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Home , History of martial arts

The Newsletter No. 86 Summer 2020 19 The Review

Politics and identity in Chinese martial

Henning Wittwer

example, in 1959 and 1975 ’s By following the historical survey Reviewed title State Post Bureau issued stamps with Reviewed title it becomes obvious that martial Politics and Identity in martial sports motives (pp. 140 and A History of Chinese arts cannot be regarded as a mere 150). Similarly in 1964/65 stamps footnote in the history and cultural Chinese were issued depicting the martial Martial Arts history of China. In fact they played traditions of the Ryukyu Islands a central role from the beginning Lu Zhouxiang. 2018. which were under US administration Fuhua Huang and Fan Hong when and their use were Abingdon and New York: Routledge at that time (http://baxleystamps. (trans and eds). 2018. not restricted to hunting and ISBN 9781138090804 com/rymartialarts.htm, accessed Abingdon and New York: Routledge fighting, but were present in ritual 10 March 2019). In both cases native ISBN 9781138645585 martial dances or early paintings, martial arts were officially legitimised too. This eye-opening relationship and upheld as cultural legacies by between martial arts and other, these stamps. more civil cultural pursuits is also ome readers may raise an eyebrow In two or three cases the reviewer feels that apparent in the chapters on later reading the term ‘’ a little more extended source criticism could n 1997 a long awaited in-depth historical periods. In modern China one aspect of Sas it is often entailing stereotypes of an have been fruitful. For example on pages 63 overview of martial arts in China was this liaison has been labelled ‘martial arts infantile hobby, screaming actors in kung and 64 Lu is presenting his rendering of a Ipublished with the support of the Ministry of diplomacy’, and it means that martial arts fu films or orientalist fantasies. However, for 17th century epitaph that was and is well Sport of China. Since it was written in Chinese performances, competitions or training centuries Chinese martial arts, in the broadest known among martial arts literati because the English speaking world had to wait for a camps are purposeful used for political goals sense of the word, were an important part of of its content. Therein a categorisation of scholarly chronical of Chinese martial arts (p.208). Other types of martial arts exchange the culture of China and played roles in its Chinese martial arts into the so-called ‘internal until 2012, when Peter Lorge published his between China and adjacent nations took politics and identity building. In spite of this family’ and ‘external family’ (Lu’s translation) book Chinese Martial Arts: From Antiquity place in the centuries before. For example, English language scholarly treatments of is proposed. A certain Zhang Sanfeng is to the Twenty-First Century (Cambridge when the so-called Japanese pirates (wokou) their historical, cultural or political dimensions named as the founder of the ‘internal family’ of University Press, 2012). Because of the later invaded China, their Japanese sabres are still rare, which underscores the high martial arts and said to have acquired his skills publication date and the importance of the became a threat so that Chinese martial relevance of any new publication in this while dreaming. Of course, the last statement 1997 work it is not surprising to find it in the artists seemed to be eager to learn Japanese particular field. Lu Zhouxiang’s mission in reveals a legendary character of this story. bibliography of Lorge’s work. Still, another sabre techniques and to acquire Japanese writing the book under review was to highlight Rightly, therefore, Lu points out the fact that six years had to pass until Fuhua Huang sabres (p.151). On the other hand, Chinese and to prove exactly these aspects. Using the Zhang Sanfeng legend was dismissed and Fan Hong finally present us their easy fighting techniques exerted some influence a historical approach, he starts the first half with scholarly criticism in the 1920s and 1930s to read English translation of A History of on the development of martial arts in the of his project with developments during the (p.115). According to Sinologist Stanley Henning Chinese Martial Arts. Both editors have to be Ryukyu Kingdom, the subsequent Japanese Shang dynasty in the and follows the epitaph in question appears to have been congratulated on their decision to translate Prefecture of Okinawa (p.152). In the latter the dynastic chronology until the Qing meant as a more or less camouflaged political such a work with its many technical terms, case the exact details given in the book are dynasty. Subsequently the second half of the statement. He argues that it contains several which require specialist knowledge as well as slightly outdated; however, the basic idea work covers the 20th Century until the most verbal attacks of a Ming loyalist against the patience. The list of contributors is impressive of a certain Chinese influence remains a fact. recent time. Lu’s enthusiasm for the subject then still young Qing dynasty. The latter was and contains some well-known names in the So these examples demonstrate clearly that matter shines through his easy to read, established by ‘foreign’ Manchu invaders, field of Chinese martial arts history like Ma martial knowledge crossed borders of nations, thoroughly referenced text. Each chapter is symbolized as ‘external family’ in said source, Mingda (editorial committee), Kuang Wennan be it for reasons of survival or less cogent equipped with its own bibliography. A small while the ingenious Ming are disguised as (author) or Kang Gewu (author) to name motives. Therefore the subject of Chinese drawback is the lack of Chinese characters in ‘internal family’ (Stanley Henning, Chinese just a few. martial arts concerns not only China itself but many cases, which may render more difficult : The internal versus external schools many other Asian countries, and nowadays the identification of some names and sources. in the light of history and theory, Journal of From the time of the Sinanthropus right it has become a rather international Asian Martial Arts 6(3), 1997: 10–19). For this into the 1990s the subject matter is presented phenomenon. Real fortes of Lu’s text are the numerous reason we may probably better read it as a chronological over 10 chapters. Different Worth mentioning is a discussion of quotations of various historical sources political declaration of a person who seeks authors are responsible for different chapters. early Chinese schools of thought and their like poems, songs, chronicles, etc. often identity in a bygone period. And because this While the chronological arrangement is association with martial arts (p.30). Among translated by the author himself. They make interpretation would perfectly be in line with similar – but not identical – to Lorge’s work, them the most obvious and convincing ones reading the anyway interesting monograph Lu’s overall