When I was a kid between the age of thirteen and fifteen, I watched a lot of Hong Kong Chinese Wuxia TV series. I neither spoke nor understood Mandarin nor Cantonese, so I would watch them in Thai dubbed. This was how I learned to understand and speak Thai. These HK TV series were based on Chinese novels about heroic characters such Yang Guo in The Return of the Condor Heroes, Chang Mo Kei in The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, Lin Hu Chong in Swordsman aka Master Asia/ and many others I can't remember anymore. I was so drawn to these movies; they became my escape from reality. I remembered there were times when I wished I had those kinds of supernatural powers, so I could impress people. I never knew why I loved these movies so much. I only knew that when I saw the heroes go from a bullied boy or nobody to becoming a powerful man, I felt very good inside. Often times, when people or my own family made me feel like a worthless nobody, I wished I could have power like those characters in the movies and show them what I can do. Who would have known? This experience is paying off right now as I recollect. These movies had given me a deeper understanding why we tell stories. I now see that stories like these resonate deeply with what we do in real life.
Western and Eastern cultures differ greatly. But deep down inside, we are all the same - dramatic human beings with dramatic human emotions and psychology. All people want to become something important and gain respect. Observe little children and you'll see this. I have been studying people and human behavior for over 10 years, and I see the same patterns over and over. When I put a character and his behavior in a third person perspective, I can see this pattern in myself too. After many years of study, I found the truth. The monomyth (hero's journey) in all of us, our need to become something important, to feel worth and be respected by our family, friends and society.
Both the Lord of the Rings and The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber novel have been adapted into movies. They are the same story, which is about man's greed for power -- a tyrant who seeks to rule the world through the abuse of this power. Both stories have the same theme of "man's greed for power" as symbolized by the Ring of Power in TLOR and two Magical Swords in THSDS. Both stories begin with the creation of the magical artifacts and the war men fight to get their hands on them, which is told similarly through a voice over narration. Though the former is a British fantasy novel and the latter is Chinese Wuxia (martial art fantasy novel), their story is about a hero saving the world from a tyrannical ruler in the form of the Dark Lord Sauron and Lord Yuan of the Mongol Empire. Both stories are fantasy adventures, which involved the use of magic. While the former retained its original title, the latter movie adaptation changed it to The Evil Cult also known as "The Kung Fu Cult Master" in the west.
Now, the question is how do they fit the Hero's Journey so well? Clearly, their authors lived in different times, countries and cultures and have never heard of Joseph Campell's work. This is why it's called the "monomyth"/"the Hero with a Thousand Faces," which is a very powerful and universal archetype/metaphor. There is only one human story, and all other stories are just variations of this story. All other myths are variations of this one myth like the branches of a tree. A tree has just one trunk, and the smaller branches stem out from this one trunk. There is only one myth; this myth is life itself. In life a child is born, grows into an adult as he experiences life's tests and trials, he or she overcomes these tests and obstacles through the guide and wisdom of a mentor (wise old man/woman), and eventually becomes a wise old man/woman in old age. He or she then passes on his/her wisdom to the younger generations.
THE HERO'S JOURNEY by Joseph Campell
I. SEPARATION
Ordinary World: Mo Kei is a Taoist student of Wudang. He lives in Wudang. Frodo is a Hobbit. He lives in an obscure-peaceful place called the Shire.
Status Quo: Mo Kei's parents are gone - they were forced to commit suicide. Orphaned and cursed with the Jinx's Palm, an injury that disabled him from learning martial arts. Frodo is a Hobbit. He's small in stature. He lacks the strength and combat skills of a warrior, but even the smallest creature is capable of making a difference in the world. Ex. An injured athlete can heal and return to learn the skills again.
The Call to Adventure: Mo Kei's parents are forced to commit suicide. Frodo is given the Ring of Power by Gandalf.
Refusal of the Call: There is no refusal; however, when the Shaolin Cook Master with the Solar Stance martial art offers to cure his Jinx's Palm injury, Mo Kei refuses. Frodo refuses when he says: "Okay, we put it [the ring] away and never speak of it again."
Acceptance of the Call: None, Mo Kei is forced to by his Wudang peers during a prank. Frodo packs up and plans to make for the village of Bree.
