Hui muslim wushu in China :history, development and contemporary challenges

Abstract

This study focuses on the history, the development and the contemporary challenges of Hui Muslim Wushu in China. It traces the origin and historical development of Hui Wushu, classifying the different styles of Hui Wushu, and arguing that the Hui possess a double identity where Islamic and Chinese cultures are reflected in Hui martial arts. The work examines the social process of transmission of Hui Wushu practice based on extensive field research. The study is based on library research and fieldwork performed in China for a number of years. It utilises participant observation and oral interviews with 24 Hui martial arts masters. The research finds that Hui created some martial arts forms with special features and adopted many elements from Han martial arts to enrich the Hui Wushu system. This subsequently contributed to the further development of Chinese Wushu, especially through the emergence of outstanding Hui martial artists. In the last 20 years, several types of Hui Wushu have faced a severe crisis of inheritance. The thesis recommends the integration of the local governments and communal efforts to revive Hui Wushu.