Hou Hsiao-hsien
Biography
Subject: Hou Hsiao-hsien (Directing).
Goal: Factual identity profile.
Constraints:
Use ONLY provided facts.
No inventions/guesses.
Neutral, encyclopedic prose.
Plain text only (no markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points).
Word count: 90-130 words.
No preamble, no JSON, no surrounding quotes.
Name: Hou Hsiao-hsien (Chinese: 侯孝賢; pinyin: Hóu Xiàoxián).
Also known as: Hau Hau-Yin Hou Syao.
Born: April 8, 1947, in Mei County, Guangdong, China.
Nationality/Role: Chinese-born Taiwanese director, screenwriter, producer, and actor.
Status: Retired, award-winning.
Significance: Leading figure in world cinema and Taiwan's New Wave cinema movement.
Style: Known for film explorations of Taiwan's history and family life, emphasizing realism through subject matter and measured pace.
Credits: 88 known credits (TMDB).
Specific Films: Flight of the Red Balloon (best-known), The Assassin (producer).
Awards/Achievements: Of ten films directed between 1980 and 1989, seven received best film or best director awards from international film festivals in Venice, Berlin, Hawaii, and the Festival of the Three Continents in Nantes.
Personal: Married producer Paofeng Tsai in the 1970s; daughter is Yunhua Hou.
Hou Hsiao-hsien (Chinese: 侯孝賢; pinyin: Hóu Xiàoxián) is a retired, award-winning, Chinese-born Taiwanese director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. Born on April 8, 1947, in Mei County, Guangdong, China, he is a leading figure in world cinema and Taiwan's New Wave cinema movement. His work is known for exploring Taiwan's history and family life, utilizing realism through subject matter and a measured pace.
Career overview
Role: Meticulous television and film archivist.
Task: Write a 180-260 word career overview of Hou Hsiao-hsien (specifically focusing on directing).
Constraints:
Use ONLY verifiable facts from the provided sources.
No invented titles, names, dates, awards, etc.
Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose.
Plain text only (no markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points).
Length: 180-260 words.
Structure: 2-3 short paragraphs.
No preamble or JSON.
[1] Name: Hou Hsiao-hsien (侯孝賢). Born: April 8, 1947. Place of Birth: Mei County, Guangdong, China. Known for: Directing. Known credits: 88. Also known as: Hau Hau-Yin Hou Syao.
[2] Roles: Retired Taiwanese film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. Leading figure in world cinema and Taiwan's New Wave cinema movement.
[3] Biography: Retired award-winning film director and leading figure of Taiwan's New Wave cinema movement.
[4] Style/Subject: Chinese-born Taiwanese director. Explores Taiwan's history and family life. Emphasizes realism through subject matter and measured pace. Best-known movie: Flight of the Red Balloon.
[5] Personal: Married producer Paofeng Tsai in the 1970s. Daughter Yunhua Hou (film distribution). Resides in Taipei.
[6] Awards/Directing: Produced The Assassin. Directed ten films between 1980 and 1989. Seven of those ten films received best film or best director awards from international film festivals in Venice, Berlin, Hawaii, and the Festival of the Three Continents in Nantes.
Paragraph 1: Identity and Movement.
Hou Hsiao-hsien is a Chinese-born Taiwanese film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. Born on April 8, 1947, in Mei County, Guangdong, China, he is recognized as a leading figure in world cinema and Taiwan's New Wave cinema movement. His directorial work is characterized by an emphasis on realism, utilizing specific subject matter and a measured pace to explore themes of family life and the history of Taiwan. One of his best-known movies is Flight of the Red Balloon.
Paragraph 2: Directorial Achievements and Credits.
Throughout his career, Hou has accumulated 88 known credits. Between 1980 and 1989, he directed ten films, seven of which earned best film or best director awards at international film festivals, including festivals in Venice, Berlin, Hawaii, and the Festival of the Three Continents in Nantes. His work as a producer includes the film The Assassin. Now a retired award-winning director, he is also known by the names Hau Hau-Yin and Hou Syao.
Drafting text:
Hou Hsiao-hsien is a Chinese-born Taiwanese film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. Born on April 8, 1947, in Mei County, Guangdong, China, he is a leading figure in world cinema and Taiwan's New Wave cinema movement. His directorial style is known for exploring Taiwan's history and family life, emphasizing realism through his choice of subject matter and a measured pace. One of his best-known movies is Flight of the Red Balloon.
