Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s3.t2: Wushu
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s3.t2
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Wushu
v2.c12.s3.t2.1
It is a Chinese art of fist fight and gymnastics. It has a very long history. It covers fist position and skills requiring use of instruments. There are multiple schools including Buddhist martial arts, Daoist martial arts and folk martial arts, etc.
v2.c12.s3.t2.2
The largest characteristic of Chinese martial arts is combination with Qigong, and it pays attention to “internal exercise develops the flow of Qi and external exercise trains the bones and muscles,” which absorbs many Buddhist thoughts and practice methods. Buddhist martial arts had been popular among monks for a long time, especially after the
v2.c12.s3.t2.3
*Wudang martial arts*
v2.c12.s3.t2.4
6^th century, martial monks in Shaolin Temple won their reputation in the circle of martial arts because of praise from Li Shimin (599-649 CE), and there is the saying that “Shaolin Kong fu ranks No.1 in the world.” As a representative of Chinese martial arts, it’s said that Shaolin Kongfu originated from the Indian monk Bodhidharma who came to China, and people indulged in talking about it, although it draws a false analogy. It is true that Bodhidharma propagated Zen, but later generations fabricated the saying that he created *Tendon Transformation Exercise* and *Marrow Purification Exercise*, and made Dharma fist position, swordsmanship and cudgel techniques. The system of Shaolin martial arts is the result of extensive collection by martial monks generation by generation, and the united creation of the national martial artists. Monk Fu Ju (10^th century CE) and Jue Yuan (13^th century CE) once invited famous national martial artists to enrich Shaolin Kongfu successively, so that Shaolin martial arts were improved gradually, and secured the supreme place of martial arts after the 15^th century CE. Shaolin Kong fu is divided into the southern and northern sects and five branches, and it has influences at home and abroad. For example, Japanese Kendo, karate and judo are related to Shaolin Kung fu. Besides Shaolin martial arts, Sichuan Emei Martial Arts Sect is subject to Buddhist martial arts. It’s said that Emei martial arts was founded in the 13^th century. It integrated Buddhist and Daoist body building and health preservation essences, inherited Chinese tradition of martial arts, and was developed through continuous innovation.
v2.c12.s3.t2.5
Daoist martial arts are represented by Wudang Sect, and its Taiji Fist is the most famous. It’s said that the sect was founded by the Daoist Zhang Sanfeng (between second half of 11^th century CE and first half of 12^th century CE) and Taiji Fist position is based on Daoist Qigong, which absorbs Buddhist spirits, integrates strength and grace, slowness and fastness, and is the perfect measure for self-defense and body building. Through development and enrichment of fist masters for generations, Taiji Fist has become one of China’s quintessences and has influences across the world.
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*Shaolin martial arts*
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Because of wide propagation of films and TV, Indian teenagers know Chinese Kong fu well. Since Chinese martial arts was listed as one of the competition events in the Asian Games and the Olympic Games, India’s physical training circle paid special attention to Chinese martial arts, adopted the ways such as employing Chinese coaches and learning in China to develop its own coaches and sportsmen and made excellent achievements in the competitions. Martial arts associations are established in some places of India, performance and competition activities are often held. For example, Martial Arts Association of Uttar Pradesh in India is a nearly-established body with many activities, and its chief visited China once.
v2.c12.s3.t2.8
On June 20, 2010, 12 Indian martial artistes took part in the “Indian Festival” held in China, and performed skills with Chinese martial masters on the same stage. Indian martial artists performed with the local martial arts named Kalaripayattu rather than Chinese martial arts, while Chinese martial masters performed Shaolin Kongfu, including drunken fist, eight trigrams boxing, two-finger Zen and cudgel play, etc. This was the first face-to-face exchange between Chinese and Indian martial arts systems and holds historical significance.
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(*Xue Keqiao*)