Brief Introduction of Wushu
2
Brief Introduction of Wushu (Chinese Gongfu) Wushu - Wushu Written by Juliafedrsts Diversified Forms Wushu is very rich in form and content, encompassing hundreds of styl es and thousands of routines, each with its own distinctive features. Changquang !ong-"ange #hadow $o%ing& is characteri'ed by speed and vigour, while tai(iquan is noted for its slow and gentle movements. )ne category of wushu forms is called %iang%ingquan, which portrays the movements and postures of various animals, as e%emplified by houquan *on+eys #hadow bo%ing& and tanglangquan *antis #hadow $o%ing&. hen there is the humorous 'uiquan that describes a drun+ard who is drun+ in appearance but not in mind and is sober enough to outwit his opponent. "oughly spea+ing, wushu may also be divi ded into barehand e%ercises and e%ercises with weapons. here are a few do'en +inds of weapons employed in wushu e%ercises, mostly modelled on ancient types. /lthou gh the significance of their role in modern warfare has diminished since the invention of firearms, their value in wushu training remains to this day. 0owadays wus hu is practis ed in the form of pre-arrang ed routines, ei ther by a single person fighting an imaginary foe, or by tow or more partners in a simulated combat -- barehand versus barehand, weapon versus weapon, and barehand versus weapon. here are also free combats in which a contestant is free to use all +inds of wushu techniques--+ic+s, blows, holds and throws-in order to +noc+ down the opponent. o minimi 'e in(uries, rules are being wor+ed out to govern this +ind of contest. 1%ercises for the *illions he reason w hy the time-honoured art of wushu has ta+en deep root among the broad masses l ies in its proven value in health-building. /ccording to the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine, wushu e%ercises consist of both e%ternal and internal wor+, the former meaning movements of the body, the hands and the feet and e%pressions of the e yes, and the latter being related to the spirit, willpower, vital energy and strength. he two aspects are combined as movements are guided by consciousness so as to achieve a unity of body and mind. hus, constant practice of wushu helps not only to strengthen muscles and bones, but also to regulate the central nervous system and improve the cardiovascular , digestive and respiratory functions. /s wushu e%erc ises are highly v aried in intensity as well as in form, they of fer an abundant choic e to people differing in age, interest and health condition. $esides, one needs only a small space and very simple equipment for their performance. #o wushu can be easily promoted as a participation sport. 2n recent years, coaching centres have mushroomed in cities and towns all over the country. 0umerous people in poor health are reported to have benefited from constant practice. o a dd to its prestige, wushu is now used in many hospitals and sanatoriums as an effective therapy for chronic diseases. /s a performing art , wushu plays an important part in Chinas 345 +inds of local operas, w hich consist o f four elements6 singing, acting, dialogue and fighting. *any operas are featured by battle scenes with thrilling wushu movements. Wushu has also found its way into modern dance-dramas, lending them a strong national flavour and enriching the language of choreography. 7ungfu films produced at home and abroad, which are full of wushu actions performed by Chinese masters, have a great appeal to cinema-goers. 8oing far bey ond Chinas boundaries , wushu has become increas ingly popular in many parts of the w orld. he Japan #horin(i 7empo )rgani'ation, founded by the late master Doo-shin #o after learning wushu at the #haolin *onastery in Chinas 9enan :rovince, boasts a membership of more than a million. he 0ational Chinese Wushu /ssoc iation of /merica, founded in ;<=> has ?,555 members in @= cities in the Anited #tates. 2n ;<>5, a si%-nation +ungfu league was formed by #weden, 2taly, France, $ritain, West 8ermany and #pain. /s the birthplac e of wushu, China h as in recent y ears sent her best masters on performanc e tours abroad and received group after group of foreign wushu enthusiasts coming on study missions. 1very nation has her fine cultural t raditions to cont ribute to the treas ure house of human c ivili'ation. 2 t is most gratifying to note that Chinese wushu, as a common asset of man+ind, is flourishing as never before for the well-being of the people.
