| Kung fu and wushu (Traditional Chinese) | | | | practicing physical exercises that |
| are popular Chinese terms that have | | | | resemble Tai Chi Chuan at least as early |
| become synonymous with Chinese martial | | | | as the 500 BCE era. In 39-92 CE, "Six |
| arts. | | | | Chapters of Hand Fighting", were |
| Chinese martial arts can be traced back | | | | included in the Han Shu (history of the |
| to the Zhou dynasty in the 12th century | | | | Former Han Dynasty) written by Pan Ku. |
| BCE and possibly earlier. As the Chinese | | | | Also, the noted physician, Hua T'uo, |
| writing system traces back to the Shang | | | | composed the "Five Animals Play" - |
| Dynasty (1766 BCE - 1122 BCE) and with | | | | tiger, deer, monkey, bear, and bird, |
| the unfortunate destruction of many | | | | around 220 CE. As stated earlier, the |
| texts during the reign of the first | | | | Kung Fu that is practiced today |
| emperor of China, it is difficult to | | | | developed over the centuries and many of |
| confirm claims of entire books regarding | | | | the later additions to Kung Fu, such as |
| the martial arts being written at | | | | the Shaolin Kung Fu style, later animal |
| earlier times. According to legend, the | | | | forms, and the drunken style were |
| reign of the Yellow Emperor (traditional | | | | incorporated from various martial arts |
| date of ascension to the throne, 2698 | | | | forms that came into existence later on |
| BC) introduced the earliest forms of | | | | in China and have accurate historical |
| martial arts to China. The Yellow | | | | data relating to their inventors. |
| Emperor is described as a famous | | | | In regard to the Shaolin style that is |
| military general who, before becoming | | | | currently popular, Yi Jin Jing |
| China’s leader, wrote a lengthy | | | | attributed Bodhidharma (Pu Tai Ta Mo in |
| treatise about martial arts. He | | | | Chinese or Daruma Daishi in Japanese), a |
| allegedly developed the practice of Jiao | | | | visiting Indian Buddhist monk, as the |
| di or horn-butting and utilized it in | | | | progenitor. Bodhidharma visited a |
| war. Regardless of these legends, Jiao | | | | monastery, and was unhappy to find that |
| di evolved during the Zhou Dynasty into | | | | some of the monks would fall asleep |
| a combat wrestling system called Jiao li | | | | during their meditations. Deciding that |
| (between eleventh and third century | | | | they needed more physical stamina, he |
| BCE). The practice of Jiao li in the | | | | introduced to the monks a system of |
| Zhou Dynasty was recorded in the Classic | | | | exercises that later developed into the |
| of Rites This combat system included | | | | modern Shaolin style. However, the texts |
| techniques such as strikes, throws, | | | | that first attributed him to Shaolinquan |
| joint manipulation, and pressure point | | | | have been shown to be unlikely |
| attacks. Jiao li became a sport during | | | | forgeries. Historical evidence has shown |
| the Qin Dynasty (221 BCE - 207 BCE). | | | | that the Shaolin monks during and before |
| Currently, Jiao li is known as Shuai | | | | this time harboured retired soldiers who |
| jiao, its modern form. | | | | taught the monks self-defense techniques |
| The Art of War, written during the 6th | | | | that they had learned during military |
| century BCE by Sun Tzu, deals directly | | | | training. Near the 7th century CE, the |
| with military warfare. There are | | | | Shaolin monks, in order to protect |
| passages in the Zhuangzi that pertain to | | | | themselves from bandits and criminals, |
| the psychology and practice of martial | | | | began to codify what they had learned |
| arts. Zhuangzi, the author of the same | | | | into a "Shaolin" style. Interestingly |
| name, is believed to have lived in the | | | | enough, the first fictional martial arts |
| 4th century BCE. The Tao Te Ching, often | | | | novel for the general public was also |
| credited to Lao Zi, contains principles | | | | written during the T'ang Dynasty in the |
| that are applicable to martial arts, but | | | | 6th-7th century CE. |
| the dating of this work is | | | | The fighting styles that are practiced |
| controversial. Archery and charioteering | | | | today were developed over the centuries, |
| were a part of the "six arts" ( Chinese: | | | | after having incorporated forms that |
| pinyin: liu yi, also including rites, | | | | came into existence later. Some of these |
| music, calligraphy and mathematics) of | | | | include Bagua, Drunken Boxing, Eagle |
| the Zhou Dynasty (1122 BCE - 256 BCE), | | | | Claw, Five Animals, Hsing I, Hung Gar, |
| according to the text Zhou Li. | | | | Lau Gar, Monkey, Praying Mantis, White |
| Taoist monks are claimed to have been | | | | Crane, Wing Chun and Tai Chi Chuan. |