Kung-fucianism and Language

An in depth look at Confucian values

Ke Peng| Student’s Presentations for

Languages & Cultures of East Asia

within the Motion Picture Hero

By Eduardo Atjian II

University of Arizona

The Goal

� I will tie the history of Confucius and his

teachings to the plot and scenes in the

movie Heromovie Hero

Hero

� Hero is a Quentin Tarantino production

� The starring Actors are Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming, and Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming, and Donnie Yen (Recognize any of these actors?)

� The film was released in 2002

� It was nominated for both an Oscar and Golden Globe

The beginning of the movie

� In the beginning of this movie it explains in these exact subtitles:

� “people give up their lives for many reasons…

China during the warring states Period

and the life of Confucius

lives for many reasons… Friendship, love, for an ideal… People kill for the same reasons. China was divided into 7 states. Quinn was a ruthless ruler. He had a vision to unite the land.”

How does this tie

into into

confucianism?

Confucius

� Confucius was born in 551 BC in Lu state

� ( This was in the middle of the Warring period similar to the movie)

� In his early 50’s Confucius � In his early 50’s Confucius spent his time as a administrator helping make the state a model state.

� After he was fired, Confucius began his journey and his teachings

Confucius teachings

� Confucius taught his followers

about five relationships to

follow.

� These relationships are looked

at in Chinese culture as very

important and even lawful.

� The five relationships are as

followed:

1. Ruler and Subject,

important and even lawful.

� So if broken or not followed,

people feel that it is violating the

law.

� In the movie Hero it was

apparent that these

relationships were followed and

depicted in many scenes of the

movie.

2. Parent and Child,

3. Husband and wife,

4. Older Brother and younger

brother,

5. and between friends.

The five relationships within

Hero

The subject even mentioned

• The character “Broken

Sword” had a subject that

was female that remained

loyal to him throughout

the movie.

� The subject even mentioned that she grew up being his subject and that she will die for him. This proves that Confucius’ teachings about relationships between Ruler and Subject are apparent in these Kung Fu movies.

� In order for one to be considered virtuous, one must act appropriately in terms of these relationships.

Confucius Had 6 Central

Conceptions

� Ren: Virtue,

benevolence, kindness,

love, humaneness

� Junzi; noble man� Junzi; noble man

� Li: Propriety & rites

� De: Power of Virtue

� Wen: the art of peace

� Yi: righteosness, justice

Rituals of Li in Hero

� It is evident in Hero that rituals of Li are still practiced.

� Confucians created various rituals of Li (a proper behavior in a certain situation) that demands certain behaviors to demands certain behaviors to fulfill the expected performance.

� Li ranges from a bow to an elder, taking off shoes before entering the house, being silent and respectful to elders, bringing a gift to the host, and writing thank-you notes to a helper.

Li rituals throughout the film

industry� In the film industry, Confucius

rituals are seen everywhere.

� Bowing to an opponent when beginning a fight or to an elder when needing the permission to speak follows permission to speak follows the rituals of Li.

� These rituals are more visibly practiced in Kung Fu movies.

� The original purpose of Li is to help the individual to express proper ways of building and maintaining caring relationships.

Calligraphy in the film

� The Warrior “Hero” played by Jet Li Travels to a Small Calligraphy school to learn the art

� He tells the teacher � He tells the teacher that he wishes to learn the skills of calligraphy to help him learn the skills of swordplay because they are very similar skills

Watch the clip of the calligraphy school

Looking back at the

convesations

1. You asked for the character “sword”. Why was it difficult to do? (King Asks)

2. There are normally nineteen ways of writing this character. What I requested from broken sword was the twentieth variation. Calligraphy and swordplay both rely on merging the power of the wrist with the spirit in the heart. The twentieth variation would reveal the essence of his swordsmanship. (Hero replies)

3. To think that one character can be written in nineteen different ways!.. 3. To think that one character can be written in nineteen different ways!.. How can people communicate when they do not understand each other? Once I have conquered the six Kingdoms and suppressed all other rebellious states, I shall rid the country of these hopeless confusions, Keep one unified language for the whole land. Wouldn’t that be something? (King)

4. Is your majesty not stopping after defeating the six Kingdoms? (Hero)

5. The six Kingdoms are nothing! I intend to lead our army to every corner of this land until we have established a vast and powerful empire! (King)

Conversation:

Hero with the King

Looking back at the

Conversations Cont.1. -Beautiful Calligraphy (Hero)

2. -Beautiful Swordplay (Broken Sword)

3. But you have not seen me use my sword (Hero)

4. Without your sword this scroll would not exist (Broken Sword)

Conversation:

“Hero” with Broken Sword

� I spent the night contemplating the scroll hoping to discover the

secret behind broken swords skills (Hero)

� The brush and the sword are fundamentally connected. Their

mystery Is only revealed to those who can perceive the

connection. (Hero) “Hero” Talking

So in other words…

� In this movie, calligraphy was looked upon as having a higher sense of importance than just being a form of art of writing.

� Once the Quinn Kingdom began launching arrows at the school in order to destroy it, the wise old

� This in turn could prepare people with roles of responsibility and leadership in society at all levels.

� This thought is mirrored with the general idea of the central conceptions

order to destroy it, the wise old teacher said to his students that calligraphy is a form of art and a tool that holds secrets.

� These secrets that lie within the calligraphy mean that the power of knowledge could tune people’s intellectualness and ethical sensibilities, to raise awareness of cause-and-effect relationships in human affairs.

The End of the movie

� In the end of the movie, the audience starts putting the pieces together of why “Hero” was doing what he was doing.

� In a statement said by the Quinn king, “I want to unite this country as one.” country as one.”

� Confucian philosophy seeks a harmonious society, not dependent on feudal or financial merit but based on the ultimate goodness and moral equality of all mankind.

� The heart of the Confucian teaching is 'morality'. Ren is the key. Ren means the qualities of benevolence, humanity and love

To seek complete virtue

The EndThe End