Neijia - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neijia

Neijia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Neijia is a term in Chinese martial arts, grouping

those styles that practice neijing, usually translated
as internal martial arts, occupied with spiritual,
mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an
"external" approach focused on physiological
aspects. The distinction dates to the 17th century,
but its modern application is due to publications
by Sun Lutang, dating to the period of 1915 to
1928. Neijing is developed by using neigong, or
"internal exercises," as opposed to "external
exercises" (wigng ),
Wudangquan is a more specific grouping of
internal martial arts named for their association
with the Taoist monasteries of the Wudang
Mountains, Hubei in Chinese popular legend.
These styles were enumerated by Sun Lutang as
Taijiquan, Xingyiquan and Baguazhang, but most
also include Bajiquan and the legendary Wudang
Sword.
Some other Chinese arts, not in the Wudangquan
group, such as Qigong, Liuhebafa, Bak Mei Pai,
Zi Ran Men (Nature Boxing), Bok Foo Pai and
Yiquan are frequently classified (or classify
themselves) as "internal".

Neijia
Chinese

Hanyu Pinyin

ni ji

Literal meaning

internal family

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin

ni ji

WadeGiles

nei4 chia1

Wudangquan
TraditionalChinese

Hanyu Pinyin

w dng qun

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin

w dng qun
Yue: Cantonese

Yale Romanization

mou5 dong1 kyun4

Contents
1 History
1.1 Qing China
1.2 Republic of China
2 Sun Lutang
3 Training
4 Characteristics
5 Current practice
6 Fiction
7 See also
8 References
9 Bibliography
10 External links

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History
Qing China
The term neijia and the distinction between internal and external martial arts first appears in Huang
Zongxi's 1669 Epitaph for Wang Zhengnan.[1] Stanley Henning proposes that the Epitaph's
identification of the internal martial arts with the Taoism indigenous to China and of the external
martial arts with the foreign Buddhism of Shaolinand the Manchu Qing Dynasty to which Huang
Zongxi was opposedwas an act of political defiance rather than one of technical classification.[2]
In 1676 Huang Zongxi's son, Huang Baijia, who learned martial arts from Wang Zhengnan, compiled
the earliest extant manual of internal martial arts, the Niji qunf.[3]

Republic of China
Beginning in 1914, Sun Lutang together with Yang Shao-hou, Yang Chengfu and Wu Chien-ch'uan
taught t'ai chi to the public at the Beijing Physical Education Research Institute. Sun taught there
until 1928, a seminal period in the development of modern Yang, Wu and Sun-style t'ai chi ch'uan.[4]
Sun Lutang from 1915 also published martial arts texts.
In 1928, Kuomintang generals Li Jing Lin, Zhang Zi Jiang, and Fung Zu Ziang organized a national
martial arts tournament in China; they did so to screen the best martial artists in order to begin
building the Central Martial Arts Academy (Zhongyang Guoshuguan). The generals separated the
participants of the tournament into Shaolin and Wudang. Wudang participants were recognized as
having "internal" skills. These participants were generally practitioners of t'ai chi ch'uan, Xingyiquan
and Baguazhang. All other participants competed under the classification of Shaolin. One of the
winners in the "internal" category was the Baguazhang master Fu Chen Sung.

Sun Lutang
Sun Lutang identified the following as the criteria that distinguish an internal martial art:
1. An emphasis on the use of the mind to coordinate the leverage of the relaxed body as opposed
to the use of strength.
2. The internal development, circulation, and expression of qi, the "vital energy" of classical
Chinese philosophy.
3. The application of Taoist daoyin, qigong, and neigong principles of external movement.
Sun Lutang's eponymous style of t'ai chi ch'uan fuses principles from all three arts he named as
neijia.[5] Similarities applying classical principles between taiji, xingyi, and baquazhang include:
Loosening (song) the soft tissue, opening shoulder and hip gates or gua, cultivating qi or intrinsic
energy, issuing various jin or compounded energies. Taijiquan is characterized by an ever present
peng jin or expanding energy. Xingyiquan is characterized by its solely forward moving pressing ji
jin energy. Baguazhang is characterized by its dragon body circular movements. Some Chinese
martial arts other than the ones Sun named also teach what are termed internal practices, despite
being generally classified as external (e.g. Wing Chun that also is internal). Some non-Chinese
martial arts also claim to be internal, for example Aikido and Kito Ryu. Many martial artists,
especially outside of China, disregard the distinction entirely. Some neijia schools refer to their arts

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as "soft style" martial arts.

Training
Internal styles focus on awareness of the spirit, mind, qi ("energy") and the use of relaxed (sng )
leverage rather than muscular tension.[6] Pushing hands is a training method commonly used in neijia
arts to develop sensitivity and softness.
Much time may nevertheless be spent on basic physical training, such as stance training (zhan
zhuang), stretching and strengthening of muscles, as well as on empty hand and weapon forms which
can be quite demanding.
Some forms in internal styles are performed slowly, although some include sudden outbursts of
explosive movements (fa jin), such as those the Chen style of Taijiquan is famous for teaching earlier
than some other styles (e.g. Yang and Wu). The reason for the generally slow pace is to improve
coordination and balance by increasing the work load, and to require the student to pay minute
attention to their whole body and its weight as they perform a technique. At an advanced level, and
in actual fighting, internal styles are performed quickly, but the goal is to learn to involve the entire
body in every motion, to stay relaxed, with deep, controlled breathing, and to coordinate the motions
of the body and the breathing accurately according to the dictates of the forms while maintaining
perfect balance.

