On Thursday, the interned connection was lost from the pre-thanksgiving snow storm in this area.It was just restored Monday at 2pm. So, to occupy myself, I began reviewing old files and found this from 2006. It was the opening chapters of the story of Kojong. For some reason lost in time I didn’t finish it, although I had plotted it much further along. It is not in my current plans. Perhaps you will find it of interest. The Long Road Home - Chapter 1 Where the Winds take Us Destroyer #70 - The Eleventh Hour pp147-148 Everyone knows the story, said Mah-Li. It was many years ago. There was a Master who was known as Nonga, whose wife bore him many daughters, but sadly no sons. Many were the daughters of Nonga, and each year another was born. And Master Nonga grew sullen, for he was unable to sire a male heir. By law, Sinanju could only be passed through the male line. Another strike against this place, said Remo. One year, when Master Nonga was very old, his wife, who was not so old, finally bore him a son. And the Master named this son Kojing, and he was very proud. But his wife kept a secret from Nonga, for she had in truth bore him two sons, as identical as snow peas. She hid the other son, whom she named Kojong, for she feared that the Master would slay Kojong, for there was a law in Sinanju that only the firstborn could be taught Sinanju. And Kojing and Kogjong were born at the same time. She feared the Master Nonga, to solve this dilemma would drown one son in the cold waters of the bay. How did she keep the second one hidden? asked Remo. This isnt a big place, even now. She was very clever, this wife of Master Nonga. She hid the babe in the hut of a sister during Kojongs baby years. And when Kojong was a boy, he was all ways identical to Kojing, and so she enlisted Kojing and Kojong in a game. On even days, Kojing would live with Master Nonga and be his son, eating with the family and knowing parents, and on the other days, Kojong would live in the hut, and pretend to be Kojing. And this went on until the two boys were two men. You mean the old guy never caught on? He was very old, and his eyesight, although excellent for seeing far things, was not good for things near. Master Nonga did not suspect he had two sons. When the time came to teach Kojing Sinanju, the trickery continued. Kojing learned the first days lesson and at night taught it to Kojong, who took the lesson of the second day and passed it on to his brother, and so this went until both had absorbed Sinanju. On the day Kojing was invested as the next Master, Master Nonga died, for in truth he lived only as long as he needed to fulfill his obligations, for he was very tired of baby-making and being the father of so many useless girls. I bet, Remo said. And on that day, Kojong revealed himself. But there could only be one Master of Sinanju and so Kojong, because he was not Kojing, the boy Master Nonga thought he was training alone, announced that he was leaving Sinanju, and leaving Korea, to live. He pledged not to pass along knowledge of the sun source, but instead to pass along only the spirit of his ancestors, the many Masters of Sinanju, saying to the village, The day may come when a Master will sire no sons and the line of Sinanju will face extinction. On that day seek out the sons of Kojong, and in them find a worthy vessel to carry on the traditions. And so Kojong sailed into the cold mists of the bay. Did any Master of Sinanju ever turn to an ancestor of Kojong? Remo asked. No one knows. Chapter 1 - Where the Winds take Us Section 1 The cold waters of the Korean Bay lapped against the small ship Kojong traveled in. He was traveling North West heading to Tangshan in China. His training was not that of a sailor, but the skills he acquired from his father Master Nonga, covered many disciplines, and his studies in the scrolls of his ancestors as he prepared to become a master of Sinanju, filled other gaps in his education. His journey was beginning, and might last his life. Kojong knew where he must go, but he was still unsure how to get there. His small ship had but one sail, originating as a fishing vessel from his home. Now it was a means of flight, to make sure his brother had no second thoughts of his leaving. He knew too well what tradition demanded. Thinking to himself he had been with his brother his entire life before this say. As children it was but a game, hiding his identity from his father. Kojong always became Kojing every other day, and Kojing became Kojong. Their lives focused on their training every other day, and teaching each other the days lesson at night. They both had become truly identical, with the same breath, the same timing, the same rhythms to their lives which Sinanjus training enhanced like no other. The only difference was how they spent their daily studies of the Masters scrolls. Kojing knowing he would become his fathers successor mainly studied