How Taoist Concepts Are Represented in Movies
Introduction
Taoism is an inexplicable phenomenon. It can be
roughly translated but it cannot be explained in words.
It can only be explained by means of experience.
Taoism is a blend of a philosopher’s psychology and a
religion that modifies the code of life. In the following
essay we will discuss huge impact of Taoism in the
movies of the 21st century. In the three selected
movies Hero, Fight Club and Star wars different
currents of Taoism can be detected flowing in the ebb
and flow of the movies. Let us have a close scrutiny of
Taoism in these movies.
1. In “Hero” concept Five Elements is prevalent.
2. In “Fight Club” philosophy of Wu-chi, lost
generation and destruction for rebirth are
evident.
3. “Star wars” throws light on the concept of force
and harmony in the universe.
Taoism
Taoism is a term originated from Chinese writers and
philosophers of 500 to 600 B.C.E. Taoism is in fact a
mode and culture of living. It is a concept that relates a
person with all the natural things around him. In the
history we catch evidences of Tao people as wanderers
to grasp the truth. They roam about in the mountains,
tread along the plains and dwell on the rocks and
meditate to get the essence of life. Taoism is deep-
rooted belief or religion having its roots anchored in
the time when Pantheism and Shamanism were the
fashion of the day. Taoism has no single source. It
appears that it has two pivotal sources: the sages of
Civil War Period and the magicians and Shamans of
Shang Dynasty.
Lao Tzu’ the founder of this concept believed in
tranquility of soul, balance ‘intuition spontaneity and
return to the original nature. In his famous manuscript
he declared his doctrines and philosophical thoughts.
Another leading philosopher of this group is Chuang
Te Zu whose book having his own name as its title
encompasses his philosophical theories and ideology in
a complex form. Daoism is a term oft-quoted in
Taoism (ReligiousTolerance.org).
Daoism and Wu Wei
“Dao” means “the way” and “Daojia” is the school of
Dao. Dao is a way to live life that goes to heaven. The
idea of Wu Wei is not easy to comprehend. Wu Wei
can be called as an ‘effortless action” that a person
carries on without any interference. It stresses on
acting naturally without putting any hurdle in the
natural flow of action. We must act and choose the
road to virtue and heaven. This is what we can least
draw from the word Wu Wei (Littlejohn).
Extensions of Taoism
China holds three main extensions of Taoism revolving
on the axis of “Power” (“Te”). The first Taoism is as
academic Taoism that emphasizes on teaching and
preaching. They focus on Self-help and seek
knowledge that enhances power and vitality in life.
They are against the things like friction, fights and
conflicts; instead they favor “Wei” which means pure
effectiveness (Bracy).
The second group has engrossed itself in the
cultivation of “Te” through physical training and
exercise. They believe in the over flow and free flow of
energy which they call as Ch’i. In order to achieve a
level of high energy they have to consider and work on
three important elements matter, movement and mind.
In mater they try to strengthen themselves
nutritionally. They eat healthy and herbal food to gain
physical power; then come movement or physical
activity.
Several programs of bodily movement are introduced
to meet the desired goal. Martial art or” T’ ai-chi”
owes its birth to this very branch of Taoism. Its aim is
to assemble energy from the outside world and to
combat the blockage that hinders its internal and
external flow. It lays stress on self-realization and self-
allowance to explore the new personal dimensions
(Bracy).
The third extension of Taoism stands on religious
grounds. It is a substitutionary power introduced in the
second century CE. It brought under the canopy the
religious saints, healers, faith soothers, Shamans and
priests. Church occupies a prominent place having
gods and deities more for ritualistic purposes than for
worship. The role of magic pays a vital role in the lives
of religious Taos. They tend to gather cosmic energy
and distribute it among the people who are unable to
get or generate on their own.
A thorough study of all three shoots of Taoism brings
to us an acknowledged truth that these sects are
intensively engaged in multiplying their Power (Te).
Although the manners are different, they cherish a sole
common target of increase in power and conservation
of energy (Bracy).
Spread of Taoism
Taoism is a multi dimensional and complex
philosophy, but since its origin till the date it has
spread worldwide. Once it was a part of Chinese
culture only but now with the advent of 21st century it
is penetrating in the West as well. At present we have
almost thirty one million Tao followers across the
globe. Throngs of people are in United States are
getting interested in Taoism. They are inspired by Tao
symbols of Yin and Yang that expresses cosmic
contrast (Kohn).
Taoism in Movies
History confirms Taoism as one of the rampant
philosophies of the time which invited activity and
energy utilization of hundreds of individuals in China.
This philosophy prompted them to engage themselves
in physical exercise and activities related to physical
fitness like Yoga, Martial art and even painting and
calligraphy etc. This made them mentally and
physically healthy and strong (Toropov and Hansen).
