Martial Arts Bans in the Annals of Chinese History

Since the Qin Dynasty, there have been several significant bans on martial arts. In antiquity, martial arts referred largely to weapons, and in some cases, the prohibition also extended to the empty-hand arts.

The first significant ban on martial arts occurred during the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.) ordered by the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. He conquered the Six Kingdoms: Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan, and Qi, and unified China. This was during the Warring States Period.  At that time there were large groups of armed warriors who roamed the land seeking to serve various lords. Qin Shi Huang instituted a weapons ban as a means of avoiding any possible uprisings. His rule lasted only 14 years.

While not ordering a direct ban, Emperor Taizu, who established the Northern Song Dynasty (961-1127 A.D.) feared his military generals and sought to suppress them. He promoted literature over military prowess and his policies greatly weakened the latter, which led to the overthrow of the Northern Song by the Mongols.

The Yuan Dynasty (1281-1368 A.D.), established by the Mongols, imposed a large-scale ban on martial arts practice. The Yuan controlled a vast territory and, as an ethnic minority group with a strict social structure, placed the Han Chinese in a lower class. The Han people were not allowed to hunt, gather in large numbers, or possess any type of weapon. They were even forbidden to go out at night, in fear that they might rebel. Notwithstanding these strict measures, the Yuan Dynasty lasted fewer than 100 years.

The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 A.D.) was founded by the Manchus, an ethnic group from what is now Northeast China. At the outset, the Qing banned all weapons and martial arts practice and imposed strict customs on the Chinese that extended to clothing and hair styles for men (requiring the Bianzi or pigtail). The ban on martial arts was eventually eased and many schools and famous masters came to light during the latter part of the Qing Dynasty. The Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901), a dark period in Chinese martial arts history, occurred at end of the Qing Dynasty. The Qing was the last dynasty to rule China. 

China’s Communist Party, which formally assumed power October 1, 1949, also imposed bans on martial arts, especially during the Cultural Revolution, which lasted from 1966 until 1976. During that time, books were burned, and many masters lost their lives.

Historically, these bans led to the decline of Chinese martial arts. This has changed for the better since the mid-1970s and the practice of both Contemporary (Wushu) and Traditional Martial Arts has spread worldwide.