Doc Nirvana
Draft Jan 26, 2023
Book Draft, from my course: Bruce Lee Cinema and Film
Confucius and Wong Fei Hung
Bruce Lee vs Wong Fei-Hung (1847-1924)
Before there was Bruce, there was another man’s name synonymous with Chinese martial arts: Wong Fei Hung, a real person. Hundred of movies were made of him. In a sense, Bruce would become more famous than this legendary figure. Had Bruce Lee lived, perhaps Bruce would have starred in a Wong Fei Hung movie.
Confucianism and Hung Gar
Confucianism was one of the three religions of old China along with Taoism and Buddhism. Basically, Confucianism helped to enforce the patriarchy of Asian society.
The stories of Hwa Mulan and Wong Fei Kong, in a sense, helped to reinforce the rule of the patriarchy. An important part of Confucianism is xiào or filial piety.
In Fist of Fury, the plot revolves around revenging the death of the teacher of the Chin Woo Athletic Association in Shanghai. Huo Yuanjia (1868-1910), the founder and teacher, fought and beat foreigners in publicized matches. Many film and television adaptations have been made, especially about his death. Both Bruce Lee and Jet Li would make films about revenging his death.
Jet Li even starred in a film about the life and death about Huo Yuanjia (Fearless 2006). Respect for elders and teachers is an important aspect of Confucianism. Tradition must be remembered and maintained.
Confucius (551-479 B.C.), the wise master, sought to maintain the ancient traditions and wrote The Analects. Filial piety was a key part, based on the relationships within society: ruler-subject, husband-wife, parents-children, older siblings-younger siblings, and friend-friend.
All of these relationships are based on rule and obedience, except for the friend-friend, which is on an equal footing.
Places such as Taiwan celebrates Confucius’ birthday as Teacher’s Day, when all teachers are respected for the efforts they put forth.
Wong Fei-Hung
Wong Fei-Hung is the most famous martial arts legend ever to become the material of Kung Fu films. Indeed, over 200 films have been based on his life.
He was not trained by his father Wong Kei Ying because of his mischievous nature. Many of the films about his life deploy this tension as drama. Wong Fei-Hong learned from his father’s teacher Luk An Coy. Jackie Chan in the Drunken Master (I and II, 1978 and 1994) series and Jet Li in the Once Upon a Time in China (I, II, and III, 1990, 1992, and 1993) series both portrayed this legendary figure as an important part of their careers.
He is known as the father of Hung Gar, one of the “Ten Fighters of Canton.” He helped develop the Tiger and Crane sets and Tiger Tail Kick and the Shadowless Kick. He was one of the best Chinese doctors in the traditional sense. It is his maintaining of Chinese tradition during some of the most violent and modern times that makes him a folk legend.
Lau Kar Leong who directed such kung fu classics as 36th Chamber of Shaolin based the fights sequences on real Hung Gar. Indeed, he tried to maintain authentic kung fu in his films.
Bruce Lee learned Wing Chun from Yip Man. However, he created his own style and based it on a philosophy called Jeet Kune Do. While Lau Kar Leong films are considered authentic Kung Fu, Bruce Lee’s films are not. He used punches from Western boxing, kicks from Tae Kwon Do and weapons like nunchaus from Japanese styles. This eclectic mix was welcomed by Chinese audiences because it was something new and dynamic.
Jackie Chan fired Lau Kar Leong when filming Drunken Master II (1994) because he thought audiences would be bored with authentic Hung Gar. Of course, the irony, is that Lau Kar Leong’s Hung Gar is a direct descendent from the original Wong Fei Hung.
Leong’s father had learned from the Lam Sai Wing, “Butcher,” one of Wong Fei Hung’s best students.
Both Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee realized authentic Kung Fu did not always translate into exciting action films.
Jet Li made three films about Wong Fei Hung: Once Upon a Time in China (1991, 1992, 1993).
Bruceploitation films, those films that are about the legend of Bruce Lee, may have surpassed Wong Fei Hung films in quantity.
Doc Nirvana
AKA Dr. Wayne Stein