IMDB seems to have a problem with foreign names and tends to put the last name first when they list actors or directors (they also list Zhang Yimou as Yimou Zhang). Or maybe the way IMDB has it is correct(ed)?? I just go by the DVD cases and those say Zhang Ziyi. Otherwise, the only film I had heard she was involved in was Zu Warriors but that got buried or forgotten somewhere along the line.
In China, I believe, it is the opposite (Surname, First Name).as Paul said, correct. in this case, her surname is Zhang, her given name is Ziyi.
here's a tip: Chinese surnames are almost always a single syllable (more accurately, a single character). there are two or three exceptions, none of which is common nor borne by a celebrity that I can think of today.
so when you see something like "Zhang Ziyi" or "Chow Yun-fat", you can be fairly sure that "Zhang" and "Chow" are the surnames, which in these examples they are, and that the names are shown in traditional Chinese order.
given names are usually two characters, rarely just one, and never more than two. hence, the confusing one is Ang Lee. his given name is also a single syllable, so from "Ang Lee" you can't tell which is which. in his case, Lee is his surname, and his name is nowadays typically shown in Western fashion.
of course, this doesn't apply if the person has taken on, or was given, a Western name. so the names "John Woo" and "Jackie Chan" speak for themselves.
BTW, if anyone's wondering (which I doubt
