Le arti marziali sono un fenomeno complesso documentato da un'enorme quantitą di scritti, contrariamente alla diffusa opinione per cui l'unica fonte di conoscenza sulle loro origini e sul loro sviluppo sia la tradizione orale tramandata dai maestri. Questo libro ricostruisce la storia del combattimento in Cina, dall'Etą del Bronzo ai giorni nostri. La trasformazione di abilitą, tecniche e armamenti appare in controluce sullo sfondo della grande storia, l'ascesa e la caduta degli imperi, dei loro governi e dei loro eserciti. Citazioni poetiche e letterarie, insieme a storie di guerrieri famosi, permeano la narrazione, fornendo diversi punti di vista sul tema della prodezza in battaglia.

This work offers the first sustained discussion of the debates that took place within Chinese governments over whether or not, and why, to wage war.

"In the global world of the twenty-first century, martial arts are practiced for self-defense and sporting purposes only. However, for thousands of years, they were a central feature of military practice in China and essential for the smooth functioning of society. Individuals who were adept in using weapons were highly regarded, not simply as warriors but also as tacticians and performers. This book, which opens with an intriguing account of the very first female martial artist, charts the history of combat and fighting techniques in China from the Bronze Age to the present. This broad panorama affords fascinating glimpses into the transformation of martial skills, techniques, and weaponry against the background of Chinese history, the rise and fall of empires, their governments, and their armies. Quotations from literature and poetry, and the stories of individual warriors, infuse the narrative, offering personal reflections on prowess in the battlefield and techniques of engagement. This is an engaging and readable introduction to the authentic history of Chinese martial arts"--