Characteristics
The reason for the label "internal," according to most schools, is that there is a focus on the internal
aspects earlier in the training, once these internal relationships are apprehended (the theory goes)
they are then applied to the external applications of the styles in question.
External styles are characterized by fast and explosive movements and a focus on physical strength
and agility. External styles include both the traditional styles focusing on application and fighting, as
well as the modern styles adapted for competition and exercise. Examples of external styles are
Shaolinquan, with its direct explosive attacks and many Wushu forms that have spectacular aerial
techniques. External styles begin with a training focus on muscular power, speed and application,
and generally integrate their qigong aspects in advanced training, after their desired "hard" physical
level has been reached.
Some say that there is no differentiation between the so-called internal and external systems of the
Chinese martial arts,[7][8] while other well known teachers have expressed differing opinions. For
example, the Taijiquan teacher Wu Jianquan:
Those who practice Shaolinquan leap about with strength and force; people not
proficient at this kind of training soon lose their breath and are exhausted. Taijiquan is
unlike this. Strive for quiescence of body, mind and intention.[6]

Current practice

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Many internal schools teach forms that are practised for health benefits only. Thus, T'ai chi ch'uan in
spite of its roots in martial arts has become similar in scope to Qigong, the purely meditative practice
based on notions of circulation of qi. With purely a health emphasis, T'ai chi classes have become
popular in hospitals, clinics, community and senior centers in the last twenty years or so, as baby
boomers age and the art's reputation as a low stress training for seniors became better known.[9][10]
Traditionalists feel that a school not teaching martial aspects somewhere in their syllabus cannot be
said to be actually teaching the art itself, that they have accredited themselves prematurely.
Traditional teachers also believe that understanding the core theoretical principles of neijia and the
ability to apply them are a necessary gateway to health benefits.[11]

Fiction
Internal styles have been associated in legend and in much popular fiction with the Taoist
monasteries of the Wudang Mountains in central China.[12]
Neijia are a common theme in Chinese Wuxia novels and films, and are usually represented as
originating in Wudang or similar mythologies. Often, genuine internal practices are highly
exaggerated to the point of making them seem miraculous, as in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon or
Tai Chi Master. Internal concepts have also been a source of comedy, such as in the films Shaolin
Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle.
In Naruto series, Neji Hyga's name and techniques was based on Neijia.

See also
Waijia
Dantian
Neidan
Neo-Confucianism
Taijitu

Wikiquote has quotations

related to: Tai chi chuan

References
1. Shahar 2001, p.412.
2. Henning, Stanley (AutumnWinter 1994). "Ignorance, Legend and Taijiquan" (PDF). Journal of the
Chenstyle Taijiquan Research Association of Hawaii. 2 (3): 17.
3. Shahar 2001, p.413.
4. Wile, Douglas (1995). Lost T'ai-chi Classics from the Late Ch'ing Dynasty. Chinese Philosophy and
Culture. State University of New York Press. ISBN978-0-7914-2654-8.
5. Yip, Li (Faye) (April 1998). "Principles and Practice of Sun Style T'ai Chi". T'ai Chi, the International
Magazine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. Wayfarer Publications. 22 (2). ISSN0730-1049.
6. Woolidge, Doug (June 1997). "T'ai Chi, the International Magazine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan". 21 (3). Wayfarer
Publications. ISSN0730-1049.
7. Francis, B.K. (1998). Power of Internal Martial Arts: Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I.
North Atlantic Books.
8. Wong Kiew Kit (2002). Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense Health and
Enlightenment. Tuttle.
9. Yip, Y. L. (Autumn 2002). "Pivot Qi". The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health and Fitness. Insight
Graphics Publishers. 12 (3). ISSN1056-4004.
10. "Sports & Fitness Participation Report". USA Sports Participation Study. SGMA. 2007. p.2. Retrieved

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2007-08-18.
11. Smith, Robert W (1999). "Rose Li". Martial Musings. Via Media. ISBN1-893765-00-8.
12. Yip, YL (Autumn 2002). "Pivot". Qi, The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health and Fitness. Insight
Graphics Publishers. 12 (3). ISSN1056-4004.

Bibliography
Pa Kwa Chang Journal, 1 (3) Missing or empty |title= (help).
Pa Kwa Chang Journal, 2 (6) Missing or empty |title= (help).
Pa Kwa Chang Journal, 5 (2) Missing or empty |title= (help).
Pa Kwa Chang Journal, 6 (6) Missing or empty |title= (help).
Fu, Wing Fay; Lai, Zonghong (1998), Fu Style Dragon Form Eight Trigrams Palms, Crandall,
Joseph transl, Smiling Tiger Martial Arts.
Shahar, Meir (December 2001), "Ming-Period Evidence of Shaolin Martial Practice", Harvard
Journal of Asiatic Studies, 61 (2): 359413, doi:10.2307/3558572, JSTOR3558572

External links
Neigong, a site devoted to original texts of Neigong, Qigong and Neijia.
Defining the Internal Martial Arts, Martial development.
Internal vs. External, What Sets Them Apart?, Shenwu.
"Neijia FAQ", Qi.
Glossary of Neijia Terms with Chinese characters, Sammasich.
A translation of a book on the subject, titled 'The Science of Nei Jia Quan', Jonathan.bluestein
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Neijia&oldid=754658376"
Categories: Neijia Chinese martial arts terminology Chinese martial arts
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