They started propagating their philosophy in movies
and dramas. Taoism resides in many movies
sometimes hidden and sometimes apparent but always
it inspires awe and admiration of the audience.
Hero
Let us quote the example of the movie” Hero”. The
movie is the story of five swordsmen and three minor
characters. Four swordsmen are assassins whereas the
fifth is the king himself. In this movie minor characters
include “an old musician, a calligraphy master, a maid
named as broken sword and a Moon” (Li). All eight
characters are the true representation of traditional
Chinese Tao people. One of the swordsmen
“Nameless” is the figure that tells the story of conflicts
again and again to the king but every time, the details
are different and confusing (Li). Despite this, the
proximity of the fighting sides with the man and the
cosmos makes the movies complex and escalates its
ideology.
Taoism is depicted on different levels in the movie.
Towards the end of the movie two swordsmen keep on
gazing at each other combating in their minds. They
have no swords in the duel and this event in the movie
is an allusion to Lao’s concept of perfection of tune
without any sound. Perfect tune makes no sound;
similarly perfect sportsmen can fight without swords.
They use no swords. This sort of meditation has been a
usual practice of religious figures of ancient times. For
hours they keep on meditating on the universe and its
healing effects (Li).
In this movie the fighting techniques have been
displayed by using art of calligraphy in the form of
characters of broken sword and Sky. Nameless has to
understand the calligraphy of broken sword to defeat
him. The concept of unity in the universe floats in the
words “sword” and “All under heaven” that broken
sword writes for Nameless (Li). It throws light on the
ideology of fight or action for the man, universe and
God. Self possesses least importance because in
Taoism self dissolves in the God and the universe. This
concept is not positively hailed and applied in the
western world of self importance.
Taoism also exhibits the aesthetic beauty of heaven
and the earth. This ideology is very beautifully shown
in the two hours of the movie. The scenes and
landscapes are not multicolored. Simple and mono
colored background is portrayed in the movie with
characters wearing the attires of the same color. It
creates an understanding of Taoist aesthetic sense in
the mind of the viewer.
Concept of Five Elements
The Tao concept of five elements and Yin (spiritual)
and Yang (material) has become the part of the Movie.
According to Chinese Tao mythology five elements –
earth, wood metal, fire and water subdue their former
element. In this way fire is subdued by water fire
subdues metal and this sequence goes on. Each element
coupled with its substantial identity describes a
different dynamic process. These are the basic and
essential components of all the material things. Earth
signifies transformation and change. Wood represents
development of action and impulse. Metal denotes
downfall and contraction. Fire is the symbol of
dynamic phase and action; and last but not least Water
signifies placidity and reflection (Nations Online).
Each of the five elements exhibits its own color
depending upon its material and nature. For example:
Yellow color is typical for earth, green is used for
wood, metal is given white color; red shows fire and
for water black is specified. Each element is supposed
to represent a separate Chinese regime (Nations
Online). The King of the movie symbolized the Qi
dynasty and was a firm believer of the theory of five
elements. He was notorious for his corrupted and
Barbarous rule; but the king in the movie is wise and
believes in unity. He imposed his will at the cost of
sacrifices of millions of people and his inhumane
conduct went against theological teachings on Chinese
sages and seers.
The whole plot of the movie moves scene to scene with
colors. The king and his courts men are dressed in
black or dark-colored robes that are used for water. The
scene orbiting the swordsmen shifts from one color to
another. The basic color is yellow that denotes
common forefathers of the Chinese nation. In the
movie Yellow color is used for the first assassin and by
the end of the movie we find yellow color at the
suicide scene of the lovers (Broken Sword and Snow).
So we find a panorama of five elements and their
respective colors in the movie “Hero” (Li).
We can summarize this movie as a representative of
Taoism without having any protagonist in it. The name
of the movie is ‘hero’ but the viewer is unable to find
any hero in it. In this way the movie is close to life
because as a matter of fact, we find it hard to meet real
hero in real life. Real life is different from reel life. The
movie delineates the sacrifices of people that are hard
to be acknowledged in reality since ages.
Fight Club
Another important movie in this reference is Fight
Club that is based after some alternations on the book
Fight Club. This movie is a piece of anarchist literature
in which several adaptations are introduced to gain
interest and curiosity of the viewer. At the first look,
this movie seems to be quite chaotic and confusing but
the producer has developed the plot and the story line
with such an expertise that the viewer can’t help
learning from it.
Fight Club is the story of a man who has a split
personality. He split up his personality in two halves.
His new oriented half has been named as Tyler Druden
who possess every trait that he wishes to have. But the
irony of the situation is that he becomes forgetful of
the fact that although he is the embodiment of the two
personalities but his mind is the same. He resides to
alter ego to get his targets in life. Eventually, he loses
hold on himself but the other half despite wishing to
lose him cannot get rid of him. Tyler’s anarchism urges
him to gather people to want some one to believe in
and give vent to his teachings before them. He voices
many Taoist t concepts to the people and educate them
(Harrison).
