"Patience, Young Grasshopper" Quiz | Television

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A young man called Kwai Chang Caine is schooled by Master Po into the Buddhist/Tao priesthood. What is the name of the Buddhist sect that he is schooled in?

Answer: Shaolin

Shaolin Buddhism is a fairly relaxed sect compared to the vegetarian/celibate sects of the Chinese Ch'an Buddhism. Although the Shaolin temple teaches martial arts it is undertaken with spiritual goals based on physical benefits. Shaolin is part of the Mayahana Buddhist tradition of the northern countries of Tibet whereas Theravada Buddhism tends to be more popular in the southern Buddhist countries. Ch'an became known as Zen Buddhism in Japan. Vajrayana Buddhism is more well-known as Tantric Buddhism.

2. During the pilot episode Master Po is murdered and Caine avenges his death by killing his murderer and escaping to the United States of America. But who was the person that Caine killed that meant he could not stay in China?

Answer: The nephew of the Chinese Emperor

Both Master Po and Caine meet up in the capital city and are talking to each other when an entourage escorting the Emperor's nephew came along and an argument ensued between the guards and Master Po. While defending himself Po is shot by the Emperor's nephew. Caine, in a fit of rage, kills the royal nephew and must flee China before the Emperor can exact his revenge.

3. During the course of his travels in the American wild west Caine searches for someone/something. Who/what is it that he seeks?

Answer: Danny Caine

Caine escapes to the sanctuary of the United States of America. While there, he seeks his brother Danny; which he finally does in the last four episodes.

4. According to Caine's mentor Master Po, what is the only darkness?

Answer: Fear

The young acolyte Caine says to his teacher "Of all things, to live in darkness must be worst."
"Fear is the only darkness" is Master Po's rejoinder.

5. Kwai Chang Caine was admirably played by the great actor David Carradine. But what special training did David have that helped him in his role?

Answer: He was a trained dancer

David Carradine died in June 3 2009 at the age of 63 in Bangkok, Thailand. On researching him I found many interesting facts from his official website (david-carradine.com) so if anyone wishes to read about this great actor and artist that is the place to go to.

6. On many occasions throughout the series, Caine would look back on his teachings at the Buddhist temple through flashbacks. In such cases the part of the young boy Caine was played by whom?

Answer: Radames Pera

According to IMDb.com, Pera was born in 1960 in New York. His first screen appearance was in an Anthony Quinn film called "A Dream of Kings" in 1969. For the next few years he gained a reputation for portraying troubled children bringing him to the attention of the producers of "Kung Fu" and "Little House on the Prairie".

Although he studied acting for years he found that, like a lot of young star actors the roles dried up when he became an adult. His last T.V. role was in 1986 opposite Stacy Keach in "Mike Hammer".

7. When Caine had graduated as a Shaolin master he had to leave the temple by a different door from the one he had used to enter the temple. This new door was blocked by a large hot iron cauldron. On the sides of which, where his forearms touched the cauldron, there were depictions of two Chinese animal characters. So that when he lifted the hot cauldron these animal figures were branded into the insides of his forearms. When achieving this test, he was branded by which animal shapes?

Answer: Dragons

Apparently the Chinese Dragon (Lung) was the divine bringer of rain in ancient times with an equation between terrible weather and someone upsetting a dragon being part of the folklore. I wonder who has upset a dragon near me. It's been raining all summer long here.

8. Kwai Chang Caine had one other pastime, besides beating stupid cowboys up. What other pastime did Caine have?

Answer: Playing the bamboo flute

The Chinese bamboo flute (Dizi) has 1 blow hole, 1 membrane hole, 6 finger holes, and 2 pairs of holes at the end to correct the pitch and to place the decorative tassels on. When the Dizi is played the membrane vibrates producing a sweet, bright clean note. The membrane hole means that the player can produce a better tone quality.

9. Master Po had a nickname for the young boy Caine. Which insect did the Buddhist Monk call the young boy?

Answer: Grasshopper

After Master Po had easily defeated Caine in combat the monk had laughed and chided the young boy "never assume because a man has no eyes he cannot see. Close your eyes. What do you hear."
"I hear the water, I hear the birds", said the young boy.
"Do you hear your own heartbeat? replied the old monk,
"No" said the boy.
"Do you hear the grasshopper that is at your feet?" asked the Master.
Caine looked down at his feet in surprise and said, "Old man - how is it that you hear these things."
"Young man, how is it that you do not." replied Master Po.
From then on Master Po called the young boy "Grasshopper".

10. Which actor, who played Charlie Chan's son in the 1930's, played the glorious character that was Master Po?

Answer: Keye Luke

His full name was Luk Sek Lam and he was born in Guangzhou, China in 1904. In 1935 he appeared as Charlie Chan's number 1 son in the film "Charlie Chan in Paris" with Warner Oland. In the 1940s he played Kato in "The Green Hornet Strikes Again" with leading star Britt Reid.

A role played on television by Bruce Lee. He was also in the movies "Gremlins" and was even considered for the role of Obi Wan Kenobi in the first "Star Wars" movie. Before illness overtook him he was considered for the part of Doctor Noonien Soong in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" His star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame" is in front of 7000 Hollywood Blvd.

He passed away in January 1991.

Source: Author martinjudo

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

"Patience, Young Grasshopper" Trivia Quiz

This is my first author challenge and it will be about the great television series "Kung Fu". The challenge is by LeoDaVinci

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