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Our club 星洲国术 (Pinyin : Xing Zhou Guo Shu) is a Chinese Culture, Martial Arts and Kickboxing Appreciation Group in Singapore.
Our club 星洲国术 (Pinyin : Xing Zhou Guo Shu) is a Chinese Culture, Martial Arts and Kickboxing Appreciation Group in Singapore.
Chinese Martial Arts
Chinese Martial Arts or Kung Fu is a series of martial art styles which were developed by the Chinese Civilization throughout the dynastic history of ancient China, and hundreds of Chinese martial art styles exist today. Chinese martial arts focus primarily on hand and arm strikes, kicking techniques and the usage of weaponry. The key elements in its empty-hand techniques are punching, kicking, throwing and stand up grappling or joint manipulation. The four major Chinese weapons are the Sabre, Spear, Sword and Staff Pole. Chinese martial arts not only serve the purpose of self-defense, or attacking in a dire situation, fundamentally it also enhance the healthiness of one's mind and body.
Chinese martial arts are also recognized to have a profound influence on many aspects of the Chinese Culture due to its long history and wide circulation in society. Take the Chinese language for instance, the characters Mao 矛 (Spear) and Dun 盾 (Shield) when put together means Contradiction (Mao Dun 矛盾), the Chinese idiom Feng Dao Gua Jian 封刀挂剑 (Sealing Sabre Hanging Sword) is used to describe an athlete retiring from competitions, and Dan Qiang Pi Ma 单枪匹马 (Single Spear On Horseback) means doing things all by oneself.
Chinese martial arts are also recognized to have a profound influence on many aspects of the Chinese Culture due to its long history and wide circulation in society. Take the Chinese language for instance, the characters Mao 矛 (Spear) and Dun 盾 (Shield) when put together means Contradiction (Mao Dun 矛盾), the Chinese idiom Feng Dao Gua Jian 封刀挂剑 (Sealing Sabre Hanging Sword) is used to describe an athlete retiring from competitions, and Dan Qiang Pi Ma 单枪匹马 (Single Spear On Horseback) means doing things all by oneself.
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Chinese Martial Art History
The Chinese have clear definition of the term “Martial Arts” since the Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (1046BC – 256 BC), to the Chinese, the term “Martial Arts” can be known as Wu Ji 武技, Wu Yi 武艺, Wu Gong 武功 or Wu Shu 武术, and all of them simply means Combat Skills, and these Combat Skills can be carried out either with weapons or bare-handed.
Many Westerners preferred to call Chinese Martial Arts as Kung Fu 功夫. Contrary to popular belief, the term Kung Fu does not directly translate into “Martial Arts” in the Chinese language. The term “Kung Fu” had originated from the early Cantonese martial artists who emigrated to the Western World; “Kung Fu” actually means “skills achieved over time with effort”, and the skills they were referring to were of course Combat Skills. Chinese Martial Arts or Combat Skills were developed by countless generations of military personnel and practitioners throughout the dynastic history of ancient China, formerly cultivated for the purpose of military warfare and self defense, today it is also a form of body-building and fitness practice for the masses. |
According to historians and archaeologists, the Martial Arts or Combat Skills of ancient China just like many other martial arts in the world had started from the use of weaponry. The earliest beginnings of Chinese martial arts can be dated back to China’s Neolithic Tribal Era 远古时代, when the early Chinese tribesmen developed primitive survival skills with the invention and usage of rudimentary weaponry made from stones and wood like stone knives, harpoons, axes and arrowheads for the purpose of hunting and tribal defense.
With the progression of time, ancient China transited into the Bronze Age during the Shang Dynasty 商朝 and subsequently to the Iron Age by the end Zhou Dynasty 周朝. The advancement in society and metallurgy, and the establishment of armies and development of military training throughout the dynasties had led to the invention of a wide array of metallic weapons meant for war and self defense, countless weaponry and empty-hand combat techniques were also created.
