Martial arts during the Republic of China
And its influence on modern Chinese martial arts
Shi Xianli Cai Zhonglin
(School of Physical Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei 430062)
"Fighting·Martial Arts Science" November 2005, Volume 2, Issue 11
Abstract: The Republic of China was a historical period of social turmoil and various ideological trends. and a period of emerging phenomena. During the Republic of China, martial arts underwent profound changes from organizational form to functions and activities. Martial arts organizations such as "Chinese New Martial Arts", Jingwu Sports Association and the Central Martial Arts Center have made important contributions to the development of modern Chinese martial arts.
Keywords: The influence of the Central Martial Arts Hall of the Chinese New Martial Arts Jingwu Sports Association during the Republic of China
Chinese Category Number: G85 Document Identification Code: A
Article Number :1004--5643(2005)11-011-03
The Republic of China period lasted for thirty-eight years. During this period, warlord separatism, political turmoil, government changes, fierce confrontations between different ideological trends, debates over local and foreign sports, and years of war all affected the development of Chinese martial arts. However, the martial arts during this period still showed a development trend and achieved certain results, which had an important impact on modern Chinese martial arts.
1 The historical background of the formation of "Chinese New Wushu" and its influence on modern Chinese martial arts
1.1 The historical background of the formation of "Chinese New Wushu"
"Chinese New Martial Arts" is a product of the combination of Chinese and Western martial arts. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, many Chinese people had seen the futility of riding and archery, so some people shouted, "Please stop the military tests with bows, sabers, swords, and stones." Some people called, "Today's military training must not be based on the principles of Western learning." For a time, they imitated Western learning. Military training has become public opinion and fashion.
Sun Yat-sen made sharp criticism of the tendency at that time to promote purely "foreign sports" and "many Chinese people abandoned the technical and offensive skills of sports". In the historical trend of "strong breeding to protect the country", in the collision and confrontation between domestic and foreign military and sports ideas, the revolutionaries represented by Sun Yat-sen not only opposed the nihilistic attitude towards the traditional culture of their own nation, but also introduced Western military For example, military gymnastics and military schools were established to combine the national martial spirit and martial arts content with military gymnastics training.
In this historical background, some celebrities, educators, soldiers, martial artists, etc. are also exploring the development of Chinese martial arts in the inevitable trend of adapting foreign countries to China. "Chinese New Martial Arts" was gradually formed in this exploration. Its starting point is to take Chinese boxing skills and wrestling skills as its content, and compile a new martial arts coaching method with reference to the military training method.
In 1911, when Ma Liang was appointed commander of the Ninth Army Association and stationed in Weixian County, Shandong Province, he invited some martial arts masters to initiate the compilation of martial arts textbooks and named the textbook "New Chinese Martial Arts".
In 1914, when Ma Liang served as the commander of the 47th Army Brigade and the commander of the Jinan Garrison, he once again invited martial arts experts from various schools to revise the "New Chinese Martial Arts". It is based on traditional martial arts movements, draws on the coaching methods of military gymnastics, and adopts a fusion of Chinese and Western practices, which is more creative than traditional Western training. It has an indelible positive significance in the history of martial arts development.
1.2 The influence of "New Chinese Martial Arts" on modern Chinese martial arts
The editor and revision of "New Chinese Martial Arts" invited martial arts masters from various schools, which broke the martial arts world The traditional sectarian views have played an important role in the exchange and dissemination of martial arts culture in the future.
One of the "new" meanings of "Chinese New Martial Arts" is that it was determined to be the "formal gymnastics" promoted nationwide at that time. From then on, the Western concept of "gymnastics" was combined with traditional Chinese martial arts. . Due to the introduction of the concept of "gymnastics", the feudal hereditary master-apprentice inheritance relationship under the agricultural economy was finally broken through by the group coaching method for the public. Traditional martial arts entered school sports in a relatively concise and unified way and became a means of cultivating talents.
The "newness" of "Chinese New Martial Arts" is also reflected in the teaching method of the implementation of the textbook. It draws on the form of Western military drills with passwords, starting with simple and easy-to-learn basic movements, and starting with single-style coaching , and then a complete set of coaches, including both individual exercise group coaches and pair exercise group coaches. The teaching method is easy first and then difficult, step by step. This emphasis on basic movement techniques, starting from basic teaching, and then continuous teaching, from a single movement to a complete set of teaching steps, as well as a group coaching method with passwords, is still the classic teaching method of martial arts in colleges and universities. Although the teaching content of our current general martial arts teaching is different, the teaching methods such as collective coaching and command command still follow the creative achievements of that period.
"Chinese New Martial Arts" not only had a profound impact on modern Chinese martial arts in terms of teaching methods, but more importantly, when the advocates introduced "military gymnastics", they also recognized Western "gymnastics" The form of sports has accepted the competitive thinking of Western sports. The "National Wushu Sports Conference of China" held in Shanghai in 1923 was an attempt to adopt Western gymnastics performance competitions. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, formulating martial arts routine competition rules based on the gymnastics competition scoring method is the continuation and development of this attempt.
