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[shenzhiguang]

Star Wars and the Far East: the Naboo Connection

The world of Naboo is culturally and stylistically influenced by many things, including the Italian Renaissance, Art Nouveau, and the Republic of Venice.

The royal clothing of Naboo shares a strong connection with Ancient East Asia.

George Lucas stated in an interview when commenting on the creative process, “Some artists, they see the picture whole, you know, completed. I see the picture in a fog, I know sort of what it looks like, I know what’s there, and so what I do is I say ‘I want something - I want a costume that is very regal, very grand, very different than anything we see, but has a lot of cultural history behind it’. So I don’t want to make something up; I want to use something from a living human culture, and in this particular case I was looking for an Asian influence for the planet of Naboo, and so I go to the research library, I said ‘look all over Asia, even into the Middle East, [and] all the way across into the Islands to find me unique and interesting ceremonial costumes.’”

In this series of posts, we will look deeper into the cultural connections between art and reality.

The Queen’s Red Throne Room Robe was said by costume designer Trisha Biggar to have “a sort of Chinese imperial feel.”

It captures the regal splendour and imposing imperial authority and might of late imperial China, specifically styles of the Qing Dynasty, with its vivid red colour (long a colour representing luck, prosperity and flourishing in Chinese culture), flared neck frill with standing collar, and rigid fabric with rich embroidery. Below, an example of Qing Dynasty styles.

In essence and in composition, Naboo Royal clothing shares a strong connection with Ancient China, with elaborate hairstyles involving intricate pieces of jewelry, complex outfits with many layers, reflecting a deep and rich cultural heritage, and stark white face make-up, with red lip-stain arranged in ritualized patterns (including a single red streak going down the lower lip), small dots painted accenting the cheeks, and jewels or other ornamental decorations between the eyebrows.

A perfect example demonstrating this is Fan Bing Bing as Yang Guifei in Lady of the Dynasty. She looks as though she could just as easily be next in line as Queen of Naboo, as she does the royal favourite of Emperor Xuanzang.

I could see the Queen wearing any one of these outfits and looking perfectly at home gracing the halls of Theed Palace.

This is just the beginning...

Join me in this coming series of posts to discovery the deeper connections in the blurred condition where fantasy and reality meld as one.

May the Force Be With You...

——————

If you would like to learn more about ancient Chinese clothing, check out these blogs!

My Hanfu Favourites by ziseviolet is a wealth of information and I’ve learned so much from pouring over their posts for hours. I am grateful for all they are!

Another great blog with helpful tutorials!

I am indebted to the blog Star Wars Fit For A Queen for their resource while I was researching this article.

[shenzhiguang]

Star Wars and the Real World: The Jedi in Real Life

You can learn the Ways of the Force

You can become a Jedi...

Here’s how:

A little backstory: who are the Jedi?

When we look at the Jedi, we see warrior monks, who possess superhuman abilities/powers through their practice of their cultivation and connection with the mystical universal energy field known as the Force, who live by a higher moral code, and serve to protect peace and justice in the Galaxy.

In their own words, the Jedi are ‘Keepers of the Peace’ and ‘Guardians of Peace and Justice in the Galaxy’ - universal servants, who “give without any thought of reward”. Serving all life, all beings, all souls in countless planets, stars, throughout the Galaxy, unconditionally.

What is the Force? In the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi, “The Force is what gives a Jedi [their] power. It’s an energy field that is created by all living things... it surrounds us, and penetrates us, it binds the Galaxy together.”

If we use the definition of Jedi as being a group of warrior monks, who possess superhuman powers and abilities through their cultivation and deep connection with a universal oneness energy field, who are connected through a monastic order which has a lineage process of passing down the practices from Master to apprentice, who serve to protect peace and justice throughout the realm, who are affiliated with the government to the point of interceding in conflict of the realm, including conflict resolution and negotiations, quelling uprisings, participating in civil wars on the righteous side, participating in all-out wars on the front lines as commanders of military units, protecting the reigning leader as members of his personal guard, protecting the realm from invasion, and aiding in rebellions to overthrow the government when it falls into corruption - this description could be accurately used for the Jedi order of the Old and New Republic.

What if I told you, this description could also perfectly describe the heroes and warrior monks of Ancient China?

