The Mount Hua Sect is characterised by their plum blossom theme, and sets itself apart as more worldly than the other taoist sects.[1] They were once a part of the ten great sects,[2] before they were replaced by Zhongnan.[3]
Mount Hua enjoys a long legacy,[4] but their power declined rapidly after their prominent figures perished in the war against the Demonic Cult. Those who stayed behind struggled to leverage their heritage, which led to the downfall of the sect.[?] This gave Zhongnan room to supplant Mount Hua's position.[3]
Philosophy
Like several other sects, Mount Hua train to master the body through the sword, as a means to reach enlightenment. However, their approach to the way of the sword differ from other sects.[5] Through martial arts, they aim to express the righteous path by becoming one with the notion of blossoming to life (hangul: 피어남) or flowering to life (hangul: 개화, hanja: 開花). That is to manifest new life from the tip of the sword, usually in the form of plum blossoms. This motif was adopted simply because Mount Hua is covered in their blooms each year, but ultimately it does not matter which flower the sword manifests.[1] Contrary to popular belief, it is not required to use a specific style to produce the sect's characteristics blossoms. All styles that a Mount Hua martial artist wield will produce blossoms where there are none,[1] since the blossoms are a natural culmination of their swordsmanship. For this quality, the sect's members are sometimes referred to as blossoming swordsmen.[6]
Outsiders often get distracted by the style's superficial splendor or swift sword strokes, and are tricked into believing that the sect is merely preoccupied with flashy styles.[1] Moreover, some mistakenly believe that strength training methods went against the sect's style, when in fact, achieving the sect's quick and sharp sword strokes requires honing their physical fitness.[7] Without understanding the essence of the style, practicioners cannot reach the pinnacle of Mount Hua's swordsmanship.[1]
"A martial artist seeks to control and suppress. However, those who follow the ascetic path allow things to take their course." - Cheongmun to Cheongmyeong[8]
Mount Hua is not a pure taoist sect and sets itself apart as more worldly than the other sects,[1] yet they remain taoist all the same.[9] A trait they share with their long-standing rival, Zhongnan.[10] As such, they are somewhat ascetic,[8] demonstrated by how they frown upon 3rd grade disciples indiscriminately indulging in liqour.[?]
Techniques
We found 13 techniques on the wiki:
Organization
Generational cycle of disciples
The cycle of disciple lines or generational names go in the order of Cheong, Myeong, Hyeon, Un and Baek. In the current generation, the 3rd-grade disciples are given sect names beginning with Cheong. 2nd-grade disciples are referred to as the Baek line of disciples.[11]
| # | English | Korean | Pinyin | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Hyeon | 현 | Xuán | 玄 |
| 02 | Un | 운 | Yún | 雲 |
| 03 | Baek | 백 | Bái | 白 |
| 04 | Cheong | 청 | Qīng | 青 |
| 05 | Myeong | 명 | Míng | 明 |
Mount Hua was an elite martial arts sect, and as such they were fairly selective in their intake of trainees. However, its continued financial decline made that difficult to sustain. Finally, they were forced to accepting disciples prematuerely and indiscriminately from the sect's remaining patrons.[12]
Teachings
"Please do not forget that even the most precious child needs discipline." - Hyun Young to Hyun Jong[13]
While rewarding disciples for their achievements is a core principle of the Mount Hua Sect, they also endeavour to not spoil them by doting on them too much, since it is their duty to raise them to be virtuous of character. Offenses should also be answered with a proportional punishment. That said, the sect's rules should not take precedence above human life, and the Hyun Jong argues that he cannot praise a disciple for following their rules to the letter at the cost of abandoning someone on the brink of death; Nothing is more virtuous than helping people and saving lives, and Hyun Jong does not believe that his orders can ever supersede the cause of righteousness.[13] Hyun Jong also granted Cheongmyeong the special privilege to descend the mountain and travel freely to Huayin, something Hyun Young was strongly opposed to since it could hurt the sect's reputation.[14] Baek Cheon also expressed concerns for propriety and insubordination in regards to Cheonmyeong.[?]
