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Aware of Emptiness

The topic of Goku's name is a somewhat complex one.  Throughout the book we refer to him as Goku as this has become the popular way to do so.  But in all actuality his 'real' family name is Son.  It's this combined with Goku which signifies his lineage as a human being, as a man.  So where then does Goku come from and why do we use that instead of Son?

The name Goku was one self-applied to him in the very first episode of Dragon Ball, and only retroactively explained in Dragon Ball Z.  Without this retroactive fit we would never know where the name came from.  It goes that when Goku fell down the ravine and bumped his head he completely lost the knowledge programmed in his mind on the purpose and reason for his existence; to cleanse Earth.  Grandpa Gohan picked up this newly-changed boy and held him up to the sunny sky.  The boy smiled and laughed and was as happy as a person can be.  Grandpa Gohan looked at him in the sunlight, this shining and joyful youth, and decided at that moment to name him “Goku”.  It turns out that Grandpa Gohan's full name was Son Gohan, and so Goku's full name thereby became Son Goku.

And what do these two names mean?  The family name Son is one that can mean two (or more) things.  First, it means 'grandson', implying that Goku is the grandson of Grandpa Gohan.  The second: It is a basic and non-descriptive surname given to anybody to imply that they do indeed have a surname.  It is like a name without being a name.  A null.  It's used here as both a family name and a symbolic name. 

The given name is much more rich with history and purpose.  The name itself is broken down into two characters, Go and Ku—each of which can be used singularly or in combination with other characters.  The Go ideogram is one that implies 'awareness,' 'comprehension,' 'to realize,' 'to apprehend.'  The Ku implies 'emptiness,' 'hollowness,' 'bare,' 'deserted,' and 'void.'  The characters can mean all of these things at once and will change based on the context in which they are applied.  When combined, the word most often means 'Aware of Emptiness,' or 'Apprehension of Void'.  It is a name with great meaning, and one, like many in Japanese society, that comes from Chinese Buddhism.

A Super Man

One such character who follows this theme, and had become quite popular in America by the late 50's, was Superman, the quintessential hero.  His arrival on the planet into a small town where he was adopted by the Kent's—a rural farming family—led to a young boy becoming the greatest super hero that the world would ever know.  A defender of all things, a savior to the planet, a lover of humanity, and... An alien.

Even though Superman is regarded across the world as a universal character, he is portrayed and understood as American.  Though not alone, Superman will always be connected with America.  In the same vein Japan created its own home grown super men like Ultra Man, and Goku. This chapter serves to describe Goku in comparison to Superman and others like him.

*  *  *

One of the mistakes that was made during the initial English translation and dubbing of the first 2 seasons of Dragon Ball Z was the relationship between Goku and his true father, Bardock.  The dub states that his father was a scientist, and created a technique that enables the Saiya-jin elite to transform into a more powerful state.  But in reality he was the squad leader of a group of Saiya-jin warriors.  They were planet cleansers—a low level group when compared to most by Lord Frieza.  Though a man with great potential, and a complex fate, he was by no means a scientist.  It's hard to pinpoint why the mistranslation of the dub occurred. Probably a combination of several factors, but there is a slight chance that the translators of the show were tipping their hat to Superman's scientist father, Jor-El.

*  *  *

Goku is taught the way of martial arts by Grandpa Gohan as he matured on Mt. Paozu.  His concept of the real world is relegated to his experiences on these mountains, and we are led to believe that he knew nothing beyond what his Grandpa taught him, including his true identity.  To Goku, there is no one inside himself, no split personality or hidden past.  His life is simple, and he understands his role as his grandpa's disciple.  It isn't until his Grandpa's mysterious and unexplained death (at the time); along with the introduction of Bulma that Goku is swept into the modern city, where he experiences the real world for the first time.  While on his journey for the dragon balls he unlocks more of his potential as he comes to grip with the emerging Saiya-jin nature hidden under the guise of his humanity.

