Chinese martial arts: from antiquity to the twenty-first century

In the global world of the twenty-first century, martial arts are practised for self-defense and sporting purposes only. However, for thousands of years, they were a central feature of military practice in China and essential for the smooth functioning of society. This book, which opens with an intr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lorge, Peter Allan 1967- (Author)
Format: Electronic eBook
Language:English
Published: Cambridge ; New York ; Melbourne ; Madrid ; Cape Town ; Singapore ; São Paulo ; Delhi ; Tokyo ; Mexiko City Cambridge University Press 2012
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Online Access:BSB01
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Summary:In the global world of the twenty-first century, martial arts are practised for self-defense and sporting purposes only. However, for thousands of years, they were a central feature of military practice in China and essential for the smooth functioning of society. This book, which opens with an intriguing account of the very first female martial artist, charts the history of combat and fighting techniques in China from the Bronze Age to the present. This broad panorama affords fascinating glimpses into the transformation of martial skills, techniques and weaponry against the background of Chinese history, the rise and fall of empires, their governments and their armies. Quotations from literature and poetry, and the stories of individual warriors, infuse the narrative, offering personal reflections on prowess in the battlefield and techniques of engagement. This is an engaging and readable introduction to the authentic history of Chinese martial arts
Physical Description:1 Online-Ressource (x, 270 Seiten) Illustrationen
ISBN:9781139029865
DOI:10.1017/CBO9781139029865

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