Wushu, with its mysterious Oriental flavor, is regarded as the quintessence of physical culture. Often referred to as "arts of fighting with eighteen kinds of weapons," it is distinguished by three salient features: usefulness for combat, benefits to health, and fascinating movements.
Wushu dates back to primitive society where people used clubs and other primitive tools to fight wild animals. In the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods (770- 221 BC), wushu became more combative in nature as more weapons came into use. It also attracted more attention with its beneficial effects on health. Wushu contests and performances were popular in the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-AD 220). The sword dances performed by Xiang Bo and Xiang Zhuang at "A Banquet at Hongmen Gate" as described by Sima Oian in his Historical Records were actually a show of attack and defence in swordplay. The imperial examination system of the Tang Dynasty (618- 907) for identifying martial arts talent stimulated the growth of wushu activities in society. By the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), many schools of wushu, each with its own distinctive features, had developed across the country. One of these was the Shaolin School, which owes its name to the world-famous Shaolin Temple in Henan Province.
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