the scrolls since the Great Wang. He, Kojong, spent most of his time studying the scrolls before the Great Wang, before the Sun Source, drawing on the thousands of years of lessons of the Night Tigers of Sinanju. Then part of each night they reviewed the latest physical training and part of each night they reviewed the lessons in the scrolls, the techniques suggested, the languages found, the history, the geography, the tendencies of the dynasties, but not all the detail. As each body became more and more alike, each mind prepared for a different destiny. His brother Kojing, would become the Reigning Master. His every effort was to make this happen. He, Kojong, had to find a different path, a way beyond two typhoons meeting. Their mother had worked so arduously to keep them both alive, yet neither knew whether either of them would survive should they follow Sinanjus historic conclusion, demanded by the Great Wang. But Sinanju must survive, and in some of the older histories a new way did suggest itself to Kojong. One of flight and survival Sinanju style. The only thing that mattered was the survival of the village and the Masters art. The Sun Source, found by the Great Wang, gave a new life to Sinanjus arts, but there still remained a risk. A risk never abated. What if something should happen there was no master. Did not their own father, Nonjas life almost bring disaster to the Masters? Only their birth brought resolution. Sinanju needed a careful plan to ensure nothing would happen to the true succession. Though he could not return to Sinanju, in this perhaps he was still serving the village and repaying his mothers faith in him. With father gone, Kojong didnt know who hed miss more, his brother or his mother. When he stood before the astonished villagers, who except for his mother and her sister, no one knew of his existence but his brother. His mother had nothing to do with the Masters art, but she was truly devoted to his father and all her children. Her daughters were true to her, and married well in the village because of their father. His Mother cared for him and all the family, and on this saddest of days, when he reached the ship, he found a travel pack with her mark on it. Some clothes, a wrapped item of antiquity, and rice. Among the oldest of Sinanju traditions, preparing one’s own for the Night Tigers trail. He sat sailing North West, the waves lapping against the small ship, and thoughts of his mother in his head. It was past the time, long years now spent, wondering where this answer, this journey, would end. Kojong, master of Sinanju, began one of the longest trails a master trod. With no home, no family, no friends, no village, empty hands and his lungs full of the sun source. Where would this journey end? Section 2 - Continues The tiny craft from Sinanju slipped through the Korean Bay like no other craft. Kojong stood holding the mast and the small fishing vessel seemed to slide effortlessly across the waters, finding the wind, carving through the swells. There was no question it could have sailed anywhere. It’s lone occupant was the key, uniting his balance to the shape the craft contained and its unison with the sea and the air. It could go anyplace, yet Tangshan China remained the goal. It was several nights later, on a clear night that Kojong sat down watching the three palaces around the north polar star, Cheon Shi One, Tae Mi One and Ja Mi One. They were shining as the night father had first shown them to him. The three palaces and the four guard, Cheong Ryong, Back Ho, Ju Jak and Hyeon Mu. The Blue Dragon, theWhite Tiger, the Red Bird and the Black Tortise. It had been thus since the Ko Cho Seon. Alone on the sea, seeing the constellations he felt warmed as his past was still with him. A past that must be set aside, but still his heritage. Lost in thought, drifting slowly in the wind, with a start Kojong realized he was not alone. “Younger brother, it is good to be with you in your travels this evening.”, spoke a round smiling face. Still surprised, Kojong smiled in return as he realized who it was. “I see you know me, young one, yes it is I, Wang!” “The Great Wang, I am not worthy, Master.” Kojong replied. “Nonsense, you are now and always will be a master of Sinanju.” “But Master Wang, my life is contrary to Sinanju tradition. I should not have survived.” “Younger brother, you are skilled in your knowledge of Sinanju, but you don’t realize all traditions were created once upon a time, where before there were none.” “When I discovered the Sun Source, of all our power, and did end the Night Tigers, creating a new tradition, it was for utmost stability of Sinanju that I did proclaim there would be but one Master and one student as our art moved forward. But I admit I didn’t think about twins being born and the ferocity of a Sinanju mother’s love.” “And watching your solution to the problem of your existence when your