Archaeological findings of the Yangshao Culture (5000BC - 3000BC) and Longshan Culture (3000BC - 1900BC) neolithic sites suggested that as the Early Chinese Civilization progressed in agriculture and production, it was also met with increasing amount of conflict and plunder. During the era of Longshan Culture, the construction of rammed-earth fortification walls began, increasing amount of stone axes, spears and arrow-heads were produced, and there were even multiple layers of decapitated skeletal remains piled up in pits. The 1st dynasty of ancient China, Xia Dynasty 夏朝 (2070BC - 1600BC, Bronze Age) was founded around the era of the Longshan Culture, and it was written in the historical chronicles that the Xia Dynasty 夏朝 was formed because the people wanted a strong leader and armies to protect them.
With the progression of time, ancient China transited into the Bronze Age during the Shang Dynasty 商朝 and subsequently to the Iron Age by the end Zhou Dynasty 周朝. The advancement in society and metallurgy, and the establishment of armies and development of military training throughout the dynasties had led to the invention of a wide array of metallic weapons meant for war and self defense, countless weaponry and empty-hand combat techniques were also created.
Archaeological findings of the Yangshao Culture (5000BC - 3000BC) and Longshan Culture (3000BC - 1900BC) neolithic sites suggested that as the Early Chinese Civilization progressed in agriculture and production, it was also met with increasing amount of conflict and plunder. During the era of Longshan Culture, the construction of rammed-earth fortification walls began, increasing amount of stone axes, spears and arrow-heads were produced, and there were even multiple layers of decapitated skeletal remains piled up in pits. The 1st dynasty of ancient China, Xia Dynasty 夏朝 (2070BC - 1600BC, Bronze Age) was founded around the era of the Longshan Culture, and it was written in the historical chronicles that the Xia Dynasty 夏朝 was formed because the people wanted a strong leader and armies to protect them.
Shang and Zhou Dynasty Martial Arts
Modern day archaeological digs of royal tombs from the 2nd dynasty of ancient China, Shang Dynasty 商朝 (1600BC - 1046BC, Bronze Age), revealed that people in Shang Dynasty communicated in characters known as the Oracle Bone Scripts 甲骨文. The artifacts inscribed with Oracle Bone Scripts 甲骨文 had indicated that the Shang Dynasty had professional military forces to defend against invasions from neighboring nomadic tribes and capture prisoners of war from settlements in the central plains to use as slaves. The Shang nobles loved hunting and they also served as military leaders to lead soldiers into battles, and the enlargement of finger and wrist bones in the skeletal remains of the Shang nobles and soldiers also suggested that they had spend years training in archery and the usage of weapons.
There were also many females nobles serving as Shang military leaders; the Shan General, Fu Hao 妇好 was the most famous female who led many victorious battles. The Shang armies used bronze weapons such as spears, battle-axes, dagger-axes, bow and arrows, shields and short swords (20cm - 40cm long) to fight battles both on foot and on war chariots, till date thousands of Shang Dynasty bronze weapons had been discovered.
According to the historical chronicles of ancient China, the last ruler of Shang Dynasty, Shan Zhou Wan 商紂王 was defeated by Zhou Wu Wan 周武王 in the Battle of Muye 牧野之战 in 1046BC at present-day Xinxiang City 新乡市 in China's Henan province 河南省. After the Battle of Muye 牧野之战, the Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (1046BC – 256 BC) was formed with Zhou Wu Wan 周武王 as its first ruler. The Battle of Muye 牧野之战 was an epic war of antiquity; according to the historical chronicles this battle involved nearly 700 000 men armed with bronze weapons fighting both on foot and war chariots.
Ancient China entered the Iron Age during the Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (1046BC – 256 BC), Zhou Dynasty 周朝 was the first dynasty of ancient China to keep written records of history, and it also saw the introduction of many military innovations, such as the use of iron to cast weapons, using cavalry-soldiers to fight battles and training soldiers to fight in military formations.
