This presentation was created and delivered by my former student Eduardo. The author reserves the right for his work.

1. Ke Peng| Student’s Presentations for
Languages & Cultures of East Asia
Kung-fucianism and Language
An in depth look at Confucian values
within the Motion Picture Hero
By Eduardo Atjian II
University of Arizona

2. The Goal
I will tie the history of Confucius and his
teachings to the plot and scenes in the
movie Hero

3. Hero
Hero is a Quentin
Tarantino production
The starring Actors are
Jet Li, Tony Leung,
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

4. The beginning of the movie
In the beginning of this
movie it explains in these China during the warring states Period
and the life of Confucius
exact subtitles:
“people give up their
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.”

5. How does this tie
into
confucianism?

6. 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
spent his time as a
administrator helping
make the state a model
state.
After he was fired,
Confucius began his
journey and his teachings

7. Confucius teachings
Confucius taught his followers
about five relationships to
follow. The five relationships are as
followed:
These relationships are looked
at in Chinese culture as very 1. Ruler and Subject,
important and even lawful. 2. Parent and Child,
So if broken or not followed, 3. Husband and wife,
people feel that it is violating the
4. Older Brother and younger
law.
brother,
In the movie Hero it was
5. and between friends.
apparent that these
relationships were followed and
depicted in many scenes of the
movie.

8. The five relationships within
Hero
• 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.

9. Confucius Had 6 Central
Conceptions
Ren: Virtue,
benevolence, kindness,
love, humaneness
Junzi; noble man
Li: Propriety & rites
De: Power of Virtue
Wen: the art of peace
Yi: righteosness, justice

10. 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
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.

11. 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
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.

12. 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
that he wishes to learn
the skills of calligraphy
to help him learn the
skills of swordplay
because they are very Watch the clip of the calligraphy school
similar skills

13. 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!..
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

14. Looking back at the
Conversations Cont. Conversation:
1. -Beautiful Calligraphy (Hero)
“Hero” with Broken Sword
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)
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

15. So in other words…
In this movie, calligraphy was This in turn could prepare people
looked upon as having a higher with roles of responsibility and
sense of importance than just leadership in society at all levels.
being a form of art of writing. This thought is mirrored with
Once the Quinn Kingdom began the general idea of the central
launching arrows at the school in 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.

16. 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.”
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

17. The End