Bruce Lee was heavily influenced by the Chinese philosophy of Taoism (Dao・ism). He used it to guide important decisions in his life and it can be found in his martial arts, movies, and writings.
What is Taoism?
Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy based on the book Tao Te Ching (Way and Virtue) that was purportedly written by Lao Tzu some 2,500 years ago (Tao Te Ching, Introduction).
Flexibility means adaptation
Bruce Lee taught that the way to live your life is to adapt to circumstances. This could just as easily be applied to fighting an opponent or to making decisions about your life.
“The inability to adapt brings destruction. That of not being tense but ready, not thinking but not dreaming, not being rigidly set but flexible. Aware and alert, ready for whatever may come.” (Striking, pages 105-106).”
Lee was influenced by the Tao Te Ching which says something very similar.
“The wise man has no set mind – he adopts the people’s mind as his own. The Wise man applies his powers and abilities under heaven – harmonious he makes the world by merging his mind with it.” (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 49).
Flexible like water
Lee tried to be flexible in how he reached his goals. Lee’s teacher Ip Man once told him to stay home from training and reflect on why he always fought so aggressively. Lee rowed out to the harbor and floated in a boat. He hit the water in frustration. At that moment he had an important realization. Why can’t he be more like water? Although water is soft it can take a hit and not be hurt. It is also can be hard and crash as a wave. Water adjusts to its environment when it flows.
This moment shaped his thinking for the rest of his life.
“Be like water; water has form and yet it has no form…It is the softest element on earth, yet it penetrates the hardest rock. It has no shape on its own, yet it can take any shape in which it is placed. In a cup, it becomes the cup…Water may seem to move in contradiction, even uphill, but it chooses any way open to it so that it may reach the sea. It may flow swiftly or it may flow slowly, but its purpose is inexorable, its destiny sure. (Striking, Page 108).”
Taoism teaches that water is yielding, uses minimum force, and moves around obstacles. A person should act in the same way and be willing to yield to solve conflicts in a way that works for both sides. Lee’s thoughts were again influenced by the Tao Te Ching, which states,
“Under heaven, nothing is softer and weaker than water. Yet for attacking the hard and strong, nothing is capable of excelling it – there is nothing that can take its place.” (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 78).
Inflexibility equals Death
Lee also compares flexibility to life and rigidness to death. Lee often told this parable about the mighty oak tree.
“The oak tree is mighty, yet it will be destroyed by a mighty wind because it resists the elements; the bamboo bends with the wind, and by bending survives.” (Striking, page 107)
Once again Lee was influenced by Taoism which states,
“The ten thousand things – the grass, the trees – in life are supple and delicate, In death are dried and decayed. So the hard and unyielding are disciples of death; the pliant and tender are disciples of life.” (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 76).
Bruce Lee adopted flexibility as the cornerstone of his life. He used it to guide his fighting philosophy and business decisions. When he didn’t become a movie star in Hollywood he went to Hong Kong to make movies there. People should be pliant and yielding to reach their goals. Lee once said, “To change with change is the changeless state.” (Striking, page 106).
Resources:
Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee’s Wisdom for daily living, John Little, Editor, Tuttle Publishing, 2000. Quotes from Bruce Lee on many subjects.
The Eternal Tao Te Ching: The Philosophical Masterwork of Taoism and Its Relevance Today, Benjamin Hoff, Author, Abrams Books, 2021. An English interpretation of the Tao Te Ching using the pre-writing Chinese brush characters.
AI Narration provided by elevenlabs.io. Bruce Lee quotes read by AI.