The Zhou Dynasty was made up by many vassal states and the armies of the Zhou Dynasty favored the usage of weapons such as the dagger-axes, bow and arrows, spears, shields, crossbows and mid-length straight swords (50cm - 90cm long). During the Zhou Dynasty Spring and Autumn period 春秋时代 (771BC - 476BC), its vassal states fought frequent wars with each other to gain more territories, and Great Sages like Kong Zi 孔子 (Confucians) and Lao Zi 老子 (Lao Tzu) emerged to teach philosophies in hope of bringing peace and harmony back to the people. Many of these philosophies were adsorbed into the cultivation of Chinese martial arts in later dynasties, and these philosophies had became an integral part of Chinese martial arts till this day.
There were also many females nobles serving as Shang military leaders; the Shan General, Fu Hao 妇好 was the most famous female who led many victorious battles. The Shang armies used bronze weapons such as spears, battle-axes, dagger-axes, bow and arrows, shields and short swords (20cm - 40cm long) to fight battles both on foot and on war chariots, till date thousands of Shang Dynasty bronze weapons had been discovered.
According to the historical chronicles of ancient China, the last ruler of Shang Dynasty, Shan Zhou Wan 商紂王 was defeated by Zhou Wu Wan 周武王 in the Battle of Muye 牧野之战 in 1046BC at present-day Xinxiang City 新乡市 in China's Henan province 河南省. After the Battle of Muye 牧野之战, the Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (1046BC – 256 BC) was formed with Zhou Wu Wan 周武王 as its first ruler. The Battle of Muye 牧野之战 was an epic war of antiquity; according to the historical chronicles this battle involved nearly 700 000 men armed with bronze weapons fighting both on foot and war chariots.
Ancient China entered the Iron Age during the Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (1046BC – 256 BC), Zhou Dynasty 周朝 was the first dynasty of ancient China to keep written records of history, and it also saw the introduction of many military innovations, such as the use of iron to cast weapons, using cavalry-soldiers to fight battles and training soldiers to fight in military formations.
The Zhou Dynasty was made up by many vassal states and the armies of the Zhou Dynasty favored the usage of weapons such as the dagger-axes, bow and arrows, spears, shields, crossbows and mid-length straight swords (50cm - 90cm long). During the Zhou Dynasty Spring and Autumn period 春秋时代 (771BC - 476BC), its vassal states fought frequent wars with each other to gain more territories, and Great Sages like Kong Zi 孔子 (Confucians) and Lao Zi 老子 (Lao Tzu) emerged to teach philosophies in hope of bringing peace and harmony back to the people. Many of these philosophies were adsorbed into the cultivation of Chinese martial arts in later dynasties, and these philosophies had became an integral part of Chinese martial arts till this day.
Han Dynasty Martial Arts
About after 50 years after the fall of Zhou Dynasty 周朝 came the formation of the glorious Han Dynasty 汉朝 (206 BC – 220 AD). It was during this era of peace and prosperity that the Chinese Calendar, Characters, Customs and Rituals were truly standardized, and it made the people of the Han Dynasty identified themselves as an united culture known as the Han Ren 汉人 (Han People). Today, Han Ren 汉人 formed the vast majority of the Chinese and amount to about 20% of the world population. It was also during the Han Dynasty that martial arts began to circulate among the commoners. According to the historical records, commoners living at the Han borders were organized to learn the usage of weaponry like the spears, bow and arrows, halberds, shields and long swords to defend against an invasion. Han military were recruited through conscription, young men were required to undergo a year of training and another year of service as soldier. When the men finished their military service and return home, the martial arts or combat skills they had learned in the army were once again on passed on to the masses.
