Wudang Sect
Encyclopedia
The Wudang Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several works of wuxia
fiction. It is one of the most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu
. Its home base is in the Wudang Mountains
. Wudang and Shaolin
are often hailed by fighters in the jianghu as the leaders of all orthodox sects.
The Wudang Sect is featured most prominently in Jin Yong's The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and The Smiling, Proud Wanderer
as one of the leading orthodox sects in the jianghu alongside Shaolin. Liang Yusheng
's works also portray Wudang as the leader of all orthodox sects. Its members are mostly Daoist priests who practise Daoism apart from martial arts. However, unlike the Buddhist monks from Shaolin, they are allowed to marry and have children. In some wuxia stories, Wudang has female disciples as well.
by Zhang Sanfeng
. Zhang's original given name is "Junbao" and he is formerly a student of Jueyuan from the Shaolin Sect
. Zhang Sanfeng accepts seven youths as his first disciples, who later become the "Seven Heroes of Wudang". The seven disciples are responsible for Wudang's subsequent expansion and for leading it to its status as a leading orthodox sect in the jianghu.
In The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, possibly set during the Ming Dynasty
, Wudang has become one of the two leading sects in the jianghu alongside Shaolin and both play significant roles in upholding justice and keeping the peace in the jianghu. It is led by Daoist Chongxu. In Baifa Monü Zhuan, set towards the end of the Ming Dynasty, the sect is led by Daoist Ziyang.
, although they are based on Daoism rather than Buddhism. Its martial arts revolve around the Taiji, which includes "Taiji Fist", "Taiji Swordplay
" etc. They also focus on the use of "soft" and gentle techniques to overcome opponents' use of brute strength and force. Wudang's "inner energy
" skills and qinggong are also amongst the leading ones in the jianghu.
Due to the strong Daoist influence, Wudang members also spend their time on making elixirs and special medicines to improve their health and inner energy. The practices adopted by Wudang members are also believed to hold the key to longevity or even immortality.
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
fiction. It is one of the most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu
Jianghu
The jianghu is the milieu, environment, or sub-community, often fictional, in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set.In modern Chinese culture, jianghu is commonly accepted as an alternative universe coexisting with the actual historical one in which the context of the wuxia genre was set...
. Its home base is in the Wudang Mountains
Wudang Mountains
The Wudang Mountains , also known as Wu Tang Shan or simply Wudang, are a small mountain range in the northwestern part of Hubei Province of People's Republic of China, just to the south of the city of Shiyan.-Geography:...
. Wudang and Shaolin
Shaolin Sect
The Shaolin Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several wuxia works. It is one of the largest, most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is at present-day Shaolin Monastery in Henan...
are often hailed by fighters in the jianghu as the leaders of all orthodox sects.
The Wudang Sect is featured most prominently in Jin Yong's The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and The Smiling, Proud Wanderer
The Smiling, Proud Wanderer
The Smiling, Proud Wanderer is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong, first published as a serial in Ming Pao from April 20, 1967 to October 12, 1969. The term "Xiaoao Jianghu" means to live a carefree life in a mundane world of strife...
as one of the leading orthodox sects in the jianghu alongside Shaolin. Liang Yusheng
Liang Yusheng
Chen Wentong , better known by his pen name Liang Yusheng , is a Chinese writer of wuxia novels.He is credited as the pioneer of the "new school" wuxia genre in the 20th century, as well as one of the three most esteemed wuxia writers in the second half of the 20th century .-Biography:Chen was...
's works also portray Wudang as the leader of all orthodox sects. Its members are mostly Daoist priests who practise Daoism apart from martial arts. However, unlike the Buddhist monks from Shaolin, they are allowed to marry and have children. In some wuxia stories, Wudang has female disciples as well.
History
The sect is founded in the early Yuan DynastyYuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
by Zhang Sanfeng
Zhang Sanfeng
Zhang Sanfeng was a semi-legendary Chinese Taoist priest who is believed by some to have achieved immortality, said variously to date from either the late Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty or Ming Dynasty. His name is said to have been Zhang Junbao 張君寶 before he became a Taoist.Zhang's legend is that of...
. Zhang's original given name is "Junbao" and he is formerly a student of Jueyuan from the Shaolin Sect
Shaolin Sect
The Shaolin Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several wuxia works. It is one of the largest, most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is at present-day Shaolin Monastery in Henan...
