Chinese Martial Arts Film and the Philosophy of Action

This book focuses on the philosophy of Chinese martial arts film, arguing that philosophy provides a key to understanding the whole genre. It draws on Chinese philosophical ideas derived from, or based on, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and other schools of thought such as Mohism and Legalism, examines a cluster of recent Chinese martial arts films centering on the figure of the xia-the heroic protagonist, the Chinese equivalent of medieval Europe's knight-errant-and outlines the philosophical principles and themes undergirding the actions of xia and their narratives. Overall, the author argues that the genre, apart from being an action-oriented entertainment medium, is inherently moral and ethical.

List of contents

Introduction
1. The Assassin and the Philosophy of Non-Action
2. Shadow and the Mandate of Heaven
3. Seven Swords and Confucian Militarism
4. Buddhist Impermanence and Martial Arts in The Grandmaster
5. The Final Master: A Novel Permutation on the Mohist Youxia
6. Wolf Warrior II: Latter-day Youxia
7. Conclusion

About the author

Stephen Teo is Associate Professor in the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Summary

This book focuses on the philosophy of Chinese martial arts film, arguing that philosophy provides a key to understanding the whole genre.

Product details

• Authors: Stephen Teo, Teo Stephen
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 26.09.2022
• EAN: 9780367757397
• ISBN: 978-0-367-75739-7
• No. of pages: 164
• Series: Media, Culture and Social Change in Asia
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > Theatre, ballet; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; China, PHILOSOPHY / General, PHILOSOPHY / Ethics & Moral Philosophy, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Research, PHILOSOPHY / Buddhist, Non-Western philosophy, Film: styles & genres, Film Theory & Criticism, Film: styles and genres, East Asian and Indian philosophy, Oriental martial arts, Film history, theory or criticism, Chinese martial arts / Kung-fu, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / General