Cuchulainn (the Hound of Culainn) was an Irish folk hero who was a berserk. Is he based on an historical figure (in the same way that the exploits of the Jesus man have been exaggerated)?
The pre-Christian Irish foundation myth (think Romulus and Remus for the Romans and, by extention the Italians) is called the Tain Bo Cuchlainn. The story is of Cuchlainn, a guy who kicks ass and takes names and becomes a king / father of the Irish people.
AFAIK, the Tain and Cuchlainn himself have a little historical basis, but it’s thin and subjective. The Tain Bo Cuchlainn is available from Amazon,provided that I have not butchered the spelling.
I can provide citations for further reading, if you’d like to see them.
So he’s the typical Irish guy?
Check out Finn MacCool, another Irish mythical/historical figure. Pretty good read.
Slaine rox.
Whatever historical hero was the model for the Hound of Ulster was some kind of badazz.
I think it is common knowledge that Japanese arts where imported from China (Japan has a long history of importing/improving on many things). Most things in Japan was imported from China.
Look at the example of the word Karate. Kara can me both “Chinese” or “empty”. It until recently did mean chinese-hands or tang hands. It was when Japan wanted to invade China that they forced a change of the word to mean “empty” since empty in Japanese sounded the same. They didn’t want to pay respect to the “inferior” land they where about to occupy. Many Karate practicioners in Okinawa objected (to the name change).
[edit] ops forgot to paste the link. I did a random google search for “karate and chinese hands” and found this link http://www.uskyokushin.com/budo.htm
Dude, you are replying in the wrong thread. :wrestlerc
Get out of my thread! NAUGHTY Orientophile! Assails Stinkyflower with limpwristed slaps
LoL!
And here I was thinking my posts was deleted. I don’t know how I ended up posting in this thread. I apologize but blame ninjas!
defends himself from Angry Spastic’s attacks by kiai’ing into a bowstance
Go Conan!
Actually it’s called the Tain Bo Cuilaigne. Known in english as ‘The Cattle Raid of Cooley’.
It isn’t a foundation myth, but a and account of a war between the irish kingdoms of Connacht and Ulster dressed up with magic and mythical creatures.
Here’s an overview of the plot:-
http://www.fjiordlands.org/carlnfrd/cuchufr.htm
AIUI, the story was first written down by early Christian monks from pre-christian oral tradition.
How historical is it ? well, Ireland was never ruled by the romans, so there aren’t really any written records from the time before christian scholar-monks arrived. My guess is that there was a war between Ulster and Connacht with some notable leader on the Ulster side who stories grew up around and got embellished as they were passed on.
What’s striking in the english translation I’ve read, is how unlike mediaeval christianity the ethos of some of the characters is (i.e. a lot of the women are highly sexed without being ashamed of it, and hold political power over men).
gotta love those irish girls
…myths.
Some of them ARE based on real people and events, but you have to understand that both news providers and entertainment weren’t as developed back in the days. Whereas people’s imagination & desire for excitement probably was pretty much the same, so they just made up stuff themselves to make it cooler. Unlike today, when TV stations do that for free & not very well I might add…