Kung Fu Tradition or Myth?

Question

I was told that in traditional Kung Fu a prospective student presented his would-be master with a gift (usually a fruit basket or some assorted foods), I don't feel that my resource for this was credible which is why I ask here. If this is indeed fact... what is this tradition called? Could anyone provide more information?

Answer 1

it was largely just a show of respect and honor. as well as humility. like when you drink tea with your sifu you always wait for him to drink first.

also it was unheard of for teachers in the old days to charge fee's for training. they would accept gifts...be it a tangible object...or a "donation"

this still applies today to very traditional sifu/sensei....even a visiting teacher doing a seminar...you are expected to take care of them...provide room and board, food, etc..make sure they are comfortable..have everything organized ahead of time...things like that. it's your responsibility..and he shouldnt have to worry about those things ..so he can concentrate on sharing his "priceless" knowledge with you

in short its just good manners.

Answer 2

I'm not sure about that, but I do know presenting a cup of tea to the sifu, is the official ceremony of being accepted as an apprentice/student.

Maybe there's some truth in that, as not all things are money orientated back then.  

I'll go ask my sifu, what he did back then.

These days, from what I observe, students still bring some gifts (like some small amount of fruits or taking them out for a simple dinner) some of the time when they meet with the sifu, genuinely show respect and appreciation for the teachings they received.

They even offer to carry the sifu's bag, pay for his parking, small little things which is not demanded but rather genuinely coming from their heart.  As for myself, I always offer a bottle of water to my sifu everytime we meet.

It's not all one way, sometimes my sifu give things away like swords, cudgels or even a DVD recording of his previously recorded lessons or demonstrations, which he feels might benefit his apprentice more him at his stage of life.  Sometime's there's an organized fight, and the sifu would take us in based on his standing as a member of the national coach (not that we can't buy the tickets ourselves).  It's all very heartwarming, encouraging and special.

All that on top of the fees, that is.

Back to your question, i guess it's not so much a myth as it is forgotten practices.  

Also, (yeah I know it's a movie), if you watch a lot of Jackie Chan's movies, you can see that Jackie does a lot of chores for his sifu, because usually his character is dirt poor.  He does what he can..... hope you get the idea.

Answer 3

This is a traditional practice. The reason fruit was the primary gift is that many of the fruits given, especially oranges, were hard to get and presumably expensive. A "fruit basket" is also an acceptable gift to be given to a visiting sifu, sigung, or master.

Answer 4

It was like that in the old days.

I know a Sifu who use to be a break-dancer in the early-mid 1980's. I nearly pee'd my pants laughing when he told me this.

He's a successful business man today and doesn't ask anything of his students except - dedication.

Answer 5

I suppose that the term "visitor's gift" is as good as any.

This tradition also holds for visitors to Christian monasteries.

Whenever you visit a monastery, you ALWAYS bring a gift. In the western tradition it is usually fruit, brandy, coffee, tea  or some other "treat" that the monks don't regularly get for themselves.