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Wudang, the other Kung Fu
by Ernie Diaz
Now we can say, with great relief, that kung fu is not the deadliest martial art. The UFC and Pride League have proven that, like any art, combat is performed best by those with international perspective. Now we can put to rest a debate burning age-long in Chinese hearts: which is better, Shaolin or Wudang kung fu? If “better” means “better for winning fights”, then the answer is neither.
And that’s just as well. Both schools of kung fu featured butt-whipping as the very last link in a long chain of added value. Thanks to the ill-fated David Carradine, Shaolin kung fu always got the press west-side. The mysteries of initiation, the proud tradition of rebel resistance, all the bare-fisted romance drove numbers to an IPO last year . Figures Shaolin would be the one to break big. Brasher, bolder, Shaolin soaks up the attention while its deep dark brother Wudang watches calmly, stage left, in keeping with its principles: soft over hard, internal over external.
What’s more Chinese than Shaolin kung fu? Wudang. The former has its roots in Taoism, sure, but got its start with monks repurposing Bodhidharma’s yoga moves. The earliest learning began from two books they discovered among their guru’s possessions, The Marrow Cleansing Classic and The Muscle Changing Classic. No shame in being part Indian import; Buddha and Tao are like bacon and eggs. But Wudang’s tradition has a holy father, too, human deity Zhenwu. Zhenwu mastered Tao alchemy and transcended dualistic ‘reality’, turning into golden light. Therein lies the metaphor for Wudang: not toughening – refinement, not exercise – innercise, and not dealing death, but achieving immortality.
No wonder Zhang San Feng settled at last on Wudang mountain. Born late in the Yuan Dynasty, Zhang was healed of his childhood blindness by Tao priests and became a life-long follower, mastering different Taoist fighting techniques along the way. But not until a mystic experience on Wudang Shan did he achieve Tao and create Tai Ji Quan, the basis of Wudang kung fu. The numbers behind his “internal boxing” bear celestial favor: thirteen forms, regulating inner organs by the five-element theory, symbolizing the eight trigrams, utilizing the nine directions.
If the math seems grandiose, the three core principles are pure metaphysical beauty. Wuj, the utmost void, the formlessness behind material illusion. Taiji, the utmost high, resolution of the void’s opposing forces, yin and yang. Finally, liang yi, the manipulation and separation of yin and yang, also called sixiang, the four elephants, the pillars on which all development rests.
The philosophy found physical expression in Taoist arts, breathing and stretching methods, as wells as herbal medicine, collecting and nourishing. Most fantastic was the practice of qi gong, the manipulation of sublime energies. All contributed to Wudang’s development as a meta-art, rather than a martial art. The goal is to overcome the self and its limitations, starting from the inside out. Fighting prowess is but a fringe benefit compared to being a crackling field of qi potentiality.
Predictably, however, Wudang’s fighting prowess was the component that spread down from the mountain and into the hearts of the secular Chinese. Perhaps fighting hardness with softness, motion with motionlessness, and quickness by slowness appealed to those dismayed by the external rigors of Shaolin. Still, over time Wudang has evolved into more than two-score lineages, from Cyclone and Thunder Boxing to the Heavenly Eagle School. The moves all flow from Taoist touchstones such as the Ba gua and Theory of Five Elements, but their physical effects are all business. The sterling vitality, as well as the puissance of Wudang practitioners won the style of kung fu a reputation as big as Shaolin’s. The saying was always “In the North, Shaolin holds sway. In the South, Wudang rules.”
Neither rules, not for beating people up, anyway. But for giving physical expression to the soul of Taoism, yeah, Wudang rules.
The mountain itself also impresses as a nonpareil. Springing from the verdant heart of Hubei, Wudang Shan is a classic painter’s fantasy of cliffs and pools, caves and springs, peaks and wells. Mist and sunlight do an eternal yin-yang dance over the 300 plus kilometers covered by the mountain. The first Tao temples appeared on its slopes back in the Tang Dynasty. But the Ming kings were the ones to realize fully Wudang’s gifts, the final prize, the sweetest elixir.
It was under Emperor Zhuli that construction of the sublime road began, stretching from the Temple of Purity at Wudang’s foot to the Golden Palace at its peak. It took three hundred thousand workers some 13 years to construct the 70 kilometer path, score after score of temples, palaces, halls and bridges. Today, one finds a profusion of schools, students, and seekers dotting the mountain and its environs. No IPO in the offing for Wudang as of yet, but your tourist dollar will take you closer to the heart of kung fu there than at other locations we could name. Henan, say.
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This is looking very strong Kung Fu art. I never seen it anywhere. thanks for sharing about it. New York Limousine
You're welcome.
China is great,, Kungfu is the best art in the world..