Han soldiers other than weaponry were also trained in unarmed military combat known as Shou Bo 手博, which stem from the former Zhou Dynasty 周朝. Shou Bo 手博 was greatly similar to modern day military unarmed combat, containing the techniques of punching, kicking, throws and weapon-disarming. During the Han Dynasty Taoist priests and doctors were also actively formulating internal Qi Gong 气功 trainings known as Dao Yin Shu 导引术 as health and longevity exercises. Han Dynasty Shou Bo 手博 and Wu Qin Xi 五禽戏 Qi Gong were regarded by historians as some of the earliest forms of Chinese empty-hand combat skills and Qi Gong.
During the Han Dynasty, with great advancement in iron forging, double-handed single-edged and double-edged steel straight swords up to 140cm long were made in great numbers and it became the sought-after weaponry among the military and social elites. Swordplay performances during imperial dinners was common and sword fencing was also a popular pastime for aristocrats. Sword exponents known as the You Xia 游侠 or Wandering Swordsmen were invited to live in the mansions of the aristocrats and rich merchants to serve as bodyguards and martial art instructors
Han soldiers other than weaponry were also trained in unarmed military combat known as Shou Bo 手博, which stem from the former Zhou Dynasty 周朝. Shou Bo 手博 was greatly similar to modern day military unarmed combat, containing the techniques of punching, kicking, throws and weapon-disarming. During the Han Dynasty Taoist priests and doctors were also actively formulating internal Qi Gong 气功 trainings known as Dao Yin Shu 导引术 as health and longevity exercises. Han Dynasty Shou Bo 手博 and Wu Qin Xi 五禽戏 Qi Gong were regarded by historians as some of the earliest forms of Chinese empty-hand combat skills and Qi Gong.
During the Han Dynasty, with great advancement in iron forging, double-handed single-edged and double-edged steel straight swords up to 140cm long were made in great numbers and it became the sought-after weaponry among the military and social elites. Swordplay performances during imperial dinners was common and sword fencing was also a popular pastime for aristocrats. Sword exponents known as the You Xia 游侠 or Wandering Swordsmen were invited to live in the mansions of the aristocrats and rich merchants to serve as bodyguards and martial art instructors
Chinese Spear, Sword and Sabre
After the Han Dynasty, ancient China fell into 400 over years of fragmentation, constant warfare and invasions from foreign civilizations, stretching from the Three Kingdoms Period 三国时代, the Five Barbarians And Sixteen Kingdoms Period 五胡十六国时代, till the end of the Northern and Southern Dynasties Period 南北朝时代. This 400 over years of constant warfare had caused martial arts training to revolve almost entirely on the use of weaponry. The development in body armor, military formations and the extensive use of cavalry also helped propelled the Chinese spear to become the most important and common military weapon in the battlefield, because the spearhead needed as little as 100g of steel to produce and it could thrust through the armor of an enemy soldier. The Chinese Spear was used along with the sword, sabre, shield, bow and arrow as the main military weapons in ancient China till the 1800s.
Common features of the Chinese spear are the leaf-shaped spearhead and red horse-hair tassel lashed just below the spearhead. The tassel served the purposes of distracting the enemy and stopping the flow of blood from spearhead getting to the wooden shaft when the spear was thrust into the enemy. Due to its wide circulation the spear also became the most common weapon practiced by Chinese martial art styles today.
According to archaeologists the Chinese spear was the oldest purpose-built weapon of ancient China. The oldest bronze spearhead discovered was from the Shang Dynasty 商朝 (1600BC - 1046BC), which was thought to have evolved from the stone harpoon spearhead of the neolithic era. Since the Shang Dynasty the general design of the Chinese spear did not change much throughout the ages. *The usage of the Chinese spear easily made Chinese Martial Arts one of the Oldest Continuing Martial Arts In The World.
The popularity of the double-handed single-edged and double-edged steel straight swords 双手剑 pioneered during the Han Dynasty ended in the Song Dynasty 宋朝 (960AD - 1279AD), with the introduction of the single-edged Chinese sabre or curved broadsword. One of the earliest and most famous sabre design in the Song Dynasty 宋朝 was the Shou Dao 手刀, and since its introduction the Chinese sabre had grown to be one of the most popular mid-length weaponry among the military and masses in ancient China. Today it is common to see Chinese Sabre or Dan Dao 单刀 being used in Kung Fu performance and competitions.
