Was Kung Fu obsession really a thing back in Ancient China?

[NoSmilez]

Hahaha, my apology. I thought by saying to Whatsapp my grandfather's grandfather twice would be enough evidence to imply it's a joke.

If there was any secret immortality knowledge within my family, I would have trained UFC and be the 135lb champion. Imagine earning 250k per fight, sweet sweet money. <45>

Any family curry puff recipe? I went to a Thai restaurant and it was like 12 bucks for 4 small ones. It's more or less the same thing in SG. Maybe the outside isn't as pretty.

 

[zapataxiv]

"scandal" usually means sexual.

there were
the monks were supposed to be monks but they had girlfriends and wealth
so they were partying with hookas and banging young snizz

 

[mozfonky]

there were
the monks were supposed to be monks but they had girlfriends and wealth
so they were partying with hookas and banging young snizz

the mystique of celibacy is cool and all, but most of the people who claim it are full of shit because, they happen to just have a problem called being human.

Not something to put out there because people just love to catch you slipping.

 

[Crawler89]

of course bro, they didnt have TV and video games

 

[zapataxiv]

the mystique of celibacy is cool and all, but most of the people who claim it are full of shit because, they happen to just have a problem called being human.

Not something to put out there because people just love to catch you slipping.

oh I agree
like @NoSmilez said they made the art into an industry and made a bunch of money and got power
and it corrupted them

 

[Vergilius]

It was a joke. I didn't even know my grandfather because he passed away before I was born. <45>



The latter of your impression is right. Kung Fu, actually Wu Xia, viewed as a form of rebellion against Dynasty is correct. But the period is not exactly accurate.

Wu Xia, is those where you see people flying around on trees, travel few miles within short duration and can defeat 100 people at once.
Mostly confused with Kung Fu by people, as evidenced itt.

As per my previous post, Kung Fu got popular in 1950s due to Hong Kong films. The films got made because of Novels by 金庸. He is legit GOAT of these novels with zero dispute unlike MMA/Boxing GOATs. I'm not sure if he is the creator of WuXia genre itself, but I can't think of anyone else tbh.

Three of his novels, out of over 15 in total where all are massively popular, have been made and remake many times over into TV and movies. These 3 novel are the reasons why 70 years later, we are still seeing WuXia genre on screen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_the_Condor_Heroes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_Condor_Heroes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Heaven_Sword_and_Dragon_Saber

All of his work are loosely based on real historical event, late Song and Yuan Dynasty between 1200s to late 1300s, peppered with heroes that can fly around.

Song Dynasty when is Genghis Khan conquered. I assume Westerners are more familiar with him. And in the first novel of the trilogy I mentioned above, Genghis Khan was loosely involved.
In the last novel of the the trilogy, Zhang Sanfeng the debated creator of Tai Chi, is in the novel.

Because real historical people are involved, some people probably thought all characters are based on real martial arts and people.

EDIT:
Oh yeah, Zhang Sanfeng is living in Wudang mountain

I remember reading the Condor Hero saga when they were translated into English about 5 years ago. It takes a little while to get into, but then it becomes wildly entertaining. Highly recommended.

 

[William Huggins]

oh I agree
like @NoSmilez said they made the art into an industry and made a bunch of money and got power
and it corrupted them

Do you think that this might be the actual reason for the rise in Communism in China?

 

[zapataxiv]

Do you think that this might be the actual reason for the rise in Communism in China?

? expand a bit
I'm not sure exactly where you are heading?

 

[panamaican]

Nope. Kung fu obsession is a modern thing. Basically, when movies became a thing, production companies started converting old plays into movies. They found out that people really enjoyed action over storyline so they ramped up the amount of fighting in the plays. Then these performances started getting exported to the US, where they really loved the fighting scenes. So more of it.

In reality, most people didn't know martial arts and didn't need to.

 

[Deleted member 110072]

Ahh.. my mistake. You are talking about those films by Bruce Lee and Jet Li.




These were the films that repeatedly mention that Chinese are bullied by foreigners because they are not united. Most of Jet Li earlier films that shot him to superstardom was loosely based on real historical people as well. Like Wong Fei Hung and Huo Yuan Jia, both of whom live in the late 19th century. And yes, those are the films where real Kung Fu, martial arts, are depicted. Unlike Wuxia, where you so correctly say are supernatural heroes.

You could argue I spose films like Once Upon A Time In China and Iron Monkey do blur the lines between Kung Fu and Wuxia, they are nominally more Kung Fu like films in terms of featuring kung fu masters from relatively recent history but the style of the film does blend in quite a bit of wuxia with the action being almost supernatural and the drama tending more towards epic romance.

Kung Fu cinema I think does rise from an interest in real martial arts from the period were as wuxia is more a literally movement.

 

[5crew]

I remember reading the Condor Hero saga when they were translated into English about 5 years ago. It takes a little while to get into, but then it becomes wildly entertaining. Highly recommended.

If you interested in watching the TV series and don't mind subtitles, there is a playlist on Youtube.

The Legend of the Condor Heroes - 2017, the 2nd best version out of 7 since 1970s. It's the first novel of the Saga.


The Heaven Sword and the Dragon Saber - 2019, not the best version out of the 8 since 1970s. The third novel of the Saga.


The 2nd Novel, The Return of the Condor Heroes have 10 versions. Most of it are pretty forgettable. The newest version that completed shooting in 2018 have been in production hell for over 5 years and no one have any idea why it's not released yet.

 

[Mr Mojo Lane]

I don't know about ancient China, but I can tell you that shit was lit in the 70s!

Yes. I have performed the deadly Dragon Kicks Jive Turkey into Trunk technique many times.