Ju Dou 1991

Drama

Romance

Box Office

$2M

Runtime

1 h 35 m

Language

Chinese

Directed by

Yimou Zhang

Made by

China Film Co-Production Corporation

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Ju Dou Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Ju Dou (1991). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

In the early 20th century, life in a rural Chinese dye mill unfolds around complex loyalties and forbidden desire. Tianqing, Baotian Li, returns from a silk-selling trip to work for his adoptive uncle, Jinshan, Wei Li, a notorious and brutal factory owner. A fired worker warns Tianqing that Jinshan has recently taken a new wife after beating his two previous spouses to death for failing to bear him a son; the cruel irony is that Jinshan is impotent. Upon meeting Jinshan’s new wife, Ju Dou, Ju Dou Gong Li, Tianqing finds himself strangely drawn to her, and a dangerous tension takes root in the otherwise quiet world of the dye works.

Tianqing’s growing fascination deepens as he becomes part observer and reluctant catalyst in Ju Dou’s suffering. Jinshan subjects Ju Dou to night-time torments, and Tianqing quietly discovers the couple’s private space and the hidden bruises that mark Ju Dou. Ju Dou, who senses Tianqing’s gaze, shifts his view from objectification to humanity, and what begins as a wary curiosity gradually deepens into something more intimate and consuming. Their bond intensifies until passion overtakes prudence, and Ju Dou becomes pregnant with Tianqing’s child. To protect themselves from a society that would scorn their relationship, they deceive Jinshan by presenting the pregnancy as his own. The shock of Jinshan’s stroke, which leaves him paralyzed, abruptly compounds the crisis, forcing them to navigate a fragile balance of power and secrecy.

When Ju Dou confesses the truth, Jinshan’s response is ferocious. He attempts to kill the unborn child and set the house aflame, but Tianqing intervenes, restraining him by suspending him in a barrel so he becomes a powerless witness to the couple’s defiance. In a desperate bid to end the scandal, Ju Dou seeks an abortion at a temple nunnery. Yet the power Jinshan holds over the household extends beyond the couple: he continues to exert influence over the child, Tianbai, who is the son he named, and who grows up under the shadow of his “Father.” The tension of control and vengeance culminates in a tragic turn when Jinshan, in a moment of perilous pride, falls into a dye vat and dies, while Tianbai—now an angry teenager—looks on with a cold, unresolved gaze.

Seven years pass, and Ju Dou and Tianqing run the dye mill as Tianbai, now a volatile young man portrayed by a new presence on the scene, grows increasingly antagonistic toward rumors of his parents’ infidelity. A pivotal confrontation escalates when Tianbai confronts a local gossip, and Ju Dou finally reveals the truth about his lineage. The revelation drives a rift between the adults, and their last encounter unfolds in a dangerously cramped cellar with limited air. Exhausted and overwhelmed, Ju Dou and Tianqing fall asleep or drift toward unconsciousness as Tianbai confronts them. He drags them out into the room, and in a climactic and brutal act, drowns Tianqing. Ju Dou responds with a final, fatal act of her own: she sets fire to the mill, sealing a passion and a conflict that have consumed three generations.

This film crafts a stark, somber portrait of desire, power, and fate, where private yearnings collide with public expectations and each act of resistance exacts a heavy price. The relationship at the center—between Tianqing, Ju Dou, and Jinshan—unfolds within a harsh social landscape that values lineage and control over individual happiness, leading to consequences that ripple through the lives of Tianbai and the others connected to the dye mill.

Ju Dou Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Ju Dou (1991) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Tianqing returns to a cruel world

Tianqing returns from a silk-selling journey and reconnects with a village ruled by Jinshan's brutal authority. He learns Jinshan has a new wife and that tyranny continues unchecked, even as old power structures prevail. The revelation sets the stage for a dangerous, forbidden entanglement to come.

early 20th century, upon Tianqing's return Jinshan's dye mill, rural China

Rumor of Jinshan's brutality and new wife

A fellow worker informs Tianqing that Jinshan has married again and remains cruel to those around him. The worker recalls Jinshan beating his first two wives to death when they failed to bear him a son. The information confirms the household's dangerous dynamics.

upon Tianqing's return Jinshan's dye house

Tianqing meets Ju Dou

Tianqing is drawn to Ju Dou when he first encounters her as Jinshan's new wife. Ju Dou is already trapped in a cruel household, and a spark of attraction quickly forms between them. The meeting marks the beginning of a perilous connection.