The Chinese straight sword did not disappear from history, since the Song Dynasty the double-handed style straight sword had evolved into the narrow blade single-handed straight sword, commonly used as a self defense weapon and status symbol by court officials till the 1800s.
Common features of the Chinese spear are the leaf-shaped spearhead and red horse-hair tassel lashed just below the spearhead. The tassel served the purposes of distracting the enemy and stopping the flow of blood from spearhead getting to the wooden shaft when the spear was thrust into the enemy. Due to its wide circulation the spear also became the most common weapon practiced by Chinese martial art styles today.
According to archaeologists the Chinese spear was the oldest purpose-built weapon of ancient China. The oldest bronze spearhead discovered was from the Shang Dynasty 商朝 (1600BC - 1046BC), which was thought to have evolved from the stone harpoon spearhead of the neolithic era. Since the Shang Dynasty the general design of the Chinese spear did not change much throughout the ages. *The usage of the Chinese spear easily made Chinese Martial Arts one of the Oldest Continuing Martial Arts In The World.
The popularity of the double-handed single-edged and double-edged steel straight swords 双手剑 pioneered during the Han Dynasty ended in the Song Dynasty 宋朝 (960AD - 1279AD), with the introduction of the single-edged Chinese sabre or curved broadsword. One of the earliest and most famous sabre design in the Song Dynasty 宋朝 was the Shou Dao 手刀, and since its introduction the Chinese sabre had grown to be one of the most popular mid-length weaponry among the military and masses in ancient China. Today it is common to see Chinese Sabre or Dan Dao 单刀 being used in Kung Fu performance and competitions.
The Chinese straight sword did not disappear from history, since the Song Dynasty the double-handed style straight sword had evolved into the narrow blade single-handed straight sword, commonly used as a self defense weapon and status symbol by court officials till the 1800s.
Tang and Song Dynasty Martial Arts
As mentioned earlier, the 400 over years of constant warfare after the Han Dynasty had caused martial arts training to revolve almost entirely on the use of weaponry, the situation changed when peace and prosperity finally came to ancient China in the unified Tang Dynasty 唐朝 (618AD - 907AD). During the Tang Dynasty, history started to record exponents of both weapon and empty-hand combat, in the military there were General Li Jing 李靖, Qin Qiong 秦琼 and Xue Li 薛礼, and among the masses there were Pugilist Cai Mao 蔡茂, Monk Tan Zong 昙宗 and Taoist Priest Xu Xuan Ping 许宣平.
The Shaolin Temple 少林寺, 200 years after its establishment was finally recognized as a martial art sect in the Tang Dynasty and it subsequently became the oldest Chinese Martial Art Sect. The 2nd oldest Chinese Martial Art Sect, Kongtong Sect 崆峒派 was formed in Kongtong Mountains of Gansu Province 甘肃省 by Fei Hong Zi 飞虹子 in the Tang Dynasty too. Age-old Chinese empty-hand martial arts styles like Da Hong Quan 大鸿拳, Hua Quan 华拳 and Hong Quan 红拳 also took root in the Tang Dynasty. Imperial martial art examinations known as Wu Ju 武举 was initiated in the Tang Dynasty to recruit excellent candidates into military services, Wu Ju 武举 was implemented by all following dynasties of ancient China and it helped propelled the training of martial arts among the masses till the 1800s.
In the Song Dynasty 宋朝 (960AD - 1279AD) the dressing of the masses had evolved from the cumbersome single-piece robes to shirt and pants, the change of dressing had spur the creation of many empty-hand martial arts styles with heavy emphasizes on kicking techniques like Chuo Jiao 戳脚, Zhang Quan 长拳, Xuan Wu Quan 玄武拳 etc. Practitioners also began to combine combat techniques training with Qi Gong exercises and they led a pugilistic life based on the philosophies of Confucianism and Daoism. Tao Zi 套子 or Set-Routine training of martial arts also began in the Song Dynasty. The 3rd oldest Chinese Martial Art Sect, Wudang Sect 武当派 was formed in the Wudang Mountains of Hubei Province 湖北省 by Taoist Priest Zhang San Feng 张三丰 in the late Song Dynasty.