brother became Reigning Master has shown me and all of the Masters in the Void, that you have thought through the reasons why you must follow your course. The truth is both of you are identical in your skill and energy development. This situation has never existed in Sinanju history and if you had chosen to fight there is every chance both of you would have died.” “Our mastery of the Sun Source has been a great boon to Sinanju, but as you’ve studied the histories you realize what problems are still with us. There must be someone qualified to train to become the following Reigning Master.” “At times the succession has been difficult to ensure, as your own father, Nonga, can attest. This makes your decision a sound one, to save a line of Sinanju in a distant land. There may come a day when your descendents return to the Sun Source, and on that day your choice will be the blessing of our art.” “Master Wang, can you tell me where I ought go, the world is so vast? What choices must I make for skills to insure my lines succession over the years. There are so many choices I haven’t had to face.” “I’m afraid not younger brother. By your proclamation you agreed not to pass the Sun Source to your descendents. With that choice, you have moved outside of Sinanju’s realm.” “But you said I am a master of Sinanju, and would remain one!” “Yes I did, for it is true. You have mastered the Sun Source and are fully trained and skilled. This will not diminish through your life. But your statement also told us you understand what might happen if you become a Sinanju assassin. Your brother would eventually know of your existence and such a trace might be the end of your line for all time, either to you or for future generations.” “For the Masters of Sinanju from the void to join with your quest, we would draw on our own experiences and our advice will not give you the answers you must find, because we haven’t walked your path.” “You have reasoned your course. Follow your reasoning and your path will become known to you, as each of us have done too. All of the knowledge in your memory will remain for your use, and in those studies of our history, you will find the guidance you will need. But it must be your journey.” “Master, I am unworthy of such trust as you share.” “Nonsense young one, this one lesson I can give you. As has been for every Master of Sinanju your training is your strength, and your knowledge of our past is your guide. If you didn’t possess the will to master Sinanju you would not be here. Trust your mastery, your challenge is no different from your brothers, to pass your art to the future. Your way, however, is not to work with Emperors and Kings.” “Your journey will be a legend like no other. Your success will sing through the ages and when you pass from this life, you will join all the other Masters in the Void and we will look forward to hearing your song.” “Remember but one other thing, there are no rules for what you are doing, but those you make yourself. That is the one lesson I had to learn too.” “I bid you farewell and long life…………..” Kojong knew the Great Wang was gone. He returned to look at the constellations once again, and then stood up and his ship slipped silently through then night. In time a morning arrived. The port of Tangshan China, greeted the rising morning sun. The air was so clear none did glance at the sun’s rise. It was in that time the craft crossed the horizon and slipped into the Tangshan harbour. None marked its arrival. When the ship arrived at the shore, Kojong picked up his pack and stepped off to the shore. His departing foot lightly tapped the ship and it turned into dust, soaking into the water. His arrival un-noticed, un-seen by all. Kojong then walked away from the shore into Tangshan with many choices remaining. - fin – Victor Smith Authors note: Once again I begin a journey with the Masters. This one I know where it begins, and I know where it must end. But the challenge is to understand how Kojong made the journey, to understand what choices he would be forced to make to live up to his vows and to understand what he did to create something new and powerful within Sinanjus traditions, to fulfill the future of hope. This journey will span space, it will span time, it will span peoples, food, language and many incredible places that define a Masters journey for all time. There will be no emperors, no kings, no offering ones art for hire. 5,000 years of traditions as binding as an unbent elbow, are gone. Only one master of Sinanju will pay a very brief visit, soon. Yet, Sinanjus 5,000 years of skills are the core of the journey. The sun source is there and a whole lot more. For as powerful as the sun, so there was power found in the Night Tigers, and the entire journey will find a new dynasty, a new path, and of course the wondrous future that can only happen if this journey is made. And this journey is a new one for