Russian officer on the martial arts of China in the 19th century

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

In the 19th century, when the Europeans began to actively explore China, there was practically no reason to talk about the presence of a certain system of military-sports education in the European armies: even fencing on bayonets began to develop in the European infantry only in the first half of the 19th century, and the first gymnastic systems of exercises for soldiers began to be introduced also at the same time.

The real boom of gymnastics in the armies of Europe began only towards the very end of the 19th century: corresponding sections are even included in the drill regulations of England, Germany, France and Russia.

Sword Master (Shanghai, circa 1930)

A serious impetus to this was not only the understanding by European military leaders of the importance of the physical development of a soldier, but also some unpleasant facts that became clear when comparing the condition of a European soldier and, for example, a Japanese one. So, A. Mordovin in an article devoted to the planned opening of the Main Fencing and Gymnastics School in Russia and telling about the history of military gymnastics, wrote:

In 1900, on the road to Beijing, the Japanese freely walked 15 miles a day, while the Americans did only 10. In the 1907 maneuvers, the Japanese troops covered considerable distances (running). history of military and general gymnastics // Military collection, 1908).

The Chinese army lagged behind in weapons and tactics: at the end of the 19th century, its infantry was armed with long pikes, match guns and banners (about a third of the Chinese infantrymen in the unit were exclusively engaged in wearing these banners).

In fact, it has retained an archaic organization that has been only slightly modernized under the influence of the European example. However, along with the archaic nature of the military organization, weapons and tactics, the Chinese have retained the very system of military-sports education, which the Europeans have long forgotten and were only trying to recreate.

This system was observed more than once by Russian officers who had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the combat training of the Chinese army and saw, among other things, gymnastic exercises, fencing and hand-to-hand combat skills demonstrated by Chinese soldiers.

Interesting information about this "acrobatics" was included in his article "Mongolian and Chinese troops in the Ugra" by Ya. Barabash, lieutenant colonel of the Russian army. The article was published in the Military Collection. Y. Barabash had the opportunity to observe the training of the Chinese troops for 4 months, when on business he was in the city of Ugra in 1872 (he was acting head of the security detachment of the Russian consulate in Ugra).

Gymnastics

"The gymnastics in the Chinese army has been brought to the level of acrobatics. The soldiers, with their legs to one side, turn their bodies in the diametrically opposite direction, roll over with the wheel, raise their legs above their heads, make their jumps amazingly high and dexterous, etc." (Y. Barabash. Mongolian and Chinese troops in Urga // Military collection, No. 7. 1872).

Chinese army in 1899 - 901.

Fencing

Chinese soldiers fenced on pikes, halberds and sabers, and, as noted by Y. Barabash, they were trained to operate with two sabers at the same time (by the way, this skill is noted by many Russian and foreign officers). In addition, they fenced on "sticks": this is how the Russian lieutenant colonel called the Chinese battle chain, san-tsze-gun, judging by the description:

"The two ends of one stick, not much more than an arshin in length, are connected by short iron chains with one end of each of the other two similar sticks. The middle stick is held by the swordsman at the belt, and with the two extreme ones he acts, repelling the blows of any weapon and inflicting them, from his side, with great dexterity "(Y. Barabash. Mongolian and Chinese troops in Urga // Military collection, No. 7. 1872) …

Unlike European practice, pair exercises were performed with sharp weapons, however, there were no accidents:

"Only Chinese dexterity eliminates the very possible accidents in this case, despite the fact that the techniques of the fighters are obviously memorized. One, for example, directs a spear with force at the chest of his opponent, but he is either already on the ground, or has managed to make a jump, almost the height of a man. But even for those who know what the matter is, the effect comes out wonderful. Looking at how the Chinese soldiers fenced, I was most surprised not at their dexterity, but at how much time was spent on bringing people to such acrobatic perfection. " (Y. Barabash. Mongolian and Chinese troops in Urga // Military collection, No. 7. 1872).

Chinese soldiers are practicing wushu.

Hand-to-hand combat

Unfortunately, about hand-to-hand combat (which, by the way, was not practiced in the Russian army at all), Y. Barabash said practically in passing:

"In the latter case (when fighting with fists - IO), the competitors inflict and reflect blows with both hands and feet" (Y. Barabash. Mongolian and Chinese troops in Urga // Military collection, no. 7. 1872).

However, it should be noted that most often Russian officers called these activities "trickery" and "circus clown" and regretted the time that the Chinese soldiers spent on mastering these skills..