discussion, the reviewer somehow Lorge is providing a discussion on defining are the teachings of Chinese military classics enjoyable and even more entertaining. sensed a missed opportunity. Lu does not refer the term ‘martial arts’ in his introduction like Sunzi. Insightful comments are given on Right from the beginning Lu manages to it. Yet, my sentiment with regard to this point (Chinese Martial Arts, p.3). This is certainly Confucianism, Mohism, and Taoism with successfully to demonstrate the importance is not meant as criticism, but it was merely a a good starting point for readers without any regard to possible influences on martial arts of martial arts as ritualistic and pragmatic brainwave that hit me while reading the book. idea of martial arts; yet, the lack of such an ideologies. Later in the book Kang Gewu in facets in the reality of life of China’s early Noteworthy – at least in my opinion – are extended definition in A History of Chinese his survey of martial arts in the Qing dynasty aristocratic respectively political circles. Lu’s conclusions regarding the possible future Martial Arts is not really a drawback. Because (1644–1911) underlines that it was in this period It becomes evident that the nobility’s of Chinese martial arts. In tandem with the by reading the book under review the term that literate martial artists tried to ‘enrich the circumstances of living and surviving “increasingly industrialised, urbanised, ‘martial ’ is filled with varied meanings content of their martial arts’ by integrating demanded the appreciation of martial and globalised world” China is facing, Lu so that a distinguished picture of ‘martial them into traditional Chinese culture (p.160). practises. Among other things they assisted proposes that its native martial arts probably arts’ in China is created. However, as this These considerations are definitely provoking in the “construction of the feudal pyramid should better follow a path of “reform and short comparison shows Lorge’s work may be further interest and research into the topic. of power” (p.7) or in diplomatic exchanges modernisation” in the direction of a unified regarded as complementary to A History of At the same time they demonstrate that (p.20). His investigation of the roles martial sportive tournament system (p.222). While Chinese Martial Arts. martial arts cannot be generally reduced to arts played in those social mechanisms this suggestion may be helpful in creating a A real forte of the work is the many facts only a brutal and mindless physical activity. evinces the importance of academic more global identity and stronger diplomatic which follow sometimes in furious succession, Two of the more recent developments engagement with Chinese martial arts. relations it appears to potentially wipe away among them biographical and hagiographical presented in the last chapter include a Folkloristic martial entertainment and all the cultural and technically diversity and entries from classic texts and archaeological centralisation of sportive martial arts in pragmatic skills intermingled and depth outlined meticulously in the same findings. Bibliographic references are given China and a large scale operation in order mutually influenced each other under certain work before. Therefore the main argument at the end of each chapter, so that further to classify martial arts legacies. This second circumstances at times. Hence, Lu’s well- that Chinese martial arts have “always been research is possible. I wish to highlight this campaign obviously resulted in a huge presented overviews of martial arts related evolving” (p.223) appears to me as a sweeping point because the history of martial arts amount of collected source materials, and novels and theatre shows through the history statement. His view is balanced by an earlier in China is intermingled with many legends. raises my hope that other publications on may be of special interest to readers with presentation of more critical voices of these The authors and editors approach many this worthwhile and captivating subject an interest in Chinese literature and drama. modernisation and sportification trends, and it of these legends, which muddle the more may follow in the future. Not only were they significant factors in is part of his discussion of these disapproving factual history, in a critical way. To give one In short A History of Chinese Martial Arts the creation of what Lu labels ‘martial arts statements. So in the end the reader is provided popular example, fabricated tales concerning is a most welcome and interesting book, culture’ (p.48), they were also used as means with reasonable material in order to draw his the Indian monk Bodhidharma describe him providing the combined insights of several for identity building and political messages own conclusions regarding this problem and as the inventor of ‘Shaolin martial arts’. In his specialists. Students of Sinology as well as (p.119). When politics are involved, the further engagement with the topic is elicited. section on the ‘Origin of Shaolin martial arts’ practitioners, teachers or researchers of possibility of censorship has to be considered In short, Lu’s work offers a real contribution Kuang Wennan clearly refutes such accounts China’s martial arts will find it to be a helpful sometimes, which in turn leads to different to the understanding of Chinese traditional (p.75). Still, a few legends slip through the overview and may refer to it time and again. consequences for martial arts writings and culture in the form of martial arts, politics, and overall scholarly rigour of the text, like in Furthermore it will be insightful to students of their authors (p.152). identity. Sinologists and students of sinology the case of Chen Yuanyun. Said Chen is Asian Studies in general in order to understand For me one of the most impressive will find it useful in better comprehending treated as the legendary Chinese forefather the importance of martial arts as cultural information delineated by Lu is the great extent the diverse roles martial arts played in of Japanese (p. 151). More recent knowledge that flowed and flows back and of governmental support of and involvement Chinese culture. Students of Asian studies in research has shown that Chen was probably forth between China and its neighbours. into martial arts in the 20th century until general may be provided with insights and not involved in martial arts (Thomas A. Green today. Besides the obvious and not so obvious inspiration for future research. Furthermore, it and Joseph R. Svinth (eds), Martial Arts of effects for China itself, it raises questions about is worthwhile for teachers and practitioners of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Both titles reviewed by the situations in China’s neighbouring nations Chinese martial arts who want to learn more Innovation, Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, Henning Wittwer, with their own martial traditions. To give one about the history and culture of their passion. 2010, 122). Independent scholar, Germany.