Dragon World

Scattered across the land are numerous places of interest—capital cities, villages, natural sights and so on.  But for the most part the landscape seems unpopulated and in some areas actually barren.  Citizens of Dragon World tend to congregate in large cities with outlying farming groups found nearby if the climate supports agriculture.  In the far North are high mountain chains frozen solid in the winter, bordered by large glaciers.  In the South and Southeast are a great string of islands, presenting a tropical climate similar to Hawaii or the Polynesian Islands.  It is here where Master Roshi's island is located (Kame House) as well where they host the Tenkaichi Budokai.  The Southwest is predominantly desert and flatlands parsely populated with villagers.  It is in the Southwest that Master Roshi's sister makes her home.  Goku and Chi-Chi's house is located in the East, near Mt. Paozu and the mainland's Southeastern shore.  Between these areas are wastelands interspersed with specks of towns and smaller cities. 

We're shown the barren nothingness so often because Goku has a practice of drawing his enemies away from major urban centers and into less populated areas.  His hope is to prevent the unnecessary loss of life of his fellow Earthlings at the hands of his opponent.  Furthermore, he can't fully unleash his true power in society, both for the chance of causing unnecessary suffering as well as for the basic ethics of martial arts which shun promotion of abilities and powers (the show off mentality) to normal people.

Foreword

Of all the entertainment cultural phenomenon in the world, one of them—and this may surprise many media observers—eclipses by a fair measure the popularity of the rest.  It's not Star Wars, nor Star Trek, the Matrix, or The Lord of the Rings.  It's Dragon Ball. Combining the fan popularity of these four heavyweights, their movie attendance, TV audience, franchise spinoff book and toy deals, they still don’t reach the global saturation of Dragon Ball.

And this may be a curious phenomenon, as Star Trek, Star Wars, The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings are all fairly deeply embedded in western culture, philosophy and entertainment genres.  Star Wars, for instance, takes the classic cowboy horse opera to space.  The Matrix has some metaphysical bridges that arch into eastern thought of matter/energy-as-illusion and how one reality can be completely nested in another reality.  Yet, Dragon Ball (and even its name is so oriental) draws deeply into the well of eastern culture, philosophy/psychology and entertainment conduits.  As a result it became the predominant entertainment blockbuster of Earth.

Dragon Ball takes fantastic martial arts prowess and supra-physical powers, fuses it with a quest with complicated characters toward a mythic goal, builds in the tension of non-good, aggressive enemies and threatener's to large-scale environments (as well the dark side of the main hero’s nature) and spins it all into a captivating, riveting, fun and instructive animated and comic book series.  Dragon Ball is the kind of epic journey that invites you inside, takes you right in to the action and challenges and dilemmas.

If you could fly through air at super sonic speeds, punch through a mountain with your bare hands, control energy beams mentally, and even disintegrate entire planets... would you?  Or would you harness these abilities for a greater good and teach others how to do the same?

Introduction

This book is a fun, engaging and instructive look at one of the world's most influential and well-known epic stories.  More than any book before it, The Tao of Dragon Ball draws upon Japanese and Chinese history, martial arts culture and spiritual/psychological disciplines to delve deeper into the Dragon Ball series. 

*  *  *

Ever since Goku's conception/re-interpretation he has become a world famous and easily recognizable character.  His presence in the lives of hundreds of millions has left an impact on society.  Goku has been seen by some as a perfect role model, while others simultaneously view him as one of the most annoying characters in existence.  Despite being in the spotlight, his innocence and mindfulness of the current moment almost always allow him to be at peace and maintain a smile on his cherubic face regardless of the situation, similar to many of the spiritual teachers who offer guidance in our real lives.  Perhaps that's one of the benefits of not being real?  Or perhaps Goku's outlook on life can serve as a model for humanity.

Rivals

The ability to teach honestly and accurately comes from experience in a particular discipline.  Once a student of the martial arts takes someone under their wing they enter into an extremely important teacher to student relationship.  Regardless of the number of students, one or one thousand, a master is one who has perfected their art (To their current level) and ingrains it into a student capable of learning it's inner depths.

