History of Chinese Traditional Martial Arts

Author: Yu Zhijun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Chinese martial arts are profound and extensive, blending Confucianism's doctrine of the mean, the Taiji imagery of the I Ching, the military strategy of the forms of war, the meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine, and Taoist breathing and guiding exercises into one. Externally, it trains the muscles, bones, and skin, while internally, it cultivates a single breath, becoming the life source that supports the Chinese people. Martial arts schools are diverse, with numerous branches, and over the centuries of evolution, many questions have arisen: Did traditional Chinese martial arts originate from human-animal combat, warfare, wrestling, or martial dance? Was the founder of Shaolin boxing Da Mo? Who created Tai Chi—was it Zhang Sanfeng or Zhang Wangting? The author, Yu Zhijun, is a direct disciple of Wu Tunan, a great master of Tai Chi in China, and has practiced martial arts for over sixty years, accumulating much insight. This book differs from ordinary martial arts histories as the author integrates his life experiences with his understanding of martial arts, achieving what he calls "the profound study of life." Mr. Yu Zhijun is a modern intellectual with over sixty years of martial arts experience, skilled in Chinese martial arts techniques and knowledgeable in the principles of the I Ching. The purpose of writing this book is to restore traditional martial arts to their original form, distinguishing them from the so-called "modern martial arts," and to awaken people's awareness of protecting traditional Chinese martial arts. The book uses extensive historical records, boldly utilizing accounts of traditional martial arts from folk legends, unofficial histories, and anecdotes, such as those about the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns, Da Mo, and Zhang Sanfeng. It combines Confucianism's doctrine of the mean, the military strategy of the forms of war, the meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine, Taoist breathing and guiding exercises, and the dialectical unity of "one becoming two" in the I Ching to trace the development and evolution of traditional Chinese swordsmanship, spear techniques, boxing, swordsmanship, and staff techniques. It also provides detailed research on some unresolved questions in martial arts history, such as the origins of the two major sects, Shaolin and Wudang, and who the founder of Tai Chi was. The book is richly illustrated with beautiful images, such as the Thirty-three Swordsmen, the Eighteen Arhats' Hands, the Thirty-two Postures Long Fist, and the Huan Hou Eight Spearmanship, fully showcasing the development and evolution of traditional Chinese martial arts as a treasure of Chinese civilization.