In “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000), the coveted sword is called Green Destiny. It is a legendary 400-year-old jian, or Chinese straight sword, carried by the renowned Wudang swordsman Li Mu Bai. At the beginning of the film, Li Mu Bai asks Yu Shu Lien to deliver it to his benefactor, Sir Te, in Beijing.
The sword soon becomes the story’s central object. A masked thief steals Green Destiny from Sir Te’s estate, beginning a rooftop pursuit and exposing the abilities of the disguised noblewoman Jen Yu. Because the sword represents Li Mu Bai’s reputation and the traditions of the martial world, its theft is both a physical crime and a challenge to that world’s values.
Green Destiny is sometimes confused with Jade Fox, but Jade Fox is the name of a major character, not a weapon. The film’s title refers to hidden strength and concealed passions, themes reflected in Jen’s secret identity and desire for freedom. Ang Lee’s film is based on the fourth novel in Wang Dulu’s “Crane-Iron” series and is set in Qing-dynasty China.