The Wu-Tang Clan released their first studio album in 1993 under the title Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), which was inspired by the 1978 Hong Kong martial arts film Shaolin & Wu Tang. The name of the band is a pun on the name of the movie, which literally translates from Mandarin to mean sugar-free. The name of the Wu-Tang Clan is a nod to the movie Wu-Tang Clan, which is widely regarded as a classic in the martial arts film canon.
The plot of the movie follows a group of Shaolin monks as they attempt to defend their temple from an attack by a competing clan known as the Wu Tang. RZA, a rapper and producer who is an avid watcher of films about martial arts, was the original founder of the Wu Tang Clan. The conflict between the Shaolin monks and the Wu Tang clan, which is depicted in the film and alludes to in the group's name, is one of the most memorable scenes in the movie.
The Wu Tang Clan is one of the most successful and influential hip hop groups of all time, and the name of the group is a tribute to a classic martial arts film that served as a source of inspiration for the group.