Supernatural Aid: Mo Kei is aided by his Taoist Master Chang San Fong, The girl in chains Siu Chiu and Shaolin Cook Master. Frodo is aided by many people with power, Gandalf being the main one, then there is Aragon and Elewin, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, Galadriel and his three Hobbit friends.
Crossing the First Threshold: Mo Kei and Siu Chiu fall off the cliff. Frodo leaves the Shire with Samwise Gamgee, Pippen and Merri.
Entering the Belly of the Whale: Mo Kei enter the Belly of the Whale when he and Siu Chiu are trapped in Yeung Ting Tin, the dead Ming Sect leader's tomb. With no way out and they can possibly die from starvation/no food. Frodo enter the Belly of the Whale when he and the Fellowship enter into the Mine of Moria where they will face many dangers that can possibly kill them, and Frod is injured by a Troll. Later, Gandalf falls off with the Demon from the Underworld.
II. INITIATION
Road of Trails: Mo Kei's first trail is when he meets the Shaolin Cook Master who possessed the Solar Stance power to cure him. With the girl's aid, Mo Kei is is able to outsmart the monk and trick him into giving Mo Kei his power. Mo Kei's second trial is being trapped in the tomb where he masters the Magic Stance Martial Arts. Mo Kei's third test is when he saves his grandfather King White Eagle of the Ming Sect from the other schools. Frodo's first test is avoid being caught by the 9 Ringwraiths from Mordor. Frodo's second test is to find Gandalf at the Prancing Pony. His third trial is to bring the ring to Mordor.
Meeting with the Goddess: Mo Kei meets Siu Chiu. In the complete version, Siu Chiu turns out to be the daughter of the powerful Ming Sect leader Purple Dragon of Persia. That's her secret she's hiding from Mo Kei. Frodo meets Galadriel, a powerful Elven Witch who gives him a crystal light.
Woman as a Temptress: The temptation for Mo Kei is Zhao Min, the Mongol Princess of the Yuen Emperor who looks like his mother. If Mo Kei falls for her charm and beauty then, his Ming Sect could be destroyed by the Mongols (In the end, she falls for Mo Kei and eventually helps him defeat the Mongols). There is no woman temptress for Frodo, but the power of the ring serves this purpose of temptation already. If he keeps and uses the ring, then it will fall into the hands of the Ringwraits and his mission to destroy it is over.
Atonement with the Father Figure: The Father Figure for Mo Kei is the dead Ming Sect leader Yeung Ting Tin. After Mo Kei gains his approval by bowing, he gives Mo Kei the Magic Stance Kung Fu. Mo Kei even inherits his title as leader of the Ming Sect.
Apotheosis: After Mo Kei atoned with the Ming leader, he becomes the new leader of the Ming Sect and the most powerful Kung Fu master in the Jinghu world. It happens again after he overcomes the temptation of Zhao Min and becomes a Master of Tai Chi rivaling his Wudang master Chang San Fong whom he always look up to.
The Ultimate Boom: At the end of the story, if you watch the TV Series or read the novel, Mo Kei and the Ming Sect finally defeat the Yuen Dynasty and drives the Mongols out of China, thus, restoring order and peace to the land. In TLOR, Frodo loses the One Ring of Power to Gollum who falls into the lava and is destroyed. Aragon finally becomes King of Gondor restoring peace and harmony to Middle Earth.
III. RETURN
Refusal of the Return: Mo Kei doesn't refuse to return to Wudang. Having gained the boon of the world's two most powerful martial arts: the Solar Stance and Magic Stance, he wants to return to help Wudang. Frodo doesn't have a refusal, in fact, he wants to go back to the Shire, a place of home, but he has become so exhausted of the long journey he falls on the ground.
The Magic Flight: Mo Kei returns to Wudang to see his master Chang San Fong, but on the way home he encounters various obstacles and enemies from Ermei Sect master No Mercy and the Mongols whom he must defeat and help the poisoned monks while getting his men poisoned in the process. He must now find the antidote for them.
Rescue from Without: Mo Kei arrives in Wudang only to find it under attack by the Mongols: Zhao Min, the Jinx brothers: Master Deer and Master Crane and her army. At this point, Zhao uses two of the three promises Mo Kei made with her earlier and tells him he can't use his Solar and Magic Stance to fight the Jinx brothers. The rescue from without comes when Chang San Fong, his master, teaches him a new martial art called Tai Chi in order to defeat the Jinx brothers and save Wudang.
