Post by TheExpert on Oct 15, 2015 8:10:31 GMT
It seems there was a very deep lesson in this story, but whatever was sort of flew over my head or I hard time grasping what exactly it was and finding a way to put it into words. I guess if I tried to find a way to describe it what Chi Ch’ang went through feels parallel or like an allegory for the path of spiritual enlightenment. What this entails I do no personally know, but I’ve a book I felt was similar called “Siddhartha” wherein the protagonist desires to attain nirvana but found going about it the traditional way would not produce results and even felt he could not learn from Buddha himself. After experimenting and straying from the path, living the basest style of life, he finds wisdom from an old ferryman and after many years with him finally attains nirvana. Chi Ch’ang immerses himself in the physical world of archery but after meeting Kan Ying sees how far off he was and finds the true path in the metaphysical or spiritual world of archery that finally lets him achieve his goal of becoming the greatest.
There is a saying that ‘a bad workman always blames him tools’ and from this conversely it has been said these days (maybe from people misremembering the original) that a good workman never blames his tools. By transcending the bow Kan Ying taught Chi Ch’ang an archery that does not rely on the tool which is susceptible to damage and flaws and instead makes sole use of the skill which once learned and cultivated can never be lost and can also be used no matter the circumstances or tools given, or in this case no tool at all.
Question: I feel like Chi Ch’ang reached a different place than Kan Ying, it said after he was finished he was impassive and expressionless whereas the old man was still capable of laughter; if you agree why do you think that is?
There is a saying that ‘a bad workman always blames him tools’ and from this conversely it has been said these days (maybe from people misremembering the original) that a good workman never blames his tools. By transcending the bow Kan Ying taught Chi Ch’ang an archery that does not rely on the tool which is susceptible to damage and flaws and instead makes sole use of the skill which once learned and cultivated can never be lost and can also be used no matter the circumstances or tools given, or in this case no tool at all.
Question: I feel like Chi Ch’ang reached a different place than Kan Ying, it said after he was finished he was impassive and expressionless whereas the old man was still capable of laughter; if you agree why do you think that is?