Thursday, 4/9/09

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We rose early this morning to drive through the 2008 Olympics buildings and then to an early appointment at a Kung Fu School.

Chinese Kong Fu

Like many aspects of Chinese culture, the origins of Kong Fu are both old, and subject to debate. The more common theory is that Kong fu goes back 2,000 years, when a monk from India, Tamo (also known as Bodhidharma ) came upon the impoverished temple of Shaolin in Northern China.. Shocked by the emaciated physical condition of the monks, Bodhodharma instructed the monks to follow a series of exercises to strengthen the body and condition the mind. These became known as the "eighteen hands of the Lo-Han". The exercises developed over time into movements of a system of self-defense to protectthe temple at Shaolin from local bandits. As years passed, the reputation of the monks as fierce fighters grew.

However, the self defense fighting movements were only a part of the Kong fu story. More than just a martial art, a disciple of Kong fu was committed to the cultivation of mind, body and spirit. Its root philosophy is pure Chinese, and a combination of Taoism and Buddhism. The primary goal is to be in harmony with the universe, and to channel one's "chi' or life force energy. There was a strict code of ethics that included, respect for human life, modesty, an emphasis on moral principals and moral conduct. The monastery and temples were the centers of Kong fu training. Young students entered as young children, and their "education" was completed in their midtwenties.

As Kong fu masters traveled the country, new temples were created, each with its own unique style adapted to the local needs. In total, there are over 1500 different "styles"

Kong fu also has a place in Chinese history. In 1900 there was a popular uprising among the masses known in the West as the "Boxer Rebellion". The revolt was against the growing foreign influence within the country. Many of the organizers of the revolt belonged to secret societies, some of which were Kong fu fighters. The most famous was called the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, thus the Western name "Boxer". These Chinese boxers had a reputation of fierce fighters with supernatural strength.

In the early 1900's, China was going through turbulent times. Many of the temples were destroyed and the displaced Kong fu masters scattered throughout the world. During the communist era, a style of Kong fu named wushu has developed. With less emphasis on the violent nature of the martial art, and more stress on the artistic and gymnastic qualities, it has the look more of a sport than a way of life and form of self-defense.

We visited a technical school for the martial arts. The school was formed in 1991, and is a private, live-in school. The students are from 3 years of age to 24, and they come from all over China and even from other countries. They learn the regular, required 9-year curriculum, plus they attend martial arts classes. The cost is US $3,000 per year.

Is It Really Jade?

Just how can you tell real jade from fake jade .... or good jade from not so good?

It is jade's hardness that is one of the distinguishing features and makes it so very valuable to the Chinese. The oldest jade is a combination of calcium, magnesium and aluminum silicate, with a Mohs Scale hardness of 6.5. This is the classical nephrite, which was found on the old Silk Road town of Khotan. Some of this same type has been found in several countries in Europe, the South Pacific and even in western USA. One of the favorite colors of jade for the Chinese is white.

Later, the bright green "jadeite" became popular. It is a combination of silicate of aluminum and sodium. This brilliant color of green is popular for jewelry, though jadeite also comes in the less valuable colors of lavender, black, white and dull shades of green. This had been commercially mined in Burma, Guatemala and the former Soviet Union. It has a very hard texture, and its harness on the Mohs scale is 7-8.5 (a diamond has a Mohs hardness of 10).

Some stones pass for jade are only fluorite, a soft stone that, compared to jade, is much less expensive and valuable. Remember that it is jade's hardness that makes it so valuable.

Jade is still commonly used in the manufacture of jewelry but its use for tribal objects goes back to Neolithic times. You have seen the jade "bi" in Chinese museums. It is the flat disc with a large central hole, which is said to represent Heaven and is thought to derive from ancient sun cults. Some of the oldest examples of this dates back to 2000 B.C. It has a perfectly formed central hole, indicating that the Chinese already knew how to use a primitive lathe.

The Chinese believed that various earthly spirits remained in the body after death, once the Celestial Spirit had departed. It was feared that these spirits would become angry and torment, leave the body and torment the relatives. To prevent this from happening, the body orifices were plugged with jade, and offerings were made to encourage them to leave peacefully.

Joke

A lucky man has a US salary, Chinese food, a British house, and a Japanese wife.

An unlucky man has a Chinese salary, British food, a Japanese house, and an American wife.