Crossing the Return Threshold: When Mo Kei and company and Siu Chiu arrive at Wudang they face the Jinx Masters and the Mongol army. Mo Kei now has to defeat the Jinx on a final showdown. When Frodo and company returns to the Shire they find Saruman and his orcs blocking their path, and they must defeat them in order to successfully return to the Shire. Mo Kei and Frodo after defeating their enemies in a final battle and cross the border from the unknown world back home to the ordinary world, they have successfully completed their Hero's Journey in a circle.
Master of Two Worlds: Mo Kei now becomes a Ming Cult leader and a respected Taoist student of Wudang for having saved Wudang. He has mastered both the Ming Cult and Wudang world that were previously at war with each other but are now at peace. He can easily move in and out of both world without anymore restrains. In the end of the novel, Mo Kei and the Mongol Princess Zhao Min marry and eventually retreat from the Jiang Hu world of violence to live in peace and in seclusion. Frodo returns to the Shire as an experienced adventurer and warrior. He now can venture out of the Shire as he pleases for he now know it can be done or he can choose to remain in the Shire. Aragon becomes King of Gondor and rules Middle Earth in peace until old age.
THE ARCHETYPES
The Lord of the Rings, The Evil Cults (aka The Kung Fu Cult Master) movie are the same story.
- Both stories begin with a prologue and backstory of the artifacts of power: the two swords and ring of power that men are seeking to obtain in order to rule the world.
- Both stories are about an evil lord who seeks to rule the world, and a young hero who must stop him.
- The two swords: Dragon Saber, Heaven Sword are the Ring are power. One ring to rule them all, one ring to bind them all, one ring to rule middle earth. Two swords of power to bind the martial arts world and rule China.
- Lord Yuan Yang of the Mongol Empire is Lord Sauron in The Lord of the Rings. He is planning to take over Middle Earth: the Yuan Emperor is planning to take over China.
- Mo Kei is Frodo; Frodo is Mo Kei.
- The Ming Cult is Gondor; Gondor is the Ming Cult. In the conclusion to the HSDS story, the Ming Cult eventually defeats the Yuen Mongol Empire and their leader becomes the new emperor of China. Frodo eventually destroys the Ring of Power, and Arogon defeats Lord Sauron and becomes King of Gondor.
- The other various Sects/Cults in the HSDS are the Orcs and Goblins. Shaolin are the Dwarves and Wudang are the Elves.
- All the martial schools are the different races of elves, dwarves, orcs, and goblins who are at war with each other.
- Master Deer and Master Crane of the Jinx Palms are Saruman The White while Gandalf is Chang San Fong. They represent the archetype of the wise old man/mentor/master.
Western and Eastern cultures differ greatly. But deep down inside, we are all the same - dramatic human beings with dramatic human emotions and psychology. All people want to become something important and gain respect. Observe little children and you'll see this. I have been studying people and human behavior for over 10 years, and I see the same patterns over and over. When I put a character and his behavior in a third person perspective, I can see this pattern in myself too. After many years of study, I found the truth. The monomyth (hero's journey) in all of us, our need to become something important, to feel worth and be respected by our family, friends and society.
Both the Lord of the Rings and The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber novel have been adapted into movies. They are the same story, which is about man's greed for power -- a tyrant who seeks to rule the world through the abuse of this power. Both stories have the same theme of "man's greed for power" as symbolized by the Ring of Power in TLOR and two Magical Swords in THSDS. Both stories begin with the creation of the magical artifacts and the war men fight to get their hands on them, which is told similarly through a voice over narration. Though the former is a British fantasy novel and the latter is Chinese Wuxia (martial art fantasy novel), their story is about a hero saving the world from a tyrannical ruler in the form of the Dark Lord Sauron and Lord Yuan of the Mongol Empire. Both stories are fantasy adventures, which involved the use of magic. While the former retained its original title, the latter movie adaptation changed it to The Evil Cult also known as "The Kung Fu Cult Master" in the west.
