Until the recent Kung Fu films shown in Britain, Kung Fu was
almost unknown here. However, it is very disappointing that these Kung Fu films
do not throw some light on the mental side or the philosophy behind the art.
They do express to our Western friends how cruel the Chinese are and thus
create a wrong impression of the character of the Chinese people as well as
leading to a misunderstanding of Kung Fu.
Kung Fu (the proper name should be Wu Shu) is one of the valuable
products of Chinese physical culture developed through the past 2,000 years by
the hard working people of China. Many schools of Kung Fu originated in the Shaolin
Temple and later branched off into different styles. The hundreds of different
styles of Kung Fu are generally divided into two schools: the external systems,
‘wei jia’, and the internal systems, ‘nei jia’. This is not to say that the internal
systems are better than the external systems. If one would study the philosophy
behind the Chinese martial arts, he would find that at the ‘top’ of the art all
systems contain both hard and soft, yin and yang, internal and external
factors. Each system is but a different road or path to the same goal, i.e. the
training of the body and mind.
As a form of martial art and physical exercise, Kung Fu
training leads to good health and the ability of self-defence. But, when confronted
with a fight, a devoted Kung Fu man must run before he fights and fight before he
kills. Fighting is not the aim in learning and practising this art. Although
Kung Fu is in the form composed of different combat techniques, one has to
build up a state of peaceful character. One has to learn to control oneself, to
shape one’s character and personality to the best. With a strong body and a
beautiful personality, he may then face any difficulties in life with courage
and offer his ability for the good of human society.
The Chuan in Kung Fu is a prearranged sequence of movement
and techniques. It is so arranged according to some forms or patterns. The
performance of Chuan may appear in a form of ‘dancing’ and the performer has to
interpret the beauty in the hand and foot movements and techniques. In
practising the Chuan, one needs a lot of concentration and an ‘empty’ mind so
as to improve the performance. By means of concentration and the emptiness of thought,
one will achieve a reunion between one’s body and heaven (or the universe).
Kung Fu is one of the paths to perfect one’s character, to
enable one to sense one’s responsibility towards society and to get rid of one’s
‘self’ for the union with Nature.
