What is a "Wushu" or "Quanshu"

The widely used term "Kung Fu" used to refer to the Chinese Martial Arts, is mostly a "Western" and English convention adopted during the 20th century. The term "Kung Fu" is seldom used in China itself either in written or spoken language other than regionally in a Cantonese dialect.

The popular Chinese term, in both Mandarin and Cantonese, both in written and spoken form, which comes closest to the concept of Kung Fu as it is commonly known to Western users is, quanshu or quanfa (the q pronounced as Ch).

Quanshu means the art of the fist, quanfa, the techniques of the fist. The terms quanshu and quanfa also suggest some conceptual difference from the more holistic and inclusive term wuyi, which in earlier terms included archery and horse-riding

In Chinese, Shaolin Kung Fu is referred to as Shaolinquan; Bagua Kung Fu as Baguaquan; Praying Mantis Kung Fu as Tanglangquan, and so on. Quan, which literally means fist, is the short form of quanshu or quanfa, and refers not just to the use of the fist, but to the whole system of Kung Fu, including the use of weapons and methods of force training.

All the various styles of Kung Fu came after Shaolin, and almost all - if not actually all - developed from Shaolin Kung Fu.

A Little More History

When the Manchus established the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the government encouraged wuyi (martial arts) in the army, but discouraged it amongst civilians. Many Manchurian generals and administrators were great Kung Fu masters.

The public maintained the practice of martial arts in private schools and clubs. In this way, features like individual fighting, unarmed combat, set practice for health and demonstration were emphasized. Other aspects of Kung Fu like military strategies and formations, archery and horseback fighting were neglected. This gradual evolution resulted in the concept and content of Kung Fu that is familiar today.

The Qing period was important for the development of the internal styles of of Kung Fu. Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan), which had earlier evolved from Shaolin Kung Fu, became widely practiced in northern China. The other two major styles of internal Kung Fu, Bagua (Pakua) and Xing Yi, were established.

In southern China, Shaolin Kung Fu prevailed. The Southern Shaolin Sanctuary in Fujian Province became the rallying center for revolutionaries aiming to overthrow the Manchurian government. The Manchurian armies destroyed the sanctuary and Shaolin masters dispersed themselves to Quangdong Province, Hong Kong, South-East Asia, and North America. One of these masters was the Shaolin Monk Jiang Nan, who transmitted the Shaolin arts to Yang Fa Kun. Yang Fa Kun transmitted the arts to Ho Fatt Nam who transmitted the arts to Wong Kiew Kit. Grand Master Wong Kiew Kit has had the generosity to transmit these arts to me.

Doctor Sun Yat Sen's successful revolution of 1911 brought the long dynastic history of China to an end. Many of the revolutionaries were Shaolin disciples. Numerous martial arts organizations sprang up, the most important being Jing Wu (Ching Woo) Athletic Association, which was founded by Kung Fu expert, Huo Yuan Jia, and had branches in many parts of China and South-East Asia. In 1926 the Kuomintang government changed the term Wushu (martial arts), which was in common use at that time, to guoshu, meaning "national art".

Ironically, the standard of guoshu deteriorated further into "flowery fists and embroidery kicks" for demonstration during this period. Two reasons were the development of firearms, greatly reducing the need for hand-to-hand combat, and the Kuomintang government only paid lip-service to the promotion of guoshu. For instance, the Kuomintang army in Taiwan today is trained in taekwondo instead of guoshu, their national art!

In contrast, the Communist government which replaced the Kuomintang in China has done a great deal to revive the glory and greatness of Chinese martial arts, which they renamed Wushu. There are working committees at national, provincial and district levels to study and promote the arts; specialized wushu schools and colleges have been established; and national and international wushu tournaments are held. Wushu is already included in the Asian Games and is expected to be included in the Olympic Games. The most important contribution of the present government in China to Wushu, is the restoration of the sacred temple of Kung Fu, the fabulous Shaolin Sanctuary, which spells magic to many martial arts enthusiasts throughout the world.