Wudang Swordplay		Shaolin Swordplay

In addition to heightening the affect of dramatized martial spectacles, swordplay was often central to the plots of plays and operas, one example being the Peking Opera The Conqueror Bids Farewell to His Favorite Concubine. It tells of Xiang Yu, a main contender for the throne after the death of the Qin emperor. After being defeated and driven out of his native State of Chu, Xiang Yu charges his concubine Yu Ji with joining him in drowning his sorrows in liquor, but devotion to her lord drives Yu Ji to enact a strategy of ultimate self-sacrifice. She performs a sword dance (choreographed by the great Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang ) that ends in Yu Ji's slaying herself. Yu Ji thus forcing Xiang Yu to free himself from the final fetter that hinders him from an all-out attempt to recover his kingdom.

Yu Ji's sword dance is in the graceful, flowing style of taiji swordplay: the iron fist in a velvet glove. It movingly reflects the heroine's reluctance to part with her lover and her steely determination to face death fearlessly. This sequence is the climax of the opera and a brilliant example of dramatic swordplay.

Swordplay, source of calligraphic inspiration

Martial artists and calligraphers agreed that calligraphy and swordplay had similar origins: in the eyes of an accomplished artist, skilled swordplay resembled dancing calligraphy and was a source of inspiration, while to a martial arts master, calligraphy was swordplay on paper .

Page:

1

2

3

4

All rights reserved. Reproduction of text for non-commercial purposes is permitted provided that both the source and author are acknowledged and a notifying email is sent to us.