"Chinese New Martial Arts" is one of the many attempts by pioneers to explore ways to save the country. Although it cannot essentially change the face of semi-feudal and semi-colonial old China, its fate is short-lived. , has its tragic side, however, its contribution to martial arts is groundbreaking. It successfully injected Western gymnastics methods, physical education methods and competitive sports ideas into traditional martial arts, leaving a lasting legacy for modern Chinese martial arts. It left a deep imprint.
2 Martial arts organizations during the Republic of China and their impact on the development of modern Chinese martial arts
2.1 Martial arts societies represented by the Jingwu Sports Association and their impact on the development of modern Chinese martial arts Influence
From 1912 to 1927, a large number of martial arts societies were established successively, forming a unique landscape of martial arts and even social development at this stage.
The Jingwu Sports Association is a private academic society. Its predecessor was the "Jingwu Gymnastics School" hosted by Huo Yuanjia. In view of the fact that the name and form of "school" limits the scope of enrollment and the wide spread of martial arts, at the initiative of Huo Yuanjia's students Chen Gongzhe, Yao Chanbo and others, it was agreed to change "Jingwu Gymnastics School" to "Jingwu Gymnastics Association" . In 1916, the membership increased day by day, and the word "gymnastics" could not be used to complete it, so it was renamed "Ching Wu Sports Association". It is easy to see from the founding process of the Jingwu Sports Association that the organization neither had state or government funding, nor was it established under the instruction of the party or government groups. It was organized voluntarily by young businessmen who loved martial arts, so it is a civil society.
The Jingwu Sports Association "aims to promote martial arts, study sports, and build strong and determined citizens." Before 1915, activities were limited to promoting martial arts. Since 1915, the disciplines have been expanded, the form improved, and military drills, cultural affairs, entertainment and other contents have been added. The activities organized by the Jingwu Sports Association mainly include: establishing branches, writing martial arts books, shooting videos, martial arts teaching, sports training, etc. The Jingwu Sports Association focused on establishing branches and began to develop nationwide during the New Culture Movement. In the 1920s, it gradually developed to Southeast Asia. By the end of the 1920s, it had 42 domestic and foreign branches with more than 400,000 members, which greatly promoted The development of Jingwu has made a unique and huge contribution to the survival and development of martial arts under new social conditions.
Jingwu Sports Association focuses on compiling martial arts books and periodicals. In 1921, the Federation founded "Central Magazine" (later renamed "Jingwu Magazine") to spread the spirit and culture of Jingwu to the society. In addition, the Jingwu Sports Association has also edited and published various martial arts books and teaching materials, such as "The Chronicles of Jingwu", "Jingwu Gaiden", "Tan Kou", "Kung Li Fist", "Dharma Sword", "Cross War", "Five Tiger Guns" and dozens of other titles, and each branch also publishes monthly magazines and monographs. It has expanded the influence of martial arts and enhanced the cultural charm of martial arts.
Ching Wu Sports Club used film, the most advanced communication tool at the time. Filming martial arts movements for intuitive teaching has expanded the social influence of martial arts.
Ching Wu Sports Association has a martial arts department responsible for promoting martial arts.
In order to train martial arts teachers, the Jingwu Sports Association also opened a physical education normal school in Shanghai, inviting many famous martial arts masters from all over the country to teach their skills, breaking the sectarian tradition, abolishing private teaching between masters and apprentices, and not competing for the strengths and weaknesses of each family. It has cultivated a large number of martial arts talents for the society and greatly promoted the development of martial arts.
The Jingwu Sports Association also organized many entertainment activities, which combined dance, art and martial arts, which greatly promoted the art and entertainment of martial arts and contributed to the promotion of martial arts.
To sum up, the Jingwu Sports Association is expanding the social influence of martial arts, enhancing people’s awareness of martial arts, discovering and sorting out the essence of traditional martial arts, expanding the entertainment and aesthetic functions of martial arts, increasing people’s knowledge of martial arts, and inspiring He has made great contributions to all aspects of social martial spirit.
2.2 The Central Chinese Martial Arts Hall and its influence on the development of modern Chinese martial arts
The establishment of the Central Chinese Martial Arts Hall was inseparable from the establishment of the Central Chinese Martial Arts Hall, which was then a member of the National Government and the plenipotentiary representative of the Northwest Army in Nanjing. Zhang Zhijiang. In 1926, he, Li Jinglin and others founded the Wushu Research Institute, which was later changed to the National Martial Arts Research Institute. In March 1927, Zhang Zhijiang gained the support of some important officials of the Kuomintang, especially Li Liejun, the acting chairman of the National Government, and petitioned the National Government for approval to establish the Central Guoshu Museum on the basis of the National Martial Arts Research Institute. The museum was under the direct guidance of the government and was led by The Ministry of Finance allocates funds. Therefore, the Central Academy of Chinese Martial Arts is a government educational institution.
