MovieChat Forums > Huo zhe (1994) Discussion > Is Long'er Japanese?

Is Long'er Japanese?

posted 13 years ago by ahoymematey2000
5 replies | jump to latest

I was wondering this just because his name seems pretty unusual. Also, I noticed that the characters in his name are similar to the characters in the Japanese name Ryuuichi. Obviously he's a Chinese national and no mention of Japanese-ness is made in the movie, but I was still wondering. Does anyone who's read the book know more about this? I'm just curious.

[–] nrangerseven 13 years ago

No, he wasn't Japanese in the book. Actually the book is quite different and was set out in the country rather than a city. A foreigner would have been really noticable there. Plus, after the war with Japan in the 30s I highly doubt Japanese were welcome let alone allowed to take the home of a prestigious family in a gambling debt.

The people you idolize wouldn't like you.

[–] hairycactus 11 years ago

ahoymematey2000: I noticed that the characters in his name are similar to the characters in the Japanese name Ryuuichi. Obviously he's a Chinese national and no mention of Japanese-ness is made in the movie, but I was still wondering.

You've made an interesting & apt observation.

The name Long Er (hanyu pinyin: Long2 Er4, romanized Japanese: Ryuji) transliterates to "Dragon Two/Second" in both Chinese & Japanese. This forum doesn't display Chinese characters correctly, so see the below link for the rendering in Chinese & Japanese Kanji script respectively: http://oi40.tinypic.com/oad4b9.jpg

Movie Characters & Cast (names in Chinese): http://baike.baidu.com/view/3408.htm#2

In Chinese culture, Long Er would be a masculine name, probably given to the second son in the family. Ryuji is also a common masculine name in Japanese culture, & has the same meaning as its Chinese counterpart.

In 'To Live', Long Er -- a duplicitous smiling scoundrel & former shadow puppeteer -- appears largely in the 1940s segment of the movie, during which he subjugated Fu Gui in gambling & then took over (colonized) the latter's property.

Thus the character Long Er might possibly be a subtextual plot device that serves to remind audiences of the recently-departed Japanese colonialists, who occupied China from 1932 (starting with the puppet state of Manchukuo aka Manchuria) till the end of WWII.

In addition, China may symbolically be seen as Dragon One, while the smaller Japan (little brother) may be regarded as Dragon Two.

[–] cesium14 10 years ago

I promise that no Chinese people will find any Japanese-ness in the name Long Er. If anything, it hints at him being a hoodlum of some sort, because Long is a common pseudonym for gangsters. (I'm not saying everyone with family name Long is a gangster, but it does give off that vibe, especially with the "family name + birth order" address)

[–] snotjello 10 years ago

Very interesting conversation. Thanks. :-)

[–] snotjello 7 years ago

You're welcome.
Snotjello