Bruce Lee’s Writings
“This page marks the beginning of another year. I must laid great stress on the necessity of a good education as the only means to achieve distinction, because in our age of enlightenment, a man’s ability is generally measured by the knowledge which he possesses.”
– Bruce Lee, journal entry from 1961
Despite his renown as an international cultural icon and martial artist, Bruce Lee was also a prolific writer and philosopher. He was an ardent journaler and throughout his life, kept notebooks filled with everything from daily observations to profound self-affirmations. No matter if he was producing a new film or training his students, Bruce was always known to have a small notepad close by to take notes whenever inspiration struck.
In 1959, Bruce Lee moved from Hong Kong to Seattle and enrolled at the University of Washington to study. Shortly after, Bruce opened his first formal gung fu school and in doing so, his outlook on his physical, philosophical and spiritual practice began to evolve. Bruce’s most defining and profound development came in the form of his hybrid style of martial arts called Jeet Kune Do.
Jeet Kune Do views the physical and philosophical aspects of martial arts as a symbiotic relationship, one constantly influencing the other. Jeet Kune Do became more than just a combat system, but instead a comprehensive way of thinking that could be applied to life itself. Bruce began recording daily workouts on one page while expounding on his mindset and the intentionality behind each movement on the next.
In addition to this, Bruce would also routinely fill his notebooks with self-affirmations as a way of motivating himself, training both body and mind as a daily practice. He would also write poetry and translate Chinese poems into English with the finest penmanship and accompanying drawings.
Even in the face of racial and cultural obstacles, Bruce found ways to stay determined and steadfast by carving out an outsized mark for himself. Following the success of his films “Big Boss” and “Fists of Fury,” Bruce Lee began writing and producing his own films. This not only gave him more creative freedom but also allowed him to infuse his philosophies directly into the DNA of his projects and elevate them beyond just martial arts eye candy.
Several years after his passing, his daughter Shannon Lee uncovered a series of Bruce’s handwritten notes and drawings which included an undeveloped passion project. The project was a gung fu Western that explored the reality of the Chinese immigrant experience. In 2019, Shannon helped produce the critically acclaimed show “Warrior” based on her father’s writings.
Bruce Lee’s legacy lies not only in his cultural impact as a martial artist and film star but also in the notebooks and words of wisdom that he left behind. Reading through his profound philosophies and insights on life helps paint a full and beautiful portrait of the world-changing icon.