soon after meeting Jinshan's residence

Jinshan tortures Ju Dou; Tianqing spies

At night Jinshan subjects Ju Dou to torture, and Tianqing secretly watches from a hidden vantage. He discovers Ju Dou's bathing area and begins to see her vulnerability with new clarity. Ju Dou is aware of his presence and lets him glimpse her pain.

nights following his return Jinshan's home / Ju Dou's bathing area

Ju Dou reveals bruises; Tianqing sees her humanity

Ju Dou reveals the bruises and speaks of the suffering Jinshan inflicts. Her honesty shatters Tianqing's initial voyeuristic gaze and makes him see her as a human being. The bond between them deepens in response to her pain.

shortly after spying Jinshan's residence

Forbidden romance begins

Tianqing and Ju Dou's relationship blossoms, though it remains secret and dangerous. They meet in hidden corners around the mill, driven by a growing, uncontrollable attraction. The affair marks a turning point in both their lives.

soon after around the mill

Pregnancy and deception

Ju Dou becomes pregnant with Tianqing's child, and the couple decides to deceive Jinshan by presenting the child as his own. They attempt to shield themselves from Jinshan's wrath by maintaining the lie. The discovery would upend an already fragile balance.

some time later dye mill

Jinshan's stroke and violent outburst

Jinshan suffers a stroke, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. In his weakened rage, he attempts to kill the child and sets the house on fire, showing the last of his tyrannical control. The event catalyzes a desperate struggle for power and survival.

after the deception is discovered Jinshan's house / mill

Tianqing restrains Jinshan

Tianqing restrains Jinshan by suspending him in a barrel, rendering him a powerless witness to the couple's usurpation. Jinshan's authority collapses as the lovers consolidate their position. The moment shifts the power dynamics decisively.

immediately after the violent act the house

Ju Dou seeks abortion

Aware that society would never accept her infidelity, Ju Dou seeks an abortion at a nunnery. The decision underscores her vulnerability and the couple's isolation within the rigid social order. Their future remains uncertain as Jinshan’s influence over Tianbai persists.

after Jinshan's attempt on the child and the restraining incident nunnery

Jinshan manipulates Tianbai

Jinshan continues to exert influence over his son Tianbai, and even when the boy calls him 'Father', Jinshan reads this as a personal revenge against Ju Dou and Tianqing. The psychological hold over the family endures despite the public downfall of the patriarch. Tianbai's loyalty becomes a key source of conflict.

years after birth house / dye mill

Jinshan drowns in the dye vat

One day Jinshan slips and falls into a dye vat, and he drowns amid the chaos of the mill. Tianbai watches and laughs, witnessing the end of his grandfather's tyranny. The tragedy marks a turning point for the surviving couple and the household.

after his manipulation over Tianbai dye vat in mill

Seven years later: a fragile balance

Seven years pass and Ju Dou and Tianqing still run the dye mill, but Tianbai has grown into an angry teenager. The family remains under the shadow of rumors and past betrayals, while the plant continues to churn.

seven years later dye mill

Truth revealed to Tianbai

Rumors of his parents' infidelity reach Tianbai, prompting Ju Dou to reveal the truth about his parentage. The revelation fractures the fragile façade that held the family together. Tianqing and Ju Dou brace for the consequences.

seven years later dye mill / house

Final act: cellar, death, and fire

In a final, fateful night, Ju Dou and Tianqing attempt one last encounter in a cellar with limited air, risking their lives. Tianbai drags Tianqing out and drowns him, ending the affair in tragedy. Ju Dou then sets fire to the mill, and the film closes on chaos and ruin.

end of story cellar and mill

Ju Dou Characters

Explore all characters from Ju Dou (1991). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Tianqing (Baotian Li)

Tianqing is a compassionate yet impulsive figure who returns from selling silk and becomes entangled with Ju Dou. His feelings push him to defy Jinshan’s cruelty, and he helps Ju Dou in keeping their relationship and their child a secret. His fate ends with the revelation of truth leading to his death at the hands of his son, Tianbai.