A long time ago, in a far away land...

In ancient times, the Zen and Dao monks would devote lifetimes of studying and practicing to develop their internal energy field, their essence, and cultivate their energy centers through deepening their connection with the universal energy field, which exists within, and connects all things in countless planets, stars, galaxies and universes - known by some as the Tao, the ‘way of all life’, oneness, by others as one’s true nature, Buddha nature, and to those in a Galaxy Far, Far Away as the Living Force.

This practice is known as Xiu Lian 修炼 . “ “Xiu” means purification of one’s soul, heart, mind and body and “lian” means practice, so Xiu Lian is purification practice. Xiu Lian is the totality of one’s spiritual journey, because the spiritual journey is a purification journey.” - Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha, Tao II: the Way of Healing Rejuvenation, Longevity and Immortality, page 76.

Now we will look at the term 侠 Xiá

Xia means someone who uses power to help others in need. Xia are similar to knights errant, skilled warriors who are champions of the common people, living by a higher moral code, riting injustice, protecting the helpless, defending the defenceless, fighting for righteous and meriteous causes, fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, often against corrupt authorities. Bringing balance to the realm. As said by master Yoda , ‘A Jedi uses their powers for protection and defence - never for attack’.

They were part of a larger counterculture to mainstream society, called the ‘Jianghu’, consisting of vagrants, vagabonds, poets, musicians, merchants, disillusioned officials, martial artists, and cultivators.

‘Jiānghú’ 江湖 literally translates ‘rivers and lakes’, for members of this community travelled - rather than by conventional methods of road - secretly, by rivers and lakes. They lived by a code of ‘Xia’ which included chivalry, righteousness, justice, loyalty, truthfulness, virtue, benevolence, individualism, disregard for status, and places emphasis in repaying kindness which one has been given. Many were often inclined to a hermit-like existence.

Xia possessed some level of cultivation of their energy field, as the cultivation of ones mind, body, energy and spirit are inseparable from the study and practice of martial arts.

For those who wanted to Deepen their connection, to harness this, to further develop their skills, gain higher abilities and possess greater powers, they would ‘go to the mountain’ to study and practice in solitude as hermits (much like Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Luke did in their later years), or go to temples to study with great masters. 

These Xia who focused on developing their powers through cultivation were known as 修者 xiūzhě, ���士 xiūshì, and 修仙者 xiūxiānzhě, and were communally referred to as the 修真界 xiūzhēn jiè , meaning the cultivation world.

The Zen and Dao monks had highly advanced martial skills, dedicating their lives to study and practice, organized monastically, living in temples and passing on their learning from Master to apprentice through lineage, and occasionally making forays into the material world, interceding in internal conflict, defending the realm against invasion, participating in civil wars on the righteous side, serving as and training the personal bodyguards of the emperor, and even leading rebellions against corrupt governments.

The Zen and Tao monks were the most advanced martial artists, and the most powerful warriors. They were also the most peaceful and balanced of cultivators, from their years of dedication to study and practice, and thus the most qualified to use this power. They only used their power for service, as was mentioned earlier. In fact, they only received these powers by being in service, and having a good record of it: Take care of and provide for the whole, and the whole will take care of us. They knew the key to living a long healthy life was to give to others without considering what they would get in return. In return, they were given the ability to serve more and more. These include powers and abilities beyond our comprehension. The key to their service lay in the balance and harmonizing of their mind body and spirit through cultivation, practices, and developing the higher qualities of love, compassion, forgiveness, humility, harmony, gratitude, service, and more, granting them access to powers that would not be given to those with less self mastery, who could use them for selfish, amoral or unrighteous purposes - anything not in greater service to the whole.

The only reason they were given these powers was for service, to offer greater service to the whole, to be empowered as greater universal servants.

How to do Xiu Lian

There is an ancient saying , ‘Da Tao Zhi Jian’ meaning the great way (of all life) is extremely simple. So simple you may not believe it!

In the words of a great Tao Master, Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha, “If you want to know if a pear is sweet, taste it.” Why not experience it and see what you feel?

