ABSTRACT
The Ming dynasty endured a long war with Mongolian tribes and Japanese pirates, with martial arts continuing to have significant military utility and the Imperial Martial Examination underpinning the army recruitment system. The growing exchange between China and Japan enriched the varieties of martial arts. Notably, Chinese martial arts began to be systematized with the emergence of various martial arts schools and definitions of the Eighteen Martial Skills. This period also saw thriving development of Shaolin martial arts, martial arts forms, and Jiaodi.
