Table of Content

Introduction………......................1

Synopsis……………………........2

Buddhism……………....……..3-5Jen Yu & Buddhism……..3Buddhism……………........4Effect of Buddhism…........5

Taoism………………………….6-8Li & Taoism…………………6Taoism..............................7Effect of Taoism…...……....8

Confucianism…………..……9-11Yu & Confucianism……….9Confucianism…………….10Effect of Confucianism....11

Summary…………………..……..12

References………………..……..13

I N T R O D U C T I O N

With beautiful production designs, an

epic plotline and, more importantly,

kinetic fight scenes, Crouching Tiger

Hidden Dragon is sure to please a

lot of neophytes who are viewing a

martial movie for the first time. It has a

mix of romance, fantasy, and action

that will appeal to all audiences

regardless of age and sex. However,

it is hard to fully appreciate this movie

without knowledge of Chinese

philosophies of Buddhism, Taoism,

and Confucianism, which have a

tremendous influence on Chinese

culture for two thousand years. This

album will introduce Chinese

philosophies trough the three leading

actors-Jen Yu, Li Mu-Bai, and Yu

Shu-Lien.

1

S Y N O P S I S

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

starts fairly simple and set in the 19th

century. Chow Yun-Fat plays

legendary warrior Li Mu-Bai, master

of the jade sword called Green

Destiny. As a sign to give up his life

in Jiang Hu (life as a fighter), he gives

the sword to his beloved, the martial

mistress Yu Shu-Lien (Michelle

Yeoh). It is certain that someone

steals Green Destiny—it must also

stand for envy—and suspicion falls on

Jade Fox, the scheming governess of

Jen Yu (Zhang Zi-Yi), a curious,

impressionable beauty about to be

given away in loveless marriage. An

epic adventure is about to be

exposed.

2

JEN YU & BUDDHISM

Jen, as the daughter of governor, is

destined for a marriage carrying

political mission, which results her

anger. She runs away with the sword

and disdainfully trounces nearly

everyone she meets. Many audiences

question the drastic reform of the last

act that Jen jumps down the cliff.

However, with the sorrow of Li’s

death, Jen’s action reflects a

Buddhist saying: A butcher becomes

a Buddha the moment he drops his

cleaver, whenever a person truly

regret for what he has done wrong, he

is deserved to be a saint.

3

4

B U D D H I S M

Buddhism is a religion that refuses

to be objectively defined. It aims to

cut through the logical thinking of

man’s ego and shows him a way to

get in touch with the divine nature or

the Buddha nature in himself. In

order to return to the primordial

essence of man, man must completely

cast off all the attributes of his ego,

namely his infatuated feelings, solid

attachment, sensuous desire, mental

formations such as “I”, “mine” and

“myself”. At the moment that one

gets in touch with his divine nature,

he establishes in himself an ultimate

reality which by nature is essential,

original, and eternal.

EFFECT of BUDDHISM

Buddhism was introduced into

China from India. The reason for

its widely acceptance in China is

the concept of rebirth and the

reinforcement of the Taoism and

Confucianism. Buddhism is a man-

centered religion, not god-

centered. It confirms the fact that

life is suffering. Craving is the

cause of all suffering. No one but

yourself can save you from

suffering. To attain happiness you

have to overcome craving or

endless wanting, hatreds and

complaining. Today Buddhism

along with Taoism is the most

popular religions in China.

5

LI & TAOISM

Li Mu-Bai is the head of Wu Dong

Clan which is representation of

Taoism in Chinese martial stories.

After mediation and reflection to

consider his path for several months in

Wu Dong Mountain, he decides to

give up the life as one of the great

warriors of his time. This reflects the

spirit of Taoism. Taoism promotes

the belief that a person will gain power

and strength if he behaves in harmony

with the nature of universe. With

proper behaviors and self-restrain, Li

devotes himself to great inner

strength working with his obstacles

and problems instead of fighting

adversity.

6

T A O I S M

Tao can be roughly translated into

English as path, or the way. It refers

to a power which envelops, surrounds,

and flows through all things, living and

nonliving. The Tao regulates natural

processes and nourishes balance in

the Universe. It embodies the

harmony of opposites (i.e. love versus

hate.) Taoism encourages working

with natural forces, not against them.

