Moo Dō (Martial Way)
The way of preventing conflict. Moo = military, chivalry, martial; within the ideograph the inner part of the symbol is the word for "stop" and the long brush stroke on the outer part that looks like a sword means "weapon". Moo 武 graphically combines the ka 戈 radical and zhi 止 radical. The character 戈 means spear. While the character 止 means “to stop”. It originally meant “foot” in ancient script. The character 武 may therefore have originally referred to “a man on foot with a spear” and thus conveyed military. Due to the modern meaning of 止, Moo is more commonly used denote “to stop a weapon” or “to stop violence”.
Dō = "way"; while the character itself translates as "way," "path," or "route," or sometimes more loosely as "doctrine" or "principle," it is used philosophically to signify the fundamental or true nature of the world. Dō 道 graphically combines the chuo 辶 (or 辵) "go; advance" radical and shou 首 "head" phonetic. This combination signified a "head going" or "to lead the way". The Confusion citation of Dō verbally meaning "to guide; to lead" is: "In guiding a state of a thousand chariots, approach your duties with reverence and be trustworthy in what you say." Confucius taught that Dō (or Tao in Chinese) was a "way", the 'way' of moral integrity. Lao-Tzu interpreted Do as the law, or truth of the universe. Over the course of history Dō has evolved into the present nearly universally accepted meaning of acting with virtue according to nature.
Combined these characters represent "the way of preventing conflict". Conflict resolution on an external and more importantly internal basis is one of the major goals of Tang Soo Do practice. Here the color gold and placement within the mountain conveys the riches one finds when digging deeper within one-self thru training.
Dō = "way"; while the character itself translates as "way," "path," or "route," or sometimes more loosely as "doctrine" or "principle," it is used philosophically to signify the fundamental or true nature of the world. Dō 道 graphically combines the chuo 辶 (or 辵) "go; advance" radical and shou 首 "head" phonetic. This combination signified a "head going" or "to lead the way". The Confusion citation of Dō verbally meaning "to guide; to lead" is: "In guiding a state of a thousand chariots, approach your duties with reverence and be trustworthy in what you say." Confucius taught that Dō (or Tao in Chinese) was a "way", the 'way' of moral integrity. Lao-Tzu interpreted Do as the law, or truth of the universe. Over the course of history Dō has evolved into the present nearly universally accepted meaning of acting with virtue according to nature.
Combined these characters represent "the way of preventing conflict". Conflict resolution on an external and more importantly internal basis is one of the major goals of Tang Soo Do practice. Here the color gold and placement within the mountain conveys the riches one finds when digging deeper within one-self thru training.
Moo Yei Do
You've noticed that on the dojang wall we've combined the characters Moo Do with the kanji Yei = respect, etiquette. In Korea and in China, Yei 禮 refers to social rules or relationships that are demonstrated through personal and social language and behavior; the way of speech, attitude, and/or behavior toward others. Confucius referred to Yei as all actions committed by a person to build the ideal society.
Virtue, in this Confucian view, is based upon harmony with other people, produced through this type of ethical practice by a growing identification of the interests of self and others. In this regard, Confucius articulated an early version of the Golden Rule:
"What one does not wish for oneself, one ought not to do to anyone else; what one recognises as desirable for oneself, one ought to be willing to grant to others." (Confucius and Confucianism, Richard Wilhelm)
No doubt you've heard Sa Bom Nim say that the rules of the school are written clearly on the wall. We remind all of our students to strive always be peaceful, respectful and disciplined. The lesson of Moo Yei Do is a 24/7 attitude.
Virtue, in this Confucian view, is based upon harmony with other people, produced through this type of ethical practice by a growing identification of the interests of self and others. In this regard, Confucius articulated an early version of the Golden Rule:
"What one does not wish for oneself, one ought not to do to anyone else; what one recognises as desirable for oneself, one ought to be willing to grant to others." (Confucius and Confucianism, Richard Wilhelm)
No doubt you've heard Sa Bom Nim say that the rules of the school are written clearly on the wall. We remind all of our students to strive always be peaceful, respectful and disciplined. The lesson of Moo Yei Do is a 24/7 attitude.
