Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s3.t5: Kalaripayattu

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s3.t5

Language: English

Kalaripayattu

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Kalaripayattu is a kind of Indian martial arts. “Kalaripayattu” means site fighting training. The meaning of “Kalari” is a training site. It is mainly popular in the state of Kerala and some regions of Tamil Nadu. It has a long history, and it’s predicted that it had a history of 3,000 years or 2,000 years, which didn’t have reliable bases. Its theoretical source can be traced back to Yajur Veda. People thought that its founder was Parasurama, who was one of the incarnations of Vishnu, and they worshiped the magic figure as the founder. It’s thought that ancient people understood secrets of integration of motion, quietness and combination of vigour & suppleness from motion characteristics of fierce animals such as lion, tiger, elephant, bear and python, and created Kalaripayattu. The more reliable saying was that Kalaripayattu was formed in the north of present day Kerala State between the 9ᵗʰ century and 12ᵗʰ century. There were many small kingdoms in the southwest coast of India involved in frequent wars and battles at that time, and people conducted Kalaripayattu training out of need for warfare and defense. It had become a part of their social life gradually, and it was the compulsory subject for soldiers. Young boys and girls can enter Kalari to learn skills when they are eight-years-old, and people took pride in training and participating. Kalaripayattu developed quickly, and many Kalaris were established in cities and rural areas. Kalaris were closed during the reign of the British East India Company in the 18th century in order to avoid revolt of the masses. Therefore, Kalaripayattu training stopped and was on the verge of extinction. Some martial masters opened Kalaris from place to place in order to revive Kalaripayattu and adopted disciples widely in the late 19th century, so the tradition of Kalaripayattu was restored. At present, over 120 Kalaris are established in Kerala, and each Kalari has about 30 members. Its training purpose have changed from the former preparation for war to body building and development of a brave and tenacious spirit and will of teenagers. Its training is usually divided into three stages: the first stage aims at physical fitness training, and focuses on developing students’ endurance, explosive power, flexibility and agility; the second stage targets at training wood instruments and developing students’ skill in using these instruments including cudgels to fight; the third stage orients at training metal instruments and developing students skills to use weapons including daggles, axes and spears to fight. Generally speaking, it takes eight to 10 years to grasp the whole set of skills, a guru needs not only the skills and an excellent character, but also the skills to treat surgical injuries.

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*India's Kalaripayattu*

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*Indian Kalaripayattu performance*

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*On the occasion of the celebration of Indian festival in China at Henan in China in June 2010, the performance of Indian and Chinese martial arts performers*

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There are many similarities between Kalaripayattu and Chinese martial art. For example, training attaches importance to students’ martial virtues, and developing integrity, and proposes a calm mood and combines vigour and suppleness during training; skill trainings include unarmed fight and use of instrument, etc. China’s Shaolin martial arts regarded Bodhidharma as the founder, who was from South India, and Chinese common people had a natural sense of identity towards Kalaripayattu. Kalaripayattu was introduced through newspapers and television in the 1980s, in China. Twelve Indian Kalaripayattu masters participated in the “Indian Festival” held in China, and performed with Chinese martial masters on June 20, 2010. This was the first face-to-face exchange between Chinese and Indian martial arts systems, which holds historical significance.