Chinese Martial Arts: From Antiquity to the Twenty-First Century

by Peter A. Lorge

• ISBN13: 9780521878814
• ISBN10: 0521878810
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-12-05
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

In the global world of the twenty-first century, martial arts are practised for self-defense and sporting purposes only. However, for thousands of years, they were a central feature of military practice in China and essential for the smooth functioning of society. This book, which opens with an intriguing account of the very first female martial artist, charts the history of combat and fighting techniques in China from the Bronze Age to the present. This broad panorama affords fascinating glimpses into the transformation of martial skills, techniques and weaponry against the background of Chinese history, the rise and fall of empires, their governments and their armies. Quotations from literature and poetry, and the stories of individual warriors, infuse the narrative, offering personal reflections on prowess in the battlefield and techniques of engagement. This is an engaging and readable introduction to the authentic history of Chinese martial arts.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Defining Martial Arts	p. 3
Authenticity and Real Kungfu	p. 6
Kung Fu, Gongfu, Qigong, and Chinese Terminology in English	p. 9
Conclusion	p. 11
From the Stone Age to the End of the Spring and Autumn Period	p. 13
Women in Warfare	p. 13
Changes in Warfare in the Shang Dynasty	p. 13
Archery	p. 16
The Dagger-Axe (Ge), Axe, and Spear	p. 18
Chariots	p. 22
Martial Dances	p. 25
Violence and Society	p. 29
Conclusion	p. 30
The Warring States Period	p. 32
Swords and Swordsmanship	p. 36
Archery and Archery Contests	p. 38
Halberds (Ji) and Spears	p. 43
Unarmed Combat	p. 45
Knights-Errant and Assassins	p. 47
Conclusion	p. 49
The Qin and Han Dynasties	p. 53
The First Emperor and His Would-Be Assassins	p. 57
Qin Dynasty Wrestling	p. 60
Xiang Yu and Liu Bang	p. 61
The Han Dynasty Hundred Events and Martial Arts	p. 66
Conclusion	p. 72
The Six Dynasties	p. 73
The Northern and Southern Dynasties	p. 75
Women Martial Artists in the Six Dynasties	p. 85
Mulan	p. 86
The Return of Chinese Infantry	p. 88
Conclusion	p. 91
The Sui and Tang Dynasties	p. 93
The Tang Military	p. 91
Martial Arts Training	p. 99
Women in Martial Arts Entertainment	p. 104
Monks and Bandits	p. 105
Military Exams	p. 109
Conclusion	p. 111
The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms and the Song Dynasty	p. 113
Archery	p. 121
Martial Arts Performances	p. 129
Weapons and Military Tests	p. 135
Conclusion	p. 136
The Yuan Dynasty	p. 139
Mongol Martial Arts	p. 140
Archery	p. 142
Weapons	p. 146
Wrestling and Boxing	p. 149
Li Quan	p. 153
Conclusion	p. 154
The Ming Dynasty	p. 157
The Ming Military	p. 165
Shaolin Temple	p. 170
Boxing	p. 175
Fencing with Swords	p. 177
Fencing with Long Swords	p. 179
Spear Techniques	p. 180
Staff Fighting	p. 181
Conclusion	p. 182
The Qing Dynasty	p. 185
Ming Loyalists	p. 191
Internal versus External Martial Arts	p. 195
Self-Cultivation	p. 197
Shaolin	p. 202
Taiji, Bagua, Xingyi	p. 205
Rebellions	p. 208
Conclusion	p. 210
Post-Imperial China	p. 212
The Chinese Nation and Republican China	p. 217
1949	p. 225
1978 to the Present	p. 229
Conclusion	p. 236
Conclusion	p. 238
Martial Arts in Academia	p. 240
To Close	p. 243
Notes	p. 245
Bibliography	p. 259
Index	p. 265
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