Taoism in the Fight Club
The concept of Yin and Yang is one of the most
prevalent concepts on Chinese Taoism. It states the
presence of two opposite forces in the universe. Any
force can subdue the other force for the time being but
imbalance can not be maintained in this regard. Yin is
feminine, weak, flexible and yielding. The hero of the
movie is the embodiment of Yin force. He is timid and
sensitive. Yang is masculine, decisive, rigid and
dominating. The split half Tyler can be well described
as having yang force (Harrison).
Wu Wei is another prominent notion of Taoism. It
means ineffective action or the action that comes
spontaneously without any effort. The doctrines of
Fight Club prompt people to live life freely without the
desires of completion and realization of their
aspirations and hopes. We can only find our selves by
letting ourselves loose and destroying our possessions
(Harrison).
Wu-Chi
Wu-Chi comprises of the idea of birth and decay. This
concept is based on ultimate nothingness. It shows the
man comes from nothingness and goes back to
nothingness after his death. Death is an unavoidable
and ever approaching reality. It is not considered as a
bitter reality but as a relieving agent to take us away
from the world of frets and fevers (Harrison).
Lost Generation
Fight Club highlights the turmoil of modern lost
generation. We are the living in the age of floating
anxieties. Tyler speaks of the depression and
frustration. We have gone astray from our right goal
and spiritually depressed and dejected. Flight Club
shares the Taoist teachings of Rebel and Revolution in
the movie. The disillusionment in their present mode of
life causes people to work for change without any fear
of losing any thing. The main character of the movie
along with Tyler Druden initiated a Fight Club to ooze
out the tension and depression of the lost generation. In
the beginning he fights with himself but with the
passage of time people become a part of the Fight Club
to vent out their pent up aggressive and wild emotions.
Tyler’s company has made them wish not to die
without having scars over their bodies (Harrison).
Rebirth and Rejection of Technology
The final objective of Fight Club is the destruction of
the modern hollow society for it renewal. It follows the
rejection of the modern and heavy technology. Same
idea has been conveys in Taoist manuscripts on
Simplify and Utopia. According to it, people must
work themselves and should not rely completely on
high technology. They can use small and restricted
tools in their work but use of technology in the modern
world should be discouraged. Thus, Fight Club is
another movie having Taoist ideas and philosophy
moving side by side with the story (Harrison).
Star Wars
Star wars is another series of film that falls in the same
category. The success of the movie after its launching
is well understood by the hefty annual revenue of more
than 400 million dollars and this sum is still escalating
day by day. In only after three years on its release we
see toy shops teeming with the posters, toys and games
related to the characters and action figures of the
movie. This giant film expresses different approaches
towards religion. George Lucas has attempted to lay
the foundation of this Sci-Fi on Taoism.
Star wars is the sequel of almost six movies displaying
comparative perceptions in religion. In the first movie
of the Star Wars films in 1977 “A New Hope” a deadly
weapon ‘Death Star’ has been introduced by an alien
Count Dooku who had allied with Separatists. They
had a plan to launch their aggression against all planets
to subdue them. A group of guerilla fighters wage the
car to destroy the death weapon. It advocates the power
of force in the universe. Force creates an energy field
that girdles that entire universe and galaxy in a bond
(Grimes).
Empire Strikes Back
Next movie “Empire Strikes Back” is probably the
manifestation of religion to the maximum. It is about
the use of Force in life. Luke has been warned by Yoda
to be cautious of the bleak side and negativity in life.
He exclaims that force should be used for defensive
purposes rather than offensive motives. But Luke does
not seem to believe it. Luke’s weak point is his
recklessness and it has been pointed out and rebuked
by Yoda and the spirit of Obi-wan (A New Hope) as
well. At last, they leave Luke like many parents who
let their children retire to the world with a piece of
advice i.e. burial of feelings is necessary to carry out
what Luke has been taught in the training by Yoda
(Grimes).
Return of the Jedi
The last film of Star wars contains the conception of
salvation in religion. Luke is fully active and a well-
trained Jedi in this part. He fights for his people with
tremendous force. He wrestles with evil but somehow
can’t suppress the hatred and anguish linked with the
Dark side. Soon they discover that another evil Death
star has been built to challenge their forces. Luke is the
only Jedi in the battalion. The rest are common and
ordinary people.
But it is interesting to note that all of them believe in
the presence and support of force in their fight for
freedom. As the plot develops, we see Luke desirous of
saving his father’s soul. He succeeds in burning his
father’s body for redemption on the expense of leaving
the Death star half-destroyed. Good prevails over evil
when advanced army is defeated by ancient tribes and
Luke comes to celebrate with them after his father’s
salvation (Grimes).