Article 1 of the "Organizational Outline of the Central Martial Arts Center" promulgated in February 1929 stipulates: "The Central Martial Arts Center aims to promote Chinese martial arts and improve the health of all people." The main activities of the Central Martial Arts Center are organized around the above purposes. Activities include: national martial arts examinations, martial arts teaching, editing and publishing monographs and publications, visits abroad to exchange skills and martial arts performances, etc.
The Central Guoshu Hall held two national martial arts examinations in 1928 and 1933. Although there are still many problems in these two examinations, they have attracted the attention of society, increased society's attention to martial arts, and formulated and practiced competition rules for martial arts boxing and boxing training, and played a vital role in promoting and popularizing martial arts. , promote the sportsization and standardization of martial arts, and play a positive role in promoting the development of competitive martial arts to a certain extent.
The Central Chinese Martial Arts Center has professor classes, normal classes, practice classes, youth classes, and juvenile classes. Based on the teaching principle of "extensive learning and broad knowledge", it has established a wide range of martial arts technical classes, cultivating a group of comprehensive skills. Martial arts talent. Some went to the front line of the Anti-Japanese War and became enemy-killing heroes; some became the backbone of our country's socialist revolution and construction; some were extremely successful in their professions and became experts, professors and educators in martial arts skills and theoretical research. Such as Wen Jingming, Zhang Wenguang, Zheng Huaixian, Liu Yuhua, He Fusheng, Li Xien, Kang Shaoyuan, Zhang Dengkui, Wan Laisheng, Fu Shuyun, Qi Jianhong, etc.
After the establishment of the Central Martial Arts Center, by 1934, 22 martial arts treatises had been edited and published, including "Illustrated Commentary on Cha Quan", "Illustrated Commentary on Qingping Sword", and "Shaolin Wudang Examination". 12 types including "Lian Buquan", "Bajiquan", "Xingyi Quan Summary". At that time, 11 categories were being edited, including "Tai Chi", "Illustrated Explanations of Baguazhang", and "Inner Power on the Right Track". These books and periodicals have strengthened exchanges between martial arts organizations and practitioners in various places, leaving extremely valuable wealth for the inheritance and development of martial arts in our country.
The Central Chinese Martial Arts Center focuses on overseas exchanges and promotions and has made great contributions to the popularization and introduction of martial arts to the world. In January 1936, the Central Academy of Chinese Martial Arts and the National Sports College formed the "Nanyang Tour Group", with group leader Zhang Zhijiang, team leader Pang Yusen, martial arts team captain Yang Songshan, and nine team members including He Fusheng, Wen Jingming, Zhang Wenguang, and Kang Shaoyuan. The group has performed 65 martial arts performances in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Kampar, Ipoh, Penang and Manila. Wherever the Nanyang tour group visited, they were warmly welcomed by overseas Chinese from all walks of life. Their performances won widespread praise and praise from the local people, and promoted the establishment of martial arts halls, martial arts associations, and martial arts schools in Southeast Asia. In September 1936, at the 11th Olympic Games held in Berlin, Germany, the Chinese martial arts troupe's superb skills and superb performances caused a sensation in Germany. Dr. Li Dehua, chairman of this Olympic Games, said: “I didn’t expect Chinese martial arts to be so superb. It’s really amazing.
"The German government also instructed the Olympic photography team to shoot videos for Wen Jingming, Zhang Wenguang, Zheng Huaixian, Liu Yuhua, Fu Shuyun and others. Comments were also published in influential newspapers such as Deutsche Zeitung and Hamburg Zeitung. He praised the Chinese martial arts team for its superb, artistic, exquisite and incredible performance, which showed the style of Chinese martial arts to the world of sports and expanded the international influence of Chinese martial arts.
To sum up, the Central Martial Arts Hall system has played a very active role in promoting the sportsization, standardization and modernization of martial arts. It has widely used martial arts training and competition in the military and schools, greatly improving the competitiveness of martial arts. and military functions. Through performances, the Central Chinese Martial Arts Museum made an important contribution to the international spread of martial arts culture in China and the West. In the process of cultural exchange and integration, martial arts has undergone tremendous changes from form to content, from theory to practice, and its functions, which has led to unprecedented development of martial arts and has had an important impact on the development of modern Chinese martial arts.
"Chinese New Martial Arts" successfully injects Western gymnastics methods, physical education methods and competitive sports ideas into traditional martial arts, leaving a deep imprint on modern Chinese martial arts.
The two martial arts organizations, Jingwu Sports Association and the Central Martial Arts Center, complement each other. Together, they have formed a trend of multi-functional development of folk martial arts, enriched and developed the social functions of martial arts, and made Chinese martial arts gain great popularity. Development.
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About the author:
1. Shi Xianli (1981~), female, master's degree student at Hubei University School of Physical Education. Research direction: martial arts teaching and training
2. Cai Zhonglin (1953), male. , professor, master’s tutor. Main research direction: martial arts teaching and training.