The entries on archery, straight sword, boxing, and even football
(more like soccer, which required considerable agility as well as endurance)
in the Han History Bibliographiesreveal that manuals were written on im-
portant martial arts and related skills, although those extant date back no
earlier than the Ming dynasty (ca. sixteenth century). Boxing was the basic
skill that supplemented weapons, and certain boxing-related techniques
were used on horseback as well as on foot, especially weapons-seizing tech-
niques. For example, General Deng Zhan of Wei (ca. A.D. 220–226) was
known for his skill with the “five weapons” and for his ability to take on
armed opponents empty-handed. During a campaign in A.D. 582, Sui
troops, outnumbered and their “five weapons” depleted, successfully
fought off a Tujue (Turkic tribe) force with their bare fists, with such fe-
rocity that “the bones in their hands were visible” (Wang 1960, 395,
4694). General Weichi Jingde of Tang (ca. A.D. 627–649) could ride into an
opposing army, dodge the enemy’s lance thrusts, seize an enemy lance, and
use it against the attackers.
When the military examination system was established in 702, the
martial arts emphasized for leaders were lance and spear from horseback,
and archery from horseback and on foot. There was a test of strength, as
well, that consisted of lifting a large city gate log bolt ten times (based on
a story that Confucius had displayed great strength by lifting and placing
just such a bolt) and carrying approximately five bushels of rice for a dis-
tance of twenty paces. Common soldiers were categorized based on their
skills with archery, spear, halberd, pike, and sword, and their daring in
hand-to-hand combat. A premium was placed on strength and endurance.
By the Song dynasty there was a saying: “There are thirty-six types of
weapons, and the bow is the foremost; there are eighteen types of martial
China 67A Daoist priest
practicing martial
exercises in a temple
in Beijing, China,
April 1995. (Peter
Turnley/Corbis)