fighting-spirit.jpg

Fighting Spirit

Everyone says that my kung fu is strong, but they also say it looks a bit unorthodox.

The whole reason it's so strong is that it looks a bit strange. It's an ancient tradition. That means it evolves, doesn't it?

My kung fu still has three old gems from the old days. If you take them too, they'll keep you safe. The first is compassion, the second is restraint, the third is not being a bully. Compassion inspires us, restraint empowers us, not being a bully gets the best results.

Modern kung fu is a hero with no compassion, a cop with no restraint, a boss with no respect. That means it's a dead end.

When we bring compassion to the fight, we prevail, in defence, we're safe. God is with us, and with compassion, watches over us.

Notes

is the quality of being not like one's forebears. A conservative interpretation would probably take as unorthodox or unconventional if not outright unworthy.

I think that is something like a subjunctive in English. Since (my ) is an ancient tradition (), that means it's humble (), doesn't it?

I like as a conditional. If held dear, then protected by them.

My riff on is economy moderation temperance prudence restraint self-control simplicity frugality parsimony.

Mawangdui versions of this poem contrast more clearly with (A) and (B) than does Wangbi's , and Han Feizi quotes the saying as it appears in Mawangdui A. is pretty common in ctext and seems to be a vessel or other artifact fashioned from raw (?) wood or jade. is very common in ctext, and seems to mean something like achievement in modern Chinese.

XY is more literally set aside X in favour of Y.

is arguable, as usual.

Vocabulary

1 + 0
one; a, an; alone
sān
1 + 2
three
xià
1 + 2
under, underneath, below; down; inferior; bring down
1 + 3
no, not; un-; negative prefix
qiě
1 + 4
moreover, also (post-subject); about to, will soon (pre-verb)
jiǔ
4 + 2
long time (ago); time passage, grow late
zhī
4 + 3
marks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; go to
5 + 2
also; classical final particle of strong affirmation or identity
shì
6 + 7
affair, matter, business; to serve; accident, incident
èr
7 + 0
two; twice
jīn
9 + 2
now, today, modern era
9 + 3
by means of; thereby, therefore; consider as; in order to
9 + 5
resemble, similar to; as if, seem
bǎo
9 + 7
protect, safeguard, defend, care
jiǎn
9 + 13
temperate, frugal, economical
xiān
10 + 4
first, former, previous
12 + 6
his, her, its, their; that
18 + 7
rule, law, regulation; grades
yǒng
19 + 7
brave, courageous, fierce
shèng
19 + 10
victory; excel, be better than
wéi
30 + 8
only; yes
30 + 13
receptacle, vessel; instrument
31 + 5
to become solid, solidify; strength
37 + 0
big, great, vast, large, high
tiān
37 + 1
sky, heaven; god, celestial
37 + 1
man, male adult, husband; those
shǒu
40 + 3
defend, protect, guard, conserve
bǎo
40 + 17
treasure, jewel; precious, rare
jiāng
41 + 8
will, going to, future; general
guǎng
53 + 12
broad, wide, extensive
hòu
60 + 6
behind, rear, after; descendents
61 + 10
kind, charitable, benevolent
chéng
62 + 2
completed, finished, fixed
62 + 3
our, us, i, me, my, we
zhàn
62 + 12
war, fighting, battle
chí
64 + 6
sustain, support; hold, grasp
66 + 5
ancient, old; reason, because
jiù
66 + 7
save, rescue, relieve; help, aid
gǎn
66 + 8
to dare, venture; bold, brave
yuē
73 + 0
say; Kangxi radical 73
yǒu
74 + 2
have, own, possess; exist
75 + 12
simple, honest; plain; rough
78 + 2
die; dead; death
wèi
86 + 5
do, handle, govern, act; be
jiē
106 + 4
all, every, everybody
111 + 2
particle of completed action
120 + 5
fine, tiny; slender, thin
ér
126 + 0
and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
xiào
130 + 3
look like, resemble, be like
néng
130 + 6
to be able; can, permitted to; ability
shě shè
135 + 2
house, dwelling; dwell, reside
ruò
140 + 5
if, supposing, assuming; similar
wèi
144 + 9
guard, protect, defend
wèi
149 + 9
say, tell; call, name; be called
dào
162 + 9
path, road, street; method, way
zhǎng
168 + 0
long; length; excel in; leader; Kangxi radical 168