Known as Kung Fu or Wushu, Chinese martial arts are an integral part of Chinese culture and a very popular traditional sport in China. Kung Fu is loved and practiced by people of all ages for self-defence and health. The martial arts originated from hunting in the primitive society. If hunters did not learn some armed and unarmed grappling skills, they would not be able to capture their prey or escape from dangerous animals. They used some simple weapons, such as clubs and spears. Later, the ancient people developed the martial arts for military purposes. In the Shang Dynasty(1600B.C.-1046B.C.), the martial arts became a form of dance introduced to solders for boosting their morale. In the Han Dynasty(202B.C.-220A.D.), martial arts competitions were often held by governors for a selection of warriors. The swordsmanship was quite popular among the warriors. In the Tang Dynasty(618-907), the selection system for officers was complemented and implemented. In the Song Dynasty(960-1279), many schools of martial arts were founded. Nowadays, Chinese Kung Fu has spread worldwide owing to the efforts made by some celebrated movie stars, like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
Chinese Kung Fu is a combination of various fighting styles. More than 300 different styles of fighting skills have been passed down, such as Tai Chi, Wing-Chun, the Monkey Fist, the Drunken Fist and Qigong. Chinese martial arts can be classified into three major schools, namely, Shaolin, Wu-Dung and Emei.
Shaolin is the oldest school of Kung Fu. It is well-known for its “external” moves and practices that strengthen muscles, ligaments and tendons. Many sub-sects are derived from Shaolin Kung Fu, like the Hong-Quan, the Monkey Fist and the Drunken Fist. In the early 6th century, Shaolin Kung Fu was formed by Master Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. Shaolin Monastery is the cradle of both Zen Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu.
Wu-Dung features its “internal” moves and practices that strengthen and manipulate the Chi or the life force. It is slightly newer than Shaolin, and is an interpretation of the original concept of Kung Fu. Its founder was Master Zhang Sanfeng(1247-1464), a celebrated Taoist, who practiced his Taoism in Wudang Mountain. The sub-sects derived from Wu-Dung Kung Fu include the Tai Chi, the Eight-Diagram Palm and the Xing-Yi Quan. Tai Chi is also known as Chinese Shadow Boxing. It is an ancient Chinese "internal" or "soft" martial art often practised for its health-giving and spiritual benefits. The moves of Tai Chi are gentle and generally slow-paced. It helps to burn calories and improve one’s health.
Emei is famous for its “Qigong” and swordsmanship. It is named after its location, Emei Mountain, which has been added to the list of world natural and cultural heritage sites. Emei Kung Fu combines the “external” moves and the “internal” moves. The practitioners of Emei Kung Fu are good at wielding weapons, like swords, spears, clubs, whips and darts. Qigong is the study and practice of cultivating one’s internal energy through a variety of techniques, including meditation, breathing exercises, and postures. Qi(or Chi) means vitality in English. It can be stored inside the practitioners’ body and strengthened through the long-term practice. As an important part of the practice, the meditation encourages a calm state of mind.
Author: Tina Luo
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