Zhang Yimou's historical reconstruction has sparked considerable controversy. Some critics view it as a "beautification of tyranny," but other scholars point out that it is a modern reflection on the traditional concept of the knight-errant (Xia). Regardless, Hero and its poetic resonators – "First Opening of the Sword Box" and "Famed, Yet Questioned for the Truth" – all prompt us to ponder a fundamental question: at historical turning points, how should the individual face power? Should one persist in opposition, or seek consensus? Cling to local justice, or focus on overall harmony?
💎 Conclusion
Although brief, the two poems "First Opening of the Sword Box" and "Famed, Yet Questioned for the Truth," through their focus on objects and discourse, provide us with a unique perspective to glimpse the deep structure of Zhang Yimou's Hero. Through these micro-politics of material and language, we see the eternal tension between power and the individual, and we also see complex thinking that transcends simple binaries.
The true "hero" is perhaps neither a complete resister nor a total submitter, but an individual capable of maintaining independent thought within the historical tide, and upholding spiritual autonomy amidst material temptations and discursive mazes. Nameless's choice – to abandon the assassination and accept death – stems not from fear, but from understanding; it is not a mark of failure, but a symbol of wisdom.
In the contemporary context, Hero and these two poems continue to resonate with us. When we face complex social realities and personal choices, Nameless's dilemma and抉择 still illuminate our thinking: What is true heroic spirit? How can the individual maintain dignity and conscience within power structures and historical currents? The answers to these questions are perhaps hidden in that cautious meticulousness of "Gently open the sword box," in those self-statements of identity like "A village chief from Langmeng," and in those moral choices of "yet he seems to decline."