From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #596 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Sun, 17 Sept 2000 Vol 07 : Num 596 In this issue: the_dojang: Hwarang, 'Flower Boys' the_dojang: help with terminology the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #595 the_dojang: . ========================================================================= The_Dojang, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~1050 members strong! Copyright 1994-2000: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource Replying to this message will NOT unsubscribe you. To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe the_dojang-digest" (no quotes) in the body (top line, left justified) of a "plain text" e-mail addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. To send e-mail to this list use the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com See the Korean Martial Arts (KMA) FAQ and online search the last five years worth of digest issues at http://www.MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Creed71963@aol.com Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2000 23:13:37 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Hwarang, 'Flower Boys' From: Ray Terry Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 20:14:35 PDT Subject: the_dojang: Hwarang, 'Flower Boys' I just picked up a good book from the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Durham. Korea: A Historical and Cultural Dictionary, Keith Pratt and Richard Rutt. The entry on the Hwarang is interesting and agrees with a past article in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts. Hwarang: 'Flower Boy' or 'Elite Youth' Groups of teenage boys in Silla, apparently religious in origin, who banded together to sing and dance in famous scenic places. Their ideal was called p'ungwolto ('way of wind and moon'), the original meaning of which is not clear. They are recorded in AD 596, but the date is problematical and they probably existed earlier. Mutually irreconcilable legends in Samguk sagi and Samguk yusa say that the first groups were female. Their purpose was evidently educational. They received instruction in morals and music and visited famous mountains. Ch'oe Ch'iwon said their teaching combined Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist elements. Samguk yusa says they learned the Five Relationships, the Six Arts, the Three Scholarly Occupations, and the Six Ways of Government Service. Nothing is known of their organisaation, except that their leader was called kukson ('national immortal'). They painted their faces and wore jewelled shoes. They did not remain hwarang for life. Since 1945 (not before), it has been commonly assumed that their primary purpose was military, though there is no justification for this in the sources. Among about 30 hwarang who are named, only five are described as soldiers in later life (see Kim Yusin; Kwanch'ang; Sadaham). There are no records of military training or of hwarang as warrior groups. (Translating hwarang as 'knight' begs further questions by introducing inappropriate concepts from European military chivalry.) Nor were the 'Five commandments for laymen' (Sesok Ogye) given by Monk Won'gwang (d. c. 630) specifically intended for hwarang, though they are sometimes taken to have been so. In the Choson dynasty the word hwarang came to mean shaman, plaboy, or prostitute, but connections between this and the Silla institution have not been established. Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com - ------------------------------ I waited for someone to comment on this, but no one has, which leads me to a serious subject: namely a Martial Art's History and background. Some system's history is simple and straightforward, and can be easily traced back to the founder. Other systems histories are less clear, and are twisted to suit someone's needs. How many so-called Ninja schools were there when the ninja craze was going full-bore in the 80's? Over the years, some instructors have built up elaborate and detailed histories of their system that have nothing to do with reality. And frankly that is a concern. If you can't trust the history given, how can you trust anything else related to the system? Now, this isn't the first time that I have seen discussion concerning the actual historical reality of the Hwarang. Does that mean that the history of the system is a fraud, designed to give an impression it doesn't deserve? I don't know. I have read several articles that have the Hwarang as real warriors, serving Korea the same way the Samurai served Japan. Are Keith Pratt and Richard Rutt correct in this matter, or is GM Lee? It seems that reality in the martial arts these days is based on perception. And perception is a shifting pile of sand that is always changing form and structure depending on the prevailing wave. Yesterday's Ninja school is Today's NHB school of grappling, complete with a different history and traditions. True, Martial Arts are not a static set that never changes -- that why it called an ART. But there has to be a well defined history that is always consistent -- yesterday, today and tomorrow. History defines a sense of purpose, of belonging and being part of something better then yourself. With a sense of history, it is a look into the past, to see when the Art has been and where it is going, and what is added along the way. Without history, traditions and philosophy, the Martial Arts are nothing more then teaching someone how to kill and cripple someone else. And that maybe is what we have to remember. Craig ------------------------------ From: "Carmelo Gauci" Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 07:29:45 +0200 Subject: the_dojang: help with terminology What are the proper Korean names for the following please : #1 Single Knife hand strike #2 Double Knife hand strike I appreciate any help, thankyou. Carmelo Gauci ------------------------------ From: Stickfighter27@cs.com Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 13:36:16 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #595 On the TKD at the Olympics does anyone happen to know the schedual to when its going to be aired here in the states. Preferably in Indiana? (or do they air it all the same everywhere?) I would really like to catch the TKD this year. Thanks Cory ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 14:39:09 PDT Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V7 #596 ******************************** It's a great day for Taekwondo! Support the USTU by joining today. US Taekwondo Union, 1 Olympic Plaza, Ste 405, Colorado Spgs, CO 80909 719-578-4632 FAX 719-578-4642 ustutkd1@aol.com http://www.ustu.org To unsubscribe from the_dojang-digest send the command: unsubscribe the_dojang-digest -or- unsubscribe the_dojang-digest your.old@address in the BODY of an email (top line, left justified) addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. Old digest issues are available via ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com. Copyright 1994-2000: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource Standard disclaimers apply.