Taoist martial arts are commonly referred to as Taoist martial arts or Taoist kung fu. Chinese martial arts are one of the great cultural heritages of ancient China, and Taoism has made significant contributions to the development of Chinese martial arts. Taoists, often hermits or monks living in mountains and forests, had no interest in worldly fame and fortune, but were vulnerable to thieves and wild animals. Therefore, they had to practice martial arts for self-defense, which fostered the development of martial arts among Taoists. Moreover, martial arts require focus, perseverance, and mental clarity to reach mastery. In contrast, secular people, burdened by fame, wealth, and concerns about life and death, often found it difficult to achieve in martial arts. Therefore, throughout history, many martial arts experts have emerged from the Taoist and Buddhist traditions. Skilled Taoist martial artists passed down their arts to disciples, using martial arts to strengthen their bodies and protect their faith, which in turn enhanced the prestige and survival of Taoism.
By the Wei and Jin dynasties, Taoist martial arts had already developed into distinct routines. The Yuan and Ming dynasties were the golden ages of Taoist martial arts, with many schools emerging. During this period, Taoist priest Zhang Sanfeng founded the internal martial art of Taijiquan at Wudang Mountain, combining Taoist qigong with martial arts, creating a Taoist martial arts style distinct from the external styles like Shaolin Kung Fu.
Taoist martial arts, including Taijiquan, Wudang Sword, Xingyi Quan, and Dacheng Quan (also known as Yiquan), are examples of internal martial arts. These arts are still practiced at Taoist temples such as those on Wudang Mountain (Hubei Province) and Laoshan (Shandong Province).
Taoist martial arts are guided by Taoist philosophy and theory, integrating Taoist medicine, internal alchemy (Neidan), and health cultivation. They combine martial combat techniques and health exercises, emphasizing meridians and acupoints, focusing on building solid internal strength, using qi to generate force, and employing techniques that use softness to overcome hardness. These martial arts emphasize flexibility, strategic use of force, and techniques such as stillness controlling movement, avoiding the solid to strike the void, and fluid movements. Practitioners of Taoist martial arts are able to defend themselves through martial skills while also maintaining health and well-being.
Taijiquan (Tai Chi)
Taijiquan is one of the representative forms of Taoist martial arts, primarily focused on health maintenance, with self-defense as a secondary component. “Taiji” refers to the primordial, undifferentiated state of the universe in Taoist philosophy, symbolizing the interplay of yin and yang.
The origin of Taijiquan is still debated. One legend suggests it was created by Taoist priest Zhang Sanfeng at Wudang Mountain, a founder of the Quanzhen sect. Another theory places the origin of Taijiquan in Chenjiagou, Wenxian County, Henan Province. Over time, various styles emerged, including Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun, and others.
Taijiquan emphasizes the use of the mind to control the body, advocating for the use of intention rather than force. It is characterized by continuous, flowing movements that guide the internal qi. The practice focuses on body coordination, balance, and relaxation, offering both health benefits and practical martial application. Taijiquan helps enhance physical strength, regulate emotional states, and achieve harmony between body and mind.
Wudang Sword
The sword holds a significant place in Taoism. In Taoist rituals, the sword is considered a divine weapon to subdue demons and evil spirits. Symbolically, the sword also represents the “Law” (Dao). When Taoist priests travel, they are often given a sword by their masters as a reminder to maintain Taoist virtues and sever worldly attachments. The sword is thus regarded as an essential tool for Taoist monks on their journeys.
The Wudang Sword is a type of light weapon, characterized by a combination of speed and slowness, and hardness and softness. The techniques mainly include hooking, hanging, thrusting, flicking, stabbing, and chopping. Practitioners are taught to move the sword fluidly, as if it is part of their body. The practice emphasizes alignment of the form with intention, intention with qi, and qi with spirit. The Wudang Sword tradition includes many varieties, such as the Taiji Sword, Taiyi Xuanmen Sword, Nine Palaces Bagua Sword, Eight Immortals Sword, Xuangong Sword, and Longhua Sword.
Xingyi Quan
Xingyi Quan, another important school of Taoist martial arts, emphasizes “using intention rather than force, and when intention reaches the qi, the qi manifests in the power.” Xingyi Quan imitates the movements of animals to cultivate explosive strength and body coordination. Its movements are concise, forceful, and focus on the explosive power and control of the body. The style emphasizes the mindset of “strike first and strike hard” and promotes a swift, decisive approach in combat.
In terms of tactics, Xingyi advocates for rapid, surprise strikes, always taking the initiative. The technique emphasizes close-range, quick attacks, and the strategic use of position. Xingyi practitioners use seven key techniques: the head, shoulders, elbows, hands, hips, knees, and feet, each of which can be applied in combat. The training also integrates the concept of “empty and solid,” balancing the use of strength and yielding to the opponent’s force. The basic forms of Xingyi include the Three-body Posture, the Five Elements Fists (Chop, Smash, Drill, Cannon, and Horizontal), and the Twelve Animal Forms (Dragon, Tiger, Monkey, Horse, Crocodile, Chicken, Falcon, Swallow, Snake, Toad, Eagle, and Bear).
Dacheng Quan (Yi Quan)
Dacheng Quan, also known as Yiquan, is a unique form of Taoist martial arts that does not rely on fixed forms or techniques. It focuses on the use of mental intention to guide movements, hence the name “Yi Quan,” or “Intention Fist.” The practice emphasizes the coordination of the mind, spirit, and body, with a focus on relaxation, natural breathing, and overall body alignment.
The primary goal of Dacheng Quan is to cultivate “Hunyuan Li” or “Integrated Force,” which is the coordination of tension and relaxation within the body, creating a state of balance between mental focus and physical action. The training includes standing postures (Zhan Zhuang), testing strength, sound resonance, walking, striking, and push hands, with an emphasis on cultivating internal power and fluid movement.
In Dacheng Quan, the practice is foundational and develops gradually. Key exercises include standing postures, followed by movements and fighting techniques that integrate mind and body to achieve maximum power with minimal effort. This martial art is designed not only to develop physical strength but also to harmonize the spirit and enhance overall well-being.
