On the Character: 動

黃偉嘉 劉玨

A character that moves the body and the mind

生命在于運動

– Huang Weijia（黃偉嘉） and Liu Jue （劉玨）

Illustration and design by Cai Tao and Wang Siqi

The sight of green grass gently swaying in the wind might sound relaxing to some， but not for Wu Zixu（伍子胥）， a general and politician in the Spring and Autumn period （770 – 476 BCE）， who had to flee for his life after his father and brother were executed by the king of Chu State. According to the story collection （《敦煌變文集》）， he was so terrified of being ambushed he would “風吹草動，即便藏形?（fēngchuīcǎodòng， jíbiàncángxíng，hide out at the rustle of grass in the wind）.”

Wu eventually escaped to serve the king of Wu State， and led the Wu army back to the Chu capital to take his revenge 16 years later. Meanwhile， his story gave rise to the idiom 風吹草動， meaning signs of disturbance or trouble. Like the idiom suggests， the most common meaning for 動 （dòng） is “to move，” as opposed to being still， or 靜 （jìng）. The character’s traditional form is 動， with 重 （zhòng） suggesting its pronunciation， and 力 （lì， strength） representing its meaning—that it has something to do with using strength.

In ancient Chinese， though， 動 can also mean “to act.” In （《孫子兵法》）， Spring and Autumn period military strategist Sun Tzu （孫子） emphasized caution before action by stating “非利不動 （fēilìbúdòng， do not act unless there are benefits to gain）.” But once the battle starts， Sun Tzu regarded swiftness the top priority， which begot the idiom “靜如處子，動如脫兔 （jìngrúchǔzǐ， dòngrútuōtù， stay calm like a coy maiden， but once in action， move like an escaping hare）.”

In modern Chinese， 動 usually means “to move” or “to be in motion，” such as 你坐著千萬別動 （nǐzuòzheqiānwànbiédòng， sit tight and don’t move）. To set out on a journey is 動身 （dòngshēn）， literally “to move one’s body，” while 動粗（dòngcū， “to move roughness”） means to use violence. But in times of conflict， a folk saying teaches us 君子動口不動手 （jūnzǐdòngkǒubúdòngshǒu， a civil person uses mouth [to argue]， not hands [to fight]）.

The common term 運動 （yùndòng， exercise， movement） can be applied to everything related to physical exercise and sports， from 運動員 （yùndòngyuán， athletes） to 運動場 （yùndòngchǎng， sports field） to 奧林匹克運動會 （àolínpǐkèYùndònghuì， Olympic Games）. The term can also refer to social movements， as in 五四運動 （Wǔ-SìYùndòng， May Fourth Movement）， a period of literary and social progress in the early 20th Century. The idiom “生命在于運動 （shēngmìngzàiyúyùndòng， life lies in movement）” is often attributed to French philosopher Voltaire. Whether he said those exact words is debatable， but the suggestion to get healthy exercise is always welcome.

The character 動 moves people not only physically， but also emotionally. For instance， 小伙子的話感動了姑娘 （xiǎohuǒzi dehuàgǎndònglegūniang， the young man’s words moved the young woman）. To have one’s heart moved， or 動心 （dòngxīn）， means to develop affection or passion for someone or something; while to have one’s temper or anger moved is 動氣 （dòngqì） or 動怒（dòngnù）， both meaning “to be angry.” A good story or an inspiring event has a special power to move people， or 動人心弦 （dòngrénxīnxián， strike a chord in one’s heart）， while the phrase 動人 alone refers to something that is touching or moving. Similarly， 動聽 （dòngtīng， “move hearing”） describes beautiful music or flattering words. In a world full of temptation and influence， 不為所動 （bùwéisuǒdòng）， or to hold one’s ground unmoved， is not always easy， but perhaps worth the effort. After all， there is a price to pay for 輕舉妄動 （qīngjǔwàngdòng， taking reckless action）.