The Martial and Cultural Divide Between the South and North of China

China is a vast country with a rich cultural and martial arts tradition. These traditions vary between north and south. Culturally, the demarcation line is what is called the Qin Ling-Huai He Line (秦岭-淮河线). Qin Ling refers to the Qin Ling mountain range and Huai He refers to the River Huai.

From a martial arts perspective, the Chang Jiang (長江) – Long River, more commonly known in the west as the Yangzi Jiang (揚子江) – Yangzi River, often Romanized as Yangtze River, is the demarcation line for Southern and Northern styles.

Note: Traditionally in China, the Yangzi only refers to the lower part of the Chang Jiang River while in the West the Yangzi refers to the entire river. In ancient times the river was known as Da Jiang (大江), meaning Great or Long River.

The Martial Arts Distinctions

Chinese martial arts practitioners acknowledge the adage “Nan Quan Bei Tui (南拳北腿) – Fists in the South, Legs in the North.” While, in essence, this saying holds true, it would be a mistake to interpret it literally to mean that the Southern styles lack kicking and the Northern styles lack striking techniques. Rather, striking might be more prevalent in the South while kicking is more common in the North.

To understand how these styles evolved differently, we must look at the geographical features of south and north China.

Floods in the South, Droughts in the North

“Nan Lao Bei Hun (南澇北旱) – Floods in the South, Droughts in the North.” What does this saying tell us about the different geographical features of South and North China?

South China contains many rivers and wide deltas that often flood with heavy rains. North China has vast plains that are often arid and swept by strong winds. The geographical makeup of South and North China affected the development of martial arts.

The many rivers and mountainous regions did not provide wide open spaces, hence the martial arts that developed in the South evolved to fit into this environment. Largely, these styles do not use long patterns that cover distance but instead change direction in the execution of their Tao Lu (套路) – Forms or choreographed routines. This also led these styles to develop and employ a great diversity of strikes.

The plains of North China allowed for the development of techniques that used long expansive strikes and a variety of kicking skills. Jumps and leaps became integrated into the footwork to cover more distance. When we observe the Tao Lu of Northern Chinese styles, we see a change between high and low postures coupled with long-range strikes and kicks. These styles, by nature, are more aggressive in the execution of their techniques.

The Effect of Geography on Martial Arts

Another saying, “Nan Chuan Bei Ma (南船北馬) – Boats in the South, Horses in the North,” is worth exploring in considering the developmental characteristics of Southern and Northern Chinese martial arts.

In the South, wet rainy seasons were often accompanied by flooding and hot humid conditions, necessitating the heavy use of boats for navigation. These factors led to the development of styles that adapted to these conditions and were more conservative in expending energy. Less kicking, jumping, and leaping, and more striking.

In the North, the plains led to a horse-breeding culture. Climbing on and off horses naturally builds strong legs. Open spaces allowed for the development of martial arts skills that took advantage of this environment. Kicking techniques became more adaptable and striking was done at full extension.

The Effect of Diet on Body Structure and Martial Arts

The saying, “Nan Mi Bei Mian (南米北面) – Rice in the South, Noodles in the North” also applies. It is undeniable that the food we consume influences body build, strength, and even disposition. In modern times, this adage may no longer be as appropriate, since commerce has made a greater variety of foods more easily available, but it certainly held true in China for centuries. Generally, in the past, Southern Chinese were not as stout or tall as Northern Chinese. Today, however, commerce and information about nutrition has changed and broken through traditional barriers.

Rice has been widely cultivated in the South. It has a lower energy content than wheat. Rice in the South and noodles in the North, or their derivatives, were staple, everyday foods that were supplemented with more vegetables and fish in the South and more meats in the North.

A Final Word

In Chinese martial arts, “Nan Quan Bei Tui – Fists in the South, Legs in the North,” have often given a narrow view of the martial arts styles without exploring geographical, environmental, and dietary differences. All these factors had an impact on the development of the different styles. Each of these topics deserves more in-depth research.