I only see kungfu china in the movie. I have never seen one like this before. look more interesting and more attractive. where can I find the film?
Wow, you made our point in one tenth the time.
Kungfu is an ancinet martial arts in the world. Thanks for explain about wudang kungfu. Another great martial arts from china
Interesting…. china martial arts is always interesting. wudang martial arts much found on old chinese film.
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Martial arts in china well known by all people in the world. From the dinasty age in China, the martial arts such as kung fu, shaolin, taichi became popular. Kung fu get the popular whenever bruce lee as star movie in many movies. Until now kung fu still exist, in the real world and movies. We should keep this martial arts alive until our next generation
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This is a excellent martial arts that I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for reading.
This is excellent martial arts That I have ever seen. It is something unique. Thanks for sharing about it.
I want to visit Wudang the center of kungfu.
Kungfu is a feature of cultural art from China.
Kungfu martial arts are not the most deadly but gentle art with the principles of harder, more internal external. Wudang, farmers who learned kungfu from a book about toughness – repairs, training – inercise, and facing death – achieve immortality. By mastering the techniques of Tao fighting thirteen forms, manage internal organs by the five-element theory, which represents the eight trigrams, using nine different directions. Wudang into a recreational area with
Temple of Purity at the foot of the Golden Palace at its peak as the center of kungfu.
This is a excellent arts I have ever seen. Thank you very much. Tour Bus New York
Wudang is another great martial art from China. Thank for share about this article.
China is famous for its martial art from ancient time. This site gives details of this art culture in China and also some more historical informations as well. Good job. Thanksdesigner eyeglasses
Pretty good post. I just found your site and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your posts.In any case I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you post again soon!ugg bootsvdfv
I'm gonna try to assemble your brief comments into an article on kung fu, with your permission, Viscount.
I was waiting for a self-appointed kung fu expert to post a tirade, thanks. So all those kung fu masters who could wipe the floor with the best MMA guys are just taking a pass on the money and fame, because they're too busy meditating and having nothing to prove, even though you can't hike up Wudangshan without half a dozen masters of forbidden styles offering to teach you for the spare change in your pocket. Sure, why not. Don't waste your Fa-jing energy trying to convince me, VV – I'm just an objective observer, and it's kind of hard not to believe that if kung fu was combatively superior, it would be incorporated into the tactics of people who actually fight competitively.
In 1669, Huang Zongxi was the first to describe Chinese martial arts in terms of a Wudang or “internal” school versus a Shaolin or “external” school.
Interesting…. china martial arts is always interesting. wudang martial arts much found on old chinese film.
the best kung fu in the world is Shaolin, oh yeah!!!!
Kung fu get the popular whenever bruce lee as star movie in many movies. Until now kung fu still exist, in the real world and movies. We should keep this martial arts alive until our next generation.
I have a very clear concept, I just didn't waste ten years and ten thousand dollars on it, like you did, so I can be objective about it. Guess those REAL Tao masters wouldn't dream of doing anything like fight in a tournament and prove the potency of their "Fa-jing". Wake up, admit you've been deluded, and move on.
the different Fa-Jing energies at their disposal going on all at once inside a REAL Tao master, attempting to take a person like that to the ground is next to impossible. And I always ask one important question: How many people can you fight at once on the ground? ONE, just ONE. Enough said. Don't write an article bashing an art you clearly have no concept of, even if you write it under the guise of "respecting" its cultural richness.
i remembered about some actors from China and also western play martial art in the movies. I must admit that China have many nice martial art cultures, who don't know about Kung fu? about Shaolin ? about Taichi ? those all from China. But which make me impressed is how they guard their cultures so until now we can see the ancient tools.
I liked your post.Thankyou.
whenever bruce lee as star movie in many movies. Until now kung fu still exist, in the real world and movies. We should keep this martial arts alive until our next generation.
Maybe they should also start incorporating Wudang in movies so it would be as popular as Kung Fu. It still amazes me how Chinese does this martial arts with so much grace and strength
the first to describe Chinese martial arts in terms of a Wudang or “internal” school versus a Shaolin or “external” school.
whenever bruce lee as star movie in many movies. Until now kung fu still exist, in the real world and movies. We should keep this martial arts alive until our next generation.
Never heard of Wudang, is there a movie with wudang style? I love David Caradine movies.
Kuai Chang Kane was a Shaolin priest. The order of the black dragon who always chased him, just to be humiliated by his slow-mo-stoner style, were Wudang adepts.
Shaolin (in Henan Province), Wudang (in Hubei Province) and E’mei (in Sichuan Province) are the three best-known Kung Fu denominations in China history, which can be seen in clountless Chinese TV plays and movies.
Shaolin is of Buddism, Wudang is of Taoism, and E’mei features all of its disciples being female.