Tak-Ngai - Shaolin Lohan monk
- Kong Long - Monk
- Lam Tit-Ching - Prime Minister's servant
- Lau Cheun - Prime Minister's servant
- Au Chi-Hung - Monk
- Wan Yiu-Cho - Soldier
- Jeng Yee - Shaolin monk
- Chan Shiu-Wa - Shaolin monk