chinese material arts

Martial Art and Chinese Culture

Martial arts are a genuine native sport of China. The Chinese people take pride in it, both because of its age and many aspects of Chinese culture that it reflects. Martial arts incorporate traditional Chinese philosophies, aesthetic sense, ethics and medical science.

Development

Ancient Chinese martial arts are different from modern ones. The ancient martial arts were developed for military use. Not until after the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) did martial arts begin to incorporate sophisticated aspects of ancient Chinese culture.

The precise origin of martial arts is too remote to identify When the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC) conquered contending states and united China 2000 years ago, the ruler ordered all weapons be put in storage. Discouraged by the Qin government, Chinese martial arts developed very little during this period.

Martial art development picked up during the Han Dynasty (206 BC ¨C AD 200), a period noted for its advanced political, economic and cultural development. Different schools appeared and many monographs were published. Broadswords gradually replaced swords as main weapons, and other weapons were developed, such as long halberd, double halberd, spear, long-handled broadsword, battle-ax, batter-hammer and barbed cudgel.

During the Western and Eastern Jin and Northern and Southern dynasties (265-589), warfare was rampant. Minority ethnic groups such as the Xiongnu, Xianbei, Jie, Di and Qiang from northern China were constantly invading the Central Plains. The battlefield provided a good environment for the development of martial arts and for blending southern and northern martial arts schools. During this period, martial artists developed routines and began to emphasize the character of practitioners.

The Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties were politically stable and economically strong and flourished with foreign trade and cultural exchanges. This period saw modifications of martial arts weapons and improvement in the appearance of demonstrative exercises. The prevailing imperial examination system of the Tang Dynasty was also adapted for the selection of martial arts champions. Soldiers with outstanding martial arts skills were honored with commendation and titles. Martial arts were encouraged and promoted among ordinary people.

During this period, the long-handled weapons were gradually replaced by short-handled ones. Although swords had already been replaced by broadswords as primary weapons, sword exercises were still popular. More emphasis was being placed on the spear, though, and spear contests were often held.

By the Song Dynasty (960-1279), martial arts had become an art separate from military drills. Routine and apparatus exercises developed quickly, and many theoretical works were published. Practitioners studied both fighting skulls and theory and introduced the theory of yin and yang into martial arts.

During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the Mongol ruling class and soldiers practiced not only horse riding, archery and wrestling, but also martial arts skills, such as spear, cudgel, ax, single and double sword, and broadsword exercises. There martial arts skills were performed on stage and were gradually more artfully refined.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), different martial arts schools flourished. In this period, there were more martial arts schools than at any other time. The appearance and development of the Inside Family Boxing in the Ming Dynasty had great influence on the development of Taiji, Eight Diagram and concept boxing. Routine exercises became means to maintain health, and systematic routines for offensive and defensive techniques were developed. There exercise routines were closely related to actual combat skills.

The Qing Dynasty outperformed the previous dynasties in developing martial arts skills. Many exercises that are still famous today, such as Taijiquan (Taiji Boxing) and Baguazhang (Eight ¨C Diagram Palm Exercise), were created during the period.

Connection with Ancient Academic Studies

Martial arts were developed under the great influence of ancient Chinese culture and borrowed widely from various academic studies, such as ancient philosophy, aesthetics, ethics and medicine.

Chinese martial have benefited from ancient Chinese philosophy. The Spring and Autumn Period was golden age of academic study and resulted in different schools of philosophical thinking that would lay a solid foundation for the subsequent formation of Chinese culture. The period also nourished the theoretical aspect of martial arts, providing conditions for the formation of the system of martial arts and supplying inspiration and insight for its continued development. Chinese martial arts have adapted aspects of Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, strategists and geomancers.

Ancient Chinese philosophy advocated the theory of dao, or ¡°way¡±, and held that the dao was connected with both the heaven and the earth and was the source of everything. Martial arts practitioners begin with ht e irregularity and infinity of dao and seek to reach a stage in which he or she blends harmoniously wirh nature. The arts teach practitioners to ¡°train the inner spirit and mind as well as the external muscles, bones and skin.¡± Martial arts stress the combination of the physical being with the mental being and emphasize a close relationship between physical exercises and the surrounding environment. Practitioners are advised to use different methods of exercises according to the changes of natural environment and the conditions of the body. These practices reflect martial arts¡¯ understanding of he ancient philosophy, ¡°let the mind swin freely in dao¡± and the ¡°oneness of man and nature.¡±

