The introduction
Some fundamentals on the movie
The movie I want to discuss is created by a Chinese film director Wu Tianming. It is a kind of mythic movie, which principal themes are considered to be the subordinate position of women to men and the Confucian value of filiality.
The director of the movie reflects some interesting facts from China’s history and criticizes a well-known system of ethics. Generally, it must be noted that the director of The King of Masks highlights important philosophical issues.
The thesis statement
Wu Tianming provides viewers with an opportunity to consider the basic Confucian values from the modernized point of view. Thus, keeping in mind the plot of the movie, one can state that the issues of gender inequality and filial piety are to be revalued, in order to resolve the conflict between a person’s public duty and his or her own desires.
The body
The relationship between two genders as one of the key themes of the movie
While watching The King of Masks, it becomes evident that one of the director’s main intentions was to reveal traditional values of Confucianism in the modern China; although some new approaches concerning a well-known teaching are introduced. Thus, one can notice that Wu Tianming draws viewers’ attention to the relationship between two genders.
Generally, there is a wide range of themes the movie reflects; although the burning problems Wu Tianming depicts are a devastating underpopulation of females and a system of important philosophical and ethical teachings written by Confucius. As far as the problems are closely interdependent, one can conclude that they cannot be regarded separately.
The principal values of Confucianism
Nobody will deny the fact that in China the issue of gender in relation to Confucianism was of great importance, as political and social standards were determined by men (Jay 226). Thus, the basic principles an important philosophical teaching is based on involve the issues of humaneness, filial piety and ritual.
The director of the movie provides viewers with an opportunity to delve deeply into a prime virtue of Confucianism, which is recognized to be the root of humanity. So, the issue of filial piety can be traced back, if viewers analyze the relations between the main characters in detail.
The protagonist of the movie Wang is deeply concerned about social interactions and ethical norms of Confucianism, because he understands that the society cannot approve of his relations with a little girl.
For this reason, the situation he experiences seems to be rather ambiguous: on the one hand, he realizes his greatest affection towards a girl; on the other hand, he understands that according to Confucian principles he cannot give a girl an opportunity to study his art.
The protagonist of the movie and his internal conflict
The director of the movie depicts the internal conflict, which the protagonist cannot cope with. Wang starts to cast doubt on the correctness of Confucian morality.
Of course, it is a big problem, as nobody has a right to prejudice ancient authentic principles of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by Confucius; so, the main character feels uncertainty and cannot decide what to do. Wang is worried about his moral obligations in relation to society, but his personal attitudes seem to prevent him from taking a right decision.
This moment is considered to be extremely important, as Wu Tianming suggests that traditional values of Confucianism can be regarded within a new perspective. In other words, one can probably conclude that certain aspects of Confucianism should be changed, as nothing can remain the same. If times are changing, why ancient traditions should be invariable?
Moreover, one can also suppose that the relations between genders should be reconsidered, as certain Confucian norms are too strict. Nobody is going to underestimate the importance of an ancient philosophical teaching as well as its contribution to Chinese history development, but the new perspectives on women’s position in the contemporary world cannot be ignored.
The problem of gender inequality in Confucianism
The problem of gender inequality the director of the movie represents is recognized to be rather important, as the plot of The King of Masks familiarizes viewers with significant aspects of Chinese history. Thus, one is to keep in mind that Confucianism does not support the idea of gender equality.
On the contrary, according to Confucian norms males are valued more than females. A woman’s most important role is to be obedient and help a husband. Hershatter states that “A woman’s status in the family rose with the birth of children, particularly sons, who formed the core of her affective life and old-age support – her uterine family – even as they reproduced the patriline” (22).
For this reason, it becomes evident that the husband-wife relationship is not important. It is filial piety, which highlights the importance of the father-son relations.
Confucian norms vs. the modern aspects of democracy
Keeping in mind strict Confucian norms, one can probably notice that it is not happiness, which people are to strive for. The basic aim of a well-known philosophical teaching is to reach harmony. It should be noted that Confucianism does not consider a person as a detached entity or as an individual who has certain desires.
On the contrary, a human being is just regarded as an integral element of human relationship. So, according to a system of philosophical teachings, human beings must possess not rights, but certain obligations in relation to the society.
The process of modernization of Asian societies cannot be ignored, as it also impacted on traditional Confucian values. It was noted that certain Confucian norms contradict the modern aspects of democracy.
Moreover, it was also proven that the idea of human rights is totally ignored by the system of values a well-known philosophical teaching is based on. For this reason, Wu Tianming suggests that some Confucian aspects can be also modernized.
He shows his protagonist’s hesitation and gives viewers an opportunity to notice that Confucian norms are inconsistent with the basic human rights, including the issue of gender equality. As far as Milburn states that the early Chinese historical texts neglected any issue of gender or sexuality (3), one can make a conclusion that the modern society should be deeply interested in profound investigation of the issue of gender.
This area of studies requires a new approach. Traditional philosophical teachings, which ignored gender roles, must be expanded with new contemporary themes and adapted to modern requirements. On the other hand, if such teachings are not related to the issue of gender – there is no need to follow their norms or rules.
Kevin Dodd is of the opinion that “Confucianism has always had a strongly hierarchical vision of society, but it has protected this from authoritarian ossification by stressing, inter alia, reciprocity and self cultivation” (8-9).
Wu Tianming seems to criticize the position and considers it in a different way. He points out that some Confucian norms should be accepted as outdated issues, because human beings’ existence is complicated by obsolete customs.
Confucianism vs. the modern society
The King of Masks by Wu Tianming discloses certain important aspects of Chinese history. Furthermore, while analyzing the plot of the movie, one can suppose that traditional Confucian values must be revalued, in order to resolve a conflict between persons’ moral duties and their personal attitudes towards somebody or something.
One of the main characters Wang is considered to be a victim of traditional Confucian norms; as far as he deeply respects the history of his nation, he cannot follow his heart. In other words, the director of the movie depicts the so-called philosophical conflict through the internal conflict the protagonist experiences. Thereby, Confucianism vs. the modern society is one of the key themes of a mythic production.
The Conclusion
The King of Masks by Wu Tianming reflects complex philosophical issues. The main purpose the director of the movie wanted to achieve was to show the importance of Confucian norms reevaluation.
Keeping in mind the modernized society, it becomes obvious that one of the principal values of Confucianism – filial piety is inconsistent with some contemporary aspects of democracy.
Moreover, traditional Confucian norms seem to aggravate people’s existence and cause the internal conflicts between people’s moral obligations and their own desires. As far as Confucianism does not support the idea of gender equality, it can be regarded as an outdated philosophical teaching.
Works Cited
Dodd, Kevin. King of Masks: The Myth of Miao-shan and the Empowerment of Women, 2012. Web.
Hershatter, Gail. Women in China’s Long Twentieth Century, Santa Cruz: University of California Press, 2007. Print.
Jay, Jennifer. “Imagining Matriarchy: Kingdoms of Women in Tang China.” Journal of the American Oriental Society. 116.2 (1996): 220-229.
Milburn, Olivia. “Gender, Sexuality, and Power in Early China: The Changing Biographies of Lord Ling of Wei and Lady Nanzi.” Seoul National University. 12 (2010): 1-29.