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Post by Cindy Xia on Oct 15, 2015 5:32:35 GMT
I think Master Kan Ying taught Chi Ch'ang to not be arrogant and to trust himself. When the master challenged Chi Ch'ang, Chi Ch'ang who was too arrogant walked all the way to the ledge. Once he saw a pebble fall thousands of feet below, he felt scared and almost lost his balance. Unlike Chi Ch'ang, Master Kan Ying was calm and collected. He didn't falter and placed all his trust into his invisible bow and arrow. Compared to Chi Ch’ang, the old hermit likes to take things slowly. When Chi Ch’ang first met the master, he assumed that the other was deaf and quickly showed off his skills. After he went down from the mountains, he lost his former resolute and arrogant (237). I think the sentence “Real archery dispenses with both bow and arrow!” (237) also has something to do with trust. Archery is not just trusting where the arrow will go once it is shot but also the bow. By placing trust into both the bow and arrow allows one to feel less restless. Chi Ch’ang is a person who is restless and does not have any patience from what I see. For him, he doesn’t trust the bow nor the arrow but only his skills. After seeing Master Kan Ying’s shot, he realizes that skills alone does not make you a great archer.
My question is: Why was he so intent on becoming the greatest archer?
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Post by Won Young Seo on Oct 15, 2015 15:55:54 GMT
I'd say it's a matter of pride. He values his skills with a bow and arrow so he wants to become the best at it. He himself believes that he has the strength and ability to be the best and so practices and works hard to obtain that title.
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Post by Hiba Rashid on Oct 16, 2015 2:26:26 GMT
In the beginning of the story, I believe Chi Ch'ang embodies anyone in society who is trying to gain success through a fancy title and fame. The author does not describe him as someone who is truly passionate about archery, but instead someone who is passionate about being the best. It seems that Chi Ch'ang just found himself a hobby and is now stuck on being the best at it. His obsession with being the greatest archer roots in his greed and materialistic way of thinking. Also, I believe the author initially gives Chi Ch'ang these characteristics in order to show a great contrast to the person he becomes, after his "enlightenment."
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Post by Teng Lai Chang on Oct 16, 2015 5:19:54 GMT
I agree with Won Young Seo and Hiba Rashid that Chi Ch'ang was obsessed with becoming the best, and since he happened to excel at archery, he wanted to achieve success through that. In order to show how complacency and an inflated ego won't bring you success, but instead humility and patience, it was crucial for Chi Ch'ang to be so adamant about becoming the best in the beginning of the story because in this way, we can see how Chi Ch'ang was enlightened through Kan Ying's teaching of non action and tranqility.
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