The Knight Errant That Is Celebrated in Chinese Literature - Essay Example

The Chinese Knight Errant: Principles and Values The Knight Errant that is celebrated in Chinese literature has been replicated and evolved as it has worked its way into the stories and myths told around the world today. The Knight Errant can appear as a knight in shining amour, a chivalrous savior, a brave caudillo, the unselfish warrior, the dedicated soldier, or the lonesome cowboy on the American range. They all share the same qualities of a deep commitment to valor and an undying respect for bravery. The Knight Errant has no gender, no race, no ethnicity, and no requirements for physical prowess or martial art skills. While they are often portrayed as a male with lightning speed and the agility of a cat, their expert swordsmanship is only a literary vehicle to define the core of the meaning behind the Knight Errant. However, the material realm is inadequate to construct a more complete definition of what it means to be a Knight Errant, as many of the qualities are the abstract concepts that go hand in hand with morality. The Knight Errant is a principle. It is the principle of right and wrong that guides our decisions as we pursue our ethical objectives. When faced with a moral dilemma, a solution could be forthcoming by simply asking ourselves; What would a Knight Errant do In the answer we would find truth, honesty, compassion, obligation, sincerity, respect, and a wealth of human spirituality that makes us genuinely and uniquely a moral human being. The Knight Errant is selfless in their pursuit of justice in the name of righteousness. This is not a half-hearted endeavor to settle a score or seek revenge for a wrong committed against oneself or one's family. The Knight Errant serves righteousness as a subject serves a master. The only purpose of their actions is to remain true to their moral code that mandates doing the right thing without regards to personal cost, loss, or gain. In the story The Sung Founder Escorts Ching-Niang One Thousand Li translated by LS Lieu, the protagonist Chao K'uang-yin escorts a beautiful young lady through treacherous territory on a journey back to her home. The Knight Errant is a perfect gentleman and never pursues the lady from an aspect of lust. Her family questions the fact that any man could be so pure of heart. Chao is genuinely miffed that anyone would question his motives for helping the beautiful girl. When asked about it he flies into a rage and shouts, "I came here out of righteousness, but you've insulted me with such words. If I coveted her beauty, we'd have been married on the way" (74). This was not a false sense of being forced to do the right thing, it was a genuine display of righteousness that transcends our everyday decisions to behave and act in an acceptable manner. The Knight Errant was not simply following his social norms; he was being true to himself and his beliefs. The acts of a Knight Errant, and the core principle of righteousness, carry over across time and culture as we view it from the perspective of our own value system and look at it through the lens of our current social context. While many of the acts may seem violent and gruesome, their horror is diluted by the principle of justice. Just as the Knight Errant is not a man, the deeds they commit are not the acts. A Knight that kills another man is not a murderer, but an instrument of faith that is correcting a past injustice or a current threat. The deed of killing is not murder, but an act that rectifies past wrongs or eliminates present dangers. In addition, the character does not have to carry the label of Knight Errant to perform as one. The entity and its acts are merely the results of the motivation that drives the action. It is not a formalized or well-defined schema. In the story The Lady Knight Errant translated by LS Lieu, a young woman is asked what she is carrying in the leather bag by her side. She replies "The head of my enemy" (80). Her friend curiously looks inside the bag. "He saw a bearded head, all smashed and smeared with blood" (80). The woman continues to explain, "I'm originally from Chekiang Province. My father was a prefect. He was falsely charged and killed by his enemy, and our home was confiscated. I took my mother away and we lived quietly for three whole years under concealed identities. The reason why I waited so long before avenging my father was that my mother was still alive" (80). She has not murdered the man whose head is in the bag, but she has avenged the injustice visited upon her father. In this context, the head is a little less gruesome and made more acceptable. She continues the theme of righteousness by telling the young man that his son can bring honor to his family. The theme of righteousness and justice continues to echo across gender, geography, and social context. Of course, pursuing justice and instilling righteousness is not the task for the apprehensive and shy personality. Here again, the Knight Errant is not a human being or a noun, but it is the principle of bravery and courage. In The Sung Founder Escorts Ching-Niang One Thousand Li, Chao K'uang-yin was praised for being "a chivalrous man, he did not hesitate to draw his sword, and offered his help to right a wrong whenever he saw one" (61). Today, we admire our superheroes that possess super-powers as they seek out injustice and bravely confront evil. We also have the courageous public defenders that selflessly defend an innocent man that has been wrongly accused and placed on death row. The Errant Knight is not a man, but a concept. Chao K'uang-yin sums it up when he says, "If one is brave, one can go anywhere under heaven; but if one is timid, one cannot move a single inch. I have never failed to do the righteous thing and do not feel threatened even before ten thousand men" (64). The knowledge that one is right and is acting in the name of righteousness and justice is a formidable force that gives the Errant Knight the courage to face overwhelming odds with steadfast confidence. The silent courage that characterizes the Knight Errant is implemented in an unmovable fashion by the practice of patience. The combination of righteousness, courage, and patience are the forces that eventually play out on the field of human endeavor and assure the human soul that there is a sense of fairness. There is a saying that goes "Every injustice has its oppressor, and every debt has its creditor" (64). While every debt can be collected and every wrong made right, it takes patience to realize the results and a faith that believes results will be forthcoming. As was noted earlier, the young girl became a Knight Errant when she had the patience to wait three years to avenge the wrongful death of her father. Chao K'uang-yin, on his journey escorting the beautiful woman home, references the need for faith and patience regularly. He tells her, "What ever the length of the journey, I'll escort you home personally" (64). For the Errant Knight there is no need for haste or impatience. All of the deeds accomplished in the name of justice are done for no personal gain or enrichment. The tradition of selflessness that is found in the Chinese Knight Errant carries over to day as in the example of the public defender. In the story The Sung Founder Escorts Ching-Niang One Thousand Li, Chao K'uang-yin destroys the bandits that have placed him in danger and confiscates their wealth. Yet, when he divides it up he leaves nothing for himself. He gives all the material gain to the people around him. Having saved no portion for himself, the writer notes that, "When Chao had finished the distribution, everyone was satisfied and grateful to him" (71). It is important to note that everyone, including Chao, was satisfied and Chao's reward came in the form of everyone's gratitude. In conclusion, the Knight Errant that was introduced over two millennia ago in Chinese literature continues to be a part of our culture and our myth. It has endured the centuries because it is not a man or an image, but rather a set of basic principles and values that guide us in our daily life. To be a Knight Errant, one must be in the pursuit of justice and righteousness and correct a wrong wherever it exists. In addition, the Knight Errant must have the patience to find the opportune time and the faith to wait for a favorable outcome. These actions need to be taken in a selfless manner with no hope or desire for material rewards. Just as Chao turned down the bandit's wealth, today's heroes donate their time and energy to worthy causes with no expectation of fame or fortune. Living by these simple principles makes it possible for anyone to emulate the concept of the ancient Chinese Knight Errant. Read More