ABSTRACT
Chinese martial arts are considered by many to symbolise the strength of the Chinese and their pride in their history, and have long been regarded as an important element of Chinese culture. The past few decades have seen ‘kung fu fever’ spread across China and around the world. Due to its increasing popularity, wushu was made a competition event at the Asian Games in 1990, and the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) was established. Over the years, with the efforts of wushu enthusiasts and assisted by wuxia movies, Chinese martial arts have gained mainstream popularity. This chapter examines the development of Chinese martial arts in the context of history and politics. It points out that today, with millions of people practising wushu and participating in wushu competitions, Chinese martial arts are attracting a worldwide audience. They have made, and will continue to make, important contributions to the promotion of cross-cultural exchanges and understanding between China and the world.
