Post by Alan Wong on Oct 13, 2015 21:42:38 GMT
What Chi Ch'ang learned from Kan Ying was definitely not what Ch'ang originally believed he would be learning by seeking him out. Instead of learning to become even more proficient an archer in the traditional sense, what Ch'ang appeared to learn instead was the mental aspects required to be a masterful archer. With Wei Fei, Ch’ang had learned purely physical abilities: to not blink, to perceive miniscule objects, and to shoot distant objects. With these abilities came a sense of superiority and a subsequent sense of insecurity which led Ch’ang to try and kill Fei. After meeting Kan Ying, Ch’ang is described as having lost “his former resolute and arrogant countenance” and gained “the expressionless, wooden look of a simpleton” (p.237). Reading this, I felt like Ch’ang attained something similar to enlightenment during his time with Kan Ying. With his transcendence of the physical world, Ch’ang was able to let go of his earthly pride and gain abilities like those of Kan Ying.
When Kan Ying states that "real archery dispenses with both bow and arrow," he immediately after launches an invisible arrow on an ethereal bow, shooting down a distant bird (p.237). Because he was able to actually shoot an animal, I do believe that Kan Ying was being literal with his response. With that in mind, I interpreted his words as meaning to become truly proficient at something, you must not allow yourself to be constrained by the your own beliefs or the those of people around you. Instead, you must be willing to break conventional wisdom (in this case the physical laws of the world) and constantly move forward in order to attain what none believed possible before.
Discussion Question: Since Wei Fei told Chi Ch’ang about Kan Ying’s mastery of archery, Fei must have known of Ying’s existence. Why do you think Wei Fei did not attempt to train under Kan Ying as well?
When Kan Ying states that "real archery dispenses with both bow and arrow," he immediately after launches an invisible arrow on an ethereal bow, shooting down a distant bird (p.237). Because he was able to actually shoot an animal, I do believe that Kan Ying was being literal with his response. With that in mind, I interpreted his words as meaning to become truly proficient at something, you must not allow yourself to be constrained by the your own beliefs or the those of people around you. Instead, you must be willing to break conventional wisdom (in this case the physical laws of the world) and constantly move forward in order to attain what none believed possible before.
Discussion Question: Since Wei Fei told Chi Ch’ang about Kan Ying’s mastery of archery, Fei must have known of Ying’s existence. Why do you think Wei Fei did not attempt to train under Kan Ying as well?
