Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee[b] (born Lee Jun-fan;[c] November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong-American martial artist and actor. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that is sometimes credited with paving the way for the combat sport mixed martial arts (MMA).[3] Lee is considered by some commentators and martial artists to be the most influential martial artist of all time and a pop culture icon of the 20th century, who bridged the gap between East and West. He is credited with promoting Hong Kong action cinema and helping to change the way Chinese people were presented in American films.[4]
This article is about the martial artist. For other uses, see Bruce Lee (disambiguation).
Bruce Lee
November 27, 1940
July 20, 1973 (aged 32)
Lake View Cemetery, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
- Lee Siu-lung
- Lee Yuen-cham
- Lee Yuen-kam
- Martial artist
- actor
- philosopher
- film director
- screenwriter
- producer
1941–1973
1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)[2]
- Peter Lee (brother)
- Robert Lee (brother)
李小龍
李小龙
lei5 siu2 lung4
Lǐ Xiǎolóng
Lǐ Xiǎolóng
ㄌㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄌㄨㄥˊ
Li3 Hsiao3-lung2
Lǐ Siǎo-lóng
lei5 siu2 lung4
李振藩
lei5 zan3 faan4
Lǐ Zhènfān
Lǐ Zhènfān
ㄌㄧˇ ㄓㄣˋ ㄈㄢ
Li3 Chen4-fan1
Lǐ Jhèn-fan
lei5 zan3 faan4
Born in San Francisco and raised in Hong Kong, Lee was introduced to the Hong Kong film industry as a child actor by his father.[5] His early martial arts experience included Wing Chun (trained under Ip Man), tai chi, boxing (winning a Hong Kong boxing tournament), and frequent street fighting (neighborhood and rooftop fights). In 1959, Lee moved to Seattle. In 1961, he enrolled at the University of Washington.[6] It was during this time in the United States that he began considering making money by teaching martial arts, even though he aspired to have a career in acting. He opened his first martial arts school, operated out of home in Seattle. After later adding a second school in Oakland, California, he once drew significant attention at the 1964 Long Beach International Karate Championships of California by making demonstrations and speaking. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to teach, where his students included Chuck Norris, Sharon Tate, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In the 1970s, his Hong Kong and Hollywood-produced films elevated Hong Kong martial arts films to a new level of popularity and acclaim, sparking a surge of Western interest in Chinese martial arts. The direction and tone of his films dramatically influenced and changed martial arts and martial arts films worldwide.[7]
With a career spanning Hong Kong and the United States,[8][9][10] he is known for his roles in five feature-length Hong Kong martial arts films in the early 1970s: Lo Wei's The Big Boss (1971) and Fist of Fury (1972); Golden Harvest's The Way of the Dragon (1972), directed and written by Lee; and Golden Harvest and Warner Brothers' Enter the Dragon (1973) and The Game of Death (1978), both directed by Robert Clouse.[11] Lee became an iconic figure known throughout the world, particularly among the Chinese, based upon his portrayal of Cantonese culture in his films,[12] and among Asian Americans for defying Asian stereotypes in the United States.[13] Having initially learned Wing Chun, tai chi, boxing, and street fighting, he combined them with other influences from various sources into the spirit of his personal martial arts philosophy, which he dubbed Jeet Kune Do (The Way of the Intercepting Fist).[14]
Lee died in July 1973, aged 32. Since his death, Lee has continued to be a prominent influence on modern combat sports, including judo, karate, mixed martial arts, and boxing, as well as modern popular culture, including film, television, comics, animation, and video games. Time named Lee one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century.
