The Art of War by Sun Tzu and Star Trek the Next Generation

My first interest in ancient Chinese history was from an episode of Star Trek the next generation called, “The Last Outpost” during their 1st season. I still think that this is one of the best of 1st season episodes. Sadly Sun Tzu was never mentioned in any later episodes and I wish it had been.

Now in this episode the Enterprise’s crew follow the ship of a new race that Starfleet knows very little. This race is known as the Ferengi. They follow the Ferengi to a planet where both ships discover that someone on the planet has a powerful tractor beam hold their ships.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Commander William Riker talk about Sun Tzu.
Picard:
“Sometimes, Riker. The best way to fight is not to be there.”
Riker:
“Yes, sir. He will triumph who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”
Picard:
“Glad the academy is still teaching the strategies of Sun Tzu.”

They agree to beam down to the planet and work together to free both ships. On the planet the Enterprise’s away team commanded by Commander William Riker is betrayed and ambushed by the Ferengi. The away team fights back and then the planet’s single inhabitant, the Guardian, appears. He is dressed in a robe and carries a halberd. He challenges Riker to combat.

“You have a single chance for life. One only,” the guardian says. “What is the answer to my challenge? I offer a thought; he will triumph who knows when to fight and when not to fight. You are being tested, Riker. What is the answer?”
“How do you know my name?” Riker says.
The guardian twirls his halberd and swings it down on top of Riker. Riker doesn’t move and the guardian stops his weapon in time.
“Ah. You are facing faith with composure. But what is the answer to my challenge?”
“Fear is the true enemy. The only enemy,” Riker replies.

I watched this episode for the first time in the late eighties. Afterwards I went with my parents to the Bdalton bookstore and I happen to find Samuel Griffith’s translation of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. I took it home and read it. This is one of the reasons that I became interested in Chinese history, philosophy and culture.

How do you get rid of ghosts?

How do you get rid of ghosts? Here is a surprising way that I found in a book called Chinese Magical Medicine by Michel Strickmann.

“A secular tale set toward the end of the eighth century describes the experience of a fearless hunter who was once benighted while crossing the capital. He sought lodging from people who were evacuating their house because, as they told him, a killer-ghost was due to arrive that very night. The stalwart was not dismayed by this prospect and asked to sleep there anyway. The family decamped, and the hunter sat up in the main hall, bow and arrows at the ready. Toward the end of the third watch, a luminous object, like a big plate, flew down out of the air through the gate in the courtyard, gleaming like fire. From his dark hiding-place the hunter shot three arrows into it, until its light dimmed and it remained motionless. He got up, went over to it, plucked out the arrows, and the object fell to the ground. He called his servant, who brought a lamp; it proved to be a lump of flesh, with eyes all around-the motion of the eyes had caused the light. ‘So it’s really true what they say about killer-ghosts!’ he exclaimed with delight. Faithful to his hunter’s custom, he had his servant boil it, and it proved to be utterly delicious.”(Strickmann 75)

That is amazing you can get rid of them by shooting them with your arrow and eating them. Wow! I’ve never eaten a ghost before. That would be different. I would be a little afraid of being possessed by one, but maybe the stomach acid destroys them.

Strickmann goes on to say that “(f)rom ancient times to the present day, cooking and eating troublesome demons has been a practical solution to the problem; there are directions for cooking a wolf-demon in the third century B.C.E. demonological manuscript mentioned earlier, and a similar approach to other demonic troublemakers is recommended in an instructive collection of ghost stories published in Peking in 1962, ‘Stories About Not Being Afraid of Ghosts’ (Pu-p’a kuei-te ku-shih).” (75)

I highly recommend Stickmann’s book. I learn about a lot of stuff that I had never heard of before. A great book.

I hope that you liked what I just wrote. I plan to write some more things about Chinese and Japanese ghosts, demons and magic. It is a subject that deeply interests me. I’m always looking for a new book or movie that can tell me something new.

Works Cited

Strickmann, Michel. Chinese Magical Medicine. Stanford; Stanford UP, 2002.

How to use chopsticks.

It might pop into your head that it would be fun to go into your favorite Chinese restaurant and eat with chopsticks. But you don't do it, because you have never tried chopsticks. You are frightned that people will be watching you as you fumble that yummy garlic chicken. It falls into your lap and everyone sees you. You blush and look down.

Hey, don't worry. I have a plan.

Now learn how to use a chopstick can be a lot easier and less scary if you learn it at home. Order take out, go and get take out or cook your own stir fry. Buy some chopsticks somewhere. Let that food fly all over the place. It can hit the floor, wall and ceiling. Just keep working at.

Hold one chopstick just like a pin or pencil. The second chopstick is held above the first one. They make a V shape. You have probably seen it in hundreds of Asian movies or anime shows. It takes a while, but just keep at it.

Try picking up food, small toys or whatever with it. Its fun!

One interesting thing about it is how do you eat rice. Well in China and Japan they put rice in a bowl and scoop it up with their chopstricks. They also hold the bowl close to their mouth when they do this. This can be a fun thing to try at home.

Chopsticks are made with a pointed end and wider end. Traditionally you should pick up food with the pointed end and put it in your mouth. Traditionally, when you are eating with other people, each of you will have a bowl of rice and maybe a plate for your own use. There will be various dishes on the table for everyone to sample. If there are no spoons or forks in the dishes then you use your chopsticks. Never use the pointed end to get the food. Use the wider end that has not been in your mouth. Using the pointed end is like sticking your cellery into the dip a second time. Very bad manners.