King Hu (胡金銓, Hu Jinquan; 1932–1997) was a Chinese film director and screenwriter, considered one of the masters of Hong Kong cinema and the foremost innovator of the wuxia genre. He began his career at the Shaw Brothers Studio, where he directed the landmark film *Come Drink with Me* (1966). He later moved to Taiwan, where he made his most celebrated works. These include *Dragon Inn* (1967), a major commercial success, and his masterpiece, *A Touch of Zen* (1971). His style was distinguished by its visual elegance, an innovative use of editing inspired by Peking Opera, complex fight choreography, and the presence of strong female protagonists. For *A Touch of Zen*, Hu gained unprecedented international recognition, winning the Technical Grand Prize at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival and bringing the wuxia genre to the attention of world critics for the first time. His influence was fundamental for generations of directors, including Tsui Hark and Ang Lee, who have paid homage to his work in their own films.