💔 Forbidden Love ⚖️ Moral Dilemma

Jinshan (Wei Li)

A cruel fabric dyer who rules his household with fear. He previously killed two wives who could not bear him a son, and he subjects Ju Dou to torture. His control collapses after a stroke; he then attempts murder and arson, and ultimately drowns in a dye vat.

💢 Cruelty ⚖️ Patriarchy

Ju Dou (Gong Li)

Ju Dou is the new wife who endures Jinshan’s brutality and enters a forbidden relationship with Tianqing. She becomes pregnant and, seeking safety, contemplates abortion at a nunnery. Her actions drive much of the plot’s drama, culminating in a final, desperate confrontation and the mill’s fiery end.

💔 Forbidden Love 🧭 Social Constraints

Tianbai (child) (Zhang Yi)

The son of Ju Dou and Tianqing, raised under the shadow of rumors about his parents. He grows into a troubled child who becomes angry and dangerous, nearly killing a local gossipmonger as rumors threaten the family’s stability. His growing hostility ultimately shapes the climactic events.

😠 Anger

Tianbai (teenager) (Ji-an Zheng)

As a teenager, Tianbai embodies rebellion and resentment fueled by rumors of infidelity. He intensifies the family’s tragedy by lashing out, participating in the final, devastating sequence that leads to his father’s death and the fire that ends the mill.

😡 Rebellion

Ju Dou Settings

Learn where and when Ju Dou (1991) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Early 20th century

The events unfold in a period when traditional gender roles and patriarchal authority dominate village life. Social norms discourage infidelity and protest, amplifying the consequences of personal choices. Economic dependence on family-run enterprises like the dye mill intensifies the stakes for everyone involved.

Location

Rural China

Set in rural China at the turn of the 20th century, the story centers on a small dye mill and the people who work there. The environment is intimate and harsh, with labor, power, and tradition shaping everyday life. The dye mill itself becomes the focal point for the characters’ relationships and conflicts.

🗺️ Rural China 🏭 Dye mill 🎭 Drama

Ju Dou Themes

Discover the main themes in Ju Dou (1991). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💔 Forbidden Love

Forbidden Love

Ju Dou and Tianqing’s affair breaches the bounds set by Jinshan and the surrounding community. Their growing passion is pursued in secrecy, risking disgrace and violence. The relationship becomes a catalyst for deception, tragedy, and the unraveling of family bonds.

💢 Cruelty

Power Abuse

Jinshan exercises brutal control over his household, using fear and violence to enforce obedience. His past killings of wives and his ongoing tyranny demonstrate how patriarchal power can crush individuals’ autonomy. The cruelty intensifies the stakes for Ju Dou and Tianqing as they navigate survival and rebellion.

🔥 Family Tragedy

Family Tragedy

The story spirals toward an inescapable fate as secrets accumulate and loyalties fracture. Infidelity, deception, and revenge culminate in a final cascade of violence and fire. The characters’ attempts to shield themselves ultimately lead to devastating losses and the mill’s destruction.

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Ju Dou Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Ju Dou (1991). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a remote Chinese village, the world revolves around a solitary silk‑dyeing workshop where tradition and superstition press down on every breath. The film breathes a somber, amber‑toned atmosphere that mirrors the slow, labor‑intensive rhythm of the loom and the muted rustle of dyed cloth. Shadows linger in the cramped living quarters, and the surrounding fields seem to hold their own quiet secrets, creating a setting as beautiful as it is oppressive.

Ju Dou, newly married to the workshop’s formidable owner, finds herself trapped within a marriage that offers little mercy. Her husband, Jinshan, rules the mill with an iron resolve, and his dominance extends into the very fabric of daily life. Against this backdrop, Tianqing, his nephew and a recently returned worker, steps into the workshop, bringing with him the curiosity of an outsider who senses the undercurrents of pain and longing that flow through the household.

The three characters are bound together by duty, power, and a yearning for something beyond their prescribed roles. Ju Dou endures a harsh domestic reality that leaves her yearning for escape, while Tianqing watches from the periphery, drawn into a quiet, forbidden connection that promises both solace and danger. Their growing intimacy offers a fragile glimpse of freedom amid the rigid expectations of a community that values lineage above all else.

As the fragile equilibrium of the household begins to shift, the promise of a new life awakens both hope and dread. The impending secret threatens to unravel the delicate balance that has kept the mill’s world ticking, leaving the characters to navigate a path where desire, tradition, and survival quietly collide.

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