Movie quotes - The Forbidden Kingdom

There is a movie that is not about aikido, not even Japanese and I was very sceptical about before watching it. It is The Forbidden Kingdom. I was afraid of its being too Hollywood-like, too shallow or boring. Maybe I was just able to see the positive parts that I was prepared to see but I think the movie is great. Here's why:

Until recently, I had always remembered Jackie Chan as a highly skilled but 'monkey-like' martial artist who made relatively stupid flying kung-fu movies without much really useful thoughts or points. I also remembered Jet Li as an extremely talented martial artist doing pretty violent action movies with a focus on destruction and no high moral. The Forbidden Kingdom is different. There is still flying and fighting using long hair as weapon but it has something to say that martial arts are about (at least in my opinion).

I'm not going to tell the story, which is based on an old Chinese epic novel's Monkey King. I want to discuss quotes from the movie because I like quotes that say much by saying it short.

Jason Tripitikas: I can't understand you.

Lu Yan: That's because you're not listening!

Do we listen in today's world? Do we really try to understand others? Not really. Most of the time, we are trying to convince others that what we say is right, tell them whatever problems we have and expect them to listen to us but we are not willing to listen to them as our only aim is to give away whatever wants to come out (a bit like drinking way too much). When I went to Brighton in March we had an exercise where I realised how good it is to be heard and how good it is to hear appreciation for our listening to and hearing others. Hearing is also a vital part of Nonviolent Communication the concept of which, I think, is really close to Connection Principle of aikido.

The Monkey King: You have freed me traveller, now go free yourself.

About this, the following is a personal example: I have a tendency to please others and do things for others and not for myself. This might be unusual in our world which is said to be selfish but I know it is also full of people who want to compensate the world's selfishness. Only pleasing others does not give a good feeling in the long term, unless you have absolutely no ego or you are enlightened, I suppose. It is important to help ourselves and I believe it is possible without being just selfish. This is what connection is supposed to be about, may it be connection between two aikidoka or people working or living together. Connection creates a win-win situation, freeing ourselves restores the balance between the self and others and that's also a win-win situation. That's how I see the wisdom of the Monkey King.

Lu Yan: Don't tell me you consider it sinful to drink.

The Silent Monk: It's sinful if you don't share.

OK, excessive drinking of alcohol is clearly not good but the point is sharing. Sharing is connected with the above two points, too: sharing your thoughts and being listened to is good, helping others is a way of sharing our resources (of any kind) and helping ourselves can be achieved by, say, asking others to share something with us. Even if sometimes it is a bottle of wine.

Jason Tripitikas: I'll never forget you.

Lu Yan: I guess that's what being immortal truly means.

I simply agree.

Golden Sparrow: [as she lies dying] Jade Warlord?

Jason Tripitikas: [tearfully] He's dead.

Golden Sparrow: I... I thank you.

It's not really the quote but Golden Sparrow herself (don't read this paragraph if you don't want spoilers). His family was murdered and she wanted revenge at all costs, that was her goal of life. I don't believe destruction can be an aim and that hate can lead to a worthy life. That's the Dark Side and another movie (but with strong aikido connection!). Hate and anger causes blindness of the mind. It also causes harm only, to others and to yourselves. In The Forbidden Kingdom, Golden Sparrow was like this. Her only aim was to kill someone and nothing else mattered much. It's a pretty narrow view I think. Eventually, she died trying to kill the Jade Warlord and my point comes here: she was taken to the Jade Emperor so he might be able to revive her, but the Emperor said "Her destiny was written by her own hand. I am sorry". The movie would have been a real disappointment had the Emperor saved her. That would have been a fairy tale, this was something to learn from. As many wise people say, "violence is not the answer".

Jason Tripitikas: What do we do now?

Lu Yan: How good is your Kung-fu?

Jason Tripitikas: [puzzled look]

Lu Yan: He who speaks, does not Know; He who Knows, does not speak. Surely you're masterful.

It's a nice thought from Lu Yan, it puzzled me for a while why his logic was not correct (as Jason didn't know much kung-fu). Then I realised it's the same as the old insect-bug problem: every bug is an insect but not all insects are bugs. So if you are a master you won't boast about your knowledge but it you don't boast that doesn't make you a master. This brings up the question I'm thinking about now: does behaving like a master in every possible way makes you a master? At the moment, I don't think so. Probably being a master should come from inside, from appropriate aims. I think it's a good exercise to think about this when I have some free time.

Jason Tripitikas: You think you'll teach me the No Shadow Kick? Oh, and the Buddha Palm Technique. There's a guy in Virtua Fighter 2, who does the Buddha Palm Technique.

[Lu gives him a cup]

Jason Tripitikas: Thanks, Lu. And he does the Iron Elbow. And he does the One Finger Death Touch.

[the cup starts overflowing]

Jason Tripitikas: The cup's full. Stop! It's full!

Lu Yan: Exactly, how can you fill your cup if already full? How can you learn Kung Fu, you already know so much. No Shadow Kick, Buddha Palm! Empty your cup.

[Jason empties his cup]

Lu Yan: [looks at him in surprise] Hopeless. It is hopeless!

My favourite quote from the movie. Partly because it's so simple, partly I felt very proud when I was watching the movie and I knew this story already (from a Zen book, if I remember well). The full cup is my great problem when going to an aikido training. I have a lot of thoughts about how I should do things, where I can improve, what I want to practice and it's just too much and the whole training experience becomes a nightmare as my body tenses up and nothing seems to work. I might need longer meditation before trainings to empty my cup.

Lu Yan: If one does not attach himself to people and desires, never shall his heart be broken. But then, does he ever truly live? I would rather die a mortal, who has a care for someone, than a man free from his own death.

This quote is connected to a talk I have listened to recently. The speaker talked about the main points of life and, among these, was Goals. Goals are desires, what I want to achieve, what feelings (!) I want to get to. Another point was Communication without which achieving goals is pretty hard. Communication is a way of attachment, connection. Maybe attachment the way the above quote mentions is not like this but it can be a Goal to stay attached to people you love. That's one of my Goals and Love was one of the other points of the speaker.

Jade Warlord: Martial art is based on deception, my friend.

This is the controversial quote. When our aikido club members watched the film, all remembered this quote and found it strange given that it is not what we are supposed to be learning. Then, after a bit of thinking, we agreed that it is a misinterpretation of Sun Tzu's saying which talks about deception but in the context of warfare and not martial arts. What do you think?

Lu Yan: Jump!

Jason Tripitikas: [stops before leaping from a roof] I don't think so!

Lu Yan: Don't think, just do!

Eternal truth about martial arts and trainings. Trust yourself to do things without having to think about them beforehand (which slows you down and affects quality of technique as well, especially when harmony is to be achieved).