It is said that if you cut the head off of a true Samurai that he will still be able to perform one final act.
please elaborate further!
The last cut
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Scaramouche
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The last cut
I suspect his "last act" would be to fall over and bleed.
Scaramouche
Scaramouche
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Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
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The last cut
Concerning the Chinese and their martial heroes, I have heard some speak of their "charming tendency to exaggerate." Given this example, I see that such hyperbole knows no ethnic bound.
Is such a thing physically possible? Insects such as roaches can wander for days after being decapitated. Farmers tell me that chickens can run headless. There are certainly reflexes and simple, repetitive motions that can happen in many animals after "pithing" (destruction of the brain). But a samurai's art is learned behavior, and such learning cannot be programmed in either the spinal chord or brain stem. And I doubt the chi proponents have any other theory to explain such a phenomenon.
There are indeed levels of learning. Any motion that requires conscious thought involves different areas of the brain than motions (like running up the stairs) that can be done "mindlessly." Figuratively speaking, the trained martial artist or craftsman or musician has developed (programmed) his/her skills to the point where mushin comes into play. So figuratively speaking, such artists can apply their trade without thought.
There are indeed different levels and quality of learning, depending on the frequency of training, intensity of training, mindset while training, and the age which the training occurred. And this doesn't even bring in the influence of "IQ" (in the general sense), or influence of hormones on the brain and the way we use it. Language is a classic area of study in learning. For example, most cannot learn a language without an accent if the learning doesn't occur before the age of about six. The way our brain stores information and uses it is an active area of research today.
- Bill
Is such a thing physically possible? Insects such as roaches can wander for days after being decapitated. Farmers tell me that chickens can run headless. There are certainly reflexes and simple, repetitive motions that can happen in many animals after "pithing" (destruction of the brain). But a samurai's art is learned behavior, and such learning cannot be programmed in either the spinal chord or brain stem. And I doubt the chi proponents have any other theory to explain such a phenomenon.
There are indeed levels of learning. Any motion that requires conscious thought involves different areas of the brain than motions (like running up the stairs) that can be done "mindlessly." Figuratively speaking, the trained martial artist or craftsman or musician has developed (programmed) his/her skills to the point where mushin comes into play. So figuratively speaking, such artists can apply their trade without thought.
There are indeed different levels and quality of learning, depending on the frequency of training, intensity of training, mindset while training, and the age which the training occurred. And this doesn't even bring in the influence of "IQ" (in the general sense), or influence of hormones on the brain and the way we use it. Language is a classic area of study in learning. For example, most cannot learn a language without an accent if the learning doesn't occur before the age of about six. The way our brain stores information and uses it is an active area of research today.
- Bill
The last cut
Since the Samurai has no emotions the act of dying with dignity is the final perfect act.
I was thinking more along these lines, that's all.
thanks
I was thinking more along these lines, that's all.
thanks