Ancient Chinese aesthetics advocated a balance between hardness and softness, voidness and solidness, notion and stillness, and negative and positive, as well as the expression of the spirit of an object through its form. Under this influence, Chinese martial arts have formed their own aesthetic standards that incorporate a stage of conceptual contentment, harmony, and nature, as well as beauty and elegance. For example, Changquan (Long Boxing) features fully extended, elegant and unrestrained movements; Nanquan (South Boxing) demonstrates steadiness and momentum of movements; Shaolin Boxing expresses resolution and strength in its quick and rhythmical movements; and the beautifully and smoothly stringed movements of Taijiquan remind viewers of floating clouds and flowing streams.

A distinct aspect of Chinese martial arts is the advocacy of morals and emphasis on benevolence, fidelity and sincerity. As a result, practicing martial arts not only implies building health and strength, but also purifying one¡¯s soul. Benevolence is the core of Confucianism. It includes love, generosity and Ieniency. Chinese martial arts work for those who are benevolent, brave, and courageous. Those who are brave and courageous but morally inferior will finally be rendered to a stage of disorder and incompetence. The arts stress that the moral level of a practitioner is as important as his or her martial arts skills.

Martial arts practices are closely related to those of traditional Chinese medicine. Besides improving people¡¯s health, cultivating their minds and souls and bringing out the potential of the human boby, martial arts are also believed to be able to help cure diseases. Such health benefits are achieved through breathing exercises and improved circulation.

The influence of ancient Chinese culture on martial arts is manifold. Apart from what has already been mentioned, religion, politics, economics, geography and folklore have also contributed to the formation and development of martial arts.

Today, martial arts are a part of the physical education curriculum of universities, high schools and grade schools, Many martial arts clubs, societies and associations have been established across China. Since 1980, a large number of graduates majoring in martial arts have been assigned to teach in schools.

While carrying on the tradition of this ancient art, specialists today are trying to turn martial arts into a scientific sport that combines fighting skills with health building. They hope that one day, martial arts will become an event at the Olympic Games.

Ancient Chinese history records that during the "Spring and Autumn" and the "Warring States" periods (770 BC - 221 AD), the King of the Zhou kingdom ordered a sword contest.  A young woman by the name of Yu Niu emerged from three thousand swordsmen as the ultimate victor in a seven-day contest.  Her sword methods and philosophies were passed down for a thousand years.  Some of her writings expound timeless Wushu philosophies.  For example:

"When fencing, though highly alert,

The appearance is as calm as a fair lady's

But when in action, a vicious Tiger emerges.

On a similar note:

"Weak and exposed in appearance;

But powerful when unleashed.

One's reactions may start afterwards,

But the response arrives there first.

Since the Zhou Dynasty, which ended in 771 BC, practical Wushu training has included basic skills such as strength training, fencing, staff sparring, spear training, etc. and it has also included training by using forms, such as the Shaolin Eight Methods, with the basic form supplemented by weapons forms, two-man forms, staff forms, etc.

The emphasis and importance of this type of martial training has played an important role throughout Chinese history During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), which was one of the most powerful periods of Chinese history, warriors were actually chosen through martial competition and officers were promoted through this same sort of competition Since at that time communications were well established with many neighboring countries; Chinese Wushu had a pronounced impact on these countries and was called "Tang Su Do," or the "Way of the Chinese Hand" During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), various forms of Wushu were well established in Korea, Japan, Tibet and many other countries What is called "Karate" is actually a descendent of Southern Chinese boxing forms and similarly, Judo can trace its origins to the importation of Chinese wrestling and Qinna, the precursor of Jiu-jitsu.
Traditionally, Chinese martial arts are classified by one of three methods:

1. Internal or External styles.
2. Southern or Northern styles.
3. As "Shaolin" or "Wudang" or "Ermei."

Roughly speaking, the difference between internal and external styles can refer to whether the strength is from the torso and legs (internal) or whether the strength is derived from training of the more specific arm and leg muscles (external). The word "internal" often connotes a more pliable martial style. Southern or Northern styles naturally refer to the general origin, but finer distinctions are often made about style differences of these two schools. Shaolin boxing styles are generally said to be derived from the form of fighting practiced at the Shaolin Temple in Henan province. Similarly, Wudang is the name of a mountain used by Taoists in Hubei province and Ermei is a significant religious mountain in Sichuan province.