An Analysis of Wushu’s Theoretical Concept and its Reflection in Wushu’s Practice

Abstract

Wushu is an essential part of Chinese culture. It is highly valued for its defensive, health-preserving, entertaining and educational functions. It has a rich history and its development can be traced from the dawn of the Chinese civilization till its present status as a sports discipline aiming to enter the Olympic Games. The internationalization of Wushu being one of the main concerns in the context of its present development suggests the existence of comprehensible literature that can provide the non-Chinese reader with a better understanding of Wushu. Therefore, this paper introduces health-preserving, social-regulating and harmonizing functions of Wushu,the way they are reflected in its practice.