Origin and Development of Wudang Martial Arts

2009-1-9 13:10:00

According to the legend, Zhang Sanfeng is the originator of the general Wudangquan and special Taijiquan. That is the origin of Wudang martial arts. Wudangquan advocates the cultivation of morality and fostering of nature in conjunction with physical training.

In kung fu legend, Wudang is often associated with the sword,. The sword techniques were again supposed to be created by Zhang Sanfeng. Associating with other martial arts, Wudang martial arts are based around internal and soft techniques, thus avoiding direct clashes with the opponent and instead relying on quickness and borrowing the opponent's power.

The Hall of Yuzhen is the cradle of Wudang kung fu. In 1417, Emperor Zhudi decreed Wudang to be the "Grand Mountain" and ordered the construction of the Hall of Yuzhen to memorize Master Zhang Sanfeng.

On January 19, 2003, a fire broke out in the hall, reducing the three rooms that covered 200 square metres to ashes. A gold-plated statue of Zhang Sanfeng, which was usually housed in Yuzhengong, was moved to another building just before the fire, and so escaped destruction in the inferno.

In modern times, Wudang Martial Arts are in popular culture. The Wudang monasteries figure in Chinese martial arts films. For example, an ending scene of the famous movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was set at the Wudang monastery. In some martial arts films about the Shaolin Temple, characters employing Wudang martial arts are featured as villains.