*  *  *

In the Dragon World of Dragon Ball there is one original master of martial arts, named Mutaito (though surely there must have been some before him).  Master Roshi (Kame Sennin) and Tsuru Sennin were his disciples, and as a team they fought as partners against Piccolo Daimao and his demonic minions on their first worldwide rampage.  In a last ditch effort to save the planet, Mutaito sealed Piccolo Daimao's body and soul in the Denshin Jar using a technique called Mafuba (Demon Seal).  He successfully used this forbidden technique at the cost of his own life. 

Masterless, the two students split apart and went their separate ways.  Each holding different philosophies and perspectives after Mutaito's death.

“From the one comes the two,” and from Mutaito came the two main schools of martial arts.  The Turtle School (Japanese:  Kame Ryu) and the Crane School (Japanese:  Tsuru Ryu).

The Turtle School is taught by Kame-sennin (Turtle Hermit), aka Master Roshi.  Master Roshi is called many names throughout the series, but we are never told his original given name.  Master Roshi itself means “Master Old Teacher,” or jokingly “Master Master.”  Muten Roshi as he's sometimes called, means “Old Master Martial Heaven.”  Perhaps when Master Roshi gained discipleship under Mutaito (or after his death) he gave up his true name and took on this posthumous title.  Since he has no true name people only refer to him by his titles.  When fighting in martial arts tournaments where his students are attending he goes by the name and disguise of “Jackie Chun,” in homage to Jackie Chan, famous martial arts actor and Beijing Opera star, whom Akira Toriyama is fond of.  Literally speaking, Master Roshi resembles Son WuKong's Immortal Master Subhodi, as Roshi as well is an immortal.   He is over 300 years old by the time we first meet him.

Sangha and the Z Warriors

The main cast of the Dragon Ball Z sangha is referred to as the Z Warriors.  The Z Warriors begins with one.  From the one come two.  From two come the “ten thousand things”.  Starting from and surrounding Goku, the members include the following:  Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, Tian Shin Han, Chaozu, Piccolo, Yajirobe, Gohan, Vegeta, Trunks, and Goten.  Those not considered the main warriors but still in the sangha through association with Goku include Chi-Chi, Ox King, Master Roshi, Baba the Witch, Videl, Mr. Satan, Bulma (and her family), and the beings of higher realms (God's, Guardians, and Kaio's).

The sangha of Z Warriors begins with Goku in his teenage years.  Before this time he developed several meaningful relationships, and the effect of his presence had already been felt, but he was not developed spiritually enough to have an effect on someone simply by being present.  He quelled wars, destroyed apocalyptic robots, and changed how people think in numerous ways, but it was performed through direct action, either by punching something until it couldn't fight back or by eradicating the tools necessary for evil to continue.

In each case he wasn't affecting his targets through indirect means as he would in later years, nor by example.  His energy potency was not high enough.  Of course this never stopped him from performing admirable deeds or trying to redirect those who strayed away from the path, but he did each of these things intentionally and with direct action.  A true sangha cultivates every member through both direct and indirect actions.  As Goku matures the sangha begins to take shape.  Once he became responsible enough to direct their lives in a meaningful way the responsibility was thus thrust upon him.

Shugyo

The pursuit of perfection is a driving force in self improvement, and can often be the driving force.  To attain perfection is to eradicate all forms of inadequacy and weakness.  In a more spiritual perspective perfection is likened to divinity.  The idea being that humans are imperfect, and therefore the quest for a human to attain perfection is a quest towards godhood.  Whether gods are perfect or not is self evident to a seeker on the quest for godhood, in all actuality their quest depends on it.

*  *  *

The practice of shugyo and musha shugyo in Dragon Ball is enormous.  The entire plot is based on it.  Goku in particular is charged with traveling from location to location in order to collect the dragon balls.  As he does so he confronts opponents who challenge his strength and fight to stop him in his quest.  Like the quintessential Knight Errant, Goku fights for what he believes is right, rather than for a specific idolatry or ruling master.  He faces a near endless amount of challengers, and in so doing learns how to conquer his own inner weakness and insecurities.  He purifies his soul (even more than it already is), increases his physical strength and abilities, and earns the tutelage and discipleship of several highly respected masters.

- Derek Padula, author of “The Dao of Dragon Ball”           

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