Investigating the Spread of Ancient Chinese Martial Arts

For centuries, martial arts have been part of China's culture. From ancient times to the present day, the Chinese have continuously developed fighting styles and techniques, often adapting them and growing them in martial art forms throughout their country. But it wasn't just within their own borders that these martial arts have been developed; they have been spread to many other countries. In this article, we'll take a look at how ancient Chinese martial arts have been passed down and embraced by other cultures.

The earliest roots of Chinese martial arts can be traced back to 800-500 BCE, during the Zhou dynasty. The first documented martial arts practice was a form of unarmed combat called jiao di, where two combatants would use either hand-to-hand combat or weapons like swords, spears, and daggers. This practice was believed to have been figured out and developed by the Yellow Emperor, Huangdi, and is credited with inspiring the rule of law and self-discipline that would manifest in many of the Chinese martial arts that followed.
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For centuries after, martial arts practices were passed down and improved. During the Warring States period (475-221 BCE), military commanders developed various systems where soldiers could hone their skills and become effective fighters. As martial arts started to be incorporated into their society, the Chinese began to develop more sophisticated systems, now known as “internal” martial arts. These forms emphasize the use of relaxed muscles, empty body posture, and energy cultivation for internal energy and flow.

The popularity of martial arts in ancient China helped spread the practice to other cultures. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907CE), martial arts masters travelled to Japan and established the beginnings of Japanese karate, kendo, and other fighting systems. Most famously, it was believed that the legendary teacher, Bodhidharma, arrived in China in the fifth century and introduced Zen Buddhism and Shaolin martial arts that would later develop into kung fu.

These stories of martial arts travelling across the continent are mirrored in the way people traveled, often carrying their own martial arts with them. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) and the Qing Dynasty that followed (1644-1912CE), martial schools were established in most towns and cities, and martial arts practices spread to Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, and even some parts of India. By the twentieth century, martial arts had developed further, allowing for more striking and acrobatic movements.
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Today, many modern martial arts draw from Chinese martial arts practices, but they've also developed their own styles and practices. Judo, Aikido, and Tae Kwon Do, for example, all draw from Chinese martial arts roots, but because of the many generations of training and passage of time across generations, they've been evolved their own distinct practices.

It's remarkable to see how Chinese martial arts have been passed down and spread across many countries. What's even more remarkable is how the traditions and practices remain largely the same, despite differences in geographic location and culture. Just as the Yellow Emperor's teachings on the law and self-discipline live on in the martial arts today, so too do these practices provide a unique insight into China's history and culture.