Expert: Louis M. Wu - 6/28/2004

Question
Hello Mr. Wu,

Thank you for making yourself available to ask this question about Man Tou.

I've seen this food in Kurosawa's films.  I am eagerly awaiting Jet Li in HERO -- and I've been doing research on him.

I've seen Man Tou in many of his films, too.

But I don't have much luck in finding any information on the internet about these steamed breads or dumplings.  I've seen just a few snapshots on the internet.

In the movies, they always look so perfect, just like baseballs without the stitching.

We have many Chinese food spots here near Reading, Pennsylvania, but I've never seen these "dumplings" here.  Would I see them if I traveled to Philadelphia in "Chinatown" there ?

Where would you suggest I go if I wanted to sample this food ?

Incidentally, Jet Li has a website that is better than most.  You can look at his "personal" snapshots.  So far I only saw his trip to China in 2001 -- but most movie stars would not show you their "real" side.  I think all the more of Jet Li after seeing his website.

This URL is the "site map", not the "home page" :

http://jetli.com/map.php?bw=high

Here is the background of the movie HERO, since I mentioned it above :

http://www.herothemovie.com/production/index.htm

Incidentally, I have been looking at Jet Li movies and here is a review I posted at www.mouthshut.com which tells a little about "Twin Warriors".

YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ THE FOLLOWING IF YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED -- I AM INCLUDING THIS JUST BECAUSE I THOUGHT A LOT OF JET LI's WORK IN THIS MOVIE.

SKIP READING IT IF YOU WANT.

THANKS AGAIN

I think ''Twin Warriors'' was very good. (''The One'' was a modern and slick Jet Li, incidentally. Another suggestion, perhaps.)

The supporting actors in ''Twin Warriors'' were people who went very well on screen with Jet Li.

Plus there is some ''thinking'' to the fights and the stories. Also there is a ''theme'' that is worked like poetry. The movie forshadows the present day use of cinema -- the scroll, which bears life force, can be rolled out to the likeness of a movie screen. After Jet Li ''goes crazy'' he sits in a small field of water, again the similarity of life force and the idea of the ''force'' of the celluloid screen. Also, Jet Li sees his appearance in the water (someday we will be able to VIEW our natural life force). Finally, I'll mention the ''ball'' bounces off the ''wall'' -- the wall itself is another image that fortells modern movie theaters and cinematics. (If you watch closely, there are other images that go along with this ides, the red floor coming up and wrapping him near the end, etc.)

In the very last scene we are left with the lasting image that constrasts to the fighting armies : a screen full of people performing Tai Chi.

In other words, the cinema is like a large natural field where bits of life can actually take sprout -- sometimes the screen seems literally filled with natural life force of humanity (ending scene).

This may or may not seem incidental to the story as a whole -- still, I feel this gives better look at what Jet Li is really about. I mean, Jet Li, himself, and Jet Li, the actor, too.

Plus, having ''thoughts'' played out this way is similar to being able to read the ''Chi'' scroll given in the film to Chin Bo to open one day.

As Reverend Ling says about Jun Bo : ''he understands only after going crazy'' : It may seem crazy to film make-believe stories. But using your martial arts skills in movies will help understanding, and there CAN be benefits (seeing and understanding the Way of Nature) from watching cinema.

This is why I liked ''Twin Warriors''. I am also guessing that the fight scenes were a little more thought out, intelligent, I guess would be the word, because Jet Li was the producer of this movie.

Plus, as producer, he might be have been responslble for making the message of peace (not war) come through so well. I think it speaks to us as humans in both time periods -- THEN and NOW, too.

Jertoons  

Answer
hello Jerry!

chef Louis here! I'am glad you are interesting learning more about man tou I have been eating this bread all my life and they are very good breakfast item. you will
find them in chinatown but if you are not too far
from New York city then I suggest you go there because
Man Tou has diffrent types of flavor too! try this thing call Bao tze they have meat filling inside of it boy they are good I need one right now. hope that helps you
and I'am glad you are Jet Li's biggest fan Rock ON!

CHEF  Louis