The Shaolin Temple 少林寺, 200 years after its establishment was finally recognized as a martial art sect in the Tang Dynasty and it subsequently became the oldest Chinese Martial Art Sect. The 2nd oldest Chinese Martial Art Sect, Kongtong Sect 崆峒派 was formed in Kongtong Mountains of Gansu Province 甘肃省 by Fei Hong Zi 飞虹子 in the Tang Dynasty too. Age-old Chinese empty-hand martial arts styles like Da Hong Quan 大鸿拳, Hua Quan 华拳 and Hong Quan 红拳 also took root in the Tang Dynasty. Imperial martial art examinations known as Wu Ju 武举 was initiated in the Tang Dynasty to recruit excellent candidates into military services, Wu Ju 武举 was implemented by all following dynasties of ancient China and it helped propelled the training of martial arts among the masses till the 1800s.
In the Song Dynasty 宋朝 (960AD - 1279AD) the dressing of the masses had evolved from the cumbersome single-piece robes to shirt and pants, the change of dressing had spur the creation of many empty-hand martial arts styles with heavy emphasizes on kicking techniques like Chuo Jiao 戳脚, Zhang Quan 长拳, Xuan Wu Quan 玄武拳 etc. Practitioners also began to combine combat techniques training with Qi Gong exercises and they led a pugilistic life based on the philosophies of Confucianism and Daoism. Tao Zi 套子 or Set-Routine training of martial arts also began in the Song Dynasty. The 3rd oldest Chinese Martial Art Sect, Wudang Sect 武当派 was formed in the Wudang Mountains of Hubei Province 湖北省 by Taoist Priest Zhang San Feng 张三丰 in the late Song Dynasty.
Finalization of Chinese Martial Arts
All Chinese martial art styles that existed today were finalized during the Ming Dynasty 明朝 (1368AD - 1644AD) and Qing Dynasty 清朝 (1636AD - 1912AD) with documentation of its combat techniques, Qi Gong exercises, set-routines, lineages etc.
It was during the Qing Dynasty 清朝 (1644AD - 1912AD) that Chinese started to travel overseas in large numbers and the martial arts which were developed in China began to spread to the West. China’s Guangdong province 广东省 had the greatest number of people traveling to the West and in the dialects of Guangdong martial arts was nicknamed as Gong Fu or Kung Fu 功夫. Hence, today most westerners known Martial Arts from China as Kung Fu.
China entered into the modern era when Qing Dynasty ended and martial art developed in China was categorized under Guo Shu 国术 in the 1920s, Guo 国 meaning National and Shu 术 meaning Arts.
The term 传统中华武术 (Pin Yin : Chuan Tong Zhong Hua Wu Shu) which means Traditional Chinese Martial Arts was later coined by the Chinese Government in the 1960s to differentiate between the Martial Arts that were developed in China and the newly invented Display Sport of Wushu 竞赛武术.
It was during the Qing Dynasty 清朝 (1644AD - 1912AD) that Chinese started to travel overseas in large numbers and the martial arts which were developed in China began to spread to the West. China’s Guangdong province 广东省 had the greatest number of people traveling to the West and in the dialects of Guangdong martial arts was nicknamed as Gong Fu or Kung Fu 功夫. Hence, today most westerners known Martial Arts from China as Kung Fu.
China entered into the modern era when Qing Dynasty ended and martial art developed in China was categorized under Guo Shu 国术 in the 1920s, Guo 国 meaning National and Shu 术 meaning Arts.