Hou has 88 known credits and is a retired award-winning director. During the period between 1980 and 1989, he directed ten films, seven of which received best film or best director awards from international film festivals in Venice, Berlin, Hawaii, and the Festival of the Three Continents in Nantes. In addition to his directing, he is credited as a producer for the film The Assassin. He is also known by the names Hau Hau-Yin and Hou Syao.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
103 titles- Mongrel (2025) Executive Producer
- Daughter's Daughter (2024) Executive Producer
- Old Fox (2023) Executive Producer
- Be with Me (2023) Executive Producer
- Twisted Strings (2022) Executive Producer
- Salute (2022) Producer
- I Remember (2022) Producer
- Beautified Realism: The Making of 'Flowers of Shanghai' (2021) as Self - archival
- Keep Rolling (2020)
- The Inspired Island: Unfulfilled Dreams (2020) Producer
- Baby (2018) Executive Producer
- Father to Son (2018) Executive Producer
- Missing Johnny (2017) Producer
- Dragon Girls! (2016) as Himself
- The Moment: Fifty Years of Golden Horse (2016) as Self
- The Assassin (2015) Director
- The Assassin (2015) Screenplay
- The Assassin (2015) Executive Producer
- Paradise in Service (2014) Executive Producer
- Flowers of Taipei: Taiwan New Cinema (2014) as Self
- Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above (2013) Producer
- Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above (2013) Executive Producer
- Past Present (2013) as Self
- A Special Day (2012) as Self
- 10 Plus 10 (2011) Director
- Return Ticket (2011) Executive Producer
- Hometown Boy (2011) Producer
- I Wish I Knew (2010) as Self
- Taipei Exchanges (2010) Producer
- One Day (2010) Executive Producer
- Let the Wind Carry Me (2009) as Self
- Flight of the Red Balloon (2008) Director
- Flight of the Red Balloon (2008) Writer
- My Father Was a Red Balloon: Albert Lamorisse's Life Story (2008) as Self
- In the Golden Age of Chinese Craftsmanship (2008) as Voice
- In the Golden Age of Chinese Craftsmanship (2008) Director
- To Each His Own Cinema (2007) Director
- Hou Hsiao-Hsien Master Class (2007) as Himself
- Reflections (2007) Producer
- the electric princess house (2007) Director
- Three Times (2005) Director
- Three Times (2005) Writer
- Café Lumière (2004) Director
- Café Lumière (2004) Writer
- Métro Lumière (2004) as Self
- Our Time, Our Story (2002) as Self
- Millennium Mambo (2001) Director
- Mirror Image (2001) Executive Producer
- HHH: A Portrait of Hou Hsiao-Hsien (1999)
- Flowers of Shanghai (1998) Director
- Flowers of Shanghai (1998) Executive Producer
- Goodbye South, Goodbye (1998) Director
- Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema (1998) as Self
- Why Don't We Sing? (1996) Producer
- Good Men, Good Women (1995) Director
- A Borrowed Life (1995) Executive Producer
- Heartbreak Island (1995) Executive Producer
- When Cinema Reflects the Times: Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Edward Yang (1993) as Self
- Treasure Island (1993) Supervising Producer
- The Puppetmaster (1993) Director
- Talking with Ozu (1993) as Self
- Dust of Angels (1992) Producer
- Raise the Red Lantern (1991) Executive Producer
- King of Chess (1991) Producer
- Sunless Days (1990)
- A City of Sadness (1989) Director
- I Love Mary (1988)
- All for Tomorrow (1988) Producer
- Daughter of the Nile (1987) Director
- Dust in the Wind (1986) Director
- Soul (1986) as Boy-Boy
- Adult Game (1986) Director
- Taipei Story (1985) as Lung
- Taipei Story (1985) Screenplay
- The Time to Live and the Time to Die (1985) Director
- The Time to Live and the Time to Die (1985) Writer
- My Favorite Season (1985) Writer
- A Summer at Grandpa's (1984) Director
- A Summer at Grandpa's (1984) Writer
- The Bike & I (1984)
- Out of the Blue (1984) Writer
- The Boys from Fengkuei (1983) as Arong's Sister's Boyfriend
- The Boys from Fengkuei (1983) Director
- That Day, on the Beach (1983) as Ah Cai's Executive
- The Sandwich Man (1983) Director
- Ah Fei (1983) Writer
- Growing Up (1983) Screenplay
- The Green, Green Grass of Home (1982) Director
- The Green, Green Grass of Home (1982) Writer
- Six Is Company (1982) Writer
- Play While You Play (1981) Writer
- Play While You Play (1981) Director
- Longing (1981) Writer
- Cute Girl (1980) Director
- Cute Girl (1980) Screenplay
- Spring in Autumn (1980) Writer
- Chu Lien (1979) Screenplay
- Good Morning, Taipei (1979) Screenplay
- It Was Rainy Last Night (1979) Screenplay
- Lover on the Wave (1978) Screenplay
- The Revenge of Two Exorcists (1975) Screenplay
- Golden Horse Awards (1962) as Self
- LOMA - Our Home Executive Producer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Hou Hsiao-hsien best known for?
Hou Hsiao-hsien is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Assassin (2015), The Assassin (2015), The Assassin (2015), Millennium Mambo (2001).
When and where was Hou Hsiao-hsien born?
Hou Hsiao-hsien was born on April 8, 1947 in Mei County, Guangdong, China.
How many credits does Hou Hsiao-hsien have?
Hou Hsiao-hsien has accumulated over 103 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1962 to 2025.
What is Hou Hsiao-hsien's background in cinema and television?
Subject: Hou Hsiao-hsien (Directing). Goal: Factual identity profile. Constraints: Use ONLY provided facts. No inventions/guesses. Neutral, encyclopedic prose. Plain text only (no markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points). Word count: 90-130 words. No preamble, no JSON, no surrounding quotes. Name: Hou Hsi...
Hou Hsiao-hsien by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Golden Horse Awards (1962) as Self — aged about 15
- The Boys from Fengkuei (1983) as Arong's Sister's Boyfriend — aged about 36
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