Nulty, Timothy J. 2017. Gong and fa in Chinese martial arts. Martial Arts Studies 3 , pp. 50-63. 10.18573/j.2017.10098 |
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Abstract
The distinction between gong (skill) and fa (technique) is ubiquitous in Chinese martial arts. Utilizing Maurice Merleau- Ponty’s notion of ‘embodied intentionality’, I examine this distinction. I draw specific examples of the kinds of skills under discussion from a particular style of taijiquan – Hong Chuan Chen Shi taijiquan (Master Hong Junsheng’s transmission of Chen taiji boxing) – and I argue that understanding taijiquan in terms of embodied intentionality allows us to understand important taijiquan concepts such as chansijin, yin, and yang. Although in this article I focus on one specific style of martial art, I argue that the general analysis of the gong-fa distinction based on embodied intentionality is widely applicable.
Item Type: | Article |
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Date Type: | Publication |
Status: | Published |
Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Phenomenology; embodiment; Merleau-Ponty; taijiquan; skill; technique; martial arts |
Publisher: | Cardiff University Press |
ISSN: | 2057-5696 |
Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 26 January 2017 |
Date of Acceptance: | 1 December 2016 |
Last Modified: | 03 May 2023 05:42 |
URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/97784 |
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