-
Upload
darryl-wallace -
Category
Documents
-
view
220 -
download
0
Transcript of Brief Introduction of Wushu
Brief Introduction of Wushu (Chinese Gongfu)
Wushu - WushuWritten by JuliafedrstsDiversified Forms Wushu is very rich in form and content, encompassing hundreds of styles and thousands of routines, eachwith its own distinctive features. Changquang !ong-"ange #hadow $o%ing& is characteri'ed by speed andvigour, while tai(iquan is noted for its slow and gentle movements. )ne category of wushu forms is called%iang%ingquan, which portrays the movements and postures of various animals, as e%emplified by houquan*on+eys #hadow bo%ing& and tanglangquan *antis #hadow $o%ing&. hen there is the humorous 'uiquanthat describes a drun+ard who is drun+ in appearance but not in mind and is sober enough to outwit hisopponent. "oughly spea+ing, wushu may also be divided into barehand e%ercises and e%ercises with weapons. hereare a few do'en +inds of weapons employed in wushu e%ercises, mostly modelled on ancient types. /lthoughthe significance of their role in modern warfare has diminished since the invention of firearms, their value inwushu training remains to this day. 0owadays wushu is practised in the form of pre-arranged routines, either by a single person fighting animaginary foe, or by tow or more partners in a simulated combat -- barehand versus barehand, weapon versusweapon, and barehand versus weapon. here are also free combats in which a contestant is free to use all+inds of wushu techniques--+ic+s, blows, holds and throws-in order to +noc+ down the opponent. o minimi'ein(uries, rules are being wor+ed out to govern this +ind of contest. 1%ercises for the *illions he reason why the time-honoured art of wushu has ta+en deep root among the broad masses lies in itsproven value in health-building. /ccording to the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine, wushu e%ercisesconsist of both e%ternal and internal wor+, the former meaning movements of the body, the hands and thefeet and e%pressions of the eyes, and the latter being related to the spirit, willpower, vital energy andstrength. he two aspects are combined as movements are guided by consciousness so as to achieve aunity of body and mind. hus, constant practice of wushu helps not only to strengthen muscles and bones,but also to regulate the central nervous system and improve the cardiovascular, digestive and respiratoryfunctions. /s wushu e%ercises are highly varied in intensity as well as in form, they offer an abundant choice to peoplediffering in age, interest and health condition. $esides, one needs only a small space and very simpleequipment for their performance. #o wushu can be easily promoted as a participation sport. 2n recent years,coaching centres have mushroomed in cities and towns all over the country. 0umerous people in poor healthare reported to have benefited from constant practice. o add to its prestige, wushu is now used in manyhospitals and sanatoriums as an effective therapy for chronic diseases. /s a performing art, wushu plays an important part in Chinas 345 +inds of local operas, which consist offour elements6 singing, acting, dialogue and fighting. *any operas are featured by battle scenes with thrillingwushu movements. Wushu has also found its way into modern dance-dramas, lending them a strong nationalflavour and enriching the language of choreography. 7ungfu films produced at home and abroad, which arefull of wushu actions performed by Chinese masters, have a great appeal to cinema-goers. 8oing far beyond Chinas boundaries, wushu has become increasingly popular in many parts of the world.he Japan #horin(i 7empo )rgani'ation, founded by the late master Doo-shin #o after learning wushu at the#haolin *onastery in Chinas 9enan :rovince, boasts a membership of more than a million. he 0ationalChinese Wushu /ssociation of /merica, founded in ;<=> has ?,555 members in @= cities in the Anited #tates.2n ;<>5, a si%-nation +ungfu league was formed by #weden, 2taly, France, $ritain, West 8ermany and #pain. /s the birthplace of wushu, China has in recent years sent her best masters on performance tours abroad andreceived group after group of foreign wushu enthusiasts coming on study missions. 1very nation has her fine cultural traditions to contribute to the treasure house of human civili'ation. 2t ismost gratifying to note that Chinese wushu, as a common asset of man+ind, is flourishing as never before forthe well-being of the people.
