Answer: This is one field that is subjected to abuse without any standard to benchmark. We can understand as to why our Indonesia counterparts felt so. This is again, not an easy digestible answer. The term authenticity comes from 2 forms. First, being a disciple of a reputable lineage. Second, having an official diploma from a reputable academy. Both have got its unresolved and contagious issues, worth contemplating, such as what is a reputable lineage? The meaning to lineage is prescribed in Yifengshui and we shall not elaborate more in here.
Being a disciple of a reputable lineage, one has to be accepted into the purview of a certain Tang, hall or chamber of practice, through its legitimate means liked oath, and ceremony of tea, fee and so forth. However, discipleship has twofold. One form of discipleship is called outdoor and the other being indoor. The term indoor means one has to slave oneself through many years of voluntary labor to serve the master in order to gain his trust. Ultimately, is treating the master as his own father. The other way is to marry into the master’s family, which is easier. Technically speaking, discipleship of this sort is very rare. Whereas outdoor discipleship is through the graces of the master accepting disciples among his clienteles, fans, friends and so forth for the needs of propagations. The very question remains, is the knowledge being authentic learning from the lineage holder, indoor disciples or simply any outdoor disciples would do? Authenticity becomes a very vague term.
The modern “fast food” scenario is CTC (Cut the craps). Lineage holder has been given many fanciful meanings and interpretations, example inheriting a book autographed by the author, insignia in the forms of a robe, some mistakenly thought to be under garment, certificates and the sorts. These are the “tools” to establish academies which later joint forces to establish guilds which collectively dish out titles liked grandmasters and masters to elite members who can afford their annual subscriptions. Learning has been given a dash of Western approach with certificates of attendance and diplomas and students who has gone through the system, afford to pay a ransom price, must adorn the graduation gown in line with universities liked Oxbridge. Some academy practices to the extent of adorning emperor’s robe to add in some dash of the Orientals. The question remains, is obtaining these certificates and diplomas measurable to being authentic?
This is what I would think about it.
