Bruce Lee enthusiasts in Seattle will now be able to take in the life of the great actor/martial artist. The Enter the Dragon actor’s personal philosophy is on display at the Wing Luke Museum. The exhibit opened to the public on July 9. The opening celebration included a short program featuring a dragon and lion dance blessing.
Some maybe surprised to learn that the First of Fury star was a homeboy for a few years. That’s right the legendary Bruce Lee lived in Seattle for five years. His impact and influence is to the area is strong. Bruce Lee moved to Seattle in 1959 to finish school. He taught martial arts to earn money to help pay tuition at the University of Washington, where he studied drama and philosophy.
Now residents and tourists can behold the Game of Death actor. The exhibit features a personal library with more than 2,000 books that Bruce Lee’s daughter Shannon said is very revealing and highly personal.
Shannon Lee said packing up her dad’s book library to send to Seattle was a reminder that her fathers famous quotes and philosophies came from his thirst for knowledge and consistent consumption of books.
“Bruce Lee Exhibit: Be Water My Friend” is an interactive exhibit that invites viewers to step into the mind, body, and spirit of Bruce Lee to see how his unquenchable pursuit of knowledge informed his philosophy and life. Lee was known for his martial arts and spent a substantial amount of his time training his mind though reading.
Shannon spoke to the media. “I knew he was an avid reader because we had all these books around the house but packing them up reminded me of how much work he put in to bettering himself,” Shannon Lee said.
Bruce Lee was a lover of books as his fans will tell you. Shannon Lee said her dads massive book library is even more impressive when you consider he only lived to be 32 years old. “I think that’s why this collection is so intimate and personal feeling,” she said.
The new opening comes at a time where Seattle is doing all it can to get the city back to normal after the past several years dealing with COVID. The museum also features images and information on the years Lee lived in Seattle and how he fought against oppression and complicated social issues by focusing on better preparing himself. His phrases like “Be Water, my friend” are well-known and symbolize Bruce Lee’s vision for mental strength. This exhibit will be a coveted destination.
