A Brief Exploration of the History of Kung Fu

Unlike karate, aikido, and many other styles, kung fu is technically an umbrella term that represents the whole of Chinese martial arts. It encompasses several fighting styles that were once used for hand-to-hand combat, self-defense, and even hunting. It is also referred to as gongfu and wushu, and has its roots in ancient China.

Below, we’ll take a high-level tour of kungfu’s history. I’ll describe its origins beginning with the Xia dynasty and explain the contribution of the Shaolin monks. We’ll also explore how kung fu originally evolved as a system of morality and ethics. Lastly, I’ll describe the main goals of the style in the context of physical combat.

Through The Dynasties

Most experts place the origin of kungfu during the Xia dynasty over 4,000 years ago. When Huang-di (also known as Gongsun Xuanyuán) assumed the throne in 2697 BC, he introduced the martial arts to the military; where they were used to train Chinese soldiers.

By 1766 BC, the Shang dynasty had ascended to the throne. They reigned until 1066 BC when the Chou dynasty gained prominence. The Zhou dynasty took command of the throne soon after (1045 BC) and ruled until 221 BC. During this time, kungfu slowly evolved from a system that was largely devoted to the military into a style of combat and self-defense adopted by the populace.

The Classic of Rites (the first of five Classics of the Confucian canon) describes a combat style that leveraged strikes and throws along with the use of pressure points. Due to Confucius’s influence, gongfu became one of six core “subjects” that were taught and practiced as a central element of daily life (along with math, music, and others).

The Buddhist Monks

Eventually, gongfu was adopted by Buddhist monks. Records show that Shaolin monks used kungfu in 610 CE to battle attackers who had attempted to ransack the Shaolin Monastery. It marked the beginning of a change in their culture. Accounts from the following 1,000 years show the Shaolin monks not only integrated gongfu into their combat strategy, but also into their monastic life. These accounts became the cornerstone of the lore that describes a generation of warrior monks guided by Buddhist principles.

A System Of Morality

Western societies tend to think of kung fu in the same context as other martial arts: as a style of combat. While it has traditionally fulfilled that role in ancient China and within the Buddhist monasteries, its influence stretches further. The Shaolin monks, in particular, stressed the martial arts as a system of morality. Their schools taught students that kungfu should be used to guide their ethics and morality of deed and mind.

Morality of deed included humility, sincerity, loyalty, trustworthiness, and politeness. Morality of mind included patience, will, endurance, courage, and perseverance. The goal was to help harmonize the wisdom and emotional grounding of the monks. Elements of this goal are still encouraged in many dojos.

Kungfu As A Fighting Technique

As a popular martial art practiced throughout Western cultures, kung fu has evolved into a fighting technique that aims to disable opponents. It relies on strikes, kicks, blocks, and joint manipulation to render opponents harmless rather than delivering finishing blows. Kungfu is also unique in that it uses an approach that blends both hard and soft strategies. It encourages an aggressive striking technique to ward off an opponent’s forceful attack. It also teaches students to use an attacker’s momentum and strength against them.

While all martial arts offer different “flavors” depending on the dojo and instructor, few offer as many variations as kung fu. It is estimated that there are currently over 400 varieties taught today. This is due largely to the style’s development and evolution over 4,000 years. While the style is not as popular as karate or judo, kungfu has a rich history that many martial arts students will enjoy exploring.