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Kwai Chang Caine is a fictional television character played by David Carradine as an adult, Keith Carradine as a younger Caine and Radames Pera as the youngest Caine, in the western television series Kung Fu. Caine is a Shaolin monk of Henan province, China. He is forced to flee to the United States when he kills the emperor's nephew. The nephew murdered Caine's Master Po because Master Po disciplined one of his bodyguards. During his time in the USA Caine discovers members of his family, including his half-brother Daniel Caine. Master Po often referred to young Caine by the nickname Grasshopper, in reference to the creature that unknown to him was present near his feet during their first meeting.
Characteristics and Skills
Caine is a Master In Shaolin KungFu. This school contained various arts in real Chinese history, but the styles known to the character are following:
- White Crane
- Dragon
- Tiger
- Snake
- Mantis
- Eagle Claw
In addition to lessons in physical combat and weapons, he was also instructed in eastern philosophy and medicine. Upon his graduation to rank as a Shaolin Master Caine branded himself by moving a cauldron of hot coal containing the figures of a dragon and of a tiger.
Caine's character is humble, intelligent, inquisitive, and in general low key. His only known pastime is the playing of a bamboo flute.
Known Relatives
- Father: Thomas Henry Caine
- Mother: Kwai Lin
- Brother: Daniel Kane
- Uncle: American farmer
- Grandfather: Henry Rafael Caine (American stone cutter)
- Grandmother: Elizabeth Hale Caine
- Nephew: Zeke (Son of Daniel Kane)
- Son: Chung Wang (Kung Fu: The Movie)
- Grandson: Kwai Chang Caine (Kung Fu: The Next Generation)
- Great-grandson: Johnny Caine (Kung-Fu: The Next Generation)
- Son: Matthew Caine (Kung-Fu: The Legend Continues)
- Distant ancestor: Kwai Chang (Kung-Fu: The Legend Continues)
- Grandson: Kwai Chang Caine (Kung Fu: The Legend Continues)
- Grandson: Damon Caine (Kung-Fu: The Legend Continues)
- Grandson: Martin Bradshaw (Kung-Fu: The Legend Continues)
- Great-grandson: Peter Caine (Kung-Fu: The Legend Continues)
Trivia about Caine's name
In the third episode of season three ("The Small Beheading"), William Shatner's character presents Caine with a scroll that is written in Chinese. As the camera pans down the scroll, we see the Chinese characters for Caine's name for the first time in the series:
| Chinese | English | Min Nan (POJ) | Mandarin (Pinyin) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 虔 | Caine | Khiân (IPA: [kʰiɛn]) | Qián (IPA: [tɕʰiɛn]) |
| 官 | Kwai | Koaiⁿ (IPA: [kuaĩ]) | Guān (IPA: [kuan]) |
| 昌 | Chang | chhiang (IPA: [tɕʰiaŋ]) | chāng (IPA: [tʂʰɑŋ]) |
- note: in Chinese, the surname is written first
The Min Nan pronunciation of the characters seems to most closely match the English spelling of Caine's name. In the series, Caine was supposed to have attended the Shaolin Temple in Henan province. The priests at the temple would most likely have spoken Mandarin. From the above, we may infer one of two possibilities:
- The series staff member who wrote the scroll was a native Min Nan speaker, and not overly concerned that viewers might pick up on such a subtle point.
- Caine's mother was from Amoy (from where Min Nan originates), which was China's main port in the 19th century for exporting tea. Caine's father would have likely met and fell in love with her there.
In order for the second scenario to work:
- Caine would have had to learn Mandarin (which is not mutually intelligible with Min Nan).
- Caine would have had to travel from Fujian to Henan (a distance of approx. 1100 km).
The most likely explanation could be that Caine's maternal grandfather was a Mandarin speaker living in Henan. Either Caine's mother moved to Henan to be with her grandfather after her husband died, or Caine's grandfather arranged for the boy to live with him after Caine's mother died. You may recall from the pilot episode, that it was the grandfather who taught young Caine proper manners. Part of the grandfather's tutoring could have included instruction in Mandarin.
Teachers and Associates
- Master Kan
- Master Po
- Master Sun