WUSHU XUANXUE 3

"So, where do we start our learning?" Zhu Youdun asked excitedly. "Will we start with Bu?"

"Why do you think Bu is the first part you will study?"

"Wushu Xuanxue has its sequence, the most noble - and at the same time the most difficult part - is Shan, and the least is Bu. For that reason then we will study Bu first, right?"

"Totally wrong," Gao Qing shook his fingers. "There is nothing like more noble and more despicable in Wushu Xuanxue. It is only the human beings who make categorizations as they like, just as they do to other matters. Do you forget the Principle of Zhuangzi?"

"Ah... sorry..."

"Well then. We will start our lesson with... Shan."

Zhu Su and Zhu Youdun's eyes soon widened.

"Shan?! Isn't it the most difficult part of Wushu Xuanxue?!"

"Tsk tsk tsk! You seemingly don't understand the Principle of Zhuangzi. How can you determine one knowledge as the most difficult one without reason?"

Zhu Su swallowed hard. "But, everyone has the same opinion, Sir Gao..."

"If everyone has such thinking, then you will follow them blindly?"

"Of course not!... Okay, but can you tell me, the reason why we have to start from Shan?"

"Shan is an art whose main goal is to elevate yourself above the mundane. Without Shan, it is very dangerous to learn the other four parts. You will use the knowledge of Yi to kill and make people sick, or use Ming, Xiang, and Bu to look for opportunities to kill, rob, and do other evil deeds. Wushu Xuanxue is actually a very dangerous art, that's why greedy people call this art as the art to conquer the world. They will lead this world into destruction. This is why studying Shan becomes so important. And why I teach all of you Shan in the beginning. After you master it, I will teach you other parts."

Zhu Su's breaths quickened as hearing Gao Qing's explanation, especially when it came to the part "using knowledge of Yi to kill and make people sick" and "greedy people call Wushu Xuanxue as the art to conquer the world". The main reason why he wanted to study Wushu Xuanxue was to usurp the throne. And the part "make people sick", he had even already implemented it with Zhu Di. It was clear that he had violated the purity of this knowledge...

But, Sir Gao says, he will give me weapon, in the form of knowledge, to help me to get revenge. So, the Shan he teaches will surely head to this goal?

"Do you guys really understand about Zhou Yi, Dao De Jing, and Nan Hua Jing?"

Zhu Su and Zhu Youdun nodded in confidence. "We always studied it day to day before in school. We have memorized the whole book. We have learned it by heart."

"I am not asking if you have memorized it or not. What I am asking is, do you really understand it?"

"The essence of Dao De Jing written by Laozi and Nan Hua Jing written by Zhuangzi is all the same; to concern with the balance between humans and nature. Humans should not oppose nature, humans should submit to, and follow, nature, thereby humans can find the real meaning of happiness and peace," answered Zhu Su.

Zhu Youdun continued, "Then there is a concept of Wu Wei - "nonaction", "effortless action" or "action without intent." This term does not really mean nonaction, or completely do nothing, it rather means to act without affectation, and without lust. Since Wu Wei is the basic nature to live in harmony with the universe, then to act with affectation or with lust will definitely be the contrary of naturalness or down-to-earthiness. According to Wu Wei, one should limit his activities merely to their basic needs, and the naturalness. Wu Wei is a pure manifestation of gentleness, simplicity, and freedom; an effective, pure ability and no motions is needed to show off."

"The most natural phenomenon about the manifestation of Dao is water. Water can adapt to its environment and always moves to find the lowest spots. Water can also ruin the coral reefs and float hills off. It has infinite flexibility as well as the unmatched resistance. That is the virtue of water, and so is the virtue of Wu Wei," Zhu Su continued.

"We are to be like the bamboo that bends in the wind, or the plant that adjusts itself to the shape of a tree. Wu Wei involves letting go of idealism that we may otherwise try to force too violently onto things; it invites us instead to respond to the true demands of situations, which tended only to be noticed when we put our own ego aside. What we can follow is a loss of self-consciousness, a new unity between the self and the environment, which releases energy that is normally held back by an overly aggressive, wilful style of thinking." Zhu Youdun concluded.

Gao Qing turned to Hu Nayin, "Can you explain to us about the Book of Dao De Jing and Nan Hua Jing?"

Shocked as not expecting to be asked in sudden, Hu Nayin stammered, "I... Sorry, I never see the Book of Dao De Jing and Nan Hua Jing... never read them... I can't explain it..."

Gao Qing clapped his hands. "She understands Daoism better than both of you."

Zhu Su and Zhu Youdun opened their mouths automatically. And Hu Nayin blinked her eyes in shock.

"What I ask you is about your understanding, and not the matter of memorizing. What you said earlier was the answer from recitation. It's an easy job to recitate, anyone can do it. But a country will be ruined if it employs people who are only experts at memorizing. What we need most actually is to understand a matter, and apply it once you have fully understood it. That's why Yuan collapsed and the Hongwu Emperor could establish Ming even though he is neither from the ruling aristocracy nor the intellectual. The people who have no education background can often be more successful than the scholars, if he is neither arrogant nor attached to the intelligence of his education."

Zhu Su stared in disbelief at Gao Qing who had just praised his father. Noticing the meaning of Zhu Su's gaze at once, Gao Qing added, "It is the fact. Nevertheless, that's what happens after all."

Zhu Youdun expressed his confusion, "But, how should we answer?"