me. No sources outside of the passage of Sinanju, will be found. And, there will not be a bit of ung poetry to be had. So eat rice and raw fish while you can find it. Steam duck if its handy. Look out for the bandersnatch… None of you are prepared for whats happening next. By my fell hand, This 12th day of March, In the Year where Winter departed for the Warming Earth (at least the grapes are bountiful from the greenhouse effect and the wines stronger) Victor Smith The Long Road Home - Chapter 2 Moving Along Chapter 2 – Moving Along Section 1 – His name was Kojong and he was sitting quietly on the prowl of a Chinese merchant ship traveling North. This of course was taking his full attention because to the ships company, he wasn’t supposed to be there. The ship, Qua, was traveling to the outer reaches of the Qing dynasty as the new Kangxi Emperor had chosen to call his empire. It was of course a ship with a single mast and used a large group of slaves to row to compensate for the lack of additional masts. The Chinese had over the past 100 year decimated their own maritime efforts, becoming increasingly centered on their own land, and the possession of a ship with multiple masts was a capital crime. But there were still exceptions to a point for unique merchant interests serving the Empire. This Qua was on such a trip, around the Korean Peninsula and to the north shore on the Sea of Okhotsk north of the Sea of Japan. They were to pick up a special tribute from the people of Magadan for the Emperor of China. The trip could only be made in the early summer after the winter ice flows departed, and though it was warmer than the previous months, a decided chill still hung in the air. For Kojong, remaining in place without being seen was an old Sinanju skill. There was a difference of course, normally you didn’t have to remain unseen, in a rather public place, from all directions day and night for weeks. Requiring Kojong to maintain the total sensitivity to each persons awareness on the ship so he was continually outside their zone of recognition. In effect he became a ‘Ghost’ on the ship. Occasionally he borrowed some rice or fish, but as he kept his energy requirements so small. This task required so much concentration that he could not spend much time thinking about the larger aspects of the journey he was on. Kojong was being a ghost or more accurately a ghost who walks. Section 2 – There is no small irony that at the same time Kojong began his journey, another offshoot of Sinanju history was coming into being. Many are aware that over the 5,000 years of Sinanju history traces of the art have been left behind. From those traces arose many traditions, those of the Yenti, those of Ninjutsu, those traces causing the development of every form of martial art around the world. Well once upon a time there was a place called Bengalla… At that very moment Kojong was being a ghost, a young man washed ashore on the Bengalla cost of Eastern Africa. He alone survived a pirate attack on his ship and found himself gravely wounded and alone. The young man was Christopher Standish, who had been a cabin boy for Christopher Columbus. He was found and healed by a race of pygmies, the Bandar, and in time would free them from their enslavement and in turn dedicate himself to fight injustice uttering the words, “I swear to devote my life to the destruction of piracy, greed, cruelty and injustice! he cried as he formally took The Oath of the Skull by firelight. And my sons and their sons shall follow me! The Bandar people were so thankful they shared an old teaching among their healers going back thousands of years from the chance meeting between a young boy and a Night Tiger of Sinanju, Lee Young was on a quest to find the Loni people and seek employment for his house. He and his companions were taking a longer trail around the lands of the Dogon after their meeting with the Tellum, and one day came upon a small boy, small even for his people, crying to himself. Lee Young approached the boy, made himself known and began speaking. “Young man, are you of the Tellum” “No sir, we are not the great ones, just the lesser Bandar.” “I am called Lee Young, young man of the Bandar. Why are you crying?” “My friends say I’m too small to join them on the hunt. They’re afraid I’ll be hurt and won’t risk angering my father, our leader. I want to be as brave as they are, but I’m too little. I want to be big and strong like they are.” Lee Young and his comrades looked at each other with knowing smiles. “My young friend, it is not height that makes one strong. It is knowledge and the ability to act when required. What are your friends hunting?” “They are hunting boar, one with great tusks, one as large as they are, a true monster of a boar.” “How do they do the hunt?” “Sir, they set net traps, and then beaters drive the boar into the net traps, and finally using our blow guns subdue the