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Wudang Wushu
Wudang Five Animals Qi Gong uses imitative movements of different animals in its practice and its main focus is on the supplementation of the internal organs. Dragon is used to supplement the kidneys, tiger for the lungs, leopard for the liver, snake for the spleen, and crane for the heart. The Five Animals Qi Gong can be characterized as “standing meditation practice” and emphasizes stillness. It can be helpful in promoting unimpeded flow of qi and blood in the body. It requires one to relax, be calm and keep the body upright with the head held aloft. Wudang Qi Gong pays particular attention to the “Five Harmonies” and the “Eight Demands”. The Five Harmonies are the harmonizing of the body, heart/mind, breathing, diet, and sleep. The Eight Demands are making the heart/mind balanced, calming the spirit, quieting the heart/mind, cultivating tranquility, detachment, smooth qi flow, the removal of distracting thoughts, and having peaceful sleep.Cultivating the Five Harmonies and Eight Demands is essential in the practice of Wudang Qi Gong.
There are various different kinds of weapons to be found in Chinese wushu, some of which are peculiar, highly specialized, and not often seen. There are elegant and graceful weapons as well as crude and bold weapons and they come in all different sizes and shapes. There are many different weapons used in Wudang wushu, including but not limited to spear, staff, long-handled broadsword, monk spade, straightsword, broadsword, fan, and the horsetail whip.
The Weapons of Wudang
Five Animals Qi Gong
Internal Wushu
The word wu (武) in Chinese can be translated as the stopping of war or preventing struggle. So how was the practice of wushu created? The earliest inception of wushu can be traced back to the battle tactics employed during war time by military strategists. In ancient time generals began employ new strategies to succeed in war and created specific practice drills and methodologies for soldiers to train in. Many new combat techniques emerged during this time. Slowly these different drills were linked together and forms practice was created. In the wake of this new techniques for deadly combat were created that people began to hold mastery over. It was from these beginnings that the practice of wushu began to evolve.
The practice of wushu has been developing and evolving for thousands of years. Over time, two major branches of wushu were created: internal wushu and external wushu. In the practice of external wushu the main focus is on practicing speed, power, technique, and coordination. In modern times, most people equate external wushu practices with Shaolin. Over time, wushu practitioners began to recognize that external power was limited and began to learn to harness the power of their internal energy to bring their skill and practice to a higher level. By cultivating their internal power, practitioners were able to bring their training to a higher level. Harnessing internal power is the main focus of internal wushu. So the development of neijiaquan is on not only developing power, but learning to save and store it within the body.
These are the main features of Wudang – the most prominent lineage of internal wushu. During the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history there was a famous general named Zhao Zi Long. It is said that at the age of 70 Zhao Zi Long removed his clothing and upon viewing his body made the realization that there was not one scar on his body. From this we can see the limitlessness of internal wushu.
The potential of internal wushu practice is limitless. However, this is not to say that internal wushu is a better practice than external wushu – they each have their own merits. In Wudang, we not only practice internal wushu, but external as well. This allows for a greater strength of body and improvement in coordination. Internal wushu is extremely beneficial for improving one’s overall vitality as well as the heath and balance of an individual.
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Last Updated:2014.9.20
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