Wudang Kung Fu
Wudang Kung Fu (武当功夫) and Shaolin Kung Fu are the two most representative styles of traditional Chinese martial arts, thus there is a popular saying in China that “Shaolin Kung Fu is the king of the north while Wudang Kung Fu rules the south.”
Unlike Shaolin Kung Fu, which is referred to as “external” martial art and integrated with Zen Buddhism, Wudang Kung Fu is an “internal” martial art based on the philosophy and canons of Taoism, an indigenous Chinese religion.
Wudang Kung Fu Originated from Taoism
Wudang Kung Fu (or Wudang martial arts) draws upon a long history and profound knowledge of Taoism.
According to legend, Wudang Kung Fu was established by a famous Taoist named Zhang Sanfeng, who lived during the late Yuan (1279-1368) and early Ming (1368-1644) dynasties.
Zhang masterfully combined the essence of “I Ching” (易经) and “Tao De Ching” (道德经) with traditional Shaolin Kung Fu to found Wudang Kung Fu, which mainly includes Tai Chi, Xingyi Quan, and Eight Trigram Palm (Bagua Palm), contributing to health promotion and body-building.
Zhang Sanfeng was a master in martial arts, especially boxing and swordplay. Based on Taoist theories, such as naturalness and humility, he synthesized Taoist internal exercises, regimen guarding skills, martial arts boxing, and military science into one, hence creating Wudang Internal Boxing.
The boxing style uses principles of internal exercise, attack, regimen, self-protection, conquering the unyielding by yielding, confronting the active with stillness, attacking an opponent with his own force, and striking only after the enemy has struck.
Since the Ming dynasty, Zhang Sanfeng has been honored by the whole martial arts world as the founder of Wudang Internal Boxing and Taiji Boxing (Tai Chi).
Wudang Kung Fu, after hundreds of years of innovation and development, has spread among the people and had a long-lasting and profound influence. It now constitutes an important and unique form of Chinese martial arts.
Three Main Styles
Wudang Kung Fu has three main styles, namely, Tai Chi, Xingyiquan, and Eight Trigram Palm (Baguazhang). These illustrate the major skills of Wudang Kung Fu.
1. Tai Chi combines slow, deliberate movements, meditation, and deep breathing. Today it is chiefly a mind-body exercise to help treat or prevent health problems, as well as to delay aging.
2. Baguazhang, literally “Eight Trigram Palm,” is named after the trigrams of “I Ching” or the “Book of Changes” (易经), an ancient Chinese divination text and one of the key ideological foundations of Taoism. Circle walking is the customary movement of Baguazhang.
3. Xingyiquan, literally “Shape-Will Boxing,” is the oldest of the Wudang internal martial arts, concentrating on the mind and shape of the body, rather than physical strength and heavy-handed force. It is primarily composed of five basic fist movements, all executed at short range.
Some documents indicate that Xingyiquan was created in imitation of the fighting techniques and spirits of 12 animals – such as the tiger, monkey, snake, eagle, horse, and bear – to tap into the natural instincts and fighting abilities those animals possess.
Five Characteristics of Wudang Kung Fu
Guided by Taoist Ideology
As mentioned above, Wudang Kung Fu was based on Taoist theories. Zhang’s Tai Chi Chuan and Wudang Kung Fu were supposedly created according to Taoist ideology, incorporating softness, quietness, emptiness, unification, naturalness, harmony, and so on.
All these can be summarized in Tai Chi, yin and yang, the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth), and the Eight Trigrams. Under the guidance of these philosophical principles, Wudang Kung Fu achieves more effective results.
Having Health as the Goal
The initial purpose of Zhang’s Wudang Kung Fu was to maintain fitness. Its function of art and attack was derived from the premise of guaranteeing health. Thus, the movements and skills of this kung fu style were designed to improve blood circulation, relax muscles and joints, and cultivate physical and mental health.
Defense Rather Than Offence
With the original purpose of maintaining fitness, Wudang Kung Fu later became a fighting form of self-defense, with strategies of fending off hard attacks with soft movements, defeating the strong in a yielding way, confronting the active with stillness, beating the fast in a slow manner, and striking out only after an opponent has struck first.
It emphasizes defense rather than offense, which is because Taoism promotes peace and harmony, rather than conflict; so Wudang Kung Fu is meant for protection rather than attack.
Observing Martial Morality
The disciples of the Wudang School must observe some moral disciplines. For instance, their basic admonishments are:
“Three Pieces of Obedience” – wholeheartedly believing in Taoism, observing 36 pieces of Taoist scripture, and complying with the direction of the Taoist master.
“Five Restrictions” – no killing, no meat or drinking, no lying, no stealing, and no wickedness.
“Ten Prohibitions” – it’s forbidden to disobey parents or teachers, to kill or trample livestock or people, to rebel against one’s monarch or betray one’s country, to be prurient, to slander Taoist scriptures, or to detest or abandon seniors.
Advocating Naturalness
Wudang Kung Fu advocates naturalness, which can be understood from its various animal-shaped movements, especially in Internal Boxing. For example, the Twelve Shapes Boxing of Xingyiquan is named after 12 kinds of animals.