MovieChat Forums > Sien lui yau wan (1987) Discussion > Something I always wonder when seeing mo...

Something I always wonder when seeing movies like this...

posted 17 years ago by cotorch
7 replies | jump to latest

Do Tao-ists or Bhuddists or generally followers of Eastern religions really believe some of the things shown in this movie are even remotely possible?
I mean, the same way some people in the west believe The Exorcist to depict possible events.

Like when the Tao-ist warrior priest shoots balls of light from his hands that cause explosions on contact... do they consider that possible? Is it actually part of their religion? Or are they just having fun stretching things? :)

[–] rlr149 17 years ago

probably not, though i would say that training will develop skills almost perceivably superhuman (shaolin monks breaking steel bars over their head) i saw that live and it was damn impressive, i'd like to believe the shooting balls of light and stuff (i really want 'force lightning' ) but i dont think its really possible. saying that, reiki (spelling?) healing is something to do with channeling energy so its not based on nothing, just very exagerated.

[–] chakl 17 years ago

In our days that kind of "black power" is consider as impossible.
But who know if that power existed or not, back in that time.
By that I mean 500 A.C-B.C.
In our days Taoists still pursue exorcism, I have seen it by my self.
How did universe took place? Maybe some unknown or magically power created that.
Taoists and Munks believe in "believe your heart pattern, and believe what ever existed"

[–] snake_fist 17 years ago

I know this is old but...you really can't "train" to do this stuff. There are things that spirits/ghosts are forbidden from such as certain writings/symbols, sunlight, etc...

Some people are chosen by ancestors to possess the ability to see/interact/kill spirits.

[–] cornelius_scriptor 16 years ago

This is wuxia, not reality. Wuxia is a popular literary genre that is akin to european epic tales, from the Odyssey to the song of Roland or even biblical tales. Thus wuxia heroes can use their martial powers to jump/fly the same way Samson or Hercules can are inhumanly strong, taoist monks or sorcerers can perform flashy exorcisms the same way catholic priest fight off spirits and demons and magic items do exist from the legendary weapons of wuxia heroes (think Green Destiny in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)to Excalibur or Durendal in Europe. Real-life abilities are magnified to the point of being fantasy, even when historical events are portrayed.

I don't think any taoist relly believe that this is all real anymore. But then again they will turn to a sorcerer or a monk if they need an evil spirit to take care of, just like you probably will run for a church if you ever get a hellhound on your trail, no matter what you believe :)

[–] hanska_4 16 years ago

This is the only reasonable post in the whole thread. Come on people, wuxia-genre means not real.

[–] badboylh 16 years ago

I am Chinese,I do not believe this stuff.lol

But it's fun, isn't it?

[–] darkmorph 14 years ago

lol, when white people watch movies like The Lord of the Rings, do they actually believe that there used to be wizards that could cast magic spells?