THE DRAGON

By Peter Vuono


     When we see or hear about Bruce Lee, most of us think about martial arts. To those of us who practice it, we think about how Lee was the originator of Jeet Kune Do or "The Way of the Intercepting Fist". Others think about the Green Hornet, or his cinematic battles with Chuck Norris in Return of the Dragon or with Kareem Abdul Jabar in Game of death. However, Lee's entire life was a continuous contribution to his fellow man.
    Lee Jun Fan was born Nov. 27, 1940 at  Jackson Street Hospital in SanFrancisco between the hours of 6:00AM and 8:00AM. This is both the year and the hour of the Dragon. The Dragon is the symbol of strength, power, good fortune AND HEAVEN. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hoi Chuen were entertainers performing in SanFrancisco.The baby was Christened Lee Jun Fan because it means"Return Again". Lee's mom had always hoped that he would one day again return to America.
   Although a nurse in the hospital nicknamed him "Bruce', his parents called him by a feminine name,"Sai Fon", which means "Small Phoenix". 
In the Chinese culture, men are typically given feminine names to fool the evil spirits from taking their souls.
    Bruce returned to America to Seattle as his mom had hoped and graduated from Edison Technical High School. He then enrolled in the University of Washington majoring in philosophy. In 1964 he would start teaching gung fu in Oakland and marry his college sweetheart Linda Emory.
    Lee's life entailed so much more than just being a martial artist. He was a director, writer, artist and teacher as well as being a husband and loving father. However to this author two of his accomplishments warrant special note. Bruce Lee gave the Asian people a face. It was a face of strength, honor, pride and dignity. A face that has and will always endure. His other notable contribution was his philosophy of life. Lee, like many in the Asian culture believed in seeking the Tao(pronounced Dow), which is interpreted as the "Way of the Universe". In one of his published works- Striking Thoughts- Lee comments on every aspect of life from his personal interpretation of the Tao. I have found that reading and embracing what he has said has made me a better person.
    There is a Chinese proverb that states,"If the dark element seeks to achieve a position in which it is not entitled and tries to rule instead of serving,it draws down upon itself the fury of the dragon". 
   I am convinced that any person who reads and embraces Lee's Striking Thoughts of philosophy will walk a path of righteousness  which will ultimately lead to the paradise of the Dragon.


AFTER THOUGHT- The following is a letter of comfort from Bruce Lee to his closest friend Taky Kimura after Kimura had sustained an enormous hardship. Kimura would later become Lee's caretaker after Bruce Lee was laid to rest July 31, 1973 at Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle.

" Life is an ever -flowing process and somewhere on the path some unpleasant things will pop up- it might leave a scar- but then life is flowing on and like running water, when it stops, it grows stale. Go bravely on , my friend because each experience teaches us a lesson".