The movie was set up to tell us martialarts legend between south and north.  The profoundtheme was that the real Kung Fu master must see himself, seeheaven and earth, and then see everyone. Nevertheless not everyone can spellover it.

這部電影是要告訴我們南北之間的武術傳奇。意義深遠的主題是真正的習武之人要見自己，見天地，見眾生。然而并不是每個人都能理解。

The grand master, Gong Yutian, intended toretire from Zhong Hua President of the knights. Many masters who representedtheir own faction, covetously eyed on this position to show actual strength, includinghis apprentice Ma San. Ma San was only able to see himself. Therefore in thistense and turbulent age, he chose to rebel against his teacher and surrenderedto Japanese. He came to grips with Gong Yutian and killed him on the spur ofthe moment in a battle. Gong's daughter, Gong Er, wanted to take revenge on ManSan which was against by the older generation. Despite their obstruction, inorder to show her determination, she hid her love at bottom of heart andrefused to marry. Everything comes to him who waits. Shedefeated Ma San eventually on account of not only her seeing herself, but also seeingheaven and earth. The grand master Ye Wen got through the hard times by virtueof his teacher' guidance "a belt, a breath". When he moved to HongKong, he imparted his skills to his apprentices. Hence Ye Wen had master theessence of Kung Fu which he could see himself, heaven and earth, and everyone.

一代宗師，宮羽田打算辭退中華武士會會長職位。很多宗師都想代表自己的門派，虎視眈眈地盯著這個展示實力的位置，包括他的徒弟馬三。馬三只能夠看到自己。因此在這種緊張、動蕩的時代，他選擇了反抗他的師傅，向日軍投降。在一次戰斗中他一時沖動在與宮羽田爭執時殺了他。宮二是宮羽田的女兒，她想想馬三復仇，但是遭到了老一輩的阻止。雖然他們阻止，但是為了以顯示她的決心，她決定把愛深藏，拒絕結婚。皇天不負有心人。她擊敗了馬三并最終不僅看到她自己，也看到了天和地。一代宗師葉問在他師傅“一條腰帶，一口氣”的教導下度過了艱難時期。當他搬到香港后，他把他的武術全傳授給他的徒弟。因此，葉問掌握的功夫的精髓，見自己，見天地，見眾生。