Chinese swordsmanship

Chinese swordsmanship, also known as jianshu, refers to various types of swordsmanship native to China and is a part of Chinese martial arts practice. Chinese swordsmanship dates back over two thousand years. Chinese swordsmanship, integral to both traditional Chinese culture and martial arts, encompasses facets of Zen and philosophy, reflecting moral and physical unity within Chinese martial arts, while also pervading ancient Chinese culture, philosophy, and art.
Chinese swordsmanship is now widely practiced worldwide and respected for its effectiveness as a martial art and its cultural and aesthetic value. This martial art symbolises Chinese tradition and philosophical wisdom, linking ancient traditions with modern practices in martial arts communities worldwide.
Chinese swordsmanship has evolved over millennia from ancient ceremonial practices to a refined martial art deeply integrated into cultural and philosophical traditions.
The sword was first developed in the Western Zhou dynasty, but it was only used as a self-defense weapon. In the Spring and Autumn period, it was used as a weapon on the battlefield, and the widespread adoption of swords in warfare was driven by their flexibility and portability, consequently shaping the evolution of swordsmanship techniques.
During the Han dynasty, as the use of swords in warfare diminished, the populace began engaging in martial arts training as a form of military reserve. By the late Han period, this martial training evolved into a form of entertainment, with swordsmanship becoming a non-military performance art. The widespread practice among literati and warriors of showcasing their skills through sword fighting contributed to significant advancements in sword techniques. According to the Book of the Former Han, thirty-eight- chapters on fencing methods were composed during this era, though these texts were unfortunately lost over time.
In the Tang dynasty, sword dancing became a kind of social atmosphere, and friends also danced swords during banquets. Unlike the practical fighting techniques used in war, Tang swordsmanship evolved into a more artistic form, often demonstrated through sword dancing. Although these highly developed performances were different from the actual attack and defense routines later, they laid an important foundation for the future development of Chinese swordsmanship. The art of sword dance in the Tang dynasty provided an important prerequisite for the later development of sword technique.
In the Ming dynasty, the sword was still frequently used as martial art by common people. However, due to the development of other weapons such as artillery, the use of swords was rarely seen in the military. Many works show that sword skills in the Ming dynasty had reached a very high level. The History of the Ming Dynasty records the inheritance and development of some swordsmanship. For example, Xu Fang, a famous hermit in Tonglu County, Zhejiang Province, used his sword to fight for justice for his people.
Chinese swordsmanship has evolved into many schools during its development. Among the various genres of swordsmanship, three stand out for their rich heritage and distinctive philosophies: Taijijian, Wudang Sword, and Emei Sword.
Taijijian is an integral part of Tai Chi (Taijiquan) practice, characterised by its slow, flowing, and graceful movements that prioritise balance, coordination, and relaxation. The practice of Taijijian is more than physical exercise; it is also a form of meditation that seeks to enhance the practitioner's health and martial abilities. In Taijijian, the sword is guided by intention ("yi"), emphasising harmony between the weapon and the body. Regarded not only as a martial art, Taijijian is also viewed as a cultural and philosophical expression, often referred to as the "soul of Chinese martial arts." Its practice involves a deep understanding of the interplay between the physical and the mental, the external and the internal, embodying the philosophical principles of yin and yang in its techniques and forms.
Originating from the sacred Wudang Mountains, a bastion of Taoist tradition, the Wudang Sword style is a blend of Daoist cultural principles and martial techniques. The art of Wudang Sword incorporates strengths from various first styles while embracing the spiritual aspects of Taoism, emphasising the cultivation of harmonious yin and yang energy. Practitioners of Wudang Sword begin with internal strength training (neigong) to regulate the body's qi, aiming to achieve unity between the body and the sword. Techniques are characterised by lightness, agility, and speed, focusing on approaching the opponent quickly and overcoming them with finesse rather than brute force.
