What comes to your mind when you think of kung fu? Maybe the image of Shaolin monks (和尚) posing with a serious look in their eyes. But does it really present the meaning of kung fu?
Laurence J. Brahm, a filmmaker from the United States, explored (探索) this question in Searching for Kung Fu (《寻找功夫》). In the movie, Brahm traveled to cities in China and the US in search of the value of kung fu.
Brahm himself is a kung fu lover who has been practicing the art for more than 40 years. For him, it is more than a pastime. Ages ago, Brahm was unable to use one of his legs for two years and had to walk with a cane (拐杖). But by practicing martial arts (武术), he was able to recover step by step. Now, kung fu has become a daily activity for him and also the way he begins the day.
Still, there are other deep meanings in the practice. Nonviolence is one value, which is shown both in the name and practice of kung fu. The Chinese character Wu has two parts—ge, meaning “to fight”, and zhi, meaning “to stop”. So, the meaning of kung fu in Chinese is the art of stopping fighting, the art of nonviolence. Kung fu artists always greet people with baoquan. This lets each person know that there are no hidden weapons (隐藏的武器) and shows trust.
“The traditional values of kung fu, actually, are in the minds of all Chinese people,” Brahm told Xinhua.
【小题1】What does Brahm think of kung fu?| A．It’s just a way to kill time. | B．It’s bad for the performer’s legs. |
| C．It’s a way to stay healthy. | D．It’s the best way to greet people. |
| A．To fight bravely. | B．To stop fighting. |
| C．To greet people actively. | D．To use weapons secretly. |
| A．To present the value of kung fu. |
| B．To introduce a movie. |
| C．To prove the popularity of kung fu. |
| D．To show the kindness of Chinese people. |
| A．Strong-minded. | B．Friendly. | C．Generous. | D．Confident. |
