…there is a Yi 乙 and a Jia 甲 ?

I recently watched Appaloosa, a film directed by one of my favourite actors, Ed Harris and starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen and Renee Zellwenger.

Ed Harris & Viggo Mortensen in Appaloosa

It’s a neat little film, a Western which is a bit unconventional. Anyway, I’m watching the movie and I’m thinking how Ed Harris’ character, Virgil Cole, who is hired to be the marshall of Appaloosa (a sort of legal hired gun) is so very Geng in every way. (Harris is a Ding Fire in real life).

Geng because of the way he enforces the law in the town.

Geng because his downfall comes at the hands of a woman, Allison French, a widow played by Rene Zellwenger. Geng combines with Yi, but it is what we call a Knight in Shining Armour falling for the Damsel in Distress sort of combination.

But I was trying to figure out if the character of Everett Hitch (played by Viggo Mortensen), who is essentially Virgil’s deputy, should be classed also as a Geng. Two Gengs together?

Nah. Didn’t make sense. There can only be one Tiger on the Mountain as they say. And Mortensen’s character didn’t exert in this film – he supported. If Virgil asked him to do something, he would. And he was a sort of straight man, but not a simpleton. A very intelligent man. But straight.

Had to be a Jia.

Geng chops Jia. Virgil tells Everett what to do. And Everett does it. Ever the supportive Jia.

In the film, there’s an interesting moment when Allison tries to put the moves on Everett, when she perceives Virgil as not giving her enough attention (or she thinks he’s not Alpha any more). Everett then tells her something along the lines of ‘You’re with him, and I’m with him. We’re both with him”.

Then it all made sense.

Jia and Geng is an antagonistic relationship. But using Yi in the center, it becomes workable. Jia and Geng as Day Masters have a unique connection to Rob Wealth – Geng puts emphasis on Rob Wealth because Geng is all about altruism and brotherhood, camaraderie and friendship. Jia doesn’t really put a lot of emphasis on Rob Wealth, but invariably gets ‘used’ by Rob Wealth without realising it.