Beautiful Warrior (1998)

Not that I'm a martial arts fanatic, but I did enjoy this book. At first, it revolves around the story of a woman named Jingmong who is later called Wu Mei. She learns kung fu as a child in the Ming Dynasty. Then, with the fall of the Ming Dynasty, she travels west and becomes a Buddhist nun. That's when the other woman comes into the story, a young woman that works for her family's stall near Wu Mei's Buddhist temple. She's nearly forced into marrying a thug until Wu Mei agrees to teach her kung fu to help her out of it. It all ends well. I like both characters. I like the book in general. ( )

Great introduction to Buddhism and the philosophical underpinnings of Eastern martial arts. This book would make a great movie. Kind of a Karate Kid except Daniel is a girl and Mr Miyagi is a nun. They even have the training montage (flow like water, balance like crane, bend like bamboo...). I envision a climactic turning-the-tables fight scene a la River from Firefly or Hit Girl from Kick-Ass. Might not get a G rating with that kind of scene, though.

After reading two books about girls whose salvation comes from marrying well, it was refreshing to read a story where the girl fights not to be married and finds her own freedom. ("The world outside Shaolin Temple no longer concerned her. She forgot all about having to defeat Soong Ling in order to win her freedom. She was already free.") Not that there's anything inherently wrong with marriage, I just don't like when it's presented as a way out of hardship (or a handing over of property) rather than a loving bond between two people. ( )

The story about a girl who learns the martial arts and helps give courage to another girl in her village. The story is interesting but did not hold my attention. ( )

Summary:
This book is about a girl, Jungyong or Wu Mei after she became a nun, born to royalty in China's Forbidden City. Her father did not want her to follow the path that other girls had to take, so he had her educated and had her learn Kung Fu. After her city was overtaken by the enemy she ran to the Shaolin Monsastery where, after proving herself to the monks, she was accepted in as a nun. She became very popular and would teach Kung Fu to those she felt deserved it. A young girl, Mingyi, came to her to be taught Kung Fu to get out of marrying a man she did not want to marry. Both girls found their own path in life, even though it was not a popular decision for girls.

Personal Reaction:
I enjoyed this book because these girls did not follow the path that was accepted for girls and their families allowed them to choose their own way. I enjoy reading books about strong females because there are so many girls that need to know they do not have to follow what everyone else wants them to do. I have always been strong willed and not wanting to follow the norm or what others think I should do.

Classroom Extension:
1. This is a great book to show young girls in upper elementary school that they can make their own decisions and do not have to do something just because everyone else is doing it or everyone else wants them to do it.
2. I would also use this book to show that if you are strong minded you can do anything you set your mind to.

This is a wonderful story about a young girl who ends up studying at a Shaolin temple. The girl ends up becoming a great Kung Fu master and passes on her knowledge to her pupil. ( )