Now, the question is how do they fit the Hero's Journey so well? Clearly, their authors lived in different times, countries and cultures and have never heard of Joseph Campell's work. This is why it's called the "monomyth"/"the Hero with a Thousand Faces," which is a very powerful and universal archetype/metaphor. There is only one human story, and all other stories are just variations of this story. All other myths are variations of this one myth like the branches of a tree. A tree has just one trunk, and the smaller branches stem out from this one trunk. There is only one myth; this myth is life itself. In life a child is born, grows into an adult as he experiences life's tests and trials, he or she overcomes these tests and obstacles through the guide and wisdom of a mentor (wise old man/woman), and eventually becomes a wise old man/woman in old age. He or she then passes on his/her wisdom to the younger generations.
THE HERO'S JOURNEY by Joseph Campell
I. SEPARATION
Ordinary World: Mo Kei is a Taoist student of Wudang. He lives in Wudang. Frodo is a Hobbit. He lives in an obscure-peaceful place called the Shire.
Status Quo: Mo Kei's parents are gone - they were forced to commit suicide. Orphaned and cursed with the Jinx's Palm, an injury that disabled him from learning martial arts. Frodo is a Hobbit. He's small in stature. He lacks the strength and combat skills of a warrior, but even the smallest creature is capable of making a difference in the world. Ex. An injured athlete can heal and return to learn the skills again.
The Call to Adventure: Mo Kei's parents are forced to commit suicide. Frodo is given the Ring of Power by Gandalf.
Refusal of the Call: There is no refusal; however, when the Shaolin Cook Master with the Solar Stance martial art offers to cure his Jinx's Palm injury, Mo Kei refuses. Frodo refuses when he says: "Okay, we put it [the ring] away and never speak of it again."
Acceptance of the Call: None, Mo Kei is forced to by his Wudang peers during a prank. Frodo packs up and plans to make for the village of Bree.
Supernatural Aid: Mo Kei is aided by his Taoist Master Chang San Fong, The girl in chains Siu Chiu and Shaolin Cook Master. Frodo is aided by many people with power, Gandalf being the main one, then there is Aragon and Elewin, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, Galadriel and his three Hobbit friends.
Crossing the First Threshold: Mo Kei and Siu Chiu fall off the cliff. Frodo leaves the Shire with Samwise Gamgee, Pippen and Merri.
Entering the Belly of the Whale: Mo Kei enter the Belly of the Whale when he and Siu Chiu are trapped in Yeung Ting Tin, the dead Ming Sect leader's tomb. With no way out and they can possibly die from starvation/no food. Frodo enter the Belly of the Whale when he and the Fellowship enter into the Mine of Moria where they will face many dangers that can possibly kill them, and Frod is injured by a Troll. Later, Gandalf falls off with the Demon from the Underworld.
II. INITIATION
Road of Trails: Mo Kei's first trail is when he meets the Shaolin Cook Master who possessed the Solar Stance power to cure him. With the girl's aid, Mo Kei is is able to outsmart the monk and trick him into giving Mo Kei his power. Mo Kei's second trial is being trapped in the tomb where he masters the Magic Stance Martial Arts. Mo Kei's third test is when he saves his grandfather King White Eagle of the Ming Sect from the other schools. Frodo's first test is avoid being caught by the 9 Ringwraiths from Mordor. Frodo's second test is to find Gandalf at the Prancing Pony. His third trial is to bring the ring to Mordor.
Meeting with the Goddess: Mo Kei meets Siu Chiu. In the complete version, Siu Chiu turns out to be the daughter of the powerful Ming Sect leader Purple Dragon of Persia. That's her secret she's hiding from Mo Kei. Frodo meets Galadriel, a powerful Elven Witch who gives him a crystal light.
Woman as a Temptress: The temptation for Mo Kei is Zhao Min, the Mongol Princess of the Yuen Emperor who looks like his mother. If Mo Kei falls for her charm and beauty then, his Ming Sect could be destroyed by the Mongols (In the end, she falls for Mo Kei and eventually helps him defeat the Mongols). There is no woman temptress for Frodo, but the power of the ring serves this purpose of temptation already. If he keeps and uses the ring, then it will fall into the hands of the Ringwraits and his mission to destroy it is over.
Atonement with the Father Figure: The Father Figure for Mo Kei is the dead Ming Sect leader Yeung Ting Tin. After Mo Kei gains his approval by bowing, he gives Mo Kei the Magic Stance Kung Fu. Mo Kei even inherits his title as leader of the Ming Sect.