An ancient practice from around the world is mantra. A mantra is a positive message with a sustained tone that can uplift ones energetic field, one’s frequency and vibration. There have been thousands of mantras throughout humanity’s history. This is Tao Song. Tao Song is a love song to heal and transform all aspects of life. As Padawan Skywalker said, Love is ‘central to a Jedi’s life’.

This is a very powerful practice.

Moving mediation

There have been thousands of moving meditations throughout history, including tai chi, qi gong, pranic yoga, and many others. To cultivate the Living Force or life Force energy, which concentrates in centers around our bodies, known as centers of the Living Force, life Force energy centers or simply, energy centers. The purpose of these practices is to develop ones internal energy centres or fields.

“Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter,” said Master Yoda

This is the highest moving mediation I have discovered: Tao Calligraphy, which is Love Art, to heal and transform all aspects of life.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ttpcpkVmAT4

This is your first step into a larger world. I welcome you.

May the Force be with you....

[shenzhiguang]

How the Jedi are like the Ancient Chinese

When we look at the Jedi, we see warrior monks, who possess superhuman abilities/powers through their practice of their cultivation and connection with the mystical universal energy field known as the Force, who live by a higher moral code, and serve to protect peace and justice in the Galaxy.

In their own words, the Jedi are ‘Keepers of the Peace’ and ‘Guardians of Peace and Justice in the Galaxy’ - universal servants, who “give without any thought of reward”. Serving all life, all beings, all souls in countless planets, stars, throughout the Galaxy, unconditionally.

What is the Force? In the words of Ben Kenobi, “The Force is what gives a Jedi [their] power. It’s an energy field that is created by all living things... it surrounds us, and penetrates us, it binds the Galaxy together.”

If we use the definition of Jedi as being a group of warrior monks, who possess superhuman powers and abilities through their cultivation and deep connection with a universal oneness energy field, who are connected through a monastic order which has a lineage process of passing down the practices from Master to apprentice, who serve to protect peace and justice throughout the realm, who are affiliated with the government to the point of interceding in conflict of the realm, including conflict resolution and negotiations, quelling uprisings, participating in civil wars on the righteous side, participating in all-out wars on the front lines as commanders of military units, protecting the reigning leader as members of his personal guard, protecting the realm from invasion, and aiding in rebellions to overthrow the government when it falls into corruption - this description could fit for the Jedi order of the Old and New Republic.

What if I told you, this description also fits perfectly for the heroes and warrior monks of Ancient China?

Long ago, in a far away land...

In ancient times, the Zen and Dao monks would devote lifetimes of studying and practicing to develop their internal energy field, their essence, and cultivate their energy centers through deepening their connection with the universal energy field, which exists within, and connects all things in countless planets, stars, galaxies and universes - known by some as the Tao, the ‘way of all life’, oneness, by others as ones true nature Buddha nature, and to some as the Living Force - to reach higher and higher layers of enlightenment.

This practice is known as Xiu Lian. “”Xiu” means purification of one’s soul, heart, mind and body and “lian” means practice, so Xiu Lian is purification practice. Xiu Lian is the totality of one’s spiritual journey, because the spiritual journey is a purification journey.” - Dr. & Master Zhi Gang Sha, Tao II: the Way of Healing Rejuvenation, Longevity and Inmortality, page 76.

侠 Xiá

Xia means someone who uses power to help others in need. Xia are similar to knights errant, skilled warriors who are champions of the common people, living by a higher moral code, riting injustice, protecting the helpless, defending the defenceless, fighting for righteous and meriteous causes, fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, often against corrupt authorities. Bringing balance to the realm. As said by master Yoda , ‘A Jedi uses their powers for protection and defence - never for attack’.

They were part of a larger counterculture to mainstream society, called the ‘Jianghu’, consisting of vagrants, vagabonds, poets, musicians, merchants, disillusioned officials, martial artists, and cultivators. It was known as the ‘Jiānghú’ 江湖 which literally translates ‘rivers and lakes’, for members of this community travelled - rather than by conventional methods of road - secretly, by rivers and lakes. They lived by a code of ‘Xia’ which included chivalry, righteousness, justice, loyalty, truthfulness, virtue, benevolence, individualism, disregard for status, and places emphasis in repaying kindness which one has been given. Many were often inclined to a hermit-like existence.

