| Bastard Swordsman | |
|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 天蠶變 |
| Simplified Chinese | 天蚕变 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Tiān Cán Biàn |
| Directed by | Lu Chin-ku |
| Written by | Lu Chun-ku |
| Produced by | Mona Fong |
| Starring | Norman Chui |
| Cinematography | Ma Gam-cheung |
| Edited by | So Chan-kwok Lau Shiu-gwong Chiang Hsing-lung |
| Music by | So Jan-hau Stephen Shing |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Shaw Brothers Studio |
Release date |
|
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Mandarin |
Bastard Swordsman, also known as Reincarnate Swordsman, is a 1983 Hong Kong wuxia film produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio.
Yun Fei Yang is the viciously bullied orphan who takes on the unpleasant tasks at a formidable kung-fu school. Constantly mocked by the other students of the school, Yun counts as his only friend the daughter of the resident master. Any internal wrangling between the various members is put to one side when a swordsman from a rival clan reminds the master of the duel he must take part in once a decade. Unfortunately the defending clan chief is well aware that his rival is more powerful than himself. The expected defeat is further complicated when a wandering swordsman arrives on the scene and joins himself to the injured party, immediately adding to Yun's woes.
The ensuing series of confrontations and intrigues soon reveals the individual motives that the numerous parties all have and the role they play in the fate of the martial world. After finally understanding his own past and upbringing, Yun is ready to take on the mantle of avenger for his school and win back the respect that his colleagues have lost. With fighting skills that had been taught to him by a shrouded figure, Yun steps out of the shadows and reveals himself to be anything but the harassed orphan that everyone enjoys picking on. However to have any kind of hope against his nearly superhuman foes, the young fighter must uncover the secrets of his clan's 'Silkworm Technique' and transform himself completely.
Bastard Swordsman is based on the 1979 ATV television series Reincarnated (a.k.a. The Transformation of the Heavenly Silkworm). The story was originally a script for the television series, but later converted into a wuxia novel by Huang Ying.