The Emei Sword style, originating from the Emei Mountain and associated with Taoist martial arts, boasts a history spanning over 500 years. It is a discipline that favors the use of the sword as the primary weapon, employing a strategy of overcoming strength with softness. The Emei Sword technique emphasizes the variability and subtlety of swordplay, with frequent changes in posture and a variety of unpredictable moves. Practitioners are required to possess a high degree of physical flexibility and coordination, reflecting the style's intricate and refined approach to combat.
Qingping Sword originated from Taoism, was originally just a high-quality straight sword name, and later integrated the strengths of many martial arts schools, while using Taoism and martial arts theory to form a unique swordsmanship system. The Qingping sword system is based on proven knowledge of Chinese swordsmanship. Qingping swordsmanship is based on the concepts of Wudang sword, utilising clear rhythms, rapid turns to rise and fall, and combining hardness and softness. Qingping swordsmanship often involves crossing movements, in which the sword goes one way, the body goes one way, and the legs go the other way. Qingping swordsmanship has a unique style, elegant and extraordinary, rich forms and routines, retreat to advance, to advance to retreat.
Basic elements of swordsmanship includes stabbing, cutting, picking, flicking and chopping, each of which requires the perfect combination of body, footwork and swordsmanship. These sword methods are combined for attack and defense. Swordsmanship is largely based on the training of the wrist, and the offensive and defensive postures must be coordinated. And Chinese swordsmanship requires proper body alignment, structure, and strength. The practitioner's body, mind and sword must be one.
Basic training requires repetition of each movement. Since the sword itself has a certain weight, after basic training, weight exercises will be added, through repeated execution of individual movement positions to complete in order to let the body find a sense of balance and power. For the practitioners of swordplay, the term "Six harmonies" has been developed, which is composed of three internal harmonies and three external harmonies, which are played through slow conscious breathing and coordinated sword shapes, combining to produce a state of unity of the sword body. The three internal harmonies are heart (xin), mind (yi), and energy (qi), which need to be practiced in a relaxed and calm manner without releasing energy. In order to achieve external harmony, quick eyes, quick swordplay and quick pace must be trained. By practicing Six harmonies well could use swordsmanship at a higher level.
The sword, known as "the weapon of the gentleman", occupies an important place in Chinese culture. Chinese swordsmanship culture revolves around the warrior's philosophy and skill system. In military culture throughout history, the sword symbolised the warrior's soul.
Chinese sword culture idealizes sword skill and regards swords as a virtue and a symbol of personal social and cultural accomplishment. The sword embodies the spirit of the Chinese people and has been praised in art works and legends for thousands of years. Swordsmanship is practiced not only to improve health and fighting skills, but also to develop character and personality. The traditional Chinese view is that only those with excellent character can achieve excellence in swordsmanship.
The chivalry and warrior spirit of ancient China were intertwined with the ideals of swordplay, and knights and brandished swords were the basis of legends as well as the embodiment of reality. Today, the practice of swordplay is still linked to the ancient spirit and knowledge of swordplay, maintaining a connection to the past while constantly evolving with modern practice.
After the founding of People's Republic of China, the state began to pay attention to and promote the development of swordsmanship. In November 1953, the National Performance and Competition for Traditional Sports held in Tianjin, swordsmanship as an event of artistic performance and competition. During the Cultural Revolution, Chinese martial arts experts were persecuted, and training and competitions were halted until 1972, when Chinese martial arts began to revive. Beginning in the 1980s, the General Administration of Sport of China began to organize international and intercontinental sword competitions, such as the first International Tai Chi Invitational Competition held in Wuhan in 1984 and the first International Wushu Invitational Competition held in Xi' an in 1985. Since then, Chinese swordsmanship's international exchanges and influence have gradually increased. The Chinese government has also promoted Chinese swordsmanship worldwide by sending trainers and training foreign learners. Since the 1980s, the Chinese Wushu Academy and the Chinese Wushu Association have set up many training camps overseas, attracting a large number of foreign learners to learn Chinese swordsmanship. Practitioners of Chinese swordsmanship study traditional forms and adapt techniques for modern contexts, including self-defense and health and wellness programs. International seminars, workshops, and cultural exchange programs also play a significant role in the spread of Chinese swordsmanship knowledge.