The term 传统中华武术 (Pin Yin : Chuan Tong Zhong Hua Wu Shu) which means Traditional Chinese Martial Arts was later coined by the Chinese Government in the 1960s to differentiate between the Martial Arts that were developed in China and the newly invented Display Sport of Wushu 竞赛武术.
Chinese Historiography
In Chinese Historiography, a Chao Ting 朝廷 or Imperial Court that was able to control territories stretching from the Yangtze 长江 to Yellow River 黄河 is considered a Unified Dynasty. Since the Shang Dynasty 商朝, the land we called China today went through 12 unified dynasties ending at Qing Dynasty 清朝 in 1912AD, all of these dynasties replaced one another using large scale wars involving thousands of soldiers battling for years, and these dynasties also were recorded to defend against hundreds of invasions from northern nomadic tribes. Moreover, there were hundreds of years in Chinese history like the Warring States Period 战国时代, Three Kingdoms Period 三国时代 and Five Barbarians And Sixteen Kingdoms Period 五胡十六国时代, when the land was fragmented into many small states which battled each other for years.
The succession of dynasties and division periods of ancient China is as follow :
Neolithic Tribal Era 远古时代 → Xia Dynasty 夏朝 → Shang Dynasty 商朝 → Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (Western Zhou Period 西周) → Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (Eastern Zhou, Spring And Autumn Period 东周, 春秋时代) → Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (Eastern Zhou, Warring States Period 东周, 战国时代) → Qin Dynasty 秦朝 → Han Dynasty 汉朝 (Western Han 西汉) → Xin Dynasty 新朝 → Han Dynasty 汉朝 (Eastern Han 东汉) → Three Kingdoms Period 三国时代 → Jin Dynasty 晋朝 (Western Jin 西晋) → Jin Dynasty 晋朝 (Eastern Jin, Five Barbarians And Sixteen Kingdoms Period 西晋, 五胡十六国时代) → Northern and Southern Dynasties Period 南北朝时代 → Sui Dynasty 隋朝 → Tang Dynasty 唐朝 → Five Dynasties And Ten Kingdoms 五代十国时代 → Song Dynasty 宋朝 (Northern Song 北宋) → Song Dynasty 宋朝 (Southern Song 南宋) → Yuan 元朝 → Ming Dynasty 明朝 → Qing Dynasty 清朝 → Modern Era since 1912AD
The succession of dynasties and division periods of ancient China is as follow :
Neolithic Tribal Era 远古时代 → Xia Dynasty 夏朝 → Shang Dynasty 商朝 → Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (Western Zhou Period 西周) → Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (Eastern Zhou, Spring And Autumn Period 东周, 春秋时代) → Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (Eastern Zhou, Warring States Period 东周, 战国时代) → Qin Dynasty 秦朝 → Han Dynasty 汉朝 (Western Han 西汉) → Xin Dynasty 新朝 → Han Dynasty 汉朝 (Eastern Han 东汉) → Three Kingdoms Period 三国时代 → Jin Dynasty 晋朝 (Western Jin 西晋) → Jin Dynasty 晋朝 (Eastern Jin, Five Barbarians And Sixteen Kingdoms Period 西晋, 五胡十六国时代) → Northern and Southern Dynasties Period 南北朝时代 → Sui Dynasty 隋朝 → Tang Dynasty 唐朝 → Five Dynasties And Ten Kingdoms 五代十国时代 → Song Dynasty 宋朝 (Northern Song 北宋) → Song Dynasty 宋朝 (Southern Song 南宋) → Yuan 元朝 → Ming Dynasty 明朝 → Qing Dynasty 清朝 → Modern Era since 1912AD
What Defines Chinese Martial Arts
Hundreds of Chinese Martial Arts styles are being taught all over the world today. To quality as a Chinese Martial Arts style they must include the below 3 fundamental elements:
If you come across a school claiming to teach Chinese Martial Arts styles and their curriculum do not include the above 3 fundamental elements you should research further on the authenticity of their martial art styles. |
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