The Influence Of Taoism On Chinese Wushu

Wushu is of great importance in traditional Chinese culture. Wushu absorbed nutrition from classic Chinese traditional philosophy and ideologies like Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, military ideas and Chinese medicine, which made Wushu a typical representative of Chinese traditional culture. In the process of Chinese culture revitalization, there is always an important part for Wushu to play.Of all the ingredients that Wushu has taken in its growth from traditional Chinese cultures, Taoism is probably the most profound part. In the history of development, comparing to Buddhism and Confucianism, Taoism had its solid foundation in the grassroots. Wushu derived itself from military and was developed and popularized in the grassroots, too. Thus the relationship between Wushu and Taoism is much stronger than that between Wushu and Confucianism or Buddhism. During the process of development, Wushu realized that the ideas and instructions of Daoism are of great significance in Wushu practicing and Wushu theory forming, which caused more Taoism ideas and theology absorbed in Wushu culture.And of all the ideas and theories that Wushu absorbed from Taoism, the most profound ones are the idea of One system of human and nature, the idea of One system of knowledge and practicing, and the ideas of Yin and Yang, the Five Forms, Eight Diagrams and Taiji.Taoism is also the foundation of the founding of a variety of Wushu branches and schools, such as Wudang Wushu, Wuxing boxing, Bagua Boxing, Chang Family Boxing and so on, which have direct and profound relationship to Taoism.After more than one hundred years of being weaker in the competition with western cultures because of the weakness of the national power of China, Chinese culture finally welcomes its time of revitalization. It is also necessary for Wushu to develop its traditional culture potential, which can not only help Wushu in its theory explaining and form practicing, but also enhance its chance to go abroad and be accepted by more people all over the world, with its unique national culture and characteristics. And by developing itself in that way, Wushu can also help revitalize and develop Chinese cultures as a whole in modern time.