Flowering Feather Sword

Author: An Zaifeng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The history of Chinese swordsmanship is long-standing. If we count from the bronze swords unearthed during the Shang Dynasty, it has a history of over three thousand years. During the Zhou and Qin periods, swordsmanship was already practiced in dance forms. The Analects of Confucius records: "Zilu, in armor, saw Confucius and danced with a sword." At this time, the theory of swordsmanship had also taken shape. Zhuangzi discussed the art of swordsmanship in his essay On the Sword: "The one who practices the sword shows emptiness, opens with advantage, follows with release, and leads with arrival." The theory of swordsmanship by the Yue girl in the Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue is: "Innerly, cultivate spirit; outwardly, maintain composure. When seen, like a gentlewoman; when seized, like a fierce tiger. Scatter forms, sense the qi, and follow the spirit. As elusive as the sun, as agile as a leaping hare. Chase form and shadow, light as if illusory, breath coming and going, beyond regulation. In all directions, straight and reverse, unheard of."
During the Two Han periods, swordsmanship became widespread and took the form of entertainment. It was customary to dance at banquets ("When there is music, there must be dance") and to rise and dance when wine was drunk to one's heart's content. In the Tang Dynasty, swordsmanship was practiced by scholars, generals, women, and Taoists, with many skilled in it. The poet Li Bai learned swordsmanship in his youth ("Often after three cups, he drew his Longquan sword and danced"). Other poets like Wang Changling, Bai Juyi, the painter Wu Daosi, and the calligrapher Zhang Xu were also fond of swordsmanship. In the Song Dynasty, there was the custom of "hearing the rooster crow at midnight, sword light illuminating the Ox and Taurus," and "dancing with swords before lanterns," showing the lingering spirit of swordsmanship.
During the Ming and Qing periods, swordsmanship routines formed into schools, such as Shaolin Sword, Wudang Sword, Kunlun Sword, Emei Sword, Tai Chi Sword, and Bagua Sword, all widely practiced across the country. Since the founding of New China, the development of swordsmanship routines has been "guided by rules but not rigidly bound by them," inheriting tradition while not being confined to it, leading to new developments and creations. The content has become richer and more diverse. From the perspective of movement characteristics, there are the Gongti Sword, with dignified and orderly forms; the Xingtai Sword, flowing and unobstructed; the Mianti Sword, soft and continuous; and the Zuiti Sword, unrestrained and drunken. From the perspective of practice forms, swordsmanship can be divided into single-sword, double-sword, short-tassel, long-tassel, solo routines, and paired routines, all widely practiced with a broad grassroots foundation, becoming an important means of physical fitness for all.
Flower-Flying Long-Tassel Sword is a type of long-tassel sword, belonging to the solo routine of long-tassel single-sword. It was created by the author in September 1985 to meet the needs of swordsmanship enthusiasts, based on traditional swordsmanship routines and combining years of teaching experience. It was widely disseminated among the public. During this process, its shortcomings were further improved, gradually making it perfect. In 1993, the author completed the revision, officially finalized it, and formed this Flower-Flying Long-Tassel Sword. In December 2000, the manuscript of Flower-Flying Long-Tassel Sword was completed, forming a complete system of materials. In June 2005, it was published by the People's Sports Publishing House and distributed nationwide, available in major bookstores across the country.
Flower-Flying Long-Tassel Sword features continuous sword movements, dynamic and static, fast and slow, a balance of hardness and softness, expansive and graceful forms, logical arrangements, and a sword that follows the tassel, with qi flowing like a rainbow. When practiced, it flips and flies, "covering the entire area with flowers and plants," with body and sword unified, each move and posture guided by intention, light and flexible. It is suitable for people of all ages and genders, serving both as a means of emotional expression and physical fitness, as well as for combat and defense, and for competition and exchange, with high artistic appreciation value.
When practicing Flower-Flying Long-Tassel Sword, coordination between body and sword is required, with the sword following the tassel, movements flowing with the body, a balance of hardness and softness, clear distinctions between emptiness and fullness, harmony between inner and outer, and a graceful and effortless demeanor. When the sword moves, it must be both soft and circular, with occasional bursts of power but always maintaining a balance of hardness and softness, avoiding clumsy strength, achieving the effect of "like a flying phoenix, tassel like a whip." Through this, one's health, strength, beauty, and martial spirit can be reflected, showcasing the artistry of long-tassel swordsmanship and providing aesthetic enjoyment, with high fitness and value, widely loved by the public.
In the past, long-tassel swordsmanship was often taught through personal instruction and oral tradition, lacking written materials. To inherit and develop traditional martial arts heritage, widely promote long-tassel swordsmanship, and improve its level, the author, based on years of systematic research and absorbing the strengths of various schools, as well as summarizing years of teaching experience, created this Flower-Flying Long-Tassel Sword. It aims to enrich the martial arts culture of the motherland, benefit human physical and mental health, and contribute to the civilization of society.
Flower-Flying Long-Tassel Sword systematically introduces the learning and practice methods of Flower-Flying Long-Tassel Sword, providing detailed explanations of its style, basic techniques, basic requirements, and routine diagrams. This helps readers deeply understand the essential characteristics of Flower-Flying Long-Tassel Sword, enabling them to truly master it. The book is concise in structure and easy to understand, suitable for self-study by beginners, as a teaching material for swordsmanship training classes, and as a reference book for swordsmanship enthusiasts and researchers.