Another movie I watched during the weekend was Andy Lau's Battle of Wits. Watched it with Mbun, Vy, and Hady, who are pretty much the nucleus of the Chinese movie group =P
The movie was not so much on the battle of wits, though there are some brilliant moves that Andy Lau's character, Ge Li, made in order to hold off the 100.000 army of Zhao. The city he defended, Liang, only had 4000 population. No contest, huh? But those 100.000 army were not here to invade Liang. Liang was but a small kingdom which unfortunatley was situated between Zhao and Yan, the much bigger kingdom which Zhao targeted. Ge Li argued that should Liang stood their ground for one month, Zhao would have to withdraw. Tired armies of Zhao would not be able to take Yan on.
Anyway.. Liang sent invitation to Mohist, term for the follower of Mozi, asking for help. And this is the issue that the movie mostly touched on. And this is the reason why I wanted to watch the movie.
Mozi himself was the first Chinese philosopher who introduced 'utilitarianism', a belief that actions should be measured by the way they contribute to the greatest good of the gtreatest number. It's good if it's useful for others. Music and dancing are therefore not good in Mozi's eyes because they do not have any physical purpose. And so is war.
Mozi is strongly against war. His followers specialised in the art of defending and fortification. Mohists were sought after due to their expertise in defending cities. They would help no matter who you are. But in Liang's case, they refused to come. Ge Li therefore took the initiative to go on his own. If you watch the movie, you would understand why they refused to help. And it has nothing to do with the 100.000 army.
As the movie unfolded, it touched on another Mozi's philosophy which put him up against Confucius. Mozi was the proponent of 'universal love'. He believed that we should love everyone all the same, while Confucius emphasized on the love towards parents and family first and foremost. I think Mozi was thinking that should everyone treat everyone else in the same way, love them all the same, then there will be no fight or war. Fight occurs because different person holds different value.
It sounded right but it was not. "Loving everyone the same means that you don't know how to love someone". The movie would prove this point, in a way. You simply couldn't treat everyone the same. You would satisfy some and disappoint the others. By trying to satisfy all sides, you will end up disappointing everyone and left all alone. Sad and cruel truth.
And the history would prove that Mozi's philosophy will never work. Mohists believed that the seven kingdom could maintain their peace as long as they practice Mozi's philosophy. But they underestimated one thing- greed. Humans' greed are way too strong and the 'survival of the fittest' law is an absolute. Qin kingdom would defeat the other six and end the seven kingdom period.
Utilitarians, socialists.. they all fail because humans thrive in power and find their meaning of existence through their superiority over peers.
The movie was not so much on the battle of wits, though there are some brilliant moves that Andy Lau's character, Ge Li, made in order to hold off the 100.000 army of Zhao. The city he defended, Liang, only had 4000 population. No contest, huh? But those 100.000 army were not here to invade Liang. Liang was but a small kingdom which unfortunatley was situated between Zhao and Yan, the much bigger kingdom which Zhao targeted. Ge Li argued that should Liang stood their ground for one month, Zhao would have to withdraw. Tired armies of Zhao would not be able to take Yan on.
Anyway.. Liang sent invitation to Mohist, term for the follower of Mozi, asking for help. And this is the issue that the movie mostly touched on. And this is the reason why I wanted to watch the movie.
Mozi himself was the first Chinese philosopher who introduced 'utilitarianism', a belief that actions should be measured by the way they contribute to the greatest good of the gtreatest number. It's good if it's useful for others. Music and dancing are therefore not good in Mozi's eyes because they do not have any physical purpose. And so is war.
Mozi is strongly against war. His followers specialised in the art of defending and fortification. Mohists were sought after due to their expertise in defending cities. They would help no matter who you are. But in Liang's case, they refused to come. Ge Li therefore took the initiative to go on his own. If you watch the movie, you would understand why they refused to help. And it has nothing to do with the 100.000 army.
As the movie unfolded, it touched on another Mozi's philosophy which put him up against Confucius. Mozi was the proponent of 'universal love'. He believed that we should love everyone all the same, while Confucius emphasized on the love towards parents and family first and foremost. I think Mozi was thinking that should everyone treat everyone else in the same way, love them all the same, then there will be no fight or war. Fight occurs because different person holds different value.
It sounded right but it was not. "Loving everyone the same means that you don't know how to love someone". The movie would prove this point, in a way. You simply couldn't treat everyone the same. You would satisfy some and disappoint the others. By trying to satisfy all sides, you will end up disappointing everyone and left all alone. Sad and cruel truth.
And the history would prove that Mozi's philosophy will never work. Mohists believed that the seven kingdom could maintain their peace as long as they practice Mozi's philosophy. But they underestimated one thing- greed. Humans' greed are way too strong and the 'survival of the fittest' law is an absolute. Qin kingdom would defeat the other six and end the seven kingdom period.
Utilitarians, socialists.. they all fail because humans thrive in power and find their meaning of existence through their superiority over peers.
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