Xia possessed some level of cultivation of their energy field, as the cultivation of ones mind, body, energy and spirit were an inseparable part of the study and practice of martial arts.

For those who wanted to Deepen their connection, to harness this to further develop their skills, gain higher abilities and posses greater powers, they would ‘go to the mountain’ to study and practice in solitude as hermits (much like Ben, Yoda, and Luke did in their later years), or go to temples to study with great masters. These Xia who focused on developing their powers through cultivation were known as 修者 xiūzhě, 修士 xiūshì, and 修仙者 xiūxiānzhě, and were communally referred to as the 修真界 xiūzhēn jiè , meaning the cultivation world.

The Zen and Dao monks had highly advanced martial skills, dedicating their lives to study and practice, organized monastically, living in temples and passing on their learning from Master to apprentice through lineage, and occasionally making forays into the material world, interceding in internal conflict, defending the realm against invasion, participating in civil wars on the righteous side, serving as and training the personal bodyguards of the emperor, and even leading rebellions against corrupt governments.

The Zen and Tao monks were the most advanced martial artists, and the most powerful warriors. The key to their power lying in the balance and harmonizing of their mind body and spirit through cultivation, practices, and developing the higher qualities of love, compassion, forgiveness, humility, harmony, gratitude, service, and more, granting them access to powers that would not be given to those with less self mastery, who could use them for selfish, amoral or unrighteous purposes, anything not in greater service to the whole.

The only reason they were given these powers was for service, to offer greater service to the whole, to be empowered as greater universal servants.

How to do Xiu Lian

“Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.”

There is an ancient saying , ‘Da Tao Zhi Jian’ meaning the great way (of all life) is extremely simple. So simple you may not believe it!

In the words of a great master ‘If you want to know if a pear is sweet, taste it.’ Why not experience it and see what you feel?

An ancient practice from around the world is mantra, a mantra is a positive message with a sustained tone that can uplift ones energetic field, one’s frequency and vibration. There have been thousands of mantras throughout humanity’s history. This is tao song. Tao song is a love song to heal and transform all aspects of life. As Padawan Skywalker said, Love is ‘central to a Jedi’s life’.

This is a very powerful practice.

Moving mediation

There have been thousands of moving meditations throughout history, including tai chi, qi gong, pranic yoga, and many others. To cultivate the Living Force or life Force energy, which concentrates in centers around our bodies, known as centers or the Living Force, life Force energy centers or simply, energy centers. To develop ones internal energy centres or fields. This is the highest moving mediation I have discovered. Tao calligraphy, which is Love Art, to heal and transform all aspects of life.

This is your first step into a larger world. I welcome you.

May the Force be with you....

[shenzhiguang]

Understanding History From Their Point of View

Whenever we look at history we see it through the eyes of our modern world, glimpse it through the tinted lens of modernity. Of course, it’s only natural, even unavoidable to people who have grown up knowing nothing but our culture. But when we do this it can drastically skew our perception how we understand the past. When we look at it through the perceptions, social norms, cultural and social expectations and standards of our modern age - like growing social, gender, and racial equality, improved living conditions for the masses, safe and regulated work environments - almost everything that came before looks backward, antiquated and irrelevant to us. Of course it would, how could it compare to our modern world?

When we do this, however, history loses its weight - the world hasn’t always been the way it is now - and often, we fail to grasp the true value and understand what made times-gone-by so groundbreaking, innovative, revolutionary, and stand in stark contrast from everything that had come before, paving the way for the world as we know it, and everything we take for granted in this modern age.

There have been times, epochs, people, movements, and cultures, which broke away from the way things had always been, and ushered in a new way of living for humanity, by bringing something truly new to the planet, which had never been seen before, that would shape the course of the world we live in to this day.

We stand on the shoulders of many these great cultures and peoples, even though we may not realize it - we owe much of our modern world to them and the strides they took forward for humanity.

To truly understand the value and relevance to our modern world, we must unvail our filters and see these times and peoples not from the eyes of the future, but through the viewpoint of the past - from the perspective of their contemporary world, with fresh eyes, to realize what made them so unique and therefore impactful, from anything that had come before.

This will be the journey we will go on together. I will do my best to complete this task. I bid you gracious welcome, fellow time traveller, thank you for adventuring with me.