A Study In The Way Of Raing-fe

[Yigit]

A LOOK INTO THE DISCIPLINE OF RAING-FE

TEACHINGS OF HONOUR AND DUTY IN THE DAY OF THE SIHAI​

I. Preface

Ra'ing'ha'ksai-fe'ie (ĦᵹḸ̆ᵹᶋŦ ƻŨ̌ʧ), shortened and known more commonly as 'Raing-Fe', loosely translating to 'Honors Way', is a code of discipline for warriors, created, developed and passed down by a patron of the martial arts, Fu'ijin-Sei'dann, a legendary swordmaster and philosophical thinker who lived in the historical days of the Zuge Dynasty. In a stark difference to the boisterous world views of the feudal lords, Fu'ijin believed that the warrior must be brave, honest and compassionate, and that a sword must be wielded not to cut a mans path to a greater understanding of the world, but to show him where his road must lead so that he may finally understand and acknowledge the meaning of the 'Way of the Warrior'. This is where the name 'Raing-Fe' derives from; the practitioners of Raing-Fe believe that there is more to the art of warfare than bloodshed and cardinal sin, that a warrior must be the paragon of the meaning of the word 'honour' and 'loyalty', and illuminate the minds and hearts of those they encounter along the path, whether friend or foe.

The Warriors who follow the code of Raing-Fe discipline theirselves in more ways than mere combat. In order to master the teachings of the Raing-Fe, one must be able to tame their soul, and learn how to control their emotions. Indeed, a true Warrior acts never out of the emotions that spur in the heat of the moment, but rather in accordance to the most logical solution that the Warriors mind can brew. As easy as one might believe it to sound, a Warrior who can control his actions and choose his emotions during even the most stressful and life-threatening moments is difficult to come by, and every Warrior of the Raing-Fe discipline must devote their years into such study. It is due to this practice that the way of Raing-Fe is not only by the sword but also by a tame moral discipline and a great understanding of ones heart.

Patience, serenity, and wisdom are the three leading views that the Warriors of the Raing-Fe discipline must strive to possess. Patience is an important tool in overcoming feelings of frustration and anger, both being emotions that are considered to be very threatening to the martial style of the Raing-Fe. If a Warrior cannot devote his mind entirely to the task at hand, his calmer senses will dull in favor of negative intent, which will bring about undesirable consequences in every scenario possible. Serenity is a necessary achievement that is required for one to be able to truly look into their mind and soul, and to be able to listen to their heart. Without the ability to enter the calm of mind, an oasis of lucidity and clarity, a Warrior can not ever manage to accurately decode the meaning of the Raing-Fe discipline. Meditation is a tool underestimated greatly by many, it's value often times defamed, but a Warrior must know it's importance in achieving mental quiescence. Wisdom is a form of sage intelligence that one can only acquire through experience and worldly involvement. To see, to hear and to understand, one can only ever acquire true wisdom through involving themselves in the period and the society. Without a sound judgement, a Warrior cannot easily know to make the right decision. A Warrior whos insight is corrupt with cardinal desires is no true Warrior, and a man who cannot learn from his experience is of no adequate intelligence. A Warrior must contemplate the meaning of life everyday, but never be shadowed by it's ominous mystery.​

II. The Seven Virtues of Raing-Fe

I. Virtue of Honour. (ĦᵹḸ̆ᵹᶋ)

The decisions a Warrior makes, and the method of carrying out such decisions, always mirror the identity and emotional stability of a Warrior. The true strength of a Warrior is shown not when they become victorious in the battles of the sword, but the battles of honour. A Warrior will never allow oneself or another to stain their sense of honour and justice. "To turn yourself away from honour is the worst crime that a Warrior can commit."​

II. Virtue of Gallantry. (Ɛ̂Ũ̌ƸƸŨ̌Ḹ̆Ɏᶋʧ)

A true Warrior must never hide away from the wonders and courses of life, and be willing to explore all sorts of newfoundings, regardless of the risk involved. A Warrior must possess a heroic form of courage at the face of danger, and be willing to live life to it's fullest without placing restrictions on oneself. "A Warrior feels most alive when his life is at grave risk."​

III. Virtue of Deference. (ƕɞɁɞᶋɞḸ̆Ƣɞ)

A Warrior must train oneself not only in the way of the blade, but also the way of the mind. A Warrior will never develop his power and strength for the sake of cutting down another, but for the greater good of all things in life. A Warrior who profanes his blade with the blood of the innocent and undeserving is the most heinous man living. "Even the deadliest of all swordmasters should know to harbor a deep sense of compassion in his heart."​

IV. Virtue of Humility. (ĦᴖƼĨ̀ƸĨ̀Ɏʧ)

Every Warrior must know that just because a blade can take lives, doesn't mean it should. A true Warrior does not have any reason to be cruel. A Warrior who understands the greater meaning of life knows better than to needlessly take lives and shed innocent blood. To be humble in the face of all difficulties is the true evidence of a Warriors sensibility. "A Warrior should not only be respected for their strength, but also for their humility."​

V. Virtue of Probity. (Ŋ̄ᶋᵹƔĨ̀Ɏʧ)

When a Warrior gives his word, it must be undoubtedly honest. To lie and deceive is the way of the snake, and a Warrior must be the embodiment of trustworthiness. A true Warrior will always follow up on their words of promises. They never promise to commit an act which they have no intention of fulfilling. "For a Warrior, to speak, and to act, are the same course of action."​

VI. Virtue of Responsibility. (ᶋɞŦŊ̄ᵹḸ̆ŦĨ̀ƔĨ̀ƸĨ̀Ɏʧ)

A Warrior must be blindly loyal to his cause, to his duty, and to his master or lord. To any and everyone for whom a Warrior has sworn word, they must at all times, regardless of the circumstances involved, remain true to the heart and fiercely honest. Warriors, after all, are responsible for the results of every action which they commit. "A Warrior who neglects the consequences of his own actions is a fearful coward."​

VII. Virtue of Charity. (ƢĦŨ̌ᶋĨ̀Ɏʧ)

A Warrior does not only fight for his own well being, but also of those he loves and respects. A Warrior will always be charitable in all manners of life, and go for the rescue of the weak and the abused, a Warrior will know to feed the poor and starved. A Warrior should not only be trained to take lives, but also to rescue them. It is only then that a Warrior can truly be deemed noble at heart. "If a Warrior grips his blade, he must not only swing it to destroy, but to create, and to provide."​

III. Afterwords and Closure

In the modern day, honour has replaced ambition, and compassion has been shadowed by greed. But one must never forget the days from which they originate, and remember that those humble souls who shed their blood to bring about the days of future in defiance of destiny did so not out of the selfishness of their hearts but to see their realms prosper and usher into a new life. It is most unfortunate, that the art of warfare has come to mean nothing but an act of brutality and arrogance in the eyes of people, as domineered and displayed by barbarians of the North, the pillaging thieves of the countrylands, and the people of nobility who have forsaken their respect for others by dedicating their years to the destruction of their rivalries. But in the golden, ancient times of the Moon people, to be a Warrior meant much more.

It is for this reason that the discipline of Raing-Fe should be spread in the new society, to be acknowledged and recognized by the warriors of our day and the students of the Eastern blade. The Raing-Fe must live on until the end of times, so that those who understand the value of life, tranquility, and benevolence, can continue to uphold and defend the original sense of honour.

Penned and authored by Jin-Hann,
practitioner of the Raing-Fe discipline,
and mentor of the Eastern Martial Arts.​