Curriculum
Before the war, new initiates would stay temporarily at the White Blossom Hall, until the initiation ceremony where they would be paired up with a mentor and moved into their mentor's house as a third class disciple. The new disciples would need to build up a solid foundation (of qi), before moving on to learning any techniques such as the advanced True Six Elements Sword Technique and the Sword Technique of the Seven Sages. Upon graduating and becoming second class disciples, they get to study the Lesser Clarity Sword Technique.[15]
After the war, the sect was forced to make do with what survived. The White Blossom Hall was turned into a dormitory for third class disciples, due to lack of staff and room.[16] They also changed up the curriculum based on what survived the raid. Now, third class disciples are put straight onto the advanced True Six Elements Sword Technique. They then move on to the Sword Technique of the Seven Sages, before graduating from the White Blossom Hall to study the Lesser Clarity Sword Technique. Finally, they gain the right to learn the Great Pacification Sword Technique.[15]
Members
- See also: The Hwayeong Sect.
| Name | Status | Rank | Branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheongmun | Deceased | Sect leader | Main branch |
| Hyun Jong | Active | Sect leader | Main branch |
| Cheongjin | Deceased | Elder | Main branch |
| Hyun Sang | Active | Elder, Head of the Martial arts office | Main branch |
| Hyun Young | Active | Elder, Head of the Finance office | Main branch |
| Unam | Active | 1st class disciple | Main branch |
| Un Gum | Active | 1st class disciple, Head of the White Blossom Hall | Main branch |
| Un Bang | Active | 1st class disciple | Main branch |
| Un Gak | Active | 1st class disciple | Main branch |
| Yoo Iseol | Active | 2nd class disciple | Main branch |
| Baek Cheon | Active | 2nd class disciple | Main branch |
| Baek Sang | Active | 2nd class disciple | Main branch |
| Cheongmyeong | Active | 3rd class disciple | Main branch |
| Jo Gul | Active | 3rd class disciple | Main branch |
| Yunjong | Active | 3rd class disciple | Main branch |
| Tang Soso | Active | 3rd class disciple | Main branch |
| Yeom Jin | Active | 3rd class disciple | Main branch |
| Iseol's father | Unknown | Unknown | Main branch |
| Jin Yang-Geon | Active | Unknown | Main branch |
The Mount Hua Sect currently has 17 members on the wiki:
Etymology
The sect is sometimes referred to as the Great Mount Hua Sect (大華山派), in opposition to the Great Zhongnan Sect.[3]
The Korean name for the sect is Hwasanpa (Mount Hua Sect), which is sometimes translated to Volcanic Sect.
Trivia
Quotes
- By Cheongmyeong: The untameable growth of plum tree branches knows no defeat in the face of adversity! Blossom to the world's end! Rise once more from a century of oblivion... ...and scatter from my blade! (...) If a single arc cannot thwart an attack, then I shall swing my blade a dozen times more. If a dozen arcs will not suffice, then I shall swing it a hundred times more. The blossoms of Mount Hua shall be eternal in their reign. (...) Let the endless days come and the hopeless nights pass! Let the fall wither the leaves and the winter freeze the soil! Let the years go by and the world change in time! Each petal that wilts shall flourish once again! No amount of brute force could ever break this cosmic cycle! Blossom and scatter without end! Defy and persist without despair![17]
| Ten Great Sects |
|
|---|---|
| Five Great Families | |
| Five Palaces beyond the Great Wall |
|
| Others | |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Chapter 68 (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 52 (Manhwa)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chapter 22 (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 1: Everything is red (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 37 (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 70 (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 35 (Manhwa)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chapter 17 (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 53 (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 23 (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 36 (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 45 (Manhwa)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Chapter 33 (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 32 (Manhwa)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Chapter 4 (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 5 (Manhwa)
- ↑ Chapter 132 (Manhwa)