monster for slaughter.” “I understand, a boar would be a ferocious beast for a great people as your own, because of your size. A boar is as much a ferocious beast for larger men too.” “Still size is not an advantage for a trained person. Let me show you how to approach even a boar so you will not be seen so you can finish the beast on your own every time, without the need of your peoples assistance. In such a way you will be a bigger man than any of them.” “What you do is first understand most beasts focus against danger using a very narrow range of vision and/or healing. When you recognize that, all you must do is move just outside that range of awareness and you can approach a beast in safety. It is the same for most men too. Most creatures rely on familiar recognition zones, and unless you find a very aware beast, or even a very aware person you can close on them unrecognized as the threat you will become.” “We teach this skill to all the children of our village, so this is how we will begin.” The young boy learned quickly and became a great hunter for his people. The strangers from Sinanju were long gone by that time. Then in time, becoming a father, he taught the skill to his son, who in turn taught it to his son and time passed. When Christopher Standish saved the Bandar and dedicated himself to fight evil, pirates and all wrong doing, the skill was shared with him and he used it with wisdom. In time Christopher Standish changed his name and became the Phantom, the Ghost who Walks and his line continued. [More details from Lee Young’s journey can be found in the tale ‘Sinanju 2K’ at web.archive.org/web/20051217153527/plansofmice.co.uk/destroyer/011.htm [More details about the descendents of Christopher Standish have been preserved for all time by the writings of Lee Faulk.] Section 3 – Kojong watched as the ship entered the Sea of Okhotsk. Small icebergs dotted the waters, reminders of winter past. His passage was not his concern, what was important that he leave no trace of his passage, no way anyone could connect him with Sinanju. For many years as he and his brother were growing, he knew he had to leave their home behind. From his studies of the scrolls of their ancestors a plan began to form in his mind. On his days of study he choose to concentrate on the tales of the Night Tigers of Sinanju, when the world was more unknown and the Night Tigers had to make many discoveries to survive. On his brothers days, Kojing would read the scrolls of the Masters of Sinanju, for this was to be his way. And in the evenings they shared each others studies, but only as they would be pertinent to a Master of Sinanju. There was much Kojong kept to himself. He had to go where no Master knew or would suspect. He could not leave a trace of his passing, he could not ply the trade to which he was trained. To survive he must become unto a new people, new language, new food to eat. He had but an inkling of the way. Stories from the elder histories, the knowledge of a vast land reported from Sinanju’s sources discovered by the Europeans, and a thought how its peoples arrived. That thought being a path to discover. His way, North, away from empires, great civilizations of men, where people lived in small groups that moved to find food. Lands filled with legends and little fore knowledge. Magadan in the Siberia approached. Kojong sat silently, un-noticed, a ghost to walk among men. Fin – Victor Smith Author’s note – As I begin Kojong’s journey, it is as much mine, moving into a different path, where we know of the ending, but not the journey he underwent. I am trying to understand the training behind Sinanju in a different way, that leads to SunnyJoe. Think a little bit about what that journey must be. Which path should he take? There are an infinite number of directions that will all lead to his destination. How do you find a people? What do you eat? How do you find a way? And you must leave no trace any Master of Sinanju could follow. As footprints wash away with the tide, must our dreams pass too. O’yes, I did digress a bit with the Phantom History, but my research found a link those who really want to understand the Masters should know. The Phantom will not return, but thanks to Lee Falk for his creation. The Phantom was the first (do the research to understand that yourself), but Sinanju was there long before. Victor The Long Road Home - Chapter 3 Traveling North Chapter 3 – Traveling North Section 1 – Kojong had left Magdan behind as he traveled North on his Journey. ** that concludes what I wrote. As I reconstruct this, I had finished the 3rd chapter which required a lot of research. Then something happen and my PC crashed and I hadn’t saved it. Lost everything. I didn’t have the drive to recreate it again. I hope some of you enjoy this.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 20:15:11 +0000
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