Career and education
1940–1958: Early roles, schooling and martial arts initiation
Lee's father Lee Hoi-chuen was a Cantonese opera star. As a result, Junior Lee was introduced to the world of cinema at a very young age and appeared in several films as a child. Lee had his first role as a baby who was carried onto the stage in the film Golden Gate Girl.[20] He took his Chinese stage name as 李小龍, lit. Lee the Little Dragon, for the fact that he was born in both the hour and the year of the Dragon by the Chinese zodiac.[21]
As a nine-year-old, he co-starred with his father in The Kid in 1950, which was based on a comic book character, "Kid Cheung", and was his first leading role.[22] By the time he was 18, he had appeared in 20 films.[21] After attending Tak Sun School (德信學校; several blocks from his home at 218 Nathan Road, Kowloon), Lee entered the primary school division of the Catholic La Salle College at age 12.[23]
Bruce Lee
Ip Man and Wong Shun-leung (wing chun),
Brother Edward (boxing),[19]
Jhoon Rhee (taekwondo),[51]
Fred Sato and Gene LeBell (judo)[111]
Dan Inosanto (arnis)
Artistry
Philosophy
While best known as a martial artist, Lee studied drama and Asian and Western philosophy, starting while a student at the University of Washington. He was well-read and had an extensive library dominated by martial arts subjects and philosophical texts.[133] His books on martial arts and fighting philosophy are known for their philosophical assertions, both inside and outside of martial arts circles. His eclectic philosophy often mirrored his fighting beliefs, though he was quick to say that his martial arts were solely a metaphor for such teachings.[134]
He believed that any knowledge ultimately led to self-knowledge. He said that his chosen method of self-expression was martial arts.[134] His influences include Taoism, Jiddu Krishnamurti, and Buddhism.[135] Lee's philosophy was very much in opposition to the conservative worldview advocated by Confucianism.[136] John Little states that Lee was an atheist. When asked in 1972 about his religious affiliation, he replied, "None whatsoever".[137] When asked if he believed in God, he said, "To be perfectly frank, I really do not."[134]
Poetry
Aside from martial arts and philosophy, which focus on the physical aspect and self-consciousness for truths and principles,[138] Lee also wrote poetry that reflected his emotions and a stage in his life collectively.[139] Many forms of art remain concordant with the artist creating them. Lee's principle of self-expression was applied to his poetry as well. His daughter Shannon Lee said, "He did write poetry; he was really the consummate artist."[140]
His poetic works were originally handwritten on paper, then later on edited and published, with John Little being the major author (editor), for Bruce Lee's works. Linda Lee Cadwell (Bruce Lee's wife) shared her husband's notes, poems, and experiences with followers. She mentioned, "Lee's poems are, by American standards, rather dark—reflecting the deeper, less exposed recesses of the human psyche".[141]
Most of Bruce Lee's poems are categorized as anti-poetry or fall into a paradox. The mood in his poems shows the side of the man that can be compared with other poets such as Robert Frost, one of many well-known poets expressing himself with dark poetic works. The paradox taken from the Yin and Yang symbol in martial arts was also integrated into his poetry. His martial arts and philosophy contribute a great part to his poetry. The free verse form of Lee's poetry reflects his quote "Be formless ... shapeless, like water."[142]
Personal life
Names
Lee's Cantonese birth name was Lee Jun-fan (李振藩).[143] The name homophonically means "return again", and was given to Lee by his mother, who felt he would return to the United States once he came of age.[144] Because of his mother's superstitious nature, she had originally named him Sai-fon (細鳳), which is a feminine name meaning "small phoenix".[42] The English name "Bruce" is thought to have been given by the hospital's attending physician, Dr. Mary Glover.[145]
Lee had three other Chinese names: Lee Yuen-cham (李源鑫), a family/clan name; Lee Yuen-kam (李元鑒), which he used as a student name while he was attending La Salle College, and his Chinese screen name Lee Siu-lung (李小龍; Siu-lung means "little dragon"). Lee's given name Jun-fan was originally written in Chinese as 震藩; however, the Jun (震) Chinese character was identical to part of his grandfather's name, Lee Jun-biu (李震彪). Hence, the Chinese character for Jun in Lee's name was changed to the homonym 振 instead, to avoid naming taboo in Chinese tradition.