It teaches the path of wu-wei - the

technique of mastering circumstances,

not trying to control them. A person

will be prosecuted sooner or later by

his own wrong doing if acts against

the nature of the universe.

7

EFFECT of TAOISM

Taoism was created between 600

BC and 400 BC. Taoist ideas

inspire in the Chinese a love of nature

and an occasional retreat to it from

the cares of the world to rest and heal.

It also inspires an intense affirmation

of life: physical life - health, vitality,

longevity, and even immortality.

Throughout Chinese history, people

weary of social activism and aware of

the fragility of human achievements

would retire from the world and turn to

nature to capture the creative forces

at the center of nature’s vitality.

8

YU & CONFUCIANISM

Yu Shu-Lien as a martial mistress

owns a private escorting business.

She and Li Mu-Bai both have good

impressions of each other, but they

each hide their feelings inside

because Shu-Lien’s fiancé died in

saving Li. This represents the central

concepts of Confucianism of

benevolence, loyalty, and society

ethnics. The concept of thinking for

others in Confucianism is also

reflected in Shu-Lien who forgives

Jen and wishes her a happy life after

Jen indirectly killed Li. In

Confucianism, forgiving is a virtue. A

person is not living for himself but for

his family, society, and country.

9

C O N F U C I A N I S M

Confucianism is humanism, a

philosophy or attitude that is

concerned with human beings. In

Confucianism, man is the center of

the universe and for human beings,

and the ultimate goal is individual

happiness. The necessary condition

to achieve happiness is through

peace. To obtain peace, Confucius

discovered human relations consisting

of the five relationships which are

based on love and duties.

Confucianism trained its adherents in

benevolence, traditional rituals, filial

piety, loyalty, respect for superiors

and for the aged, and principled

flexibility in advising rulers.

Confucianism comes from wisdom

tradition and values family life, strong

work ethics and the art of learning.

10

EFFECT of

C O N F U C I A N I S M

Confucianism, the philosophical

system founded on the teaching of

Confucius (551-479 BC),

dominated Chinese sociopolitical

life for most of Chinese history. In

China, the social ethics and moral

teachings of Confucius are

blended with the Taoist communion

with nature and Buddhist concepts

of the afterlife, to form a set of

complementary, peacefully

coexistent. The influence of

Confucianism is reflected by the

wisdom tradition that values family

life, education and peace as well as

benevolence and loyalty.

11

S U M M A R Y

Chinese is greatly influenced by the

philosophies of Confucianism,

Taoism, and Buddhism. Taoism

promotes the belief that a person will

gain power and strength if behave in

harmony with the nature of universe,

while Confucianism emphasizes the

importance of a family and the society

order. Buddhism was introduced into

China from India for its concept of

rebirth. Chinese philosophies tend to

lead people to live in harmony.

Western thinking may lead to the

same destination but through

confrontation and violence.

12

References

Berling, J. A. (1982). Taoism, or the Way.Asian Religions, 2, 1, 9-11. Retrieved on26 Feb, 2002 from http://www.askasia.org/frclasrm/readings/r000005.htm

Confucianism: How to Experience Dao?Retrieved on 25 Feb, 2002 from http://www.wam.umd.edu/~tkang/

Dawson, R. S. (1982). Confucius. NewYork: Hill and Wang

Lawton, H., & Knox, G. (1971). Buddha,Confucius, and Christ: three propheticplays. New York

Reid, T. R. (1999). Confucius lives nextdoor: what living in the East teaches usabout living in the West. New York : Ran-dom House

Thien, T. T. (1996). Buddhism and thetrue value of reality. Retrieved on 27 Feb,2002 fromhttp://www.psywww.com/psyrelig/buddhism.htm

Tichenor, H. M. (1992). Chinese philoso-phy of life. Girard, Kan. Haldeman-Julius Co.

Tseng, W. S., & Wu, Y. H. (1985). Chi-nese culture and mental health. Orlando :Academic Press

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