The Essence and Connotations of Chinese Martial Arts
Kungfu and Wushu are popular terms that have become synony- mous with Chinese martial arts. However, the Chinese terms kungfu and Wushu have very distinct connotations. Colloquially, kungfu alludes to any individual accomplishment or cultivated skill. In con- trast, Wushu is a more precise term that refers to general martial ac- tivities.
The Historical Origins and Development
The origins of Chinese martial arts are traced to self-defense needs, hunting activities and military training in ancient China. Hand-to-hand combat and weapons practice were important components in the training of Chinese soldiers. Eventually, Chinese martial arts became an important element of Chinese culture.
Sophisticated theories of martial arts based on the opposing ideas of yin and yang, and the integration of “hard” and “soft”techniques are recorded in the annals of the Spring and Autumn Period.
Martial arts are also mentioned in Chinese philosophy. Passages in the Zhuangzi, a Taoist text, pertain to the psychology and practice of martial arts. The Tao Te Ching, often credited to Laozi , is another Taoist text that contains principles applicable to martial arts.
The Art of War, written during the 6th century BC by Sun Tzu, deals directly with military warfare but contains ideas that are used in the Chinese martial arts. Those examples shows that over time, the ideas associated with Chinese martial arts changed with the evolving Chinese society and over time acquired philosophical basis.
The Blooming of Martial Arts Styles
The fighting styles of martial arts that are practiced today were de-veloped over the centuries, after having incorporated forms that came into existence later. Some of these include Bagua, Drunken Boxing, Eagle Claw, Five Animals, Monkey, Praying Mantis, Fujian White Crane and Taijiquan.
The Modern - day Influence and Significance
The present view of Chinese martial arts is strongly influenced by the events of 1912--1949. In the transition period between the fall of the Qing Dynasty and anti-Japanese invasion, many martial artists were encouraged to openly teach their art. At that time, some considered martial arts as a means to promote national pride and improve the health of the Nation. As a result, many martial arts training manuals® were published, and numerous martial arts associations were formed throughout China and in various oversea Chinese communities.
The Jing Wu Athletic Association founded by Huo Yuanjia in 1910 are examples of organizations that promoted a systematic approach for training in Chinese martial arts.
In 1936, at the 11th Olympic Games in Berlin, a group of Chinese martial artists demonstrated their art to an international audience for the first time. Eventually, those events lead to the popular view of martial arts as a sport.
The practice of Chinese Wushu offers many benefits, such as confidence, self-defense, physical fitness, medical rehabilitation. It is a sport that utilizes strength, agility, and intelligence. Techniques from a variety of styles are used in military and police training pro- grams in China today.
Wude: The Moral Core of Chinese Martial Arts
Traditional Chinese schools of martial arts, such as the famed Shao- lin monks, often dealt with the study of martial arts not just as a means of self-defense or mental training, but as a system of ethics. Wude can be translated as “martial morality” and is constructed from two Chinese characters, “Wu”, which means martial and “de”, which means martial and which means morality.
Wude deals with two aspects: “morality of deed” and“morality of mind”. Morality of deed concerns social relations; morality of mind is meant to cultivate the inner harmony between the emotional mind and the wisdom mind. The ultimate goal is reaching no extremity (closely related to the Taoist concept of Wuwei), where both wisdom and emo- tions are in harmony with each other.
Morality of deed:
- Humility
- Loyalty
- Respect
- Righteousness
- Trust
- Morality of mind:
- Courage
- Endurance
- Patience
- Perseverance
- Will
- (Martial Arts)= (stop fighting), (skills)