Role of Force in life
Star wars have allegorical portrayal of religion. It
restates the role of religion in all the boxes and affairs
of life. It conveys a universal message that spirituality
is essential to be triumphant over evil in life. It shows
that good and evil are perpetual and constant; both can
be used in religious practices but the Good force
nurtures new ideas and prepares a person to confront
the challenges of life (Grimes).
Taoism and Star Wars
Star wars have many references to the Taoist
philosophy. The Jedi’s motto in the movie “May the
force be with you” (Grimes 159) has been adapted
from Dao jing.
Tao’s principle of Wui-we breathes in the scene when
Yoda advises his trainee Luke to act without acting.
Tao’s notion of opposition and harmony has been
delineated by Lucas in ‘The Return of the Jedi’. Darth
is a bad man where as Luke Skywalker is a good chap;
still he must repress evil and overcome the hurdles of
his journey to reach his destination. Critics are of the
view that Lucas has used Taoist concept of opposition
and harmony to let his heroes and villains undergo
development of action in the film (Toropov and
Hansen).
Martial Art
Martial art is a social practice of self defense as well as
a physical training to confront stages of life. In the last
few decades a tremendous rise in the exercise of
Martial art has been noticed in Eastern and Western
countries. Broadly speaking, Martial art is a way to
enhance self control and breed self defense in an
individual (Brown and Johnson). Chinese and Japanese
history gives the traces of the practice of martial art in
Tao people. It has been studied in Buddhist temples
and shrines in Manchu dynasty and practiced
afterwards for defensive purposes and later on it
became an essential component of their spiritual and
social order.
The Samurai is a group of warriors who came into
origin by the need of the feudal lords to defend their
domains against attack. Martial art is adopted on t he
basis that body and mind work with complete harmony
and represent duality. They are indispensible to each
other for proper functioning in a social structure. It
enables a person to resort to the holistic plans of
disposition to inculcate poise ,sensitivity towards his
own self and others, social benign attitude and genial
temperament in performing several actions. It is note
worthy that the practical aim of Martial art is to weed
out widespread violence in social circle and refrain
one’s self from indulging in such destructive activities.
It is a training that procreates self realization and mass
realization in a person (Brown and Johnson). A person
engaged in Martial art keeps his eyes and senses alive
to the world all around. He is responsible and sensitive
enough to act and react in certain circumstances. Thus,
in this way Martial art has become an integral
component of Eastern and Western culture alike. Some
illustrious teachers of Chinese martial art include
Chang Choo-Tung, Chang San Fen, Chuan You,
Chang Wang Ting, Chen Fa Ke and the list goes on
(Frantzis).
Gung fu
Gung fu is a special kind of martial art that apparently
is a physical exercise but inwardly it meets the goal of
preparing the mind to correspond with the body in
harmony. It is based on the principle of spontaneity in
the universe. Tao notion of Yin and Yang is also the
basic edifice that works in the mind of every
practitioner. He is fully aware of the fact that although
they are opposite forces but they are interrelated and
inter dependent. It confirms that one should fall in
harmony to the force and strength of the opponent.
Nothing unnatural should be done in gung fu. It
teaches the practitioner a lesson to act in accordance
with the other force. Forgetting himself can only
respond to the opponent’s move. It also improves
proper circulation, respiration and apt functioning of
other organs of the body (Lee and Little).
Martial art films
Martial art films are very famous all over the world. In
1979 inspired by the films of Hong Kong enclosing
Bruce lee’s “Fists of Fury”, “Five Fingers of Death”
and “The Chinese Connection America” plunged into
making Martial art movies as a separate genre. Martial
art films are specifically made to exhibit style of Asian
Martial art including fencing and boxing; that is
altogether different from Western culture of fight in the
movies. Martial art movies are a mere pageant of
armed and unarmed fighting styles like Sword fighting
and Kung fu. “The Karate Kid series”, “3 Ninjas
series” and “Side Kicks” can adjust in the title of
Martial art movies (Dixon).
Conclusion
To sum up our detailed piece of work, we can conclude
that Taoism either a philosophy or a religion influences
the life and beliefs of Chinese People. Films and
movies are the true depiction of the society. They
reflect what the society possesses. Art and literature is
the best possible way to propagate any ideology or
teaching in the masses. Turning the pages of history we
encounter many examples of movies and dramas that
hold Taoism and Chinese religious teaching as
constituent elements of their themes.
Taoism is a philosophical ideology of the ancient
people to express and recognize their real self and their
relation with the surrounding. It is perpetually modern
in the sense that it penetrates in the psychology and
living structure of the recent Chinese culture and a vital
part of their belief to architect new Chinese
philosophies.
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