MovieChat Forums > Kung Fu (1972) Discussion > 'When you can take the pebble from my ha...

'When you can take the pebble from my hand...'

posted 17 years ago by whatsyourboggle
14 replies | jump to latest

I'm trying to study Buddhism, from what I've seen heard and read I'm very interested. I was hoping somebody could help me with the pebble scene.

"When you can take the pebble from my hand you will be ready to leave us."

I don't understand how the speed of his hand would decide when he had gained the required knowledge to be a priest..

I've got the feeling I'm missing somebody hugely important but ludicrously simple here :p

Kung fu movies are like porn. There's 1 on 1, then 2 on 1, then a group scene...

[–] P_R_I_N_S 16 years ago

i think that the advanced abilities as a fighter or a martial artist, go hand in hand with wisdom.

and perhaps he only used the pebble test again upon leaving to remind caine that he is ready and that it was not a test.

[–] zorbear 16 years ago

There are several levels to the "time for you to leave" test. I don't remember them all, but there was the pebble test, the walking on rice paper test, the lifting the hot kettle test - I'm sure there were more covering all the talents of a monk (remember? a Sholin Monk can walk through walls, etc).

Re the pebble test: on the surface, it's the old "if you can beat the Master, then you are ready to start teaching yourself". But beneath that is a level of accumulated experience. If you watch the scene where Caine finally gets the pebble, he doesn't grab it from the Abbot's hand, he slaps the hand, and the pebble pops into the air, where Caine is able to grab it easily.

It's not just speed, it's knowledge...

[–] rwsmith29456 14 years ago

The martial arts and the meditation/mind control/ mind over matter stuff all goes together and a student advances in both together.

[–] Cherubim1 14 years ago

It's a test of the students inner strength - the ability to transcend the physical.

[–] Slew_Foot 14 years ago

Maybe Master Khan let him snatch the pebble...I think that's what P R I N S was alluding to.

[–] macklin-1 13 years ago

Yes, I always thought Master Kan would one day realize when he was ready and allow him to take he pebble. I also remember thinking if "it's time for him to leave", when did he kill the Emperor's nephew and leave for America. The opening sequence suggests he got the pebble, branded his arms and then left for America ... to find his brother.

[–] Slew_Foot 13 years ago

I thought Caine left the temple, then lived somewhere (presumably China) for a while. When the time came for Master Po to make his pilgrimage to the Forbidden City, Caine strolled on over and found him there. At that point, Po said something like. "Grasshopper! Did you think the passing of the years could make me forget the footsteps of my favorite student?" This would indicate that Caine had been knocking around for a while since leaving the temple.

After the nephew-spearing incident, Caine fled China. He went to America, since a lot of Chimamen were headed that way, and since his brother was there.

Just my take.

[–] macklin-1 13 years ago

S. Foot

Thanks for clearing that up. I vaguely remember something like that. I remember Master Poe saying Caine was his favorite student. I really like Master Poe and I thought it was wonderful how the great teacher validated him so. Thanks again!

Macklin Crew

[–] paul-273-129025 12 years ago

I also believe that Master Kahn probably chose the moment to let Caine take the pebble.

[–] vestdennis 13 years ago

I took it to signify that his focus, speed, total devotion and hand/eye coordination were all at the level necessary to leave...

[–] TeOfLeDiKi 12 years ago

I think it was also about evolving from a child who wanted to prove himself into a grown man who could serenely become part of his surroundings enough to become "one" with the pebble. If that can be achieved, then "taking" the pebble is immaterial because the pebble was already part of him, or he was part of the pebble.

neat . . . sweet . . . petite

[–] FranLovesBetteD 13 years ago

By the way, I rewatched the pilot episode the other night and wondered, why did he have to leave at some point instead of staying just like the other monks?

Animal crackers in my soup
Monkeys and rabbits loop the loop

[–] vestdennis 12 years ago

I have season 4 on DVD. I believe that as a priest he was to go into the world to learn but also teach others of the "way"...

[–] BoxOfficePoison 12 years ago

The pebble bit had to be the most parodied TV moment of the '70s. If that's not proof of a show's greatness, I don't know what is.

Incidentally, Caine didn't choose to go to America specifically to find his brother. As previously mentioned, a lot of Chinese were emigrating to America at the time, so it would have been convenient for Caine to blend in with them, and he knew his father's roots were in America. He didn't even find out he had an American brother until later.