Be water
"Be Water" is a phrase heard several times throughout the story of 1000xResist.
Origin and meaning[edit | edit source]
The phrase comes from a monologue written by Stirling Silliphant for a character named Li Tsung (played by Bruce Lee) for the 1971 detective series Longstreet. The full speech goes as follows:
LI TSUNG: Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless: like water.
LI TSUNG: Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. Put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow, or creep, or drip, or CRASH!
LI TSUNG: Be water, my friend.
This iconic line, which embodied much of Bruce Lee's philosophy of life and martial arts, was later recounted in a Canadian interview with Pierre Berton, where Bruce Lee repeats it (with some modifications). This interview is among the most popular clips of Bruce Lee, is the reason for the quote being often misattributed to Bruce Lee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk1lzkH-e4U&t=948s
The quote draws from Daoist philosophy's principles of 'Formlessness' and effortless action/non action (無為 wú wéi) which teaches that action should be natural and serene, without
Adoption by Hong Kong Activists[edit | edit source]
"Be Water" became a slogan for activists involved in the 2019-2020 demonstrations against the Hong Kong government's extradition bill and recent activities. In addition to its use as a rallying cry, it described the strategic adaptions made by the protestors. Common mantras associated with "Be water" included instructions to "Be strong like ice", "be fluid like water", "gather like dew" and "scatter like mist".
The most significant was the shift to a decentralised mode of organisation, following lessons from 2014 protests where government forces targeted the figureheads and leadership of the demonstration movement. By shifting to organising on open forums such as encrypted group chats and anonymous message boards, the movement would be less susceptible to decapitation strikes and weaken attempts by the police force or judiciary to hold any individuals responsible for any alleged crimes. It would also protect organisers from pressure in their personal lives. Demonstrators were also encouraged to remain as anonymous as possible, by wearing face masks (common in Asia during flu and allergy seasons) and dressing in similar coloured clothing, often with multiple layers or a change of clothes available so as to confuse any attempts to track protestors and identify them.
The phrase also encouraged adaptability and a plurality in modes of protest, moving beyond typical methods such as mass protests and encouraging other forms of support including boycotts of pro-Beijing businesses, activism on social media and other public forums like bulletin boards or posters, and other forms of 'soft power' including providing support for activists, even if the individual was unable to participate or take direct action themselves. Sympathisers could still contribute by reporting the movement of police, donating, or aiding in controlling narratives in online message boards, or posting disinformation to uphold anonymity and camouflage true tactics or communication. In recognising other forms of protest and emphasising a dynamic movement across all fronts, it also stressed unity amongst the movement, and avoid in-fighting caused by ideological disagreements or a difference in tactics.
Lastly and especially following the passing of the 2020 national security law that criminalised most demonstrations under charges of sedition, "Be water" came to describe a new tactic of mass protest designed to confuse police forces and evade capture. Protestors changed from traditional tactics that emphasised entrenchment in a public space or government facility, and instead moved to a fluid model that would disperse upon the deployment of police. This greatly frustrated any attempts to encircle or "kettle" the participants. Demonstrators would constantly move, often using public transport/mass transit and carpooling to find areas of least resistance. During this period, staging simultaneous demonstrations across multiple districts became a key tactic to overburden and spread thin police. Staging supplies including water bottles, food, respirators, clothing and other equipment (often prepared by sympathisers not taking direct action) allowed for protestors to rapidly deploy and relocate around the islands.