Thirteenth Aunt 十三姨
Thirteenth Aunt became Wong Fei-Hung's companion in Tsui Hark's films. She knows foreign customs, can handle a camera, and takes change more calmly than the master himself. Rosamund Kwan played her in the first film, Once Upon a Time in China (1991), and returned to the role in the sequels, even when Wong himself was already played by another actor.
Thirteenth Aunt (十三姨) first appears in Tsui Hark's Once Upon a Time in China (1991). The heroine's name is Siu-Kwan. Wong Fei-Hung calls her aunt, even though they are close in age. Around her he remains reserved, especially when he fears gossip. Siu-Kwan, who received a Western education, worries less about what those around her will think. A camera is an ordinary thing to her, while Wong has yet to grow accustomed to everything the foreigners bring to his city.
The role was played by Rosamund Kwan. Paired with Jet Li, she played Thirteenth Aunt in both Once Upon a Time in China II (1992) and Once Upon a Time in China III (1993). In Once Upon a Time in China V (1994), Kwan returned to the role, though Wong was by then played by Vincent Zhao. And in Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997), Sammo Hung Kam-Bo again cast Kwan alongside Jet Li.
The heroine, invented by Tsui Hark, quickly took root beyond his film cycle as well. As early as the 1990s, a TV series appeared, Huang Fei Hong Yu Shi Shan Yi, in which Siu-Kwan was played by Flora Chan Wai-Shan.
