Superstar Jet Li acts as an ambassador for Chinese kungfu and the Buddhist spirit in the US

AN obedient boy who refused to play any "dangerous games simply because his mother was against them; a caring husband willing to give up a good job opportunity to accompany his wife through her pregnancy; and a believer and follower of Buddhist doctrines who advocates understanding between individuals as well as states.

Can you link the above images with the super martial arts film star Jet Li?

Li is the youngest of five children. His father died when he was only two, and his over-protective mother forbade her youngest son to participate in any dangerous activities - skating, bicycling, or fierce ball games were on her list.

However, Li was accepted into the Beijing Amateur Sports School at eight and started 10 years of tough exercises.

He attended the sports school during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), when martial arts was an important element in China's diplomacy. In 1974, Li and his teammates went to the United States for a good-will visit and performed on the lawn of the White House.

When they gathered to take a formal picture with President Richard Nixon and others, Nixon turned to the teenage Li and said, "Young man, your kung fu is very impressive! How about being my bodyguard when you grow up?"

"No," Li blurted out. "I don't want to protect any individual. When I grow up, I want to defend my 1 billion Chinese countrymen!" Even now, Li cannot imagine how the highly-diplomatic sentence came to him, but he won high praise when he returned from that trip.

Starring career

Li won a series of championships and was picked out by director Zhang Xinyan to play the hero in the film "Shaolin Temple". The film became an instant hit and soon two other sequels were shot, and Li became a star.

Li's real success in the film industry was achieved working with director Hsui Hark. The film "Once Upon A Time In China" was a box office sensation spawning five sequels in which Li starred in three.

He decided to move to the US when his career in Hong Kong was climaxing. He wanted to join the world film market and introduce Chinese kungfu to Westerners.

"One's most dangerous enemy is himself," Li said about the difficulties he encountered in the US. "You have to overcome unhealthy ways of thinking, such as fear, pride, and laziness. You'd have to be willing to assimilate into the society." Language is not much of a problem now, though he couldn't use English as naturally as Chinese.

Li made his English speaking film debut in 1998, in "Lethal Weapon 4". His later work includes "Romeo Must Die", "Kiss of the Dragon", "Invincible" and the ongoing project "Hero" directed by Zhang Yimou, co-starring Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi and Tony Leung. The film is expected to be another masterpiece following Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".

Buddhistic life

In his latest work "The One", which is to be premiered in Shanghai in February, Li played several roles. Not only did he speak for the roles, but he also used different tones to distinguish the good guy from the bad guy.

"The One" is his first science fiction and 28th film. By trying different roles, Li wanted to practise his acting and show people more aspects of himself aside from martial arts.

"I will fight very little in my next film, which will also be directed by Luc Besson," Li said. "Martial arts is only a tool, and has to be combined with films."

"I am thankful that what I am working at still gains support from people," Li said. "But tide changes, and maybe in a few years, people will forget me."

Li greeted people, palms together in front of his chest, speaking from a Buddhist view. "There are many emperors in the long history of China. How many of them are remembered by people? We are just a few actors, and soon will be completely forgotten. What I can do is only work my best and celebrate every day as New Year's Day or Christmas."

Caring husband

Li is known as a loving husband to his wife Nina. It was said that Li promised never to shoot close-up scenes with an actress because Nina had once been annoyed by that. "I certainly have time to be with my wife and family," he said. "People always find various excuses for themselves. I took my family with me when I shot 'Kiss of the Dragon' in France."

He said the management of a family relied largely on mutual understanding. "If each party holds firmly to his view, they will surely end up in quarrel," he said. "It is the same case between countries, nations, and religions."