The movie was set up to tell us martial arts legend between south and north.  The profound theme was that the real Kung Fu master must see himself, see heaven and earth, and then see everyone. Nevertheless not everyone can spell over it.

这部电影是要告诉我们南北之间的武术传奇。意义深远的主题是真正的习武之人要见自己，见天地，见众生。然而并不是每个人都能理解。

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

一代宗师，宫羽田打算辞退中华武士会会长职位。很多宗师都想代表自己的门派，虎视眈眈地盯着这个展示实力的位置，包括他的徒弟马三。马三只能够看到自己。因此在这种紧张、动荡的时代，他选择了反抗他的师傅，向日军投降。在一次战斗中他一时冲动在与宫羽田争执时杀了他。宫二是宫羽田的女儿，她想想马三复仇，但是遭到了老一辈的阻止。虽然他们阻止，但是为了以显示她的决心，她决定把爱深藏，拒绝结婚。皇天不负有心人。她击败了马三并最终不仅看到她自己，也看到了天和地。一代宗师叶问在他师傅“一条腰带，一口气”的教导下度过了艰难时期。当他搬到香港后，他把他的武术全传授给他的徒弟。因此，叶问掌握的功夫的精髓，见自己，见天地，见众生。