. Zhang Sanfeng accepts seven youths as his first disciples, who later become the "Seven Heroes of Wudang". The seven disciples are responsible for Wudang's subsequent expansion and for leading it to its status as a leading orthodox sect in the jianghu.
In The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, possibly set during the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
, Wudang has become one of the two leading sects in the jianghu alongside Shaolin and both play significant roles in upholding justice and keeping the peace in the jianghu. It is led by Daoist Chongxu. In Baifa Monü Zhuan, set towards the end of the Ming Dynasty, the sect is led by Daoist Ziyang.
Martial arts
Wudang's martial arts have their origins in those of the Shaolin SectShaolin Sect
The Shaolin Sect is a fictional Chinese martial arts sect featured in several wuxia works. It is one of the largest, most famous and recognised orthodox and righteous sects in the jianghu. Its home base is at present-day Shaolin Monastery in Henan...
, although they are based on Daoism rather than Buddhism. Its martial arts revolve around the Taiji, which includes "Taiji Fist", "Taiji Swordplay
Taijijian
Taijijian is a straight two-edged sword used in the training of the Chinese martial art Taijiquan. The straight sword, sometimes with a tassel and sometimes not, is used for upper body conditioning and martial training in traditional Taijiquan schools...
" etc. They also focus on the use of "soft" and gentle techniques to overcome opponents' use of brute strength and force. Wudang's "inner energy
Neigong
Neigong, also spelled nei kung, neigung, or nae gong, refers to any of a set of Chinese breathing, meditation and spiritual practice disciplines associated with Daoism and especially the Chinese martial arts...
" skills and qinggong are also amongst the leading ones in the jianghu.
Due to the strong Daoist influence, Wudang members also spend their time on making elixirs and special medicines to improve their health and inner energy. The practices adopted by Wudang members are also believed to hold the key to longevity or even immortality.
List of fictional Wudang martial arts
- Foundation skills
- Shiduanjin (十段錦)
- Thirty-two Styles Long FistChangquanChángquán refers to a family of external martial arts styles from northern China.The forms of the Long Fist style emphasize fully extended kicks and striking techniques, and by appearance would be considered a long-range fighting system...
(三十二勢長拳) - Wudang Long Fist (武當長拳)
- Wudang Heart Sutra (武當心法)
- Eight Trigrams Soaring Dragon Palm (八卦遊龍掌)
- Armed combat styles
- Divine Gate Thirteen Swords (神門十三劍)
- Heaven-relying Dragon-Slaying Skill (倚天屠龍功)
- Mystical Saber Style (玄虛刀法)
- Heaven and Earth as One (天地同壽)
- Soft Snow Swordplay (柔雲劍法)
- Turning Finger Soft Swordplay (繞指柔劍)
- Taiji SwordplayTaijijianTaijijian is a straight two-edged sword used in the training of the Chinese martial art Taijiquan. The straight sword, sometimes with a tassel and sometimes not, is used for upper body conditioning and martial training in traditional Taijiquan schools...
(太極劍)
- Unarmed combat styles
- Wuji Mystical Skill Fist (無極玄功拳)
- Dianxue Shou (點穴手)
- Heaven-Shaking Iron Palm (震天鐵掌)
- Taiji Fist (太極拳)
- Returning Wind Palm (迴風掌)
- Great Tablet-smashing Hand (大摔碑手)
- Silky Palm (綿掌)
- Tiger Claw Ending Hand (虎爪絕戶手)
- Tiger Claw Hand (虎爪手)
- Stained Clothes Eighteen Falls (沾衣十八跌)
- Qinggong
- Cloud-Ascending Ladder (梯雲縱)
- Formations
- Zhenwu Seven Sections Formation (真武七截陣)
- Zhenwu Sword Formation (真武劍陣)
- Inner energy skills
- Wudang Nine Yang Skill (武當九陽功)
- Pure Yang Wuji Skill (純陽無極功)
External links
Wudang Sect on Baidu BaikeBaidu Baike
Baidu Encyclopedia is a Chinese language collaborative Web-based encyclopedia provided by the Chinese search engine Baidu. Like Baidu itself, the encyclopedia is heavily self-censored in line with government regulations....