Hero

 My favorite movie is Hero, an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture in 2002. The lead actor is Jet Li who played a loyal subject who stood up on his grounds by fighting valiantly so as to unite the whole land that we call now China into a single entity.

 

This movie dates back some two thousand years ago when China was divided into seven warring dynasties who fought together in the pursuit of controlling the whole region. Each dynasty, determined to take over all lands, would send abled assassins to every enemy usually ending in great wars, maiming and killing by millions. Of the seven dynasties, Qing stood out as the largest in terms of area and the most powerful that it demanded itself with the greater task of uniting the fragmented land. To do this, it sent one of its ordinary warriors who identify him as Nameless (Jet Li). Nameless unselfishly heeded the call of the emperor leaving his fate to the One Almighty, as he always believes everything happens “All under heavens.”

 

In order to avoid the spread of war and to save millions of lives that will be lost in it, Nameless penetrated the lives of the assassins from the different dynasties. He set up the three assassins into a deadly trap, that is – love triangle in which the three killed each other in a breathtaking show of martial arts prowess.

 

When Nameless went back home, the emperor doubted his long absence. He (the emperor) has that preconceived idea that Nameless may have defected already to another dynasty and is now ready of assassinating him. The people, who demanded that he be killed, likewise shared this perception.  In a very serious dialogue, Jet Li tried hard how he was able to triumph over the assassins. He brought to the emperor the swords used by the assassins so as to convince the emperor that he was able to kill the three enemies. At the time when the emperor almost believes him, the clamor of the people became overpowering. With closed eyes, the emperor sent Nameless to death by piercing him with thousands of arrows. However, in the end, he was given a hero’s burial after they have realized how worthy is the heroism of Nameless to them all.

 

One thing that struck me is the name of the hero, which is Nameless. One needs not be recognized with his good works or be any less than prouder. Good works will always outlived the personality who did it. “All under heavens” will be rewarded.

 

To so many people Nameless may not appear to be hero. It is because people have different perception about the person and the works he has done.  Jose Rizal may be a hero to many but may not be to other Filipinos who admire more Andres Bonifacio.

 

The real hero for me is Li Shen Jin. For many years, he tested herbs and medicine on himself to research their medicinal uses. He would test thousands of potentially dangerous chemicals on his own body just to learn of their effects. He compiled his research into a book and this book became the foundation of all traditional Chinese herbal medicine. His research has gone on to treat and save the lives of millions of people. When he was doing his research, he was not afraid, he didn`t think of himself. It was his quest for knowledge and understanding that prompted him to do this great deed for the rest of humanity. He did this because of his passion to search for knowledge that would serve the greater good.

 

Most of the people whose lives his research has saved have probably never heard of him, but his selfless efforts can be felt throughout the world, even today.

 

The most heroic thing I have done? Nothing. I am not a hero.

(10-10-03)