Apotheosis: After Mo Kei atoned with the Ming leader, he becomes the new leader of the Ming Sect and the most powerful Kung Fu master in the Jinghu world. It happens again after he overcomes the temptation of Zhao Min and becomes a Master of Tai Chi rivaling his Wudang master Chang San Fong whom he always look up to.
The Ultimate Boom: At the end of the story, if you watch the TV Series or read the novel, Mo Kei and the Ming Sect finally defeat the Yuen Dynasty and drives the Mongols out of China, thus, restoring order and peace to the land. In TLOR, Frodo loses the One Ring of Power to Gollum who falls into the lava and is destroyed. Aragon finally becomes King of Gondor restoring peace and harmony to Middle Earth.
III. RETURN
Refusal of the Return: Mo Kei doesn't refuse to return to Wudang. Having gained the boon of the world's two most powerful martial arts: the Solar Stance and Magic Stance, he wants to return to help Wudang. Frodo doesn't have a refusal, in fact, he wants to go back to the Shire, a place of home, but he has become so exhausted of the long journey he falls on the ground.
The Magic Flight: Mo Kei returns to Wudang to see his master Chang San Fong, but on the way home he encounters various obstacles and enemies from Ermei Sect master No Mercy and the Mongols whom he must defeat and help the poisoned monks while getting his men poisoned in the process. He must now find the antidote for them.
Rescue from Without: Mo Kei arrives in Wudang only to find it under attack by the Mongols: Zhao Min, the Jinx brothers: Master Deer and Master Crane and her army. At this point, Zhao uses two of the three promises Mo Kei made with her earlier and tells him he can't use his Solar and Magic Stance to fight the Jinx brothers. The rescue from without comes when Chang San Fong, his master, teaches him a new martial art called Tai Chi in order to defeat the Jinx brothers and save Wudang.
Crossing the Return Threshold: When Mo Kei and company and Siu Chiu arrive at Wudang they face the Jinx Masters and the Mongol army. Mo Kei now has to defeat the Jinx on a final showdown. When Frodo and company returns to the Shire they find Saruman and his orcs blocking their path, and they must defeat them in order to successfully return to the Shire. Mo Kei and Frodo after defeating their enemies in a final battle and cross the border from the unknown world back home to the ordinary world, they have successfully completed their Hero's Journey in a circle.
Master of Two Worlds: Mo Kei now becomes a Ming Cult leader and a respected Taoist student of Wudang for having saved Wudang. He has mastered both the Ming Cult and Wudang world that were previously at war with each other but are now at peace. He can easily move in and out of both world without anymore restrains. In the end of the novel, Mo Kei and the Mongol Princess Zhao Min marry and eventually retreat from the Jiang Hu world of violence to live in peace and in seclusion. Frodo returns to the Shire as an experienced adventurer and warrior. He now can venture out of the Shire as he pleases for he now know it can be done or he can choose to remain in the Shire. Aragon becomes King of Gondor and rules Middle Earth in peace until old age.
THE ARCHETYPES
The Lord of the Rings, The Evil Cults (aka The Kung Fu Cult Master) movie are the same story.
- Both stories begin with a prologue and backstory of the artifacts of power: the two swords and ring of power that men are seeking to obtain in order to rule the world.
- Both stories are about an evil lord who seeks to rule the world, and a young hero who must stop him.
- The two swords: Dragon Saber, Heaven Sword are the Ring are power. One ring to rule them all, one ring to bind them all, one ring to rule middle earth. Two swords of power to bind the martial arts world and rule China.
- Lord Yuan Yang of the Mongol Empire is Lord Sauron in The Lord of the Rings. He is planning to take over Middle Earth: the Yuan Emperor is planning to take over China.
- Mo Kei is Frodo; Frodo is Mo Kei.
- The Ming Cult is Gondor; Gondor is the Ming Cult. In the conclusion to the HSDS story, the Ming Cult eventually defeats the Yuen Mongol Empire and their leader becomes the new emperor of China. Frodo eventually destroys the Ring of Power, and Arogon defeats Lord Sauron and becomes King of Gondor.
- The other various Sects/Cults in the HSDS are the Orcs and Goblins. Shaolin are the Dwarves and Wudang are the Elves.
- All the martial schools are the different races of elves, dwarves, orcs, and goblins who are at war with each other.
- Master Deer and Master Crane of the Jinx Palms are Saruman The White while Gandalf is